a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第15部分

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never　gotYOU　can't　produce；　and　if　you　did；　would　be　only　your
own　story　without　proof！　　There　is　not　a　business　man　ez　would　look
at　your　claim；　there　isn't　a　friend　of　yours　that　wouldn't　believe
you　were　crazy；　and　dreamed　it　all；　there　isn't　a　rival　of　yours　ez
wouldn't　say　ez　you'd　invented　it。　　Slinn；　I'm　a　business　manI　am
your　friendI　am　your　rivalbut　I　don't　think　you're　lyin'I
don't　think　you're　crazyand　I'm　not　sure　your　claim　ain't　a　good
one！

〃Ef　you　reckon　from　that　that　I'm　goin'　to　hand　you　over　the　mine
to…morrow；〃　he　went　on；　after　a　pause；　raising　his　hand　with　a
deprecating　gesture；　〃you're　mistaken。　　For　your　own　sake；　and　the
sake　of　my　wife　and　children；　you've　got　to　prove　it　more　clearly
than　you　hev；　but　I　promise　you　that　from　this　night　forward　I　will
spare　neither　time　nor　money　to　help　you　to　do　it。　　I　have　more
than　doubled　the　amount　that　you　would　have　had；　had　you　taken　the
mine　the　day　you　came　from　the　hospital。　　When　you　prove　to　me　that
your　story　is　trueand　we　will　find　some　way　to　prove　it；　if　it　IS
truethat　amount　will　be　yours　at　once；　without　the　need　of　a　word
from　law　or　lawyers。　　If　you　want　my　name　to　that　in　black　and
white；　come　to　the　office　to…morrow；　and　you　shall　have　it。〃

〃And　you　think　I'll　take　it　now？〃　said　the　old　man　passionately。
〃Do　you　think　that　your　charity　will　bring　back　my　dead　wife；　the
three　years　of　my　lost　life；　the　love　and　respect　of　my　children？
Or　do　you　think　that　your　own　wife　and　children；　who　deserted　you
in　your　wealth；　will　come　back　to　you　in　your　poverty？　　No！　　Let
the　mine　stay；　with　its　curse；　where　it　isI'll　have　none　of　it！〃

〃Go　slow；　old　man；　go　slow；〃　said　Mulrady；　quietly；　putting　on　his
coat。　　〃You　will　take　the　mine　if　it　is　yours；　if　it　isn't；　I'll
keep　it。　　If　it　is　yours；　you　will　give　your　children　a　chance　to
sho　what　they　can　do　for　you　in　your　sudden　prosperity；　as　I　shall
give　mine　a　chance　to　show　how　they　can　stand　reverse　and
disappointment。　　If　my　head　is　leveland　I　reckon　it　isthey'll
both　pan　out　all　right。〃

He　turned　and　opened　the　door。　　With　a　quick　revulsion　of　feeling；
Slinn　suddenly　seized　Mulrady's　hand　between　both　of　his　own；　and
raised　it　to　his　lips。　　Mulrady　smiled；　disengaged　his　hand　gently；
and　saying　soothingly；　〃Go　slow；　old　man；　go　slow；〃　closed　the　door
behind　him；　and　passed　out　into　the　clear　Christmas　dawn。

For　the　stars；　with　the　exception　of　one　that　seemed　to　sparkle
brightly　over　the　shaft　of　his　former　fortunes；　were　slowly　paling。
A　burden　seemed　to　have　fallen　from　his　square　shoulders　as　he
stepped　out　sturdily　into　the　morning　air。　　He　had　already
forgotten　the　lonely　man　behind　him；　for　he　was　thinking　only　of
his　wife　and　daughter。　　And　at　the　same　moment　they　were　thinking
of　him；　and　in　their　elaborate　villa　overlooking　the　blue
Mediterranean　at　Cannes　were　discussing；　in　the　event　of　Mamie's
marriage　with　Prince　Rosso　e　Negro；　the　possibility　of　Mr。
Mulrady's　paying　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　dollars；　the
gambling　debts　of　that　unfortunate　but　deeply　conscientious
nobleman。


CHAPTER　VI


When　Alvin　Mulrady　reentered　his　own　house；　he　no　longer　noticed
its　loneliness。　　Whether　the　events　of　the　last　few　hours　had
driven　it　from　his　mind；　or　whether　his　late　reflections　had
repeopled　it　with　his　family　under　pleasanter　auspices；　it　would　be
difficult　to　determine。　　Destitute　as　he　was　of　imagination；　and
matter…of…fact　in　his　judgments；　he　realized　his　new　situation　as
calmly　as　he　would　have　considered　any　business　proposition。　　While
he　was　decided　to　act　upon　his　moral　convictions　purely；　he　was
prepared　to　submit　the　facts　of　Slinn's　claim　to　the　usual　patient
and　laborious　investigation　of　his　practical　mind。　　It　was　the
least　he　could　do　to　justify　the　ready　and　almost　superstitious
assent　he　had　given　to　Slinn's　story。

When　he　had　made　a　few　memoranda　at　his　desk　by　the　growing　light；
he　again　took　the　key　of　the　attic；　and　ascended　to　the　loft　that
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
co