San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-20


exclaimed. IN 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. II can't see how
it could get out of the house,
Its mystery | 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 from?' asked
Mrs. Riggsby.
81 couldn't say now, cause | only
glanced at it, but it was mailed in Kan
sas somewhat, 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
somewhat 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 remember, and when he
told me goodby he said none of 'em
would ever hear from him again, though
i 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, haint it?"
"Jist ten last spring. hope we'll
find the letter in the mornin, for il
meeks me feel Uneasy to lose it when it
might be of Importance to u.s."
80 it might, an I'll take good look
fer it as soon as daylight comes"
| While the two We're 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."
"Tll be hanged if | didn't pick NJ
letter that didn't belong to me-" he com
mented, as he gazed at the address on
the envelope. "It's 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 allow 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,
BANTER SPRINGS, Kansas,
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.
CAS- the attorneys of your late uncle,
| it is our pleasure to inform you that he
has left a 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 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 executriS
without requirement of bond. We
should strongly advise you to proceed tC
| Fort Scott as soon as it will suit your
convenience, where we could meet you
at any time you might mention and ad,
| just matters as you might be pleased to
/! direct.
Trusting that you will favor us with
an early reply, advising us as to your in.
tended course of action, we are your
most obedient servants,
'BARNABY & DILL"
An exclamation of establishment es,
capped the cattleman's lips as he finished
reading the letter.
$50 there is fortune about to come
into the possession of those scamps that's
been causing us so much trouble of latel
But it'll be good long spell before they
see this letter. My enemies is delivered
into my hands-they are, by gosh! |
reckon that blow you give me, Simon
Riggsby, will be well paid for. Then
there's the boy-the little puppy-he
knocked the pistol from my hand, and
here's chance to pay you back, my fine
Teller"
With CLEAN of evil triumph upon
his face Ropes thrust the letter into his
pocket; then rising from the table he
walked into an adjoining room, where a
half dozen cowboys were engaged in
playing cards and amusing themselves