The man directly opposite Mrs. Rightbody turned to the other
inquiringly.

The other man nodded his head, and replied,--

"Seventy-Four."

"Seventy-Five," promptly followed the other.

Mrs. Rightbody paused, a little confused.

"I have sent for you," she began again, "to learn something more of
the circumstances under which you gentlemen sent a despatch to my late
husband."

"The circumstances," replied Seventy-Four quietly, with a side-glance at
his companion, "panned out about in this yer style. We hung a man named
Josh Silsbie, down at Deadwood, for hoss-stealin'. When I say WE, I
speak for Seventy-Five yer as is present, as well as representin', so to
speak, seventy-two other gents as is scattered. We hung Josh Silsbie on
squar, pretty squar, evidence. Afore he was strung up, Seventy-Five yer
axed him, accordin' to custom, ef ther was enny thing he had to say,
or enny request that he allowed to make of us. He turns to Seventy-Five
yer, and--"

Here he paused suddenly, looking at his companion.

"He sez, sez he," began Seventy-Five, taking up the narrative,--"he sez,
'Kin I write a letter?' sez he. Sez I, 'Not much, ole man: ye've got
no time.' Sez he, 'Kin I send a despatch by telegraph?' I sez, 'Heave
ahead.' He sez,--these is his dientikal words,--'Send to Adam Rightbody,
Boston. Tell him to remember his sacred compack with me thirty years
ago.'"

"'His sacred compack with me thirty years ago,'" echoed
Seventy-Four,--"his dientikal words."

"What was the compact?" asked Mrs. Rightbody anxiously.

Seventy-Four looked at Seventy-Five, and then both arose, and retired
to the corner of the parlor, where they engaged in a slow but whispered
deliberation. Presently they returned, and sat down again.

"We allow," said Seventy-Four, quietly but decidedly, "that YOU know
what that sacred compact was."

Mrs. Rightbody lost her temper and her truthfulness together. "Of
course," she said hurriedly, "I know. But do you mean to say that you
gave this poor man no further chance to explain before you murdered
him?"

Seventy-Four and Seventy-Five both rose again slowly, and retired.
When they returned again, and sat down, Seventy-Five, who by this time,
through some subtile magnetism, Mrs. Rightbody began to recognize as the
superior power, said gravely,--

"We wish to say, regarding this yer murder, that Seventy-Four and me
is equally responsible; that we reckon also to represent, so to
speak, seventy-two oth