The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-04

| Mis- hio'iDopi' patch, and that the.
were now in the Office of the hotel, wait
ing her pleasure. Mr.. Ryder further IN
formed her that these gentlemen had ONLY
stipulated that they should not reveal theil
real names, and that they should be intro
duced TO her simply rs the respective Seven
y-four" and "Seventy-fivc" who had signed
the dispatch sent to the late Mr.. Rightbody.
Mrs. Rightbody ut first demurred to this
but. on the assurance from Mr. Ryder thai
this was the only condition on which al
interview would be granted, finally con
sented.
"You will find them square men, even II
they are little rough, ma'am But, If YOU'D
like me to lie present, I'll stop; though
reckon, if ye'd calkinted ON that, you'd have
had rae take care o your business by proxy
and not come yourself three thousand miles
to do it."
Mrs. Rishtbody believed it better to SEE
them alone
"All right, ma'am. I'll hang round out
here; and cf We should happen 10 hev tick
lin in your throat, and a bad spell o couShin'
I'll drop in, careless like, to see If you don
want them drops. Sabe Y
And with an exceedingly arch wink, and a
slight familiar tap ON Mrs. Ri1htbody's Shout,
der. which might have caused the late Mr..
Rightbody to burst his sopuIohre, he with
drew.
\ very tinil, hraitating tap on the door
4 O. Z 1. Il Of w.
both Of whom in general size, strength, and
uucou.huc-s, were ludicrou-ly inconsistent
with their diHicnt announcement They
proceeded ia Indian file to the center of the
room. faced Mrs Rightbody, acknowledged
her deep courtesy by strong shake OF the
hand, ami drawing two chairs opposite to
her, sat down side by side.
II presume | have tho pleasure of address
ing" began Mrs. Rightbody.
The man directly opposite Mrs Rishtboly
turned to the other inquiringly.
The other man nodded his head, AMI re-
Piled
"Sevcnty-four,"
"Scycnty-iivc," promptly followed the
other.
Mrs. Rightbody paused, little confused
~ have sent for you she began again.
"to learn something more Of the circum-
stances under which you gentlemen sent a
dispatch to my late husband"
"The circumstances" replied Scventy-four,
quietly, with a side glance at his companion,
"panncd out about in this yer style. We
hung man, named Josh Silsbie, down at
for boss stcalin'. When say 'ce
l speak for Seventy-tive yer as is present,
as well as representa-, so to speak, seventy
two other gents as is scattered We hung
Josh Silsbic on squar', pretty squar', evidence.
Afore he was strung up Seventy-fve yer
axed him, accordin' to custom, eff Their was
emmy thing he had to say, or emmy request
that he allowed to make of us. He turns to
Seventy five yer, and"
Here Ia paused suddenly, looking at his
"He sez, seq he" began Seventy five, taking
I'D the narrative-"hc SEE, Kin | write q
letter. seq he. SEE I, Not much, ole man.
we've got no time SEE he Kin send a dis
patch by telegraph | SCI, 'Heave ahead
He sez-these is his dientikal words-'Send to
Adam Rightbody, Boston. Tell him to re-
member his sacred compack with me thirty
years ago'
ellis sacred compack with me thirty years
ago." echoed Seventy four-"his dientikal
words"
"What was the compact?' asked Mrs. Right
body anXiously
Seventy four looked at Seventy five, and
then both arose and retired to the corner OF
the parlor, where they engaged in slow but
whispered deliberation. Presently they re-
turned and sat down again.
1--WE allow" said Sevcnty-four, quietly but
decidedly, that you know what that sacred
was
Mrs. Righthody lost her temper and her
together "Of course" she said
II know But do you mean to say
that you gave this poor manno further chance
TO explain before you murdered him"
Scventy-four and Seventy-fivc both rose
again slowly and retired. When they re-
turned again and sat down, Seventy-tive,
who by this time, through some subtle mag
netism, Mrs. Rightbody began to recognize us
The superior power, said gravely:
ave wish to say, regarding this yer muir
Ter, that Sevcnty-fUlr and me is equally IT,
,ponsible; that we reckon also to represent, SO
20 speak, seventy-two other gentlemen Us is
,cattercd that We are ready, Sevcnty-four
md me, to take and holt that responsibility,
now and at any time, aforc every man or
men rs kin he fetched agin U.S. We wish TO
'ay that this yer say of ours holds good yer
N Californy, or in any part of these United
States"
"Or in Canady," suggested Seventy four.
"Or in Canady. We wouldn't agree to cross
he water, or so to furrin parts, unless abso-
utely necessary. We leaves the chise of weep
pings to your principal, maam, or being u
ady, ma'am, and interested, to any one you
nay fetch TO act for him. An advertisement
n any of the Sacramento papers, or play
ard or handful stuck unto tree near Dead
wood saying that Seventy-four or Seventy
i've will communicate with this yer princi-
oal or agent of yours, will fetch us-allers."
Mrs Rightbcdy, little alarmed and des-
,erate, saw her blunder IL mean nothing of
ba kind she said hastily ~ only exDected