“No,” said Wiles, becoming slightly suspicious and wrathful.
“Mebbe a stranger might do? I reckon thar's one passin' in the hall. Call him in,—he'll do!”
Wiles opened the door a little impatiently, yet inquisitively, as Dobbs passed. The man in bed called out, “Oh, stranger!” and, as Dobbs stopped, said, “Come yar.”
Dobbs entered a little timidly, as was his habit with strangers.
“I don't know who you be—nor care, I reckon,” said the stranger. “This yer man”—pointing to Wiles—“is Wiles. I'm Josh Sibblee of Fresno, Member of Congress from the 4th Congressional District of Californy. I'm jist lying here, with a derringer into each hand,—jist lying here kivered up and holdin' in on'y to keep from blowin' the top o' this d——d skunk's head off. I kinder feel I can't hold in any longer. What I want to say to ye, stranger, is that this yer skunk—which his name is Wiles—hez bin tryin' his d—dest to get a bribe onto Josh, and Josh, outo respect for his constituents, is jist waitin' for some stranger to waltz in and stop the d—dest fight—”
“But, my dear Mr. Sibblee, there must be some mistake,” said Wiles earnestly.
“Mistake? Strip me!”
“No! No!” said Wiles, hurriedly, as the simple-minded Dobbs was about to draw down the coverlid.
“Take him away,” said the Hon. Mr. Sibblee, “before I disgrace my constituency. They said I'd be in jail afore I get through the session. Ef you've got any humanity, stranger, snake him out, and pow'ful quick, too.”
Dobbs, quite white and aghast, looked at Wiles and hesitated. There was a slight movement in the bed. Both men started for the door; and the next minute it closed very decidedly on the member from Fresno.