a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第3章

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〃It'll　be　all　in　the　family；〃　had　observed　that　astute　lady；　〃and
it's　better　for　the　looks　of　the　things　that　we　shouldn't　he　his
tenants。〃

It　was　only　a　few　weeks　later　that　she　was　startled　by　hearing　her
husband's　voice　calling　her　from　the　hillside　as　he　rapidly
approached　the　house。　　Mamie　was　in　her　room　putting　on　a　new　pink
cotton　gown；　in　honor　of　an　expected　visit　from　young　Don　Caesar；
and　Mrs。　Mulrady　was　tidying　the　house　in　view　of　the　same　event。
Something　in　the　tone　of　her　good　man's　voice；　and　the　unusual
circumstance　of　his　return　to　the　house　before　work　was　done；
caused　her；　however；　to　drop　her　dusting　cloth；　and　run　to　the
kitchen　door　to　meet　him。　　She　saw　him　running　through　the　rows　of
cabbages；　his　face　shining　with　perspiration　and　excitement；　a
light　in　his　eyes　which　she　had　not　seen　for　years。　　She　recalled；
without　sentiment；　that　he　looked　like　that　when　she　had　called
hima　poor　farm　hand　of　her　father'sout　of　the　brush　heap　at　the
back　of　their　former　home；　in　Illinois；　to　learn　the　consent　of　her
parents。　　The　recollection　was　the　more　embarrassing　as　he　threw
his　arms　around　her；　and　pressed　a　resounding　kiss　upon　her　sallow
cheek。

〃Sakes　alive！　　Mulrady！〃　she　said；　exorcising　the　ghost　of　a　blush
that　had　also　been　recalled　from　the　past　with　her　housewife's
apron；　〃what　are　you　doin'；　and　company　expected　every　minit？〃

〃Malviny；　I've　struck　it；　and　struck　it　rich！〃

She　disengaged　herself　from　his　arms；　without　excitement；　and
looked　at　him　with　bright　but　shrewdly　observant　eyes。

〃I've　struck　it　in　the　wellthe　regular　vein　that　the　boys　have
been　looking　fer。　　There's　a　fortin'　fer　you　and　Mamie：　thousands
and　tens　of　thousands！〃

〃Wait　a　minit。〃

She　left　him　quickly；　and　went　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　　He　could
hear　her　wonderingly　and　distinctly。　　〃Ye　can　take　off　that　new
frock；　Mamie；〃　she　called　out。

There　was　a　sound　of　undisguised　expostulation　from　Mamie。

〃I'm　speaking；〃　said　Mrs。　Mulrady；　emphatically。

The　murmuring　ceased。　　Mrs。　Mulrady　returned　to　her　husband。　　The
interruption　seemed　to　have　taken　off　the　keen　edge　of　his
enjoyment。　　He　at　once　abdicated　his　momentary　elevation　as　a
discoverer；　and　waited　for　her　to　speak。

〃Ye　haven't　told　any　one　yet？〃　she　asked。

〃No。　　I　was　alone；　down　in　the　shaft。　　Ye　see；　Malviny；　I　wasn't
expectin'　of　anything。〃　　He　began；　with　an　attempt　at　fresh
enjoyment；　〃I　was　just　clearin'　out；　and　hadn't　reckoned　on
anythin'。〃

〃You　see；　I　was　right　when　I　advised　you　taking　the　land；〃　she
said；　without　heeding　him。

Mulrady's　face　fell。　　〃I　hope　Don　Caesar　won't　think〃he　began；
hesitatingly。　　〃I　reckon；　perhaps；　I　oughter　make　some　sorter
compensationyou　know。〃

〃Stuff！〃　said　Mrs。　Mulrady；　decidedly。　　〃Don't　be　a　fool。　　Any　gold
discovery；　anyhow；　would　have　been　yoursthat's　the　law。　　And　you
bought　the　land　without　any　restrictions。　　Besides；　you　never　had
any　idea　of　this！〃she　stopped；　and　looked　him　suddenly　in　the
face〃had　you？〃

Mulrady　opened　his　honest；　pale…gray　eyes　widely。

〃Why；　Malviny！　　You　know　I　hadn't。　　I　could　swear！〃

〃Don't　swear；　and　don't　let　on　to　anybody　but　what　you　DID　know　it
was　there。　　Now；　Alvin　Mulrady；　listen　to　me。〃　　Her　voice　here　took
the　strident　form　of　action。　　〃Knock　off　work　at　the　shaft；　and
send　your　man　away　at　once。　　Put　on　your　things；　catch　the　next
stage　to　Sacramento　at　four　o'clock；　and　take　Mamie　with　you。〃

〃Mamie！〃　echoed　Mulrady；　feebly。

〃You　want　to　see　Lawyer　Cole　and　my　brother　Jim　at　once；〃　she　went
on；　without　heeding　him；　〃and　Mamie　wants　a　change　and　some　proper。
clothes。　　Leave　the　rest　to　me　and　Abner。　　I'll　break　it　to　Mamie；
and　get　her　ready。〃

Mulrady　passed　his　hands　through　his　tangled　hair；　wet　with
perspiration。　　He　was　proud　of　his　wife's　energy　and　action；　he　did
not　dream　of　opposing　her；　but　somehow　he　was　disappointed。　　The
charming　glamour　and　joy　of　his　discovery　had　vanished　before　he
could　fairly　dazzle　her　with　it；　or；　rather；　she　was　not　dazzled
with　it　at　all。　　It　had　become　like　business；　and　the　expression
〃breaking　it〃　to　Mamie　jarred　upon　him。　　He　would　have　preferred　to
tell　her　himself；　to　watch　the　color　come　into　her　delicate　oval
face；　to　have　seen　her　soft　eyes　light　with　an　innocent　joy　he　had
not　seen　in　his　wife's；　and　he　felt　a　sinking　conviction　that　his
wife　was　the　last　one　to　awaken　it。

〃You　ain't　got　any　time　to　lose；〃　she　said；　impatiently；　as　he
hesitated。

Perhaps　it　was　her　impatience　that　struck　harshly　upon　him；
perhaps；　if　she　had　not　accepted　her　good　fortune　so　confidently；
he　would　not　have　spoken　what　was　in　his　mind　at　the　time；　but　he
said　gravely；　〃Wait　a　minit；　Malviny；　I've　suthin'　to　tell　you
'bout　this　find　of　mine　that's　sing'lar。〃

〃Go　on；〃　she　said；　quickly。

〃Lyin'　among　the　rotten　quartz　of　the　vein　was　a　pick；〃　he　said；
constrainedly；　〃and　the　face　of　the　vein　sorter　looked　ez　if　it　had
been　worked　at。　　Follering　the　line　outside　to　the　base　of　the　hill
there　was　signs　of　there　having　been　an　old　tunnel；　but　it　had
fallen　in；　and　was　blocked　up。〃

〃Well？〃　said　Mrs。　Mulrady；　contemptuously。

〃Well；〃　returned　her　husband；　somewhat　disconnectedly；　〃it　kinder
looked　as　if　some　feller　might　have　discovered　it　before。〃

〃And　went　away；　and　left　it　for　others！　　That's　likelyain't　it？〃
interrupted　his　wife；　with　ill…disguised　intolerance。　　〃Everybody
knows　the　hill　wasn't　worth　that　for　prospectin'；　and　it　was
abandoned　when　we　came　here。　　It's　your　property　and　you've　paid
for　it。　　Are　you　goin'　to　wait　to　advertise　for　the　owner；　Alvin
Mulrady；　or　are　you　going　to　Sacramento　at　four　o'clock　to…day？〃

Mulrady　started。　　He　had　never　seriously　believed　in　the
possibility　of　a　previous　discovery；　but　his　conscientious　nature
had　prompted　him　to　give　it　a　fair　consideration。　　She　was　probably
right。　　What　he　might　have　thought　had　she　treated　it　with　equal
conscientiousness　he　did　not　consider。　　〃All　right；〃　he　said
simply。　　〃I　reckon　we'll　go　at　once。〃

〃And　when　you　talk　to　Lawyer　Cole　and　Jim；　keep　that　silly　stuff
about　the　pick　to　yourself。　　There's　no　use　of　putting　queer　ideas
into　other　people's　heads　because　you　happen　to　have　'em　yourself。〃

When　the　hurried　arrangements　were　at　last　completed；　and　Mr。
Mulrady　and　Mamie；　accompanied　by　a　taciturn　and　discreet　Chinaman；
carrying　their　scant　luggage；　were　on　their　way　to　the　high　road　to
meet　the　up　stage；　the　father　gazed　somewhat　anxiously　and
wistfully　into　his　daughter's　face。　　He　had　looked　forward　to　those
few　moments　to　enjoy　the　freshness　and　naivete　of　Mamie's　youthful
delight　and　enthusiasm　as　a　relief　to　his　wife's　practical；　far…
sighted　realism。　　There　was　a　pretty　pink　suffusion　in　her　delicate
cheek；　the　breathless　happiness　of　a　child　in　her　half…opened
little　mouth；　and　a　beautiful　absorption　in　her　large　gray　eyes
that　augured　well　for　him。

〃Well；　Mamie；　how　do　we　like　bein'　an　heiress？　　How　do　we　like
layin'　over　all　the　gals　between　this　and　'Frisco？〃

〃Eh？〃

She　had　not　heard　him。　　The　tender　beautiful　eyes　were　engaged　in
an　anticipatory　examination　of　the　remembered　shelves　in　the　〃Fancy
Emporium〃　at　Sacramento；　in　reading　the　admiration　of　the　clerks；
in　glancing　down　a　little　criticisingly　at　the　broad　cowhide
brogues　that　strode　at　her　side；　in　looking　up　the　road　for　the
stage…coach；　in　regarding　the　fit　of　her　new　gloveseverywhere　but
in　the　loving　eyes　of　the　man　beside　her。

He；　however；　repeated　the　question；　touched　with　her　charming
preoccupation；　and　passing　his　arm　around　her　little　waist。

〃I　like　it　well　enough；　pa；　you　know！〃　she　said；　slightly
disengaging　his　arm；　but　adding　a　perfunctory　little　squeeze　to　his
elbow　to　soften　the　separation。　　〃I　always　had　an　idea　SOMETHING
would　happen。　　I　suppose　I'm　looking　like　a　fright；〃　she　added；
〃but　ma　made　me　hurry　to　get　away　before　Don　Caesar　came。〃

〃And　you　didn't　want　to　go　without　seeing　him？〃　he　added；　archly。

〃I　didn't　want　him　to　see　me　in　this　frock；〃　said　Mamie；　simply。
〃I　reckon　that's　why　ma　made　me　change；〃　she　added；　with　a　slight
laugh。

〃Well　I　reckon　you're　allus　good　enough　for　him　in　any　dress；〃　said
Mulrady；　watching　her　attentively；　〃and　more　than　a　match　for　him
NOW；〃　he　added；　triumphantly。

〃I　don't　know　about　that；〃　said　Mamie。　　〃He's　been　rich　all　the
time；　and　his　father　and　grandfather　before　him；　while　we've　been
poor　and　his　tenants。〃

His　face　changed；　the　look　of　bewilderment；　with　which　he　had
followed　her　words；　gave　way　to　one　of　pain；　and　then　of　anger。
〃Did　he　get　off　such　stuff　as　that？〃　he　asked；　quickly。

〃No。　　I'd　like　to　catch　him　at　it；〃　responded　Mamie；　promptly。
〃There's　better　nor　him　to　be　had　for　the　asking　now。〃

They　had　walked　on　a　few　moments　in　aggrieved　silence；　and　the
Chinaman　might　have　imagined　some　misfortune　had　just　befallen
them。　　But　Mamie's　teeth　shone　again　between　her　parted　lips。　　〃La；
pa！　it　ain't　that！　　He　cares　everything　for　me；　and　I　do　for　him；
and　if　ma　hadn't　got　new　ideas〃　　She　stopped　suddenly。

〃What　new　ideas？〃　queried　her　father；　anxiously。

〃Oh；　nothing！　　I　wish；　pa；　you'd　put　on　your　other　boots！
Everybody　can　see　these　are　made　for　the　farrows。　　And　you　ain't　a
market　gardener　any　more。〃

〃What　am　I；　then？〃　asked　Mulrady；　with　a　half…pleased；　half…uneasy
laugh。

〃You're　a　capitalist；　I　say；　but　ma　says　a　landed　proprietor。〃
Nevertheless；　the　landed　proprietor；　when　he　reached　the　boulder　on
the　Red　Dog　highway；　sat　down　in　somewhat　moody　contemplation；　with
his　head　bowed　over　the　broad　cowhide　brogues；　that　seemed　to　have
already　gathered　enough　of　the　soil　to　indicate　his　right　to　that
title。　　Mamie；　who　had　recovered　her　spirits；　but　had　not　lost　her
preoccupation；　wandered　off　by　herself　in　the　meadow；　or　ascended
the　hillside；　as　her　occasional　impatience　at　the　delay　of　the
coach；　or　the　following　of　some　ambitious　fancy；　alternately
prompted　her。　　She　was　so　far　away　at　one　time　that　the　stage…
coach；　which　finally　drew　up　before　Mulrady；　was　obliged　to　wait
for　her。

When　she　was　deposited　safely　inside；　and　Mulrady　had　climbed　to
the　box　beside　the　driver；　the　latter　remarked；　curtly；

〃Ye　gave　me　a　right　smart　skeer；　a　minit　ago；　stranger。〃

〃Ez　how？〃

〃Well；　about　three　years　ago；　I　was　comin'　down　this　yer　grade；　at
just　this　time；　and　sittin'　right　on　that　stone；　in　just　your
attitude；　was　a　man　about　your　build　and　years。　　I　pulled　up　to　let
him　in；　when；　darn　my　skin！　if　he　ever　moved；　but　sorter　looked　at
me　without　speakin'。　　I　called　to　him；　and　he　never　answered；　'cept
with　that　idiotic　stare。　　I　then　let　him　have　my　opinion　of　him；　in
mighty　strong　English；　and　drove　off；　leavin'　him　there。　　The　next
morning；　when　I　came　by　on　the　up…trip；　darn　my　skin！　if　he　wasn't
thar；　but　lyin'　all　of　a　heap　on　the　boulder。　　Jim　drops　down　and
picks　him　up。　　Doctor　Duchesne；　ez　was　along；　allowst　it　was　a
played…out　prospector；　with　a　big　case　of　paralysis；　and　we
expressed　him　through　to　the　County　Hospital；　like　so　much　dead
freight。　　I've　allus　been　kinder　superstitious　about　passin'　that
rock；　and　when　I　saw　you　jist　now；　sittin'　thar；　dazed　like；　with
your　head　down