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an evil smile。
〃I think I understand you； Mr。 Jack Riggs； orI beg your pardon
Rivers； or whatever your real name may be；〃 he began slowly。 〃Sadie
Collinson； the mistress of Judge Godfrey Chivers； formerly of Kentucky；
was good enough company for you the day you dropped down upon us in
our little house in the hollow of Galloper's Ridge。 We were living quite an
idyllic； pastoral life there； weren't we？ she and me； hidden from the
censorious eye of society and Collinson； obeying only the voice of
Nature and the little birds。 It was a happy time；〃 he went on with a grimly
affected sigh； disregarding his companion's impatient gesture。 〃You were
young then； waging YOUR fight against society； and freshuncommonly
fresh； I may sayfrom your first exploit。 And a very stupid； clumsy；
awkward exploit； too； Mr。 Riggs； if you will pardon my freedom。 You
wanted money； and you had an ugly temper； and you had lost both to a
gambler； so you stopped the coach to rob him； and had to kill two men to
get back your paltry thousand dollars； after frightening a whole coach…load
of passengers； and letting Wells； Fargo； and Co。's treasure…box with fifty
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thousand dollars in it slide。 It was a stupid； a blundering； a CRUEL act；
Mr。 Riggs； and I think I told you so at the time。 It was a waste of energy
and material； and made you； not a hero； but a stupid outcast！ I think I
proved this to you； and showed you how it might have been done。〃
〃Dry up on that；〃 interrupted Riggs impatiently。 〃You offered to
become my partner； and you did。〃
〃Pardon me。 Observe； my impetuous friend； that my contention is
that youYOUpoisoned our blameless Eden in the hollow； that YOU
were our serpent； and that this Sadie Collinson； over whom you have
become so fastidious； whom you knew as my mistress； was obliged to
become our confederate。 You did not object to her when we formed our
gang； and her house became our hiding…place and refuge。 You took
advantage of her woman's wit and fine address in disposing of our booty；
you availed yourself； with the rest； of the secrets she gathered as MY
mistress； just as you were willing to profit by the superior address of her
paramouryour humble servantwhen your own face was known to the
sheriff； and your old methods pronounced brutal and vulgar。 Excuse me；
but I must insist upon THIS； and that you dropped down upon me and
Sadie Collinson exactly as you have dropped down here upon her
husband。〃
〃Enough of this！〃 said Riggs angrily。 〃I admit the woman is part and
parcel of the gang； and gets her share；or you get it for her；〃 he added
sneeringly； 〃but that doesn't permit her to mix herself with my family
affairs。〃
〃Pardon me again；〃 interrupted Chivers softly。 〃Your memory； my
dear Riggs； is absurdly defective。 We knew that you had a young sister
in the mountains； from whom you discreetly wished to conceal your real
position。 We respected； and I trust shall always respect； your noble
reticence。 But do you remember the night you were taking her to school
at Santa Clara；two nights before the fire；when you were recognized on
the road near Skinner's； and had to fly with her for your life； and brought
her to us；your two dear old friends； 'Mr。 and Mrs。 Barker of Chicago；'
who had a pastoral home in the forest？ You remember how we took her
in； yes； doubly took her in；and kept your secret from her？ And do you
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remember how this woman （this mistress of MINE and OUR confederate）；
while we were away； saved her from the fire on our only horse； caught the
stage…coach； and brought her to the convent？〃
Riggs walked towards the window； turned； and coming back； held out
his hand。 〃Yes； she did it； and I thanked her； as I thank you。〃 He stopped
and hesitated； as the other took his hand。 〃But； blank it all； Chivers； don't
you see that Alice is a young girl； and this woman isyou know what I
mean。 Somebody might recognize HER； and that would be worse for
Alice than even if it were known what Alice's BROTHER was。 Gd！ if
these two things were put together； the girl would be ruined forever。〃
〃Jack；〃 said Chivers suddenly； 〃you want this woman out of the way。
Welldash it all！she nearly separated us； and I'll be frank with you as
between man and man。 I'll give her up！ There are women enough in
the world； and hang it； we're partners； after all！〃
〃Then you abandon her？〃 said Riggs slowly； his eyes fixed on his
companion。
〃Yes。 She's getting a little too maundering lately。 It will be a
ticklish job to manage； for she knows too much； but it will be done。
There's my hand on it。〃
Riggs not only took no notice of the proffered hand； but his former
look of discontent came back with an ill…concealed addition of loathing
and contempt。
〃We'll drop that now；〃 he said shortly； 〃we've talked here alone long
enough already。 The men are waiting for us。〃 He turned on his heel
into the inner room。 Chivers remained standing by the chimney until his
stiffened smile gave way under the working of his writhing lips； then he
turned to the bar； poured out and swallowed another glass of whiskey at a
single gulp； and followed his partner with half…closed lids that scarcely
veiled his ominous eyes。
The men； with the exception of the sentinels stationed on the rocky
ledge and the one who was guarding the unfortunate Collinson； were
drinking and gambling away their perspective gains around a small pile of
portmanteaus and saddle…bags； heaped in the centre of the room。 They
contained the results of their last successes； but one pair of saddle…bags
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bore the mildewed appearance of having been cached； or buried； some
time before。 Most of their treasure was in packages of gold dust； and
from the conversation that ensued； it appeared that； owing to the
difficulties of disposing of it in the mountain towns； the plan was to
convey it by ordinary pack mule to the unfrequented valley； and thence by
an emigrant wagon； on the old emigrant trail； to the southern counties；
where it could be no longer traced。 Since the recent robberies； the local
express companies and bankers had refused to receive it； except the
owners were known and identified。 There had been but one box of coin；
which had already been speedily divided up among the band。 Drafts；
bills； bonds； and valuable papers had been usually intrusted to one
〃Charley；〃 who acted as a flying messenger to a corrupt broker in
Sacramento； who played the role of the band's 〃fence。〃 It had been the
duty of Chivers to control this delicate business； even as it had been his
peculiar function to open all the letters and documents。 This he had
always lightened by characteristic levity and sarcastic comments on the
private revelations of the contents。 The rough； ill…spelt letter of the miner
to his wife； inclosing a draft； or the more sentimental effusion of an
emigrant swain to his sweetheart； with the gift of a 〃specimen；〃 had
always received due attention at the hands of this elegant humorist。 But
the operation was conducted to…night with business severity and silence。
The two leaders sat opposite to each ot