By the first of June
she was able to work. And since then she has earned an honest living,
scrubbing floors. Here is her last letter."
Keeler took the proffered sheet and read:
"San Francisco, Sept. 5, 1879.
Mr. Robert Palmer.
Dear Sir:
I have just read about the murder of Mr. Cummins. The papers say he
lived at Moore's Flat, and worked a claim once on Fillmore Hill. So
he must have been a friend of yours. It is too bad. I might help
you find the murderers, as all the bad men of Nevada County are
known down here. If you will come down here or send somebody, I
will help you all I can.
I am getting along all right.
Very respectfully,
Harriet Somers."
"I thought you said her name was Chesney," remarked Keeler, as he
returned the letter.
"Oh well, she claims to have been married to two or three different men.
Calling herself Mrs. Somers seems to help her keep her self-respect. She
says Somers is dead. For my part, I never enquired whether there ever
was a sure-enough Mr. Somers or not. But I am sure she can help us in
this business. I wish you would have a talk with the woman.
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