The Great Dea '
wood Mystery.
BY BHET IIAKTU.
Copyrighted, 1880, by Houghton, Miff
lln & Co., and publlbhed by arrangement
with them.
Miss AHee deigned no reply, but drew the
loop of tha liwso over her shoulders, and let
it drop to her round waist Then she essayed
to throw the other end to Iht guide. Manial
failure! The first lling nenrly knocked Lor
oir tlio Utlge; tho second went nil wild npiiiut
the nx ky wall; the third cau'lit in a thoru
ttiuih, twenty feet Wlowlior cnuipuuioii'N fot.
Mum Alice unn sunk helpli-sr-ly to bi-r aido,
at whii h hi'iiul of unqualified mirender, the
youn;;r uido threw himsi lf half way down
the tl; worked his way t tl.t thorn bunh,
huiij; tr a moment jei Hourly ovr the pui-fir
pet, wvtir-d the lasso, and th'-ii liejjnn to pull
away at hia lowly lur.l-n. .Mi Alice- wa
no ilfji'l Wright. Ii.mvwr, but. steadily half
rai:il.!.l on her li'inds and l.im-s to within 1
foot or two of inr rescuer. At this too
familiar i-oiniity. she stoo.l nji, and leaned
ii sillily iitiiist the In". ciniMiitf the
;ui'!f ! ; ive an extm pull, which had tli"
laiiit-iilaMi! ci'.'. i l or landiiiK h'-r almost in lm
nriuN As it was, In T inti ili.'.' iil fop'h'-ad
si j ii i. Ii. nosi' sliai ply, and 1 r".:n-t toa'ld,
ticatiir-,' of a i-oiiiaiitii' sil nation, caused that
Ko:iif li.il. iro!iiii.i'iil M,;u and t"l;en of a
hero to llcil l'r-lv. Mi
Alice instantly
tl,il H d a liandl'iil ol miow is-. r las ii..stnU
".Nu-.v .- ;! onr i i,;!it arm," sle- .said
i-onun.iii .'nilv,
II ill I ils li.- iv.i,l,M.I.n, l.ul -n'.l.ily.
"T!ia! coiiil.rcs.-. the artery."
No n. an, with a pivtty v.oio.in's hand and I
a hnudi'ul of snow oV' r his mouMi and
lew,
, nor,
could i '" ( tiM-ly u-.i r a I.
wi:!i Lis arm l .'it.t t
a.viiine u lu r. ii atti'u If,
lilolitll v.'as fre.) a:lill, he
.it'IUS
'.'I r hi i
when las
ili'-iuil:ily,
.id 1
h.nf n; '..getically .
J n.i lit kau I;:, nvn a gii 1
iildn't throw
woi '.li a cent."
-U hy?" delnaii I,s Miss Alice -harply.
l;e. .iust uh 'its aue you hi- they
havt n't got the c;k 1 1. in e," he stainm-rcd
feliiy.
Noiisi'iisi-: tin y Ii iven't tliei lavii 1 that'ti
nil! Il s Ihs-uih. I in a woman, and smaller
in the collar l-oiie, that 1 haven't the play of
tin: fi.itarm whi.h you hiv
btJMUi l her shoulders slight!
tJi..' I l.le of her il ll li eves full
r. Sv!'1 She
y, and turned
on his. ' i;.x-
p liili.T, indeed' X girl can 1
arn anything
u U.y . an."
A; pivlieii-i'in t'ik Hie pla.-e of ill humor in
hi r hearer. He turned his eyes hastily a way,
and iiinciil a!ov. him. Tl:- elder uid.i had
C'i.,t forward to catch Miss Aliiv's horse,
wLl b, relievisj of his ridi r, was flounder
ing toward th.f trail. Mrs. flight boily wan
nowhere to ! st-n. And these two wero
wtill twenty ftS't l low the trail!
There wns an awkward piiuv.
Shall I pull ou up the same wayf ho
qucritsl. Miss Alice lookml at his nose, and
henitatetl. ''Or will you take my hand " ho
ailtled, in surly impatience. To his surprise,
Mii.s Alice tjk his hand, and they legaii tho
ascent together.
But tho way wxs dillicult and dangerous.
Once or twice her ftsetslippsl on the smoothly
worn Mx-k iK'neath; and hho confesstsl to an
inward thankfulness w hen her uncertain fomi
nine handgrip wu. oxchungeil for Iim strong
arm around her waist Not that bo was un
gentle; hut Miss Alieo angrily felt that ho
bad once or twicn oxorcised his suM'rior mas
culine limctioas in u rough way; and yet the
next moment sho would have probably ro
jceted tho idea that sho had even liotictl it.
There was no doubt., however, that bo was a
little surly.
A fierce scramMo finally brought them
back in safety to tho trail; hut in the ad ion
Mi.-s Alice's shoiddcr, striking a projecting
bowlder, wrung from her a femiuiun cry of
jiain, her lirst -.igu of womanly weancsj,.
The euide stopp'd instantly.
'1 imii afrai i I hart you.'"
Hie raised her hrown la hes, a tritl tuofst
from sulTei ing, ! inked in his eyes, and dropKi'l
her own. U hy, she could not tell. And yet
lie Lad certainly a kind face, despite its seri
ousness; and a lino face, alU it unshorn and
weather lieateii. Ifer own eyes had never
been so near I) 'lay man's ln'foix, savo her
lover's; and yet slm had never seen so much
ill even his. Sho slipped her hand away, not
with any referviico to him, hut rather to
ponder over this singular expcrieiitv, and,
somehow, felt iiucoinfortalilo thereat.
Nor was hn 1-s.s v. It wns hut a few days
ago that he had accepts! tho chargo .f ,i
young woman from tho elder guide, w ho was
Hie recogni,sd escort of the Itighthmly parl y,
having Im-ii a former corresMiiideiit, ,,f hi r
lather's. He had lnvn hinsl liko any odi. r
uuie, nut n i l uihiertaueii iim taslt w ill, i;u
chivalrous eiithiisinsm which t!i avii.i-t
('alitorniaii uhva) s extends to the sex vnaiu
to him. Hut the illusion had Ktss. d , and ho
bad droppttl into a sulky, practical seiiso of
bis situation, iM-rhaps fraught with less
longer to hinwlf. Oaly, when apald t)
by his manhood or her weakness, bo had for
futten his woun vanity.
lie strotle mouldy ahead, dutifully lircak
Jag the path for her in tho direction of tlJO
distant canyon, whom Mrs. HightlHly and
her friend awaited them. Miss Aliisj was
first to s;-ak. In this trackless, uu. hart-sl
U rra imignita of tho passions, it ii always
tho woman who steps out to lead the way.
' You know this place, very well. I sujposi
you have livetl ueiv longi"
"Y(!S."
"You were not bum here no?"
A long pause.
"I olworvo they tall you 'StonuLma Joh.'
Of course that is not your real numef"
(Mem. Miss Alieo had in-ver culled liini
anything, usually pit-facing any mjuest
with a languiil, '(-cr er, plea', m storr-a!"
exjlicit enough Pr bis station.)
So."
MLss Alice (trotting af Ut him, tjid bawl
ing iu his ear) i:V,t name did you sayl
Tho ruan (doggedly) I don't know.
NcvertbeleNH, when they reached tho cabin,
after a half-Lour's bulTeting with tho rtonn,
Hias Alice appliod bwself to hor inotbor's t&
cort, Mr. Ryder.
"What's tlw t:.w of Via mvi who Ukr
eaxi of my hor;" . v
"Rtantslnuft Joe," responded Mr. J'.yder.
"U that nllf"
'X. Sometimes he's called Joe Stanis
laus." Miss Alice (satirically) I supHwe It's the
cu.st.m hero to send young Indie out with
gentlemen who hlilo their names under on
alias?
Mr. Ryder fereatly perplexed) Why, dear
mo, Miw Alice, you nlli in 'iK-artnl to me as a
gnl iw wns iible to take Leer
.MissAliew (iiitcrniplintf with n wounded,
dove-like timidity) Oh, never trii.id, plea.se!
The cabin offered but want y accommoda
tion to tho tourists; which fact, when in
dignantly prten-uted to Mr rdgbtliody. was
explained by the j;ol humored Kyder from
tho clrrumstancH that the URiiid hobd was
only n slight affair of hoards, cloth and wiper,
put up during the season, and partJy di
niunthid in tho fall. "You couldn't he kept
warm enough there," bo added. Nuverthe-l-.ss
Mi-si Alien tioticixl that lth Mr. Hydix
and NtaiiUluus Joen-tiitxt there with their
jiijH-H, afNT having prewired the ladW
sujipcr, wimi inn assistanco or an iiunau
woman, who apparently eiiMTgwl from tho
earth at the coming of tho party, and di
npjx'Mvd a.s myHleriotisly.
Th vt ij-M came out brightly l.r foro they
.lept ; and tho next morning n clear, unwink-
lnjKilii lieninel with almost Mimmcr jiowor
through tho hhuttcrlcsM window of their
cahin, and ironically diwloseil the details of
rude int.'i'ior. Two or thri'c nuni 'v, half-
tut, 'ii liuflalo rolics, a lieniNkm, komid sus-
pirjou-i liHikin' l.lankets, rifles mi I saddles,
deal t.'ihles and barnds m.'nle up ils scant in
veutorv. A strip of faded ealii o hung !v
f ore a n'C"-is near the chimney, but so hlack-
c 1 l.y mi'.lie and n;;i that cu-n femiiiiuo
iiu!oitv n -peeted its wcivt. Mrs. Iliht
hmly wn in hi;;h spirits, and iiiformetl her
il hi, 111- rthat sh: was at hist on tli track of
her hiisli.ind s unknown conespond' iit. "Sev
i nt v four and Seventy live re; resent two
'iiiiid'eiK if tho viilauco rommittce, my
i.Mr, aad Mr. Kyder will aM.-t ino tolind
th.in."
'Mr. Ilyd.r!" cjaculat .-d Mi.- Alice, iji
s 'orr'ul ii'.toaishmeiit.
'.Mice," .-.aid Mrs. 1 li;:lit ImmIv, with a ftis
pi. ioi:.. ii siiinplioii of Midtlen (iel'ence, "you
injure yourself, you injure me, hy this e.tclu
s:vo attitude. Mr. llyder is a friend of ymr
father's, an exeiss:lingly well informed gentle
man. I have not, of course, imparted to him
t he extent of my suspicious. J its t he can help
mo to what I must and will know. You
might treat him a little more civilly or, at
Hist, n littlu defter limn you do his servant,
your guid". Mr. llyder is a gentleman, und
not a paid courier."
Miss Alio was suddenly nt cntive. When
sho spolie again, she asked, "Why do you not
lii -1 something ubout this Silshie who died
or was hung or something of that kiudf"
'('liild'" said Mrs. Uiglitho.fy, "don't yon
soo then- w:ls no Silsbie, or, if there
was, lm w:u simply tho coiilldant of that
woman r''
A knock nt tho diwir, announcing tho pres
ence of Mr. llyder and Stanislaus Joo with
the horses, checked Mi's. Itighllmdy's sikss-cIi.
As tho animals were Ising packed, Mrs.
Highthixly for a moment withdrew in confi
dential conversation with Mr. Kyder, and, to
tho young lady's still greater annoyance, left
her alono with Stanislaus Joe. Msss Alice
was not in gooil U'inNr, but bhe felt it iiecoa
ary to say something.
"1 hope tho hotel otTers letter quarters for
travelers than this in summer," she began.
"It does."
"Then this din's not belong to iti"
"No, ma'am."
"Who lives here, then?"
'I do."
"I lieg your pardon," stammered Miss Alice,
'T thought you lived where we hired
where we met you in in You must ex
cuse 1110."
"I'm not a regular guide; hut as times were
hard, and I was out of grub, I took tho job."
"Out of grub!" "joh!" And she was the
"Joh." What would Henry Marvin sayf It
would nearly kill him. She began herself to
feel a little frightened, und walked towards
tho door.
"One moment, miss!"
The young girl hesitatsl. Tho man's tone
was surly, ami yet indicated a certain kind of
half-pathetic grievance. Her curiosity got
the iM ttor of her prudence, und sho turned
back.
'This morning," ho began hastily, "when
wo were coming down the valley, you picked
mo up twice."
'I picked ion up?" rejicated tho astonished
Alice.
"Yes, cnntrtulMftl me; ihat's what I
mean; once when you said those rocks were
volcanic, oi when you said the flower you
picked was a iMippy. I didn't let on nt the
time, for it wasn't my say; hut all the while
you were talking I might have laid for
'you "
"I don't understand you." said Alica
haughtily.
"I might have entrapped you lieforo folks.
ISut I only want you to know that m right,
ami here lire the Issiks to show it."
Ilo drew aside the dingy calico curtain, nv
wiled a small shelf of bulky Intuits, took
duwn too large volumes me of botany, one
of gcology-nervously sought bis text, and
pit them in Alice's outstretched hands.
"I had no intention," she begun, half
proudly, half cmliarrasscdly.
"Am I right, miss?" he interrupted.
'I presume you are, if you say so."
"That's all, ma'am. Thank you!"
Ileforo the gb l had time to reply he was
gonn. When he again returned it was with
her horse,- and Mrs. Klghtbody and llyder
were awaiting her. But Miss Alieo noticed
that his own horse was mining.
"Aro you not going w ith iim" she ask.xL
"No, ma'am."
"Oh, indeed!"
Mlss Alice felt her sjioech was a feeblo con
ventionalism, but it was nil sho could say.
She, however, did something. Hitherto it
bail Us n ber habit to systematically reject his
assistance in mounting to her sent Now sho
awaited him. As he approached she smiled
and put out her little foot He instantly
stoojied, bhe plai-ed it in his hand, roue with
a rpring and for one supreme moment Stanis
laus Joe held her unresistingly in his arms.
The next moment she was in the saiMle, but
in that brief interval of sixty kocondssha bad
uttered a volume lu a single sentence:
"I bojie you will forgive me!"
Ilo muttered a reply, and turned bis fac
ts.de quickly us if to bide it
Ml All-a cantered forward with a smile,
but pulled ber hat dowu vcr Ltr eyes r.s she
Jjai br mother. She mu Lluihin.
PART IIL
It Ryder was as
good as his word.
A day or two later
entered Mrs.
W U'nhtlsHly's parlor
H . -s a V JSnt, the L'hrvsolttlis
f---"f; -J.i -liotel, in Stockton,
t'Vr wilh ho i"f"rma"
tion thai no mm
"tjV y seen the mysterious
' senders of tho ilis-
miH. i;iii:!TDOpy. j,at h, and that they
were now in the oflleo of the hotel, wait
ing her pleasure. Mr. Ryder further in
formed her that these geiitloiiHill had only
stipulattxl that they should not reveal their
real names, and that they should l0 intro
riticed tJ her simply as the resjiei tive "Si'veii
ty four" uud "Seventy-live" who hml signed
the dispatch sent to the laio Mr. Rightlsxly.
Mrs. Right Issly at first demurred to this;
but, on the assurance from Mr. Ryder that
this was tho only condition on which uu
interview would lo grunted, llnally coll-M-nteil.
"You will find them squuro men, even if
they uro a little rough, iiiii'iun. Rut, if you'd
liko mo to bo present, I'll stop; though I
reel m, if ye'd cnlkikitod on th.it, you'd havo
bad me take' care o' your business by proxy,
ainl not coiiu yourself three thousuinl mil'
to do it."
Mrs. Right body iHlievetl it U'tU-r to seo
them alone.
"All right, ma'am. I'll hang round out
here; and i f yo should h.ipis n to hev ati' k
lin' in your throat, and a bad sdl o" con gbin',
Ml drop in, ear.
like, to s.-e if von don't
want them dr..;.-,. SaU-f" I
And wrh ;ri e. e. di:uly arch wink, and a
slight r.iiiiiii.ir tapon Mis. Riht !..ly's h..;il- i
d-r. which ini.Jit have caused the late Mr. '
Right Itody to hurst his sepulchre, ho with
drew. A v, ry ti'ci 1, b itating tap o:i tie door "
was followed by th" intrants' of t vo nun,
both of whom, in general si.e, stiviivth. and '
irieoii'hne-v. wire I'.ldi.l'oudv illfoii i t. I.t
with th"ir di'Vident nnnoiin-' nviit. They
pr,. -ed .1 i i lii li.ia til ' to th- renter of the
riH.in. fa 1 Mrs. Rightbody, ifknow lcdg.'d
herd 'ep i-mrt -sy by a strong shake of tho
hand, and, drawing two chairs opposite to
her, s it down id" by side.
"I pre-uni" I havo the plea-mro of addross
i" ,.'ga:i Mrs. Rightltody.
The m in directly opposite Mr. Righlbody
turned b the other itupiiringly.
Tic otln r man no-Jded his hea l, and re
pli.sl: 'Seventy f.Hir."
"Scveiity-ltve,'' promptly followeil the
other.
Mrs. Rightliody paused, a little confused.
"I have sent for you," she began again,
"to 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,
"panned out nlsnit in this yer stj'lo. Wo
hung a man, named .Tosh Silsbie, down at
Peadwooil for boss stenlin'. When I say rc,
I seak for Seventy-livo yer us is present,
ns well as reproscntin ', so to sjienk, seventy-
two other gents ns is scattered. We hung
Josh Silsbie on stpiar', pretty sipmr', evidence.
Afore he was strung up Seventy-five yer
axed him, nccordiu' to custom, of ther was
enny thing he had to say, or enny request
that be allowed to make of us. Ho turns to
Seventy tlvo yer, and "
Hero ha paused suddenly, looking at his
companion.
"Ho sez, sez he," began Seventy-five, taking
up the narrative "he sez, 'Kin I write a
letter, sez he. Sez I, 'Not much, olo man;
ye've got no time.' Sez he, 'Kin I send a dis
patch by telegraph!' I sez, 'Ilenvo ahead.
Ho sez these is Ids dientiknl words 'Send to
Adam Rightliody, Roston. Tell him to re
oipmbcr his sacred cotnpack with me thirty
years ago.' "
" 'His sacred compile k with mo thirty years
go,'" echoed Seventy-four "his dientikal
words. "
"What wasthecompact?" nsked Mrs. Ilight
bisly anxiously.
Seventy-four lottked at Seventy-five, and
then both arose and retired to tho corner of
tho parlor, w here they engaged in a slow but
whispered ileliltcration. Presently they re
turned p.1 sat down ngain.
'We allow," said Seventy-four, quietly but
decidedly, "that you know what that sacred
compact was."
Mis. Riglitliodv lost her temtier and her
truthfulness together. "Of course," she said
hurriedly, "I know. Rut do you mean to say
that you gave this pxir man no further chance
to explain liefore you murdered him?"
Seventy-four and Seventy -tlvo loth rose
again slowly and retired. When they re
turned again and sat down, Seventy-five,
who by this time, through some subtle mag
netism, Mrs. Right Id sly Ix'gan to recognize us
the suM-rior jMiwer, said gravely:
"We wish to say, regarding tin's yer mur
der, that Seventy-four and me is equally re
sjioasilile; that wo reckon also to represent, so
tosjvak, seventy-two other gentlemen us i.i
scattered; that we are ready, Seventy-four
and me, to take and boit that responsibility,
now and ut any time, afore, every manor
men as kin lw fetched agin us. We wL.Ii to
say that this yer say of ours holds good yer
in Cnliforny, or in any part of these United
States."
"Or in Oanndy," suggested Seventy-four.
"Or in C'unudy. We wouldn't agree to cross
the watr, or go to f urrin jtnrts, unless altso
lutely necessary. We leaves tin" chise of wej
pings to your principal, ma'am, or lieing a
lady, ma'am, and bitervsted, to any ono you
may fetch to act for him. An advertisement
In any of the Sacramento papers, or a play
card or handbill stuck unto a tree near Dead
wood, saying that Seventy-four or Seventy
five w ill communicate with this yer princi
pal or agent of yours, will fetch us oilers."
Mrs Rightbody, a Lttlo alarmed and des
jvrato, saw her blunder "I mean nothing of
the kind," she said hastily. "I only expected
that you might have some further details of
this interview with Silsbie; that jierhaps you
could Ml me" a lld, bright thought crossed
Mrs, Rightbody's mind "something more
alxmt her."
The two men looked at each other.
"I mppiwe your society has no objection
to giving me information u!xut herV uui
Mrs. Rightbody eagerly.
Another quiet conversation in the earner,
and the return of lioth men.
"We want to say that we've no objection."
Mr. RightUly' hvart lat high. Her
Isjluiiess hJ made ber jrtietiutiou good. Yel
!m felt alio must not ahum the men berd
Isly. "Will you Infiirm me to what extent Mr.
Rtghlliody, my Into husband, was inUrestod
in ber"
This timo it neenied an ago to Mrs. Right
body U.foro the men returned from their sol
emn cn.iaultatiou in tho coiner. She could
both her and fisd. Unit their discus ion was
more uni naUtl thun their previous confer
ences, Hlio was a little mortillisl, however,
when they sat down, to hear Beventy-four
say flowly:
"We wish to say that wo dou't allow to say
how much."
"H'i? .'(! us a ?.."
"Do you not think that the 'sacred compact'
between Mr. Rightbody und Mr. Silsbie re
ferred to her.'"
"Wo reckon it do."
Mrs. Rightbody, Hushed and nniniated,
would have eiven worlds had her daughter
been present to hear this undoubted confirm
ation of her theory. Yet she felt a little nerv
ous Mid uncomfortable ecu on this threshold
of discovery.
"Is she l.ctv nowr"
'She's iii Tuolumne," said Seventy-four.
"A lift!" better looked arter t nan formerly,"
a. Mi d Seventy live.
"1 .see. Then Mr. Silsbie cut iced her away
"Well, ma'am, it w:us allowed as she. rumied
away. Rut it wasn't proved, nud it generally
wasn't her style."
Mrs. Rightbody trilled with her next ques
tion. "Sho was pretty, of course;"
The eyes of both men brightened.
"She was that.'" said Seventy-four em
phatically. "It would have done you good to see her?"
addetl Seventy five.
Mrs. Right boily inwardly doubted it; but,
lioforo she could ask another question, thetwo
men ngain retired to the comer for consulta
tion. When they came Lack there was a
shade more of kindliness and confidence in
their manner, and Seventy -four ojioned his
mind more f roely.
"Wo wb.li to say, ma'am, looking at the
thing, by and largo, in a far-minded way,
that, ez you seem interested, and ez Mr.
Rightliody was interested, and was, accord
to ull accounts, deceived and led away by
Silsbie, that wo don't mind listening to any
projxisition you might tnnkeas a lady allow
in' you was ekally interested."
"I understand," said Mi-s. Rightbody
quickly. "And you will furnish mo with any
papers?"
Tho two men again consulted.
"We wish to say, ma'am, that we think
she's got paiiers, but "
"I must havo them, you understand." in
terrupted Mrs. Rightbody, "at any price."
"We was nlwut to say ma'am," said Sev
enty five slowly, "that, consideriu' all things
and you being a lady you kin havo her,
papers, jicdigroo and guaranty, for $1,200."
It has been alleged that Mrs. Rightbody
asked only ono question more and then
fainted. It is known, however, that by the
next day it was understood in Dead wood that
Mrs. Ilightbody had confessed to tho vigi
lance committee that her husband, ft cele
brated Roston millionaire, anxious to gain
possession of Aimer Springer's well known
sorrel man1, had incited the unfortunate Josh
Silsbie to steal it; and that finally, failing in
this, the widow of tho deceased Roston mil
lionaire was now in personal negotiation with
the owners.
Ilowlioit, Miss Alice, returning homo that
afternoon, found her mother with u violent
headache.
"Wo will leave here by the next steamer,"
said Mi's. Rightbody languidly. "Mr. Ryder
luus promised to accompany us."
"Rut, mother "
"The climate, Alice, is overrated. My
nerves are already suffering from it. The as
sociations are unlit for you, and Mr. Marvin
is naturally impatient"
Miss Alice colored slightly.
"Rut your quest, mother"
"I've abandoned it"
"Rut I have not," said Alice, quietly. "Do
you reminilier my guide nt tho Y'osomito
Stanislaus Joe? Well, Stanislaus Joo Is who
do you think?"
Mrs. Rightbody wns languidly indifferent
"Well, Stanislaus Joo is tin son of Joshua
Silsbie."
M rs. Rightbody sat upright in astonish
ment ""es. Rut, mother, ho knows nothing of
what we know. His father treated him
shamefully, and set him cruelly ndrifc years
ago; and, when ho was hung, theixxir fellow,
in sheer disgrace, changed his name."
"Rut, if ho knows nothing of has father s
compact, of what interest is this?"
"Oh, nothing! Oidy I thought it might lead
to something."
Mrs. Richtbody suspected that "some-
thing," and asked sharply, "And pray how
did you llnd it out? You did not speak of tt
ti th.i -nllv w
"Oh! I didn't And it out till to-day," said
MLss Alice, walking to the window. "He
happened to bo here, and told me."
PART
IV.
P Mrs. Rightbody's
friends had len
astounded by her
singular and unex
pected pilgrimage
to Calif omiaso
soon after her bus
band's decease, they
were still more es
tonnded by the In
formation, a year
later, that the was
engaged to be mar-
riedtoa Mr. Ryder,
of whom only the -ant history was known,
that be was a falifornlan, and former corn-
gpondent of ber buibaud. It was undeniable .
tliat th man was wealthy, and o idently no
niero adventurer; it was rumored that ho was
courageoux and manly; but even those who
delighted in his wild humor were shocked at
bis grnmnir and slang. If! wai said that
Mr. Marvin had but ono interview with his
father-in-law elect, and returned so su
premely disgusted that the mutch was broken
oft. The horse stealing story, more or less
garbled, found its way through lips that pro
tended to decry it, vet eagerly relented it.
Only one member nt .he Rightbody family
and a new one save them from utter os
tracism. It was ycung Mr. Ryder, tho
adopted son of tho prosjioctive bond of tho
household, whoso culture, manners and gen
eral elegance fascinated and tlirilled Roston
with a new sensation. It seemed to many
that Miss Alicq should, in the vicinity of this
rare exotic, forget her former enthusiasm for
a professional life; but tho young man was
pitied by society, and various plans for di
verting him from any mesalliance wilh the
Rightliody family were eoueoctod.
It was a wintry night, and tho second an
niversary of Mr. Rightbody's death, that a
light was burning in his library. Rut tlie
dead man's chair was occupied by young Mr.
Ryder, adopted son of the new proprietor vt
the mansion; and lct'ore him stood Alice,
w ith her dark eyes fixed on tho table.
"There must have been something in it, Joe,
believe me. Did you never hour your futher
speak of mine?"
"Never."
"Rut you say he was college bred, nndls'ru
n gentleman, and in bin youth ho must havo
bad many friends."
"Alice," said the young man gravely, "when
I have done something to ivdivin my name
and wear it ngain liefore these people, bciore
jo, it would l e well to revive the po.st. Rut
till then "
Rut Alice was not to bo put down. "I re
inemlier," she went, on, scarcely heeding him,
"that when I came in that night papa was
reading a letter mid setaiul to lio discon
certed." "A letter:"
"Yes; but," lidded Alice, with n sigh, "when
we found him here insensible, t lu re was no
letter on bis ktsou. lie must have deployed
it."
"Did you ever look among bis papers? If
found it might lie a clew."
The young man glanced toward the cabi
net. Alice read his eyes and answered:
"Oh, dear, no I The cabinet contained only
his papers, all perfectly arranged you know
how methodical were bis habits ami some
old business and private letters, ull carefully
put away."
"Let us see them," said tho young man, ris
ing. They opened drawer after drawer; files
upon files of letters and business papers accu
rately folded and filed. Suddenly Alice ut
tered a little cry and picked upu quaint ivory
paper knife lying nt tho bottom of a drawer.
"It was missing the next day and never
could be found; ho must have mislaid it here.
This is tho drawer, said Alice eagerly.
Hero wns a clew. Rut tho lower part of
tho drawer was filled with old letters not la
beled, yet neatly arranged in files. Suddenly
ho stopped and said, "Put them back, Alice,
ut once."
"Why?"
"Some of these letters aro in my father's
handwriting."
"Tho nioro reason w hy should seo them,"
said the girl inqierativcly. "Hero, you take
part and I'll take part and we'll get through
quicker."
There was a certain decision and independ
ence hi her manner which ho had learned to
respect. He took the letters and in silence
read them with her. They were old college
letters, so filled with IioyLsh dreams, ambi
tions, aspirations, and Utopian theories, that
I fear neither of these young people eveu
recognized their parents in tho dead ashes of
the past They were loth grave, until Alice
uttered a little hysterical cry and dropped
her face in her hands. Joo was instantly bo
side her.
"It's nothing; Joo, nothing. Don't read it,
please; please, don't It's so funny! it's so
very queer 1"
'
n
U1C nothing, Joe, nothing. Dorit read if."
But Joe bad, after a slight, half-playful
struggle, taken the letter from the girl. Then
ho read aloud tho words written by his father
thirty years ago:
"I thank you, dear friend, for all you say
about my wife and loy. I thank you for re
minding me of our boyish compact. Ho will
be ready to fulfill it, I know, if ho loves those
his father love?, even u you suould marry
years later. I am glad for your sake, for
both our sakes, that it is a boy. Heaven
send you a good wife, dear Adams, and a
daughter, to make my son equally happy."
Joe Silsbio looked down, took the half
laughing, half-tearf ul face in his hands, kissed
ber forehead, and, with tears iu his grave
eyes, said, "Amenl"
.
I am inclined to think that this sentiment
was echoed heartily by Mrs. Rightbody's
former acquaintances, when, a year later,
Miss Alice was united to a professional gen
tleman of honor and renown, yet who w as
known to bo the son of a conv'cted horse
thief. A few remembered the previous Cali
foniian story, and found corroborxtion there
for; but a majority lielioved it a just reward
to Miss Alice for her couducl to Mr. Marvin,
and, as ilifs Alice cheerfully accepted it in
that liht, I do not see why I may not end
my story with happiness to all concerned,
THB tsa
.WHY IS IT
That rheumatntn and neuralgia are to
prevalent? This question bos not been
satisfactorily answered, but it ii certain
that these diseases are not only the most
painful but among the mobt common, and
some member of nearly every family in th
land is the victim of one of these dretd
tormentors. Ladies seem to be peculiarly
liable to neuralgic attacks, which, in tha
form of neuralgic headache, pain in th
back, or nervous pains are of constant oc
currence. Not until tho discovery of Athlo
phoros had any remedy been found for
either rheumatism, neuralgia or nervous
headache, and they were generally con
ceded to be incurable, but Athlopboros
has been proved to be not only a certain
cure for these diseases, in all their varied
forms, but a tne remedy. If, in th us
of Athlopboros, the bowels are kept fredy
open, its success is certain, and to aid this,
Athlophoros Pills are recommended,
which, while providing the necessary
cathartic, will be found to be a valuable
aid to the action of the medicine. Athlo
phoros is no experiment, it has been tested
and has proved its wonderful efficacy.
The Athlophoros Pills were originally
prepared as a remedy for use in connection
with Athlophoros. for rheumatism and
neuralgia and kindred complaints. Used
in connection with that remedy, they are
a certain cure for either of these very com
mon and distressing diseases. They have
also been found to bean invaluable remedy
for any ami all diseases arising from vitiated
blood or general debility. They are es
pecially valuable for nervous debility, blood
poisoning, dyspepsia, distress after eating,
headache, constipation, loss of appetite,
and all stomach or liver troubles. For
diseases of women thev are invaluable.
These pills are perfectly harmless und may
be safely used by ndults or children. (
Testimonials of those who have been
cured will be sent free on application.
Every druggist should keep Athlophoros
and Athlophoros Pills, but where they can
not be bought of the druggist, the Athlo
phoros Co., 1 1 2 Wall St., New York, will
send cither (carriage tiaiii) on receipt of
I regular price, which is $1.00 per bottle
for Athlophoros and 50c. for Pills.
cMrf (Y.inrh, Col(K Il'mm'tie, Croup, Anttima,
illollt liltK Whool'lnif C'Hltfll. Ineipielit r.lwun-
III. II, llllll ITllI'Vt'N I'l.IlMllltllllTt
HTHUIIM ill atlVltlK'Oll ftttttft.fl or
lie dl-fane. Trifl & rtrt. Olli-
tion. Tim (lemiliiP Dr. 1111$
CmifH Sfirup in 8'. til only In
irit'itt imi'twr. nnil Itciun oar
.-...riwO.t....) t .-...'...Viirbu til 1. if. !
.j7w Art ... . . ... .. .
w'fiLrf'WiX yirili 'inifinii-7iVf, anil tho
'3T3B,iS tac-simtlu Kiinmlunw utJ'Jtn H'.
r.ttll .f- .1. r. Mnirr ,t Co., Sole
"uc if i-,.D Ht lialUniorit. Sid.. V. S. A.
rhrw l.nnne'H IMinis The (treat Tohareo An
Mole! l'rice 10 I U. Sold by ull Drueglsts.
PUBLIC SALE
On Wednesday. Deo. 8, 1sll. nt llluffdiiln Farm
near Ottawa. III., I will otter the f lowing I'uro
lirul Muck: '21 head f Mhnrtlioni Cattle, inclnd
iiiK U extra Rood Cows and Heifers, Hiid 12 fine
yoiint! Hulls, from H nioiiilisto 2 years old, anionic
wliicli are sweepstakes mid hrst-pmo winners at
(inn of tlm leuduiK fairs in Illinois; 150 Cotswnld
Sheen, both sexes, descendants from tlio most
noted ducks in Knulund. and inchnliiiK the
swHepstakes pen Ht Minnesota State Kuir iu 1886;
25 Shropshire Down Kwes and Hums, all irootl
ones. 1 think 1 may candidly say that my flock
has won more prizes at lending shows during the
imst oiulit years ttiim any other in America.
The Clytlesdiilo Htallions Duke of Ottawa,
2. 1 IU, 3 years old, and woiKhinir more than a ton,
conceded by ninny to be the largest and le.-1 colt
in our state. Jiofty the 4th, 2,0), 5 years old,
whoso colts have always boon prite winner
wherever shown. Stirling Hoy, 8 years old, win
ner of 2d prize at "Tho treat St. Louis Fa-r" in
1HH5. A'so two liili grade yearlings. A raro op
tiortunitv is thus otfered thosH ilenirinR some of
I the best, stock in the county at their own price.
I will also ollor, should n lm Uesired. my no
Htock Farm consisting of 32(1 acres, bountifully
Mtuiit.'tl oa a tino road, near to markot, under a
high Htiile of cultivation, being well drained und
watered by an inexhaustible Artesian Wull.
Fasy terms, winch will he made known on day
of sale. r'P-MWS.
PARDREDOE'S
mi Offer!
We have just inaugurated thegrand
est sale of Dry Goods ever known iu the
West.
ONE MILLION DOLLARS
worth of goods to he marked down, in
cluding Cloaks, Silks, Dress Goods,
Linens, Carpets, Underwear, Flannels
and Blankets, Domestics, Hosiery,
Fancy Goods, Crockery, and in fact,
everything kept by a flrst-class Dry
Goods House.
SPECIAL OFFER.
To prove the value of this paper as
an advertising medium, we will give
during this sale (which will last one
month) to anyone sending or bringing
this advertisement,
An Extra 6 Discount,
Making this positively oneof theujraad
est opportunities to liny dry goods ever
known. Kemeniber this discount applies
to everything in the store.
NOTICE!
All g'Kds marked in plain figures.
Only one price. Money refunded if
returned in gefod condition.
Look Everywhere Then See Us.
Special attention paid to mail orders.
C.V.fiE. PARDRIDGE,
MAIN STORE,
112, IU and 116 Stale Street, Chicago, III.
ON 30 DAYS' TRIAL.
ELASTIC TRUSS
othrn. U coo hM. with Self.
fed turning Hail in rcnicr.aaapM
turlf K H pl1on of th
Wody while tho ball in thoci?
Fin lu
ressva oocn imw-
ual a person
loe
..k.k.ii... With llirti t rracsurr tn nrf
Wlin i"w . ... . ,...! r
nruin It la
r. tfnriW" and f hmn. SenC bT mail. Ol
SwkLSsTVS !. Clh. Cktwgw. lib .
ctuanirv.
m AT -rw