Page:Scribner's Monthly, Volume 12 (May–October 1876).djvu/329

Rh Mission of San Antonio. I can prove that," said Dumphy excitedly.

"Suppose you can. Nobody imagines you so indiscreet as to have had another grant conveyed to you directly, while you were negotiating with Gabriel for his. Don't be foolish! I know you had nothing to do with the forged grant. I am only suggesting how you have laid yourself open to the charges of a woman of whom you are likely to make an enemy, and might have made an ally. If you calculate to revenge Ramirez, consider first if you care to have it proved that he was a confidential agent of yours—as they will, if you don't help them. Never mind whether they committed the murder. You are not their judge or accuser. You must help them for your own sake. No!" continued Arthur after a pause, "congratulate yourself that the Vigilance Committee did not hang Gabriel Conroy, and that you have not to add revenge to the other motives of a desperate and scheming woman."

"But are you satisfied that Mrs. Conroy is really the person who stands behind Col. Starbottle and personates my wife?"

"I am," replied Arthur positively.

Dumphy hesitated a moment. Should he tell Arthur of Col. Starbottle's interview with him, and the delivery and subsequent loss of the mysterious envelope? Arthur read his embarrassment plainly, and precipitated his decision with a single question.

"Have you had any further interview with Col. Starbottle?"

Thus directly adjured, Dumphy hesitated no longer, but at once repeated the details of his late conversation with Starbottle, his successful bribery of the Colonel, the delivery of the sealed envelope under certain conditions, and its mysterious disappearance. Arthur heard him through with quiet interest, but when Mr. Dumphy spoke of the loss of the envelope, he fixed his eyes on Mr. Dumphy's with a significance that was unmistakable.

"You say you lost this envelope trusted to your honor!" said Arthur with slow and insulting deliberation. "Lost it, without having opened it or learned its contents? That was very unfortunate, Mr. Dumphy, ve-ry un-for-tu-nate!" The indignation of an honorable man at the imputation of some meanness foreign to his nature, is weak compared with the anger of a rascal accused of an offense which he might have committed, but didn't. Mr. Dumphy turned almost purple! It was so evident that he had not been guilty of concealing the envelope, and did not know its contents, that Arthur was satisfied.

"He denied any personal knowledge of Mrs. Conroy in this affair?" queried Arthur.

"Entirely! He gave me to understand that his instructions were received from another party unknown to me," said Dumphy; "look yer, Poinsett, you're wrong! I don't believe it is that woman."

Arthur shook his head. "No one else possesses the information necessary to blackmail you. No one else has a motive in doing it."

The door opened to a clerk bearing a card. Mr. Dumphy took it impatiently and read aloud, "Col. Starbottle of Siskiyou!" He then turned an anxious face to Poinsett.

"Good," said that gentleman quietly, "admit him!" As the clerk disappeared, Arthur turned to Dumphy—"I suppose it was to meet this man you sent for me?"

"Yes," returned Dumphy, with a return of his own brusqueness.

"Then hold your tongue, and leave everything to me!"

The door opened as he spoke, to Col. Starbottle's frilled shirt and expanding bosom, followed at a respectful interval by the gallant Colonel himself. He was evidently surprised by the appearance of Mr. Dumphy's guest, but by no means dashed in his usual chivalrous port and bearing.

"My legal adviser, Mr. Poinsett," said Dumphy, introducing Arthur briefly.

The gallant Colonel bowed stiffly, while Arthur, with a smile of fascinating courtesy and deference that astonished Dumphy in proportion as it evidently flattered and gratified Col. Starbottle, stepped forward and extended his hand.

"As a younger member of the profession I can hardly claim the attention of one so experienced as Col. Starbottle, but as the friend of poor Henry Beeswinger I can venture to take the hand of the man who so gallantly stood by him as his second, two years ago." "Ged, sir," said Col. Starbottle, absolutely empurpling with pleasure, and exploding his handkerchief from his sweltering breast. "Ged! you—er—er do me proud! I am—er—gratified, sir, to meet any friend of er—er—gentleman like Hank Beeswinger—blank me! I remember the whole affair, sir, as if it was yesterday. I do, blank me! Gratifying, Mr. Poinsett, to every gentleman concerned. Your friend, sir—I'm proud to meet you—I am, blank me,—killed, sir,