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a few days；possibly for an indefinite period。 We respect the sacred rites
of hospitality too much to turn you out of it； indeed； nothing could be
more distasteful to our feelings than to have you； in your own person；
spread such a disgraceful report through the chivalrous Sierras。 We must
therefore keep you a close prisoner；open； however； to an offer。 It is this：
we propose to give you five hundred dollars for this property as it stands；
provided that you leave it； and accompany a pack…train which will start to…
morrow morning for the lower valley as far as Thompson's Pass； binding
yourself to quit the State for three months and keep this matter a secret。
Three of these gentlemen will go with you。 They will point out to you
your duty； their shotguns will apprise you of any dereliction from it。
What do you say？〃
〃Who yer talking to？〃 said Collinson in a dull voice。
〃You remind us；〃 said the orator suavely； 〃that we have not yet the
pleasure of knowing。〃
〃My name's Seth Collinson。〃
There was a dead silence in the room； and every eye was fixed upon
the two men。 The orator's smile slightly stiffened。
〃Where from？〃 he continued blandly。
〃Mizzouri。〃
〃A very good place to go back to；through Thompson's Pass。 But
you haven't answered our proposal。〃
〃I reckon I don't intend to sell this house； or leave it；〃 said Collinson
simply。
〃I trust you will not make us regret the fortunate termination of your
little accident； Mr。 Collinson；〃 said the orator with a singular smile。
〃May I ask why you object to selling out？ Is it the figure？〃
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〃The house isn't mine；〃 said Collinson deliberately。 〃I built this yer
house for my wife wot I left in Mizzouri。 It's hers。 I kalkilate to keep it；
and live in it ontil she comes fur it！ And when I tell ye that she is dead；
ye kin reckon just what chance ye have of ever gettin' it。〃
There was an unmistakable start of sensation in the room； followed by
a silence so profound that the moaning of the wind on the mountain…side
was distinctly heard。 A well…built man； with a mask that scarcely
concealed his heavy mustachios； who had been standing with his back to
the orator in half contemptuous patience； faced around suddenly and made
a step forward as if to come between the questioner and questioned。 A
voice from the corner ejaculated； 〃By Gd！〃
〃Silence；〃 said the orator sharply。 Then still more harshly he turned
to the others 〃Pick him up； and stand him outside with a guard； and then
clear out； all of you！〃
The prisoner was lifted up and carried out； the room was instantly
cleared； only the orator and the man who had stepped forward remained。
Simultaneously they drew the masks from their faces； and stood looking at
each other。 The orator's face was smooth and corrupt； the full； sensual
lips wrinkled at the corners with a sardonic humor； the man who
confronted him appeared to be physically and even morally his superior；
albeit gloomy and discontented in expression。 He cast a rapid glance
around the room； to assure himself that they were alone； and then；
straightening his eyebrows as he backed against the chimney； said：
〃Dd if I like this； Chivers！ It's your affair； but it's mighty low…down
work for a man！〃
〃You might have made it easier if you hadn't knocked up Bryce's gun。
That would have settled it； though no one guessed that the cur was her
husband；〃 said Chivers hotly。
〃If you want it settled THAT WAY； there's still time；〃 returned the
other with a slight sneer。 〃You've only to tell him that you're the man that
ran away with his wife； and you'll have it out together； right on the ledge at
twelve paces。 The boys will see you through。 In fact；〃 he added； his
sneer deepening； 〃I rather think it's what they're expecting。〃
〃Thank you； Mr。 Jack Riggs；〃 said Chivers sardonically。 〃I dare say
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it would be more convenient to some people； just before our booty is
divided； if I were drilled through by a blundering shot from that hayseed；
or it would seem right to your high…toned chivalry if a dead…shot as I am
knocked over a man who may have never fired a revolver before； but I
don't exactly see it in that light； either as a man or as your equal partner。
I don't think you quite understand me； my dear Jack。 If you don't value
the only man who is identified in all California as the leader of this gang
（the man whose style and address has made it popularyes； POPULAR；
by Gd！to every man； woman； and child who has heard of him； whose
sayings and doings are quoted by the newspapers； whom people run risks
to see； who has got the sympathy of the crowd； so that judges hesitate to
issue warrants and constables to serve them）；if YOU don't see the use of
such a man； I do。 Why； there's a column and a half in the 'Sacramento
Union' about our last job； calling me the 'Claude Duval' of the Sierras； and
speaking of my courtesy to a lady！ A LADY！HIS wife； by Gd！ our
confederate！ My dear Jack； you not only don't know business values； but；
'pon my soul； you don't seem to understand humor！ Ha； ha！〃
For all his cynical levity； for all his affected exaggeration； there was
the ring of an unmistakable and even pitiable vanity in his voice； and a
self…consciousness that suffused his broad cheeks and writhed his full
mouth； but seemed to deepen the frown on Riggs's face。
〃You know the woman hates it； and would bolt if she could；even
from you；〃 said Riggs gloomily。 〃Think what she might do if she knew
her husband were here。 I tell you she holds our lives in the hollow of her
hand。〃
〃That's your fault； Mr。 Jack Riggs； you would bring your sister with
her infernal convent innocence and simplicity into our hut in the hollow。
She was meek enough before that。 But this is sheer nonsense。 I have
no fear of her。 The woman don't live who would go back on Godfrey
Chiversfor a husband！ Besides； she went off to see your sister at the
convent at Santa Clara as soon as she passed those bonds off on Charley to
get rid of！ Think of her traveling with that dd fool lawyer all the way to
Stockton； and his bonds （which we had put back in her bag） alongside of
them all the time； and he telling her he was going to stop their payment；
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and giving her the letter to mail for him！eh？ Well； we'll have time to
get rid of her husband before she gets back。 If he don't go easywell〃
〃None of that； Chivers； you understand； once for all！〃 interrupted
Riggs peremptorily。 〃If you cannot see that your making away with that
woman's husband would damn that boasted reputation you make so much
of and set every man's hand against us； I do； and I won't permit it。 It's a
rotten business enough；our coming on him as we have； and if this wasn't
the only God…forsaken place where we could divide our stuff without
danger and get it away off the highroads； I'd pull up stakes at once。〃
〃Let her stay at the convent； then； and be dd to her；〃 said Chivers
roughly。 〃She'll be glad enough to be with your sister again； and there's
no fear of her being touched there。〃
〃But I want to put an end to that； too；〃 returned Riggs sharply。 〃I do
not choose to have my sister any longer implicated with OUR confederate
or YOUR mistress。 No more of thatyou understand me？〃
The two men had been standing side by side； leaning against the
chimney。 Chivers now faced his companion； his full lips wreathed into
an evil smile。
〃I think I understand you； Mr。 Jack Riggs； orI beg your pardon
Rivers； or