Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1890-09-20
CHAPTER II.

| Something like three weeks had passed
and the departure Of Crenshaw had been
almost forgotten, when, one afternoon,
the mail brought letter addressed to
the 'Chief of Police of Redrock Springs"
a superscription which greatly puzzled
the major.
"Sim," he called to his bartender, to
whom he mainly confided his troubles,
II don't half like the looks O. that letter.
Seems sort O reckonise the handwrite,
SIM"
"Nothin' like findin' out when yer in
doubt," said Sim, laconically. "Ther's
no law agin' openin' it, s'pose?'
"True enough, Sim; but ther' amt no
chief O police here, an don't know as
l have the right to open it,"
Stuff piped Sim. "Ain't yer the
magistrate and the jedge all in one?
When the boys hev spat, don't. they
come to you fer settlement an to de-
eide it? Who is the chief ef 'taint you,
Id like ter know?'
The major drew long breath. He
turned the letter over and over and then
held it up to the light. His open feat
ures, on which his 80 years had left hard
ly the trace of a wrinkle, were all pulled
together in the mighty effort to pene-
trate the mysterious envelope and gather
an inkling of its contents. He drew a
long breath, stroked his whiskers softly,
and laid the letter on the counter before
him.
"Sim, I've bin five years at Redrock,
an no man ever said as Jonas Black
took liberties with what didn't belong to
him. But as there don't appear to be
nobody here what kin lay claim to this
letter, and seein' as how I'm postmaster
and sort O gin'ral survant to the town
actin like, ye know, Sim, till we get
kinder organized as it were-I feel as if
mout venture"-
Sim smiled and began to move toward
the major, who had taken up the letter
again. The latter weighed it gently
across his forefinger, and then, with
sudden resolution, tore it open at one
end and let the inclosure drop on the
counter. He stared at it hard for a min
ute while he wiped his spectacles.
ats from Frisco, Sim, that's what it
is. might a-knowed by the handwrite.
An it's from woman-a lady, l jedge,
by the style of penmanship,' and he
took it up carefully, Sim meanwhile
scanning the paper over his shoulder.
'Snakes and bars! What can she
mean? Jest lis'en to what she says
And the major began to read, slowly
and carefully, pondering every syllable.
This was the letter:
2012 KEARNEy STREET,
SAN FRANCISCO, June II, 49,
DEAR SIR--I have just learned Of the fate OF
my unfortunate boy, John Browning and write
to ask you to keep the body till his sisters arrive
at Redrock. They will come by the cars to Pres
colt and viii reach the Springs by the stage on
Wednesday next.
Do this for the sake Of his sorrow stricken
mother SoPHRoNlA BROWNING.
When he had read the letter through
the major laid it down again and glared
at Sim.
"What's it mean?" he almost gasped.
"Why, l saw young Jack and his mate
only last night. And she talks about him
bein' dead, and all that. Sim, there's
trouble ahead"
Somebody's been a-playin' it on the
old lady to pay off grudge, pears to
me, major" suggested Sim. anyhow,
it can't do the young feller much hurt.
He's big enough to look out fer himself.
An meantime the two gals is a-comin'
over. Well, it's goin' ter be interestin'."
"Two ladies, Sim. I don't doubt as
how they're high quality folks, fer that
Jack does hold himself up wonderful like,
and so does his mate, that Lispenard.
Spose you send Bill over to the mine
and jest tell Browning ter come across
here by noon."
The sun was lighting up both sides of
Shaggy Peak when Browning entered
the hotel. Without word, the major
took the letter and handed it to him,
smoking vigorously while Browning per-
used it. Jacks brsws knit and he shook
the paper as If trying by that act to get
at its secret.
"WellY inquired the major.