Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-03
THE STORY OF A MINE.
By BRIT HARTE.


ihSiC lpilil' Npl llllSul HpN. Nilllt YOU are
here, put your name to these transfers, and,
so to speak, begin your duties at once"
The glow of pride and hope that mantlcd
the check of poor Dobbs might have melted
harder heart than Gashwilcrs But the
senatorial toga had invested Mr. Gashwiler
with more than Roman stoicism toward the
feelings of others, and he only fell back in
his chair in the pose Of consciou; rcctitudo as
Dobbs hurricdly signed the paper
II shall place them in my portman-tcll,
said Gashwer, suiting the word to the action,
"for safe keeping need not inform you. who
are now, as it WERE on the threshold of off
cial life, that perfect and inviolable secrecy
in all affairs of state'-Mr. G. hero pointed
toward his portmanteau as if it contained a
treaty at lcast--"is most essential and neces-
sary."
Dobbs assentcd. "Then my duties will
keep me with you here.' he asked doubtfulv.
"No, no, said Gashwiler hastily; then. cor
recting himself, he added: that is-for the
present-no'
Poor Dobbs face fell The near fact was
that he had lately had notice to quit his pres
ent lodgings in consequence of arrears in his
confidential occupation would carry bread
and lodging with it. But he only asked if
there WIRE any now papers to make out
"Ahem. not at present; the fact is | am
obliged to give 50 much of my time to callers
i have to-day been obliged to see half a
dozen-that | must lock myself up and say
Not at home for the rest of the day" Feel
ing that this was an intimation that the inter
view was over, the new private secretary, a
little dashed Us to his near hopes, but still
sangunc Of the future, humbly took his
leave
But here a certain providence. perhaps
mindful of poor Dobbs threw into his simple
hands-to be- used or not, if he were worthy
or capable Of using it--a certain power and
advantage He had descended the staircase.
and was pa. ing through the lower corridor,
when be was made the unwilling witness of u
remarkable assault.
1t appeared that Mr.. Wiles who had
quilted GashWiler's presence as Dobbs was
announced, had other business in the hotel,
and in pursuance of it had knocked at room
No. 80. In response to the gluf voice that
babe him enter, Mr.. Wiles opened the door,
and espied the figure of a tall. muscular fiery
bearded man extended on the bed, with the
bed clothes carefully tucked under his chin,
and his arms lying fiat by his side.
Nj. Wiles bcalncd with his right cheek.
and advanced to the bed as if to take the
hand of the stranger, who, however, neither
by word or sign, responded to his salutation.
"Pcriaps I'm intrudMg:" said Mr. Wiles
blandly.
"PcrhGp, you are, said Red Beard dryly.
Nh Wilts forced Il smile on lis right cheek,
which he turned to the smter but permitted
the left to indulge in unlimited molevolence.
81 wanted merely to know if you have looked
into that mattcr:" he said nleekly
give looked into i and around it and
across it and over t~and through it," re-
sponded the man gravely, with his eyes fixed
on Wilcs.
"And you have perused ali the papers'"
continued Mr.. Wcs
I've read every paper every speech, every
affidavit, every decision, every argument"
sad the stranger, as if repeating formula.
Mr.. Wiles attempted to conceal his embar-
rassment ly an easy, right handed smile,
that went Off sardonically on the left, and
continued; Then hope, my dear sir, that,
having thoroughly mastered the case, you
ere inclined to be favorable to u.s."
The gentleman in the bed did not reply, but
apparently nestled more closely beneath the
coverlids
Il have brought the shares / spoke Of"
continued Mr.. Wiles. nsinuatingly.
"Hev you a friend within call!' interrupted
the recumbent man, gently.
81 don't quite understand" smiled Mr..
Wiles OF course, any name you might sug-
gest-"
"Iiev you friend, any chap that you
might waltz in here at a moments CALI"
continued the man in bed "No. Do you
know any of them waters in tho housed
Thars bell over yan' and he motoned with
his eyes toward the wall, but did not other
wise move his body.
mo" said Wilcs, becoming slightly sus-
pcious and wrathful
"Mebbe a stranger might doc l reckon
thars one passin' in the hall. Call him in
he'll dol"
Wtles opened the door little impatiently,
yet inquisitively, as Dobbs passed. The man
In bed called out, "Oh, stranger" and, as
Dobbs stopped, said, "Come yar'
Dobbs entered little timidly, as was his
habit with strangers.
81 don't know who you be-nor care,
reckon" said tn stranger "This yer man"
pointing to Wcs-"is Wiles I'm Josh Sb-
blee OF Fresno, member of congress from the
Fourth congressional district Of Californy
I'm jist lying here with a derrnger into each
hand-jist lying here kivered up and holdin'
in on'y to keep from BLOWN the top o. this
ID skunk's head off. | kinder feel can't
hold in any longer. What want to say to
ye, stranger, is that this yer siunk-which
his name is Wles-hcz bin tryin his d-dest
to get bride onto Josh, and Josh, QUITO re-
spect for his constituents, is jst waitin' for
some stranger to waltz in and stop thed-dest
fight"
"But, my dear Mr., Sibblee, there must be
some mistake said Wiles, earnestly.