It was from Edwin
Corliss, private secretary and confidential man of affairs of William
Conniston, Senior, of Wall Street. Conniston replied immediately and
by wire. During the three days following he received and despatched
several telegrams. Since the messages have a certain bearing upon the
Great Work, they are given below in the order in which they were
received in the Valley and despatched from it:
"WM. CONNISTON, Jr.,
"Rattlesnake Valley.
"Drop everything. Come home immediately. Your father
insists. Particulars when you arrive.
"CORLISS."
"EDW. CORLISS,
"New York.
"Can't get away. Under contract. Love to dad.
"WM. CONNISTON, Jr."
"WM. CONNISTON, Jr.
"Rattlesnake Valley.
"Smash contract. Will pay damages. Your father wants you in
New York in five days.
"CORLISS."
"EDW. CORLISS,
"New York.
"Impossible. Can make hurried trip East after October first.
"WM. CONNISTON, JR."
"WM. CONNISTON, JR.,
"Rattlesnake Valley.
"Orders imperative from your father. Cables from Paris drop
everything immediately and come home.
"CORLISS."
"EDW. CORLISS,
"New York.
"I refer you to wire of yesterday.
"WM. CONNISTON, Jr."
Then came a message which puzzled Greek Conniston more deeply than the
others had done--a message _via_ cable and telegraph and telephone
from his father himself:
"WM.
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