a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第14章
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leading from a gap in the pines to the wooded hollow； which undoubtedly
intersected the little path that he and Mamie had once followed from the
high road。 If the old man had taken this trail he had possibly over…tasked
his strength； and there was the more reason why he should continue his
search； and render any assistance if required。 There was another idea that
occurred to him； which eventually decided him to go on。 It was that both
these trails led to the decayed sycamore stump； and that the older Slinn
might have something to do with the mysterious letter。 Quickening his
steps through the field； he entered the hollow； and reached the intersecting
trail as he expected。 To the right it lost itself in the dense woods in the
direction of the ominous stump； to the left it descended in nearly a straight
line to the highway； now plainly visible； as was equally the boulder on
which he had last discovered Mamie sitting with young Slinn。 If he were
not mistaken； there was a figure sitting there now； it was surely a man。
And by that half…bowed； helpless attitude； the object of his search！
It did not take him long to descend the track to the highway and
approach the stranger。 He was seated with his hands upon his knees；
gazing in a vague； absorbed fashion upon the hillside； now crowned with
the engine…house and chimney that marked the site of Mulrady's shaft。
He started slightly； and looked up； as Don Caesar paused before him。
The young man was surprised to see that the unfortunate man was not as
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old as he had expected； and that his expression was one of quiet and
beatified contentment。
〃Your daughters told me you were here；〃 said Don Caesar； with gentle
respect。 〃I am Caesar Alvarado； your not very far neighbor； very happy
to pay his respects to you as he has to them。〃
〃My daughters？〃 said the old man； vaguely。 〃Oh； yes！ nice little girls。
And my boy Harry。 Did you see Harry？ Fine little fellow； Harry。〃
〃I am glad to hear that you are better；〃 said Don Caesar； hastily； 〃and
that the air of our country does you no harm。 God benefit you； senor；〃 he
added； with a profoundly reverential gesture； dropping unconsciously into
the religious habit of his youth。 〃May he protect you； and bring you back
to health and happiness！〃
〃Happiness？〃 said Slinn； amazedly。 〃I am happyvery happy！ I
have everything I want： good air； good food； good clothes； pretty little
children； kind friends〃 He smiled benignantly at Don Caesar。 〃God is
very good to me！〃
Indeed； he seemed very happy； and his face； albeit crowned with white
hair； unmarked by care and any disturbing impression； had so much of
satisfied youth in it that the grave features of his questioner made him
appear the elder。 Nevertheless； Don Caesar noticed that his eyes； when
withdrawn from him； sought the hillside with the same visionary
abstraction。
〃It is a fine view； Senor Esslinn；〃 said Don Caesar。
〃It is a beautiful view； sir；〃 said Slinn； turning his happy eyes upon
him for a moment； only to rest them again on the green slope opposite。
〃Beyond that hill which you are looking atnot far； Senor Esslinn I
live。 You shall come and see me thereyou and your family。〃
〃Youyoulive there？〃 stammered the invalid； with a troubled
expressionthe first and only change to the complete happiness that had
hitherto suffused his face。 〃Youand your name isis Ma〃
〃Alvarado；〃 said Don Caesar； gently。 Caesar Alvarado。〃
〃You said Masters；〃 said the old man； with sudden querulousness。
〃No； good friend。 I said Alvarado；〃 returned Don Caesar； gravely。
〃If you didn't say Masters； how could I say it？ I don't know any
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Masters。〃
Don Caesar was silent。 In another moment the happy tranquillity
returned to Slinn's face； and Don Caesar continued：
〃It is not a long walk over the hill； though it is far by the road。 When
you are better you shall try it。 Yonder little trail leads to the top of the
hill； and then〃
He stopped； for the invalid's face had again assumed its troubled
expression。 Partly to change his thoughts； and partly for some
inexplicable idea that had suddenly seized him； Don Caesar continued：
〃There is a strange old stump near the trail； and in it a hole。 In the
hole I found this letter。〃 He stopped againthis time in alarm。 Slinn
had staggered to his feet with ashen and distorted features； and was
glancing at the letter which Don Caesar had drawn from his pocket。 The
muscles of his throat swelled as if he was swallowing； his lips moved； but
no sound issued from them。 At last； with a convulsive effort； he regained
a disjointed speech； in a voice scarcely audible。
〃My letter！ my letter！ It's mine！ Give it me！ It's my fortune all
mine！ In the tunnelhill！ Masters stole itstole my fortune！ Stole it
all！ See； see！〃
He seized the letter from Don Caesar with trembling hands； and tore it
open forcibly： a few dull yellow grains fell from it heavily； like shot； to the
ground。
〃See； it's true！ My letter！ My gold！ My strike！ Mymymy
God！〃
A tremor passed over his face。 The hand that held the letter suddenly
dropped sheer and heavy as the gold had fallen。 The whole side of his
face and body nearest Don Caesar seemed to drop and sink into itself as
suddenly。 At the same moment； and without a word； he slipped through
Don Caesar's outstretched hands to the ground。 Don Caesar bent quickly
over him； but no longer than to satisfy himself that he lived and breathed；
although helpless。 He then caught up the fallen letter； and； glancing over
it with flashing eyes； thrust it and the few specimens in his pocket。 He
then sprang to his feet； so transformed with energy and intelligence that he
seemed to have added the lost vitality of the man before him to his own。
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He glanced quickly up and down the highway。 Every moment to him
was precious now； but he could not leave the stricken man in the dust of
the road； nor could he carry him to the house； nor； having alarmed his
daughters； could he abandon his helplessness to their feeble arms。 He
remembered that his horse was still tied to the garden fence。 He would
fetch it； and carry the unfortunate man across the saddle to the gate。 He
lifted him with difficulty to the boulder； and ran rapidly up the road in the
direction of his tethered steed。 He had not proceeded far when he heard
the noise of wheels behind him。 It was the up stage coming furiously
along。 He would have called to the driver for assistance；
