a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第12章

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run　over　here　in　the　rain；　jist　to　have　a　sociable　time　with　you
all。〃

〃I　knew　it；〃　said　the　old　man；　without　looking　up；　〃I　knew　you'd
come。〃

〃You　knew　I'd　come？〃　echoed　Mulrady；　with　an　uneasy　return　of　the
strange　feeling　of　awe　with　which　he　regarded　Slinn's　abstraction。

〃Yes；　you　were　alonelike　myselfall　alone！〃

〃Then；　why　in　thunder　didn't　you　open　the　door　or　sing　out　just
now？〃　he　said；　with　an　affected　brusquerie　to　cover　his　uneasiness。
〃Where's　your　daughters？〃

〃Gone　to　Rough…and…Ready　to　a　party。〃

〃And　your　son？〃

〃He　never　comes　here　when　he　can　amuse　himself　elsewhere。〃

〃Your　children　might　have　stayed　home　on　Christmas　Eve。〃

〃So　might　yours。〃

He　didn't　say　this　impatiently；　but　with　a　certain　abstracted
conviction　far　beyond　any　suggestion　of　its　being　a　retort。
Mulrady　did　not　appear　to　notice　it。

〃Well；　I　don't　see　why　us　old　folks　can't　enjoy　ourselves　without
them；〃　said　Mulrady；　with　affected　cheerfulness。　　〃Let's　have　a
good　time；　you　and　me。　　Let's　seeyou　haven't　any　one　you　can　send
to　my　house；　hev　you？〃

〃They　took　the　servant　with　them；〃　said　Slinn；　briefly。　　〃There　is
no　one　here。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　the　millionaire；　briskly。　　〃I'll　go　myself。　　Do
you　think　you　can　manage　to　light　up　a　little　more；　and　build　a
fire　in　the　kitchen　while　I'm　gone？　　It　used　to　be　mighty
comfortable　in　the　old　times。〃

He　helped　the　old　man　to　rise　from　his　chair；　and　seemed　to　have
infused　into　him　some　of　his　own　energy。　　He　then　added；　〃Now；
don't　you　get　yourself　down　again　into　that　chair　until　I　come
back；〃　and　darted　out　into　the　night　once　more。

In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　he　returned　with　a　bag　on　his　broad
shoulders；　which　one　of　his　porters　would　have　shrunk　from　lifting；
and　laid　it　before　the　blazing　hearth　of　the　now　lighted　kitchen。
〃It's　something　the　old　woman　got　for　her　party；　that　didn't　come
off；〃　he　said；　apologetically。　　〃I　reckon　we　can　pick　out　enough
for　a　spread。　　That　darned　Chinaman　wouldn't　come　with　me；〃　he
added；　with　a　laugh；　〃because；　he　said；　he'd　knocked　off　work
'allee　same；　Mellican　man！'　　Look　here；　Slinn；〃　he　said；　with　a
sudden　decisiveness；　〃my　pay…roll　of　the　men　around　here　don't　run
short　of　a　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　a　day；　and　yet　I　couldn't　get
a　hand　to　help　me　bring　this　truck　over　for　my　Christmas　dinner。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Slinn；　gloomily。

〃Of　course；　so　it　oughter　be；〃　returned　Mulrady；　shortly。　　〃Why；
it's　only　their　one　day　out　of　364；　and　I　can　have　363　days　off；　as
I　am　their　boss。　　I　don't　mind　a　man's　being　independent；〃　he
continued；　taking　off　his　coat　and　beginning　to　unpack　his　sacka
common　〃gunny　bag〃used　for　potatoes。　　〃We're　independent
ourselves；　ain't　we；　Slinn？〃

His　good　spirits；　which　had　been　at　first　labored　and　affected；　had
become　natural。　　Slinn；　looking　at　his　brightened　eye　and　fresher
color；　could　not　help　thinking　he　was　more　like　his　own　real　self
at　this　moment　than　in　his　counting…house　and　officeswith　all　his
simplicity　as　a　capitalist。　　A　less　abstracted　and　more　observant
critic　than　Slinn　would　have　seen　in　this　patient　aptitude　for　real
work；　and　the　recognition　of　the　force　of　petty　detail；　the
dominance　of　the　old　market…gardener　in　his　former　humble；　as　well
as　his　later　more　ambitious；　successes。

〃Heaven　keep　us　from　being　dependent　upon　our　children！〃　said
Slinn；　darkly。

〃Let　the　young　ones　alone　to…night；　we　can　get　along　without　them；
as　they　can　without　us；〃　said　Mulrady；　with　a　slight　twinge　as　he
thought　of　his　reflections　on　the　hillside。　　〃But　look　here；
there's　some　champagne　and　them　sweet　cordials　that　women　like；
there's　jellies　and　such　like　stuff；　about　as　good　as　they　make
'em；　I　reckon；　and　preserves；　and　tongues；　and　spiced　beeftake
your　pick！　　Stop；　let's　spread　them　out。〃　　He　dragged　the　table　to
the　middle　of　the　floor；　and　piled　the　provisions　upon　it。　　They
certainly　were　not　deficient　in　quality　or　quantity。　　〃Now；　Slinn；
wade　in。〃

〃I　don't　feel　hungry；〃　said　the　invalid；　who　had　lapsed　again　into
a　chair　before　the　fire。

〃No　more　do　I；〃　said　Mulrady；　〃but　I　reckon　it's　the　right　thing　to
do　about　this　time。　　Some　folks　think　they　can't　be　happy　without
they're　getting　outside　o'　suthin'；　and　my　directors　down　at
'Frisco　can't　do　any　business　without　a　dinner。　　Take　some
champagne；　to　begin　with。〃

He　opened　a　bottle；　and　filled　two　tumblers。　　〃It's　past　twelve
o'clock；　old　man；　so　here's　a　merry　Christmas　to　you；　and　both　of
us　ez　is　here。　　And　here's　another　to　our　familiesez　isn't。〃

They　both　drank　their　wine　stolidly。　　The　rain　beat　against　the
windows　sharply；　but　without　the　hollow　echoes　of　the　house　on　the
hill。　　〃I　must　write　to　the　old　woman　and　Mamie；　and　say　that　you
and　me　had　a　high　old　time　on　Christmas　Eve。〃

〃By　ourselves；〃　added　the　invalid。

Mr。　Mulrady　coughed。　　〃Nat'rallyby　ourselves。　　And　her
provisions；〃　he　added；　with　a　laugh。　　〃We're　really　beholden　to　HER
for　'em。　　If　she　hadn't　thought　of　having　them〃

〃For　somebody　else；　you　wouldn't　have　had　themwould　you？〃　said
Slinn；　slowly；　gazing　at　the　fire。

〃No；〃　said　Mulrady；　dubiously。　　After　a　pause　he　began　more
vivaciously；　and　as　if　to　shake　off　some　disagreeable　thought　that
was　impressing　him；　〃But　I　mustn't　forget　to　give　you　YOUR
Christmas；　old　man；　and　I've　got　it　right　here　with　me。〃　　He　took
the　folded　envelope　from　his　pocket；　and；　holding　it　in　his　hand
with　his　elbow　on　the　table；　continued；　〃I　don't　mind　telling　you
what　idea　I　had　in　giving　you　what　I'm　goin'　to　give　you　now。　　I've
been　thinking　about　it　for　a　day　or　two。　　A　man　like　you　don't　want
moneyyou　wouldn't　spend　it。　　A　man　like　you　don't　want　stocks　or
fancy　investments；　for　you　couldn't　look　after　them。　　A　man　like
you　don't　want　diamonds　and　jewellery；　nor　a　gold…headed　cane；　when
it's　got　to　be　used　as　a　crutch。　　No；　sir。　　What　you　want　is
suthin'　that　won't　run　away　from　you；　that　is　always　there　before
you　and　won't　wear　out；　and　will　last　after　you're　gone。　　That's
land！　　And　if　it　wasn't　that　I　have　sworn　never　to　sell　or　give
away　this　house　and　that　garden；　if　it　wasn't　that　I've　held　out
agin　the　old　woman　and　Mamie　on　that　point；　you　should　have　THIS
house　and　THAT　garden。　　But；　mebbee；　for　the　same　reason　that　I've
told　you；　I　want　that　land　to　keep　for　myself。　　But　I've　selected
four　acres　of　the　hill　this　side　of　my　shaft；　and　here's　the　deed
of　it。　　As　soon　as　you're　ready；　I'll　put　you　up　a　house　as　big　as
thisthat　shall　be　yours；　with　the　land；　as　long　as　you　live；　old
man；　and　after　that　your　children's。〃

〃No；　not　theirs！〃　broke　in　the　old　man；　passionately。　　〃Never！〃

Mulrady　recoiled　for　an　instant　in　alarm　at　the　sudden　and
unexpected　vehemence　of　his　manner；　〃Go　slow；　old　man；　go　slow；〃　he
said；　soothingly。　　〃Of　course；　you'll　do　with　your　own　as　you
like。〃　　Then；　as　if　changing　the　subject；　he　went　on　cheerfully：
〃Perhaps　you'll　wonder　why　I　picked　out　that　spot　on　the　hillside。
Well；　first；　because　I　reserved　it　after　my　strike　in　case　the　lead
should　run　that　way；　but　it　didn't。　　Next；　because　when　you　first
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；