a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第14章

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houses　even　to　their　most　secret　recesses；　as　if　outraged　Nature
was　trying　to　revenge　herself。　　Mud　was　brought　into　the　saloons
and　barrooms　and　express　offices；　on　boots；　on　clothes；　on　baggage；
and　sometimes　appeared　mysteriously　in　splashes　of　red　color　on　the
walls；　without　visible　conveyance。　　The　dust　of　six　months；　closely
packed　in　cornice　and　carving；　yielded　under　the　steady　rain　a　thin
yellow　paint；　that　dropped　on　wayfarers　or　unexpectedly　oozed　out
of　ceilings　and　walls　on　the　wretched　inhabitants　within。　　The
outskirts　of　Rough…and…Ready　and　the　dried　hills　round　Los　Gatos
did　not　appear　to　fare　much　better；　the　new　vegetation　had　not　yet
made　much　headway　against　the　dead　grasses　of　the　summer；　the　pines
in　the　hollow　wept　lugubriously　into　a　small　rivulet　that　had
sprung　suddenly　into　life　near　the　old　trail；　everywhere　was　the
sound　of　dropping；　splashing；　gurgling；　or　rushing　waters。

More　hideous　than　ever；　the　new　Mulrady　house　lifted　itself　against
the　leaden　sky；　and　stared　with　all　its　large…framed；　shutterless
windows　blankly　on　the　prospect；　until　they　seemed　to　the　wayfarer
to　become　mere　mirrors　set　in　the　walls；　reflecting　only　the　watery
landscape；　and　unable　to　give　the　least　indication　of　light　or　heat
within。　　Nevertheless；　there　was　a　fire　in　Mulrady's　private　office
that　December　afternoon；　of　a　smoky；　intermittent　variety；　that
sufficed　more　to　record　the　defects　of　hasty　architecture　than　to
comfort　the　millionaire　and　his　private　secretary；　who　had　lingered
after　the　early　withdrawal　of　the　clerks。　　For　the　next　day　was
Christmas；　and；　out　of　deference　to　the　near　approach　of　this
festivity；　a　half…holiday　had　been　given　to　the　employees。
〃They'll　want；　some　of　them；　to　spend　their　money　before　to…morrow；
and　others　would　like　to　be　able　to　rise　up　comfortably　drunk
Christmas　morning；〃　the　superintendent　had　suggested。　　Mr。　Mulrady
had　just　signed　a　number　of　checks　indicating　his　largess　to　those
devoted　adherents　with　the　same　unostentatious；　undemonstrative；
matter…of…fact　manner　that　distinguished　his　ordinary　business。
The　men　had　received　it　with　something　of　the　same　manner。　　A　half…
humorous　〃Thank　you；　sir〃as　if　to　show　that；　with　their　patron；
they　tolerated　this　deference　to　a　popular　custom；　but　were　a
little　ashamed　of　giving　way　to　itexpressed　their　gratitude　and
their　independence。

〃I　reckon　that　the　old　lady　and　Mamie　are　having　a　high　old　time　in
some　of　them　gilded　pallises　in　St。　Petersburg　or　Berlin　about　this
time。　　Them　diamonds　that　I　ordered　at　Tiffany　ought　to　have
reached　'em　about　now；　so　that　Mamie　could　cut　a　swell　at　Christmas
with　her　war…paint。　　I　suppose　it's　the　style　to　give　presents　in
furrin'　countries　ez　it　is　here；　and　I　allowed　to　the　old　lady　that
whatever　she　orders　in　that　way　she　is　to　do　in　Californy　styleno
dollar…jewelry　and　galvanized…watches　business。　　If　she　wants　to
make　a　present　to　any　of　them　nobles　ez　has　been　purlite　to　her；
it's　got　to　be　something　that　Rough…and…Ready　ain't　ashamed　of。　　I
showed　you　that　pin　Mamie　bought　me　in　Paris；　didn't　I？　　It's　just
come　for　my　Christmas　present。　　No！　　I　reckon　I　put　it　in　the　safe；
for　them　kind　o'　things　don't　suit　my　style：　but　s'pose　I　orter
sport　it　to…morrow。　　It　was　mighty　thoughtful　in　Mamie；　and　it　must
cost　a　lump；　it's　got　no　slouch　of　a　pearl　in　it。　　I　wonder　what
Mamie　gave　for　it？〃

〃You　can　easily　tell；　the　bill　is　here。　　You　paid　it　yesterday；〃
said　Slinn。　　There　was　no　satire　in　the　man's　voice；　nor　was　there
the　least　perception　of　irony　in　Mulrady's　manner；　as　he　returned
quietly；

〃That's　so；　it　was　suthin'　like　a　thousand　francs；　but　French
money；　when　you　pan　it　out　as　dollars　and　cents；　don't　make　so
much；　after　all。〃　　There　was　a　few　moments'　silence；　when　he
continued；　in　the　same　tone　of　voice；　〃Talkin'　o'　them　things；
Slinn；　I've　got　suthin'　for　you。〃　　He　stopped　suddenly。　　Ever
watchful　of　any　undue　excitement　in　the　invalid；　he　had　noticed　a
slight　flush　of　disturbance　pass　over　his　face；　and　continued
carelessly；　〃But　we'll　talk　it　over　to…morrow；　a　day　or　two　don't
make　much　difference　to　you　and　me　in　such　things；　you　know。
P'raps　I'll　drop　in　and　see　you。　　We'll　be　shut　up　here。〃

〃Then　you're　going　out　somewhere？〃　asked　Slinn；　mechanically。

〃No；〃　said　Mulrady；　hesitatingly。　　It　had　suddenly　occurred　to　him
that　he　had　nowhere　to　go　if　he　wanted　to；　and　he　continued；　half
in　explanation；　〃I　ain't　reckoned　much　on　Christmas；　myself。
Abner's　at　the　Springs；　it　wouldn't　pay　him　to　come　here　for　a　day
even　if　there　was　anybody　here　he　cared　to　see。　　I　reckon　I'll
hang　round　the　shanty；　and　look　after　things　generally。　　I　haven't
been　over　the　house　upstairs　to　put　things　to　rights　since　the
folks　left。　　But　YOU　needn't　come　here；　you　know。〃

He　helped　the　old　man　to　rise；　assisted　him　in　putting　on　his
overcoat；　and　than　handed　him　the　cane　which　had　lately　replaced
his　crutches。

〃Good…by；　old　man！　　You　musn't　trouble　yourself　to　say　'Merry
Christmas'　now；　but　wait　until　you　see　me　again。　　Take　care　of
yourself。〃

He　slapped　him　lightly　on　the　shoulder；　and　went　back　into　his
private　office。　　He　worked　for　some　time　at　his　desk；　and　then　laid
his　pen　aside；　put　away　his　papers　methodically；　placing　a　large
envelope　on　his　private　secretary's　vacant　table。　　He　then　opened
the　office　door　and　ascended　the　staircase。　　He　stopped　on　the
first　landing　to　listen　to　the　sound　of　rain　on　the　glass　skylight；
that　seemed　to　echo　through　the　empty　hall　like　the　gloomy　roll　of
a　drum。　　It　was　evident　that　the　searching　water　had　found　out　the
secret　sins　of　the　house's　construction；　for　there　were　great
fissures　of　discoloration　in　the　white　and　gold　paper　in　the
corners　of　the　wall。　　There　was　a　strange　odor　of　the　dank　forest
in　the　mirrored　drawing…room；　as　if　the　rain　had　brought　out　the
sap　again　from　the　unseasoned　timbers；　the　blue　and　white　satin
furniture　looked　cold；　and　the　marble　mantels　and　centre　tables　had
taken　upon　themselves　the　clamminess　of　tombstones。　　Mr。　Mulrady；
who　had　always　retained　his　old　farmer…like　habit　of　taking　off　his
coat　with　his　hat　on　entering　his　own　house；　and　appearing　in　his
shirt…sleeves；　to　indicate　domestic　ease　and　security；　was　obliged
to　replace　it；　on　account　of　the　chill。　　He　had　never　felt　at　home
in　this　room。　　Its　strangeness　had　lately　been　heightened　by　Mrs。
Mulrady's　purchase　of　a　family　portrait　of　some　one　she　didn't
know；　but　who；　she　had　alleged；　resembled　her　〃Uncle　Bob；〃　which
hung　on　the　wall　beside　some　paintings　in　massive　frames。　　Mr。
Mulrady　cast　a　hurried　glance　at　the　portrait　that；　on　the　strength
of　a　high　coat…collar　and　high　top　curlboth　rolled　with　equal
precision　and　singular　sameness　of　colorhad　always　glared　at
Mulrady　as　if　HE　was　the　intruder；　and；　passing　through　his　wife's
gorgeous　bedroom；　entered　the　little　dressing…room；　where　he　still
slept　on　the　smallest　of　cots；　with　hastily　improvised
surroundings；　as　if　he　was　a　bailiff　in　〃possession。〃　　He　didn't
linger　here　long；　but；　taking　a　key　from　a　drawer；　continued　up　the
staircase；　to　the　ominous　funeral　marches　of　the　beating　rain　on
the　skylight；　and　paused　on　the　landing　to　glance　into　his　son's
and　daughter's　bedrooms；　duplicates　of　the　bizarre　extravagance
below。　　If　he　were　seeking　some　characteristic　traces　of　his　absent
family；　they　certainly　were　not　here　in　the　painted　and　still　damp
blazoning　of　their　later　successes。　　He　ascended　another　staircase；
and；　passing　to　the　wing　of　the　house；　paused　before　a　small　door；
which　was　locked。　　Already　the　ostentatious　decorations　of　wall　and
passages　were　left　behind；　and　the　plain　lath…and…plaster　partition
of　the　attic　lay　before　him。　　He　unlocked　the　door；　and　threw　it
open。


CHAPTER　V


The　apartment　he　entered　was　really　only　a　lumber…room　or　loft　over
the　wing　of　the　house；　which　had　been　left　bare　and　unfinished；　and
which　revealed　in　its　meagre　skeleton　of　beams　and　joints　the
hollow　sham　of　the　whole　structure。　　But　in　more　violent　contrast
to　the　fresher　glories　of　the　other　part　of　the　house　were　its
contents；　which　were　the　heterogeneous　collect