Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-10-24

xvare now in the Office of the hotel, walt
inc her pleasure. Mr.. Ryder further IN
formed her that these gentlemen had only
stimulated that they should not reveal tnelr
req, names, and that they should be intro
duced to her simply as the respective seven
tv.four and sSeventy-fve" who had signed
the dispatch sent to the late MIR. Rightoooy:
Mrs. Rightbody ct First demurred to this'
hut on the assurance from Mr.. Ryder that
this was the only condition on which an
interview would be granted, finally coll
sented. >,
aYou will find them square men, even II
they are a little rough, ma'am. But, II youa
like me to be present, I'll Stop though L
reckon, if ye'd calkilated on that, you'd nave
had me take CARGO your business by proxy
and not come yourself three thousand miles
to do it."
Mrs. Riehtbody believed it better to see
them alone.
AN right. .ma'am. I'll hang round out
here: and eff yc should happen to ,heT TICK
lin in sour throat, anda bad spell coughn,
I'll drop in, careless like, to see If you don't
want them drops. Sabe
And with an exceedingly arch wink, and a
slight familiar tap OH Mrs. R~ightbodys shoni
der which might have caused the late Mr.,
Rightbody to burst his sepul"hre' lie WITH
drew.
very timid, hesitating tap on the door
was followed by the entrance OF two men,
both of whom, in general size, strength, ana
uncontbness. were mdicrously inconsistent
with their difideht announcement. They
proceeded in indian file to the center OF the
room, faced Mrs. Rightbody, acknowledged
her deep courtesy by a strong shake OF the
hand, and, drawing two chairs opposite 10
her, sat down side by side.
Il presume | have the pleasure of address
ing" began Mrs. Rightbody.
The man directly opposite Mrs. R~ightbody
turned to the other in~quiringly.
The other man nodded his head, and re-
piled:
"Seventy-four."
~"Seventy-fve," promptly followed the
other.
Mr. Rightbody paused, a little confused.
II have sent for you" she began again,
ito learn something more of the circum-
stances under which you gentlemen sent a
dispatch to my late husband"
"The circumstances, replied Seventy-four,
quietly, with a side glance at his companion,
apanned out about in this yer style. We
hung a man, named Josh SilSbic, down at
Deadwood for hoss stealin'. When | say 're,
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 Silsbie OIL squar', pretty Squar', evidence.
Afore he was strung up Seventy-hvo yer
axed him, accordin' to custom, Of Their was
emmy thing he had to say, or emmy request
that he allowed to make of us. he turns 10
Seventy-fve yer, and"
Here he paused suddenly, looking ut his
companion.
ale seq, sez he" began Seyenty-tve, taking
I'D the narrative-"he SEE, Kin | write q
letter. seq he. SEE |, Not much, ole man;
we've got no time SEE he, Kin send a dis
patch by telegraph l seq, 'Heave ahead
He sez-thcse is his dientikal w~ords-'Send to
Adam Rightbody, Boston. Tell him to re-
member his sacred compack with me thirty
years ago"
His 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 S~eventy-tive, and
then both arose and retired TO the corner OF
the parlor, where they engaged in a slow but
whispered elaboration. Presently they re-
turned and sat down again.
1--WE allow" said Seventy-four, quietly but
decidedly, that you know what that sacred
compact was"
Mrs. Rightbody lost her temper and her
truthfulneSs together. "Of course" she said
hurriedly, Il know. But do you mean to say
that you gave this poor man no further chancc
to explain before you murdered himT
Scventv-four and S~eventy-five both rose
again slowly and retired. When they re-
turned again and sat down, Se~venty-tive,
who by this time, through some subtle mag
netism, Mrs. Rightbody began to recognize as
the superior power, said gravely:
I'VE wish to say, regarding this yer MUIR
der, that Se~venty-four and me is equally re-
sponsihle: that we reckon also TO represent, so
to speak, seventy-two other gentlemen rs is
scattered; that we are ready, Seventy-four
and me, to take and holt that responsibility,
now end at any time, afore every man or
men as kin Ike fetched agin Us. We wish 20
saw that this yer say Of ours holds good yer
in Californy, or in any part of these United
States
"Or i'll Canady," suggested Seventy-four.
"Or in Canady. We wouldn't agrec TO cross
the water, or go to furrin parts, unless abso-
lutely necessary. We leaves the chise Of wep-
pings TO your principal, ma'am, or being n
lady, ma'am, and interested, to any one you
fetch to act for him. An advertisement
in any of the Sacramento papers, or q play
card or handful stuck unto a tree near Dead
wood, saying that Seventy-four or Seventy
five will communicate with this yer princi-
pal or agent Of yours, will fetch us-allers."
Mrs Rightbody, a little alarmed and des-
perate, saw her blunder II mean nothing OF
the kind, she said hastily. Il only expected
that you might have some further details Of
this interview with Silsbie; that perhaps you
could tell mc"-a bold, bright thought crossed
Mrs. Rightbody's mind something more
about her"
The two men looked ut each other.
Al suppose your society has no objection
to giving me information about heri" said
Mrs. Rightbody eagerly.
Another quiet conversation in the corner,
and the return Of both men.
I'VE want to say that we've no objection"
Mrs. ~Rightbody's heart beat high. Hu
boldness had made her penetration good. Yet
she felt she must not alarm the men heed.
leSsly.
will you inform inc TO what extent Mr..
Rightbody, my late husband, was interested
in herr
This time il seemed an age TO Mrs. Right