, and even went so far as to
openly cast discredit on the sincerity of his grief. They reserved an
ironical condolence for Col. Starbottle, overbearing that excellent
man with untimely and demonstrative sympathy in bar-rooms, saloons,
and other localities not generally deemed favorable to the display
of sentiment. "She was alliz a skittish thing, kernel," said one
sympathizer, with a fine affectation of gloomy concern, and great
readiness of illustration; "and it's kinder nat'ril thet she'd get away
some day, and stampede that theer colt: but thet she should shake YOU,
kernel, thet she should just shake you--is what gits me. And they do
say thet you jist hung around thet hotel all night, and payrolled them
corriders, and histed yourself up and down them stairs, and meandered
in and out o' thet piazzy, and all for nothing?" It was another generous
and tenderly commiserating spirit that poured additional oil and wine
on the colonel's wounds. "The boys yer let on thet Mrs. Tretherick
prevailed on ye to pack her trunk and a baby over from the house to the
stage-offis, and that the chap ez did go off with her thanked you, and
offered you two short bits, and sed ez how he liked your looks, and ud
employ you agin--and now you say it ain't so? Well, I'll tell the boys
it aint so, and I'm glad I met you, for stories DO get round."

Happily for Mrs. Tretherick's reputation, however, the Chinaman in
Tretherick's employment, who was the only eye-witness of her flight,
stated that she was unaccompanied, except by the child. He further
deposed, that, obeying her orders, he had stopped the Sacramento coach,
and secured a passage for herself and child to San Francisco. It was
true that Ah Fe's testimony was of no legal value. But nobody doubted
it. Even those who were sceptical of the Pagan's ability to recognize
the sacredness of the truth admitted his passionless, unprejudiced
unconcern. But it would appear, from a hitherto unrecorded passage of
this veracious chronicle, that herein they were mistaken.

It was about six months after the disappearance of Mrs. Tretherick,
that Ah Fe, while working in Tretherick's lot, was hailed by two passing
Chinamen. They were the ordinary mining coolies, equipped with long
poles and baskets for their usual pilgrimages. An animated conversation
at once ensued between Ah Fe and his brother Mongolians,--a conversation
characterized by that usual shrill volubility and apparent animosity
which was at o