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both hear and feel that their discussion was more animated than
their previous conferences。 She was a little mortified； however；
when they sat down； to hear Seventy…Four say slowly；
〃We wish to say that we don't allow to say HOW much。〃
〃Do you not think that the 'sacred compact' between Mr。 Rightbody
and Mr。 Silsbie referred to her？〃
〃We reckon it do。〃
Mrs。 Rightbody； flushed and animated； would have given worlds had
her daughter been present to hear this undoubted confirmation of
her theory。 Yet she felt a little nervous and uncomfortable even
on this threshold of discovery。
〃Is she here now？〃
〃She's in Tuolumne；〃 said Seventy…Four。
〃A little better looked arter than formerly；〃 added Seventy…Five。
〃I see。 Then Mr。 Silsbie ENTICED her away？〃
〃Well； ma'am； it WAS allowed as she runned away。 But it wasn't
proved； and it generally wasn't her style。〃
Mrs。 Rightbody trifled with her next question。
〃She was pretty； of course？〃
The eyes of both men brightened。
〃She was THAT！〃 said Seventy…Four emphatically。
〃It would have done you good to see her！〃 added Seventy…Five。
Mrs。 Rightbody inwardly doubted it； but； before she could ask
another question； the two men again retired to the corner for
consultation。 When they came back； there was a shade more of
kindliness and confidence in their manner； and Seventy…Four opened
his mind more freely。
〃We wish to say； ma'am； looking at the thing； by and large； in a
far…minded way； that； ez YOU seem interested； and ez Mr。 Rightbody
was interested； and was； according to all accounts； deceived and
led away by Silsbie； that we don't mind listening to any
proposition YOU might make； as a ladyallowin' you was ekally
interested。〃
〃I understand；〃 said Mrs。 Rightbody quickly。 〃And you will furnish
me with any papers？〃
The two men again consulted。
〃We wish to say； ma'am； that we think she's got papers； but〃
〃I MUST have them； you understand；〃 interrupted Mrs。 Rightbody； 〃at
any price。
〃We was about to say； ma'am；〃 said Seventy…Four slowly； 〃that；
considerin' all things；and you being a ladyyou kin have HER；
papers； pedigree； and guaranty； for twelve hundred dollars。〃
It has been alleged that Mrs。 Rightbody asked only one question
more； and then fainted。 It is known； however； that by the next day
it was understood in Deadwood that Mrs。 Rightbody had confessed to
the Vigilance Committee that her husband； a celebrated Boston
millionaire； anxious to gain possession of Abner Springer's well…
known sorrel mare； had incited the unfortunate Josh Silsbie to
steal it； and that finally； failing in this； the widow of the
deceased Boston millionaire was now in personal negotiation with
the owners。
Howbeit； Miss Alice； returning home that afternoon； found her
mother with a violent headache。
〃We will leave here by the next steamer；〃 said Mrs。 Rightbody
languidly。 〃Mr。 Ryder has promised to accompany us。〃
〃But； mother〃
〃The climate； Alice； is over…rated。 My nerves are already
suffering from it。 The associations are unfit for you； and Mr。
Marvin is naturally impatient。〃
Miss Alice colored slightly。
〃But your quest； mother？〃
〃I've abandoned it。〃
〃But I have not；〃 said Alice quietly。 〃Do you remember my guide at
the Yo Semite；Stanislaus Joe？ Well； Stanislaus Joe iswho do
you think？〃
Mrs。 Rightbody was languidly indifferent。
〃Well； Stanislaus Joe is the son of Joshua Silsbie。〃
Mrs。 Rightbody sat upright in astonishment
〃Yes。 But mother； he knows nothing of what we know。 His father
treated him shamefully； and set him cruelly adrift years ago； and；
when he was hung； the poor fellow； in sheer disgrace； changed his
name。〃
〃But； if he knows nothing of his father's compact； of what interest
is this？〃
〃Oh； nothing！ Only I thought it might lead to something。〃
Mrs。 Rightbody suspected that 〃something；〃 and asked sharply； 〃And
pray how did YOU find it out？ You did not speak of it in the
valley。〃
〃Oh！ I didn't find it out till to…day；〃 said Miss Alice； walking to
the window。 〃He happened to be here； andtold me。〃
PART IV。
If Mrs。 Rightbody's friends had been astounded by her singular and
unexpected pilgrimage to California so soon after her husband's
decease； they were still more astounded by the information； a year
later； that she was engaged to be married to a Mr。 Ryder； of whom
only the scant history was known； that he was a Californian； and
former correspondent of her husband。 It was undeniable that the
man was wealthy； and evidently no mere adventurer； it was rumored
that he was courageous and manly： but even those who delighted in
his odd humor were shocked at his grammar and slang。
It was said that Mr。 Marvin had but one interview with his father…
in…law elect； and returned so supremely disgusted； that the match
was broken off。 The horse…stealing story； more or less garbled；
found its way through lips that pretended to decry it； yet eagerly
repeated it。 Only one member of the Rightbody familyand a new
onesaved them from utter ostracism。 It was young Mr。 Ryder； the
adopted son of the prospective head of the household； whose
culture； manners； and general elegance； fascinated and thrilled
Boston with a new sensation。 It seemed to many that Miss Alice
should； in the vicinity of this rare exotic； forget her former
enthusiasm for a professional life； but the young man was pitied by
society； and various plans for diverting him from any mesalliance
with the Rightbody family were concocted。
It was a wintry night； and the second anniversary of Mr。 Rightbody's
death； that a light was burning in his library。 But the dead man's
chair was occupied by young Mr。 Ryder； adopted son of the new
proprietor of the mansion； and before him stood Alice； with her dark
eyes fixed on the table。
〃There must have been something in it； Joe； believe me。 Did you
never hear your father speak of mine？〃
〃Never。〃
〃But you say he was college…bred； and born a gentleman； and in his
youth he must have had many friends。〃
〃Alice；〃 said the young man gravely； 〃when I have done something to
redeem my name； and wear it again before these people； before YOU；
it would be well to revive the past。 But till then〃
But Alice was not to be put down。 〃I remember；〃 she went on；
scarcely heeding him； 〃that； when I came in that night； papa was
reading a letter； and seemed to be disconcerted。〃
〃A letter？〃
〃Yes； but；〃 added Alice； with a sigh； 〃when we found him here
insensible； there was no letter on his person。 He must have
destroyed it。〃
〃Did you ever look among his papers？ If found； it might be a
clew。〃
The young man glanced toward the cabinet。 Alice read his eyes； and
answered；
〃Oh； dear； no！ The cabinet contained only his papers； all
perfectly arranged；you know how methodical were his habits；and
some old business and private letters； all carefully put away。〃
〃Let us see them；〃 said the young man； rising。
They opened drawer after drawer； files upon files of letters and
business papers； accurately folded and filed。 Suddenly Alice
uttered a little cry； and picked up a quaint ivory paper…knife
lying at the bottom of a dra