a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第17章
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came here you seemed to like the prospect。 You used to sit there
looking at it； as if it reminded you of something。 You never said
it did。 They say you was sitting on that boulder there when you
had that last attack； you know； but；〃 he added； gently； 〃you've
forgotten all about it。〃
〃I have forgotten nothing；〃 said Slinn； rising； with a choking
voice。 〃I wish to God I had； I wish to God I could！〃
He was on his feet now； supporting himself by the table。 The
subtle generous liquor he had drunk had evidently shaken his self…
control； and burst those voluntary bonds he had put upon himself
for the last six months； the insidious stimulant had also put a
strange vigor into his blood and nerves。 His face was flushed； but
not distorted； his eyes were brilliant； but not fixed； he looked as
he might have looked to Masters in his strength three years before
on that very hillside。
〃Listen to me； Alvin Mulrady；〃 he said； leaning over him with
burning eyes。 〃Listen； while I have brain to think and strength to
utter； why I have learnt to distrust； fear； and hate them！ You
think you know my story。 Well； hear the truth from ME to…night；
Alvin Mulrady； and do not wonder if I have cause。〃
He stopped； and； with pathetic inefficiency； passed the fingers and
inward…turned thumb of his paralyzed hand across his mouth； as if
to calm himself。 〃Three years ago I was a miner； but not a miner
like you！ I had experience； I had scientific knowledge； I had a
theory； and the patience and energy to carry it out。 I selected a
spot that had all the indications； made a tunnel； and； without aid；
counsel or assistance of any kind； worked it for six months；
without rest or cessation； and with scarcely food enough to sustain
my body。 Well； I made a strike； not like you； Mulrady； not a
blunder of good luck； a fool's fortunethere； I don't blame you
for itbut in perfect demonstration of my theory； the reward of my
labor。 It was no pocket； but a vein； a lead； that I had regularly
hunted down and founda fortune！
〃I never knew how hard I had worked until that morning； I never
knew what privations I had undergone until that moment of my
success； when I found I could scarcely think or move！ I staggered
out into the open air。 The only human soul near me was a
disappointed prospector； a man named Masters； who had a tunnel not
far away。 I managed to conceal from him my good fortune and my
feeble state； for I was suspicious of himof any one； and as he
was going away that day I thought I could keep my secret until he
was gone。 I was dizzy and confused； but I remember that I managed
to write a letter to my wife； telling her of my good fortune； and
begging her to come to me； and I remember that I saw Masters go。 I
don't remember anything else。 They picked me up on the road； near
that boulder； as you know。〃
〃I know；〃 said Mulrady； with a swift recollection of the stage…
driver's account of his discovery。
〃They say；〃 continued Slinn； tremblingly； 〃that I never recovered
my senses or consciousness for nearly three years； they say I lost
my memory completely during my illness； and that by God's mercy；
while I lay in that hospital； I knew no more than a babe； they say；
because I could not speak or move； and only had my food as nature
required it； that I was an imbecile； and that I never really came
to my senses until after my son found me in the hospital。 They SAY
thatbut I tell you to…night； Alvin Mulrady；〃 he said； raising his
voice to a hoarse outcry； 〃I tell you that it is a lie！ I came to
my senses a week after I lay on that hospital cot； I kept my senses
and memory ever after during the three years that I was there；
until Harry brought his cold； hypocritical face to my bedside and
recognized me。 Do you understand？ I； the possessor of millions；
lay there a pauper。 Deserted by wife and childrena spectacle for
the curious； a sport for the doctorsAND I KNEW IT！ I heard them
speculate on the cause of my helplessness。 I heard them talk of
excesses and indulgencesI； that never knew wine or woman！ I
heard a preacher speak of the finger of God； and point to me。 May
God curse him！〃
〃Go slow； old man； go slow；〃 said Mulrady； gently。
〃I heard them speak of me as a friendless man； an outcast； a
criminala being whom no one would claim。 They were right； no one
claimed me。 The friends of others visited them； relations came and
took away their kindred； a few lucky ones got well； a few； equally
lucky； died！ I alone lived on； uncared for； deserted。
〃The first year；〃 he went on more rapidly； 〃I prayed for their
coming。 I looked for them every day。 I never lost hope。 I said
to myself； 'She has not got my letter； but when the time passes she
will be alarmed by my silence； and then she will come or send some
one to seek me。' A young student got interested in my case； and；
by studying my eyes； thought that I was not entirely imbecile and
unconscious。 With the aid of an alphabet； he got me to spell my
name and town in Illinois； and promised by signs to write to my
family。 But in an evil moment I told him of my cursed fortune； and
in that moment I saw that he thought me a fool and an idiot。 He
went away； and I saw him no more。 Yet I still hoped。 I dreamed of
their joy at finding me； and the reward that my wealth would give
them。 Perhaps I was a little weak still； perhaps a little flighty；
too； at times； but I was quite happy that year； even in my
disappointment； for I had still hope！〃
He paused； and again composed his face with his paralyzed hand； but
his manner had become less excited； and his voice was stronger。
〃A change must have come over me the second year； for I only
dreaded their coming now and finding me so altered。 A horrible
idea that they might； like the student； believe me crazy if I spoke
of my fortune made me pray to God that they might not reach me
until after I had regained my health and strengthand found my
fortune。 When the third year found me still thereI no longer
prayed for themI cursed them！ I swore to myself that they should
never enjoy my wealth； but I wanted to live； and let them know I
had it。 I found myself getting stronger； but as I had no money； no
friends； and nowhere to go； I concealed my real condition from the
doctors； except to give them my name； and to try to get some little
work to do to enable me to leave the hospital and seek my lost
treasure。 One day I found out by accident that it had been
discovered！ You understandmy treasure！that had cost me years
of labor and my reason； had left me a helpless； forgotten pauper。
That gold I had never enjoyed had been found and taken possession
of by another！〃
He checked an exclamation from Mulrady with his hand。 〃They say
they picked me up senseless from the floor； where I must have
fallen when I heard the newsI don't rememberI recall nothing
until I was confronted； nearly three weeks after； by my son； who
had called at the hospital； as a reporter for a paper； and had
accidentally discovered me through my name and appearance。 He
thought me crazy； or a fool。 I didn't undeceive him。 I did not
tell him the story of the mine to excite his doubts and derision；
or； worse （if I could bring proof to claim it）； have it perhaps
pass into his ungrateful hands。 No； I said nothing。 I let him
bring me here。 He could do no less； and common decency obliged him
to do that。〃
〃And what proof could you show of your claim？〃 asked Mulrady；
gravely。
〃If I had that letterif I could find Masters；〃 began Slinn；
vaguely。
〃Have you any idea where the letter is； or what has become of
Masters？〃 continued Mulrady； with a matter…of…fact gravity； that
seemed to increase Slinn's vagueness and excite his irritability。
〃I don't knowI sometimes think〃 He stopped； sat down again；
and passed his hands across his forehead。 〃I have seen the letter
somewhere since。 Yes；〃 he went on； with sudden vehemence； 〃I know
it； I have seen it！ I〃 His brows knitted； his features began to
work convulsively； he suddenly brought his paralyzed hand down；
partly opened； upon the table。 〃I WILL remember where。〃
〃Go slow； old man； go slow。〃
〃You asked me once about my v
