a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第19章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


held　the　tangible　memories　of　his　past　life。　　If　he　was　still　under
the　influence　of　his　reflections；　it　was　with　very　different
sensations　that　he　now　regarded　them。　　Was　it　possible　that　these
ashes　might　be　warmed　again；　and　these　scattered　embers　rekindled？
His　practical　sense　said　No！　whatever　his　wish　might　have　been。　　A
sudden　chill　came　over　him；　he　began　to　realize　the　terrible　change
that　was　probable；　more　by　the　impossibility　of　his　accepting　the
old　order　of　things　than　by　his　voluntarily　abandoning　the　new。
His　wife　and　children　would　never　submit。　　They　would　go　away　from
this　place；　far　away；　where　no　reminiscence　of　either　former　wealth
or　former　poverty　could　obtrude　itself　upon　them。　　Mamiehis
Mamieshould　never　go　back　to　the　cabin；　since　desecrated　by
Slinn's　daughters；　and　take　their　places。　　No！　　Why　should　she？
because　of　the　half…sick；　half…crazy　dreams　of　an　old　vindictive
man？

He　stopped　suddenly。　　In　moodily　turning　over　a　heap　of　mining
clothing；　blankets；　and　india…rubber　boots；　he　had　come　upon　an　old
pickaxethe　one　he　had　found　in　the　shaft；　the　one　he　had
carefully　preserved　for　a　year；　and　then　forgotten！　　Why　had　he　not
remembered　it　before？　　He　was　frightened；　not　only　at　this　sudden
resurrection　of　the　proof　he　was　seeking；　but　at　his　own　fateful
forgetfulness。　　Why　had　he　never　thought　of　this　when　Slinn　was
speaking？　　A　sense　of　shame；　as　if　he　had　voluntarily　withheld　it
from　the　wronged　man；　swept　over　him。　　He　was　turning　away；　when　he
was　again　startled。

This　time　it　was　by　a　voice　from　belowa　voice　calling　him
Slinn's　voice。　　How　had　the　crippled　man　got　here　so　soon；　and　what
did　he　want？　　He　hurriedly　laid　aside　the　pick；　which；　in　his　first
impulse；　he　had　taken　to　the　door　of　the　loft　with　him；　and
descended　the　stairs。　　The　old　man　was　standing　at　the　door　of　his
office　awaiting　him。

As　Mulrady　approached；　he　trembled　violently；　and　clung　to　the
doorpost　for　support。

〃I　had　to　come　over；　Mulrady；〃　he　said；　in　a　choked　voice；　〃I　could
stand　it　there　no　longer。　　I've　come　to　beg　you　to　forget　all　that
I　have　said；　to　drive　all　thought　of　what　passed　between　us　last
night　out　of　your　head　and　mine　forever！　　I've　come　to　ask　you　to
swear　with　me　that　neither　of　us　will　ever　speak　of　this　again
forever。　　It　is　not　worth　the　happiness　I　have　had　in　your
friendship　for　the　last　half…year；　it　is　not　worth　the　agony　I　have
suffered　in　its　loss　in　the　last　half…hour。〃

Mulrady　grasped　his　outstretched　hand。　　〃P'raps；〃　he　said；　gravely；
〃there　mayn't　be　any　use　for　another　word；　if　you　can　answer　one
now。　　Come　with　me。　　No　matter；〃　he　added；　as　Slinn　moved　with
difficulty；　〃I　will　help　you。〃

He　half　supported；　half　lifted　the　paralyzed　man　up　the　three
flights　of　stairs；　and　opened　the　door　of　the　loft。　　The　pick　was
leaning　against　the　wall；　where　he　had　left　it。　　〃Look　around；　and
see　if　you　recognize　anything。〃

The　old　man's　eyes　fell　upon　the　implement　in　a　half…frightened
way；　and　then　lifted　themselves　interrogatively　to　Mulrady's　face。

〃Do　you　know　that　pick？〃

Slinn　raised　it　in　his　trembling　hands。　　〃I　think　I　do；　and　yet〃

〃Slinn！　is　it　yours？〃

〃No；〃　he　said　hurriedly。

〃Then　what　makes　you　think　you　know　it？〃

〃It　has　a　short　handle　like　one　I've　seen。〃

〃And　is　isn't　yours？〃

〃No。　　The　handle　of　mine　was　broken　and　spliced。　　I　was　too　poor　to
buy　a　new　one。〃

〃Then　you　say　that　this　pick　which　I　found　in　my　shaft　is　not
yours？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Slinn！〃

The　old　man　passed　his　hand　across　his　forehead；　looked　at　Mulrady；
and　dropped　his　eyes。　　〃It　is　not　mine；〃　he　said　simply。

〃That　will　do；〃　said　Mulrady；　gravely。

〃And　you　will　not　speak　of　this　again？〃　said　the　old　man；　timidly。

〃I　promise　younot　until　I　have　some　more　evidence。〃

He　kept　his　word；　but　not　before　he　had　extorted　from　Slinn　as　full
a　description　of　Masters　as　his　imperfect　memory　and　still　more
imperfect　knowledge　of　his　former　neighbor　could　furnish。　　He
placed　this；　with　a　large　sum　of　money　and　the　promise　of　a　still
larger　reward；　in　the　hands　of　a　trustworthy　agent。　　When　this　was
done　he　resumed　his　old　relations　with　Slinn；　with　the　exception
that　the　domestic　letters　of　Mrs。　Mulrady　and　Mamie　were　no　longer
a　subject　of　comment；　and　their　bills　no　longer　passed　through　his
private　secretary's　hands。

Three　months　passed；　the　rainy　season　had　ceased；　the　hillsides
around　Mulrady's　shaft　were　bridal…like　with　flowers；　indeed；　there
were　rumors　of　an　approaching　fashionable　marriage　in　the　air；　and
vague　hints　in　the　〃Record〃　that　the　presence　of　a　distinguished
capitalist　might　soon　be　required　abroad。　　The　face　of　that
distinguished　man　did　not；　however；　reflect　the　gayety　of　nature
nor　the　anticipation　of　happiness；　on　the　contrary；　for　the　past
few　weeks；　he　had　appeared　disturbed　and　anxious；　and　that　rude
tranquillity　which　had　characterized　him　was　wanting。　　People　shook
their　heads；　a　few　suggested　speculations；　all　agreed　on
extravagance。

One　morning；　after　office　hours；　Slinn；　who　had　been　watching　the
careworn　face　of　his　employer；　suddenly　rose　and　limped　to　his
side。

〃We　promised　each　other；〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　trembling　with
emotion；　〃never　to　allude　to　our　talk　of　Christmas　Eve　again　unless
we　had　other　proofs　of　what　I　told　you　then。　　We　have　none；　I　don't
believe　we'll　ever　have　any　more。　　I　don't　care　if　we　ever　do；　and
I　break　that　promise　now　because　I　cannot　bear　to　see　you　unhappy
and　know　that　this　is　the　cause。〃

Mulrady　made　a　motion　of　deprecation；　but　the　old　man　continued

〃You　are　unhappy；　Alvin　Mulrady。　　You　are　unhappy　because　you　want
to　give　your　daughter　a　dowry　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand
dollars；　and　you　will　not　use　the　fortune　that　you　think　may　be
mine。〃

〃Who's　been　talking　about　a　dowry？〃　asked　Mulrady；　with　an　angry
flush。

〃Don　Caesar　Alvarado　told　my　daughter。〃

〃Then　that　is　why　he　has　thrown　off　on　me　since　he　returned；〃　said
Mulrady；　with　sudden　small　malevolence；　〃just　that　he　might　unload
his　gossip　because　Mamie　wouldn't　have　him。　　The　old　woman　was
right　in　warnin'　me　agin　him。〃

The　outburst　was　so　unlike　him；　and　so　dwarfed　his　large　though
common　nature　with　its　littleness；　that　it　was　easy　to　detect　its
feminine　origin；　although　it　filled　Slinn　with　vague　alarm。

〃Never　mind　him；〃　said　the　old　man；　hastily；　〃what　I　wanted　to　say
now　is　that　I　abandon　everything　to　you　and　yours。　　There　are　no
proofs；　there　never　will　be　any　more　than　what　we　know；　than　what
we　have　tested　and　found　wanting。　　I　swear　to　you　that；　except　to
show　you　that　I　have　not　lied　and　am　not　crazy；　I　would　destroy
them　on　their　way　to　your　hands。　　Keep　the　money；　and　spend　it　as
you　will。　　Make　your　daughter　happy；　and；　through　her；　yourself。
You　have　made　me　happy　through　your　liberality；　don't　make　me
suffer　through　your　privation。〃

〃I　tell　you　what；　old　man；〃　said　Mulrady；　rising　to　his　feet；　with
an　awkward　mingling　of　frankness　and　shame　in　his　manner　and
accent；　〃I　should　like　to　pay　that　money　for　Mamie；　and　let　her　be
a　princess；　if　it　would　make　her　happy。　　I　should　like　to　shut　the
lantern　jaws　of　that　Don　Caesar；　who'd　be　too　glad　if　anything
happened　to　break　off　Mamie's　match。　　But　I　shouldn't　touch　that
capitalunless　you'd　lend　it　to　me。　　If　you'll　take　a　note　from
me；　payable　if　the　property　ever　becomes　yours；　I'd　thank　you。　　A
mortgage　on　the　old　house　and　garden；　and　the　lands　I　bought　of　Don
Caesar；　outside　the　mine；　will　screen　you。〃

〃If　that　pleases　you；〃　said　the　old　man；　with　a　smile；　〃have　your
way；　and　if　I　tear　up　the　note；　it　does　not　concern　you。〃

It　did　please　the　distinguished　capitalist　of　Rough…and…Ready；　for
the　next　few　days　his　face　wore　a　brightened　expression；　and　he
seemed　to　have　recovered　his　old　tranquillity。　　There　was；　in　fact；
a　slight　touch　of　consequence　in　his　manner；　the　first　ostentation
he　had　ever　indulged　in；　when　he　was　informed　one　morning　at　his
private　office　that　Don　Caesar　Alvarado　was　in　the　counting…house；
desiring　a　few　moments'　conference。　　〃Tell　him　to　come　in；〃　said
Mulrady；　shortly。　　The　door　opened　upon　Don　Caesarerect；　sallow；
and　gr