Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-03-05

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81 reckon I'd better send Dan over ter
the crick an notify the settlers so they
can be on their guard, he unused as he
reflected on the condition of affairs. "Ill
send him early in the mornin, fer there's
no tellin what mischief may be a-brew-
in"
The two strangers and the stage driver
now came into the room, having finished
their supper. When Dan had carried
the guests valises up to their room the
tall man asked for writing materials, and
being provided Herewith he seated him.
self at the Office desk and began to write
rapidly, while his companion drew a
cigar from his pocket and began to puff
away, his eyes turned to the ceiling as if
in deep thought.
A few moments later when Mr.. Riggs
by entered the dining room he found his
wife Just seating herself at the supper
table
"Hyar's letter fer ye, Sally" he said,
thrusting his hand into his pocket. Then
he drew it forth, a look of surprise on
his face.
"W'y. I've dropped it somewhat" he
exclaimed. "I'll jist go back inter the
office an look for it."
But the most thorough search failed
to reveal the whereabouts of the missing
letter.
"What could have become of it"
asked Mrs. Riggsby. 81 can't see how
it could get out of the house."
"It's a mystery l can't explain" re-
piled Simon Riggsby in vexed tone.
"But mebby we'll run across it some
whar about the house in the mornin."
"Wonder who it was fromT asked
Mrs. Riggsby.
81 couldn't say now, cause l only
glanced at it, but it was mailed in Kan
sas somewhar, and had been sent ter
Georgy an forwarded round till it was
finally sent hyar."
"Maybe it war from Uncle James"
said Mrs. Riggsby. He was in Kansas
somewhar when last heard from. He
never wrote to none of us after he left
Georgy for the west. He had some
fallin out with the other members of the
family, you RENE mber, and when he
told me goodby he said none of EN-
would ever hear from him again, though
allus thought he'd write to me, but he
never did. He used to think SO much of
Dan, too, and was allus gettin him
presents"
THE letter might "a ben from him."
said Mr.. Riggsby refectively, though
thar amt no tellin. It's been nigh onto
ten years since he went away, hain't it?'
"Jist ten last spring. l hope we'll
find the letter in the mornin, for it
neeks me feel Uneasy to lose it when it
might be of Importance to u.s."
80 it might, an I'll take a good look
fer it as soon as daylight comes"
While the two were discussing the
missing letter Ben Ropes had ridden to
his ranch house, and on arriving there
he took the letter from his pocket, but
to his surprise he found that he had two
letters in the place of one. After read
ing his own he examined the other to
find it addressed to MRS. Sally Ann
Riggsby."
"I'l be hanged if didn't pick up a
letter that didn't belong to me-" he COM
mented, as he gazed at the address on
the envelope. Its from some lawyer
at Baxter Springs" he continued, as his
eye fell on the small printed card on the
letter. "Wonder what they could be
writing to the Riggsbys about? I'll open
it anyway and see if it's fit for them to
read" and low laugh escaped him as
he broke the seal and took the letter out.
Seating himself at small table on
which kerosene lamp burned, he un-
folded the letter and read as follows:
CLAW OFFICE OF BARNABY & Dill,
"BAxTER SPRINGS, Kansas, 7
August 2, 1866.
"Mrs. Sally Ann Riggsby, Ringgold, Ga;
my DEAR MADAM-It is our painful
duty to inform you of the death of your
uncle, James H. Mansfield, who died at
this place of fever ON the thirty-frst OF
last month.
"As the attorneys of your late uncle
it is our pleasure to inform you that he
has left will bequeathing you quite a
snug fortune, consisting of valuable
property and real estate situated in the
city of Fort Scott, Kansas, some sixty
five miles north of this place.
at is also our pleasant duty to add
that the deceased has left a generous
legacy of five thousand dollars in cash
to your son, David Hartford Riggsby
which is deposited in the Bank of Fort
Scott, you being appointed his executri1
without requirement of bond. We
should strongly advise you to proceed t(
Fort Scott as soon as it will suit YOU
convenience, where we could meet yor
at any time you might mention and ad
just matters as you might be pleased tt
direct.
Trusting that you will favor us with
an early reply, advising us as to your in
/ la @G