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a millionaire of rough-and-ready-µÚ8ÕÂ

С˵£º a millionaire of rough-and-ready ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

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attendance¡¡upon¡¡chronic¡¡suffering¡¡and¡¡weakness£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡have
acquired¡¡an¡¡unconscious¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡turning¡¡it¡¡to¡¡account¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡his
present¡¡sensitive¡¡condition£»¡¡he¡¡even¡¡fancied¡¡that¡¡they¡¡flirted
mildly¡¡over¡¡their¡¡parent's¡¡infirmity¡£

¡¨My¡¡brother¡¡Harry¡¡has¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡Red¡¡Dog£»¡¨¡¡continued¡¡Esther£»¡¡¡¨he'll¡¡be
right¡¡sorry¡¡to¡¡have¡¡missed¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Mulrady¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡him¡¡about
you£»¡¡you¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡great¡¡friends¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡s'pose¡¡you¡¡knew¡¡her
daughter£»¡¡Mamie£»¡¡I¡¡hear¡¡she¡¡is¡¡very¡¡pretty¡£¡¨

Although¡¡Don¡¡Caesar¡¡was¡¡now¡¡satisfied¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Slinns¡¡knew¡¡nothing
of¡¡Mamie's¡¡singular¡¡behavior¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡embarrassed¡¡by¡¡this
conversation¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Miss¡¡Mulrady¡¡is¡¡very¡¡pretty£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡with¡¡grave
courtesy£»¡¡¡¨it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡custom¡¡of¡¡her¡¡race¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡left¡¡suddenly£»¡¨¡¡he
added¡¡with¡¡affected¡¡calmness¡£

¡¨I¡¡reckon¡¡she¡¡did¡¡calculate¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡here¡¡longerso¡¡her¡¡mother
said£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡thing¡¡was¡¡settled¡¡a¡¡week¡¡ago¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡know¡¡my
brother¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡from¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Mulrady¡¡that¡¡if¡¡we
were¡¡going¡¡to¡¡decide¡¡about¡¡this¡¡house¡¡we¡¡must¡¡do¡¡it¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡he¡¡had
an¡¡idea¡¡himself¡¡about¡¡moving¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡one¡¡into¡¡this¡¡when¡¡they
left¡£¡¨

¡¨Mamie¡¡Mulrady¡¡hadn't¡¡much¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡her¡¡here£»¡¡considerin'¡¡the¡¡money
and¡¡the¡¡good¡¡looks¡¡she¡¡has£»¡¡I¡¡reckon£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Vashti¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡isn't¡¡the
sort¡¡of¡¡girl¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡herself¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wilderness£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡can
pick¡¡and¡¡choose¡¡elsewhere¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡only¡¡wonder¡¡she¡¡ever¡¡come¡¡back¡¡from
Sacramento¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡talk¡¡about¡¡papa¡¡Mulrady¡¡having¡¡BUSINESS¡¡at¡¡San
Francisco£»¡¡and¡¡THAT¡¡hurrying¡¡them¡¡off£¡¡¡¡¡Depend¡¡upon¡¡it£»¡¡that
'business'¡¡was¡¡Mamie¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡wish¡¡is¡¡gospel¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡If
she'd¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡and¡¡have¡¡a¡¡farewell¡¡party£»¡¡old¡¡Mulrady's
business¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡nowhere¡£¡¨

¡¨Ain't¡¡you¡¡a¡¡little¡¡rough¡¡on¡¡Mamie£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Esther£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been
quietly¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man's¡¡face¡¡with¡¡her¡¡large¡¡languid¡¡eyes£»
¡¨considering¡¡that¡¡we¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡haven't¡¡even¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of
friends¡¡to¡¡criticise£¿¡¨

¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡call¡¡it¡¡rough£»¡¨¡¡returned¡¡Vashti£»¡¡frankly£»¡¡¡¨for¡¡I'd¡¡do¡¡the
same¡¡if¡¡I¡¡were¡¡in¡¡her¡¡shoesand¡¡they're¡¡four¡­and¡­a¡­halves£»¡¡for
Harry¡¡told¡¡me¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡Give¡¡me¡¡her¡¡money¡¡and¡¡her¡¡looks£»¡¡and¡¡you
wouldn't¡¡catch¡¡me¡¡hanging¡¡round¡¡these¡¡diggingsgoin'¡¡to¡¡choir
meetings¡¡Saturdays£»¡¡church¡¡Sundays£»¡¡and¡¡buggy¡­riding¡¡once¡¡a¡¡month
for¡¡society£¡¡¡¡¡NoMamie's¡¡head¡¡was¡¡levelyou¡¡bet£¡¡¨

Don¡¡Caesar¡¡rose¡¡hurriedly¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡would¡¡present¡¡his¡¡compliments¡¡to
their¡¡father£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡endeavor¡¡to¡¡find¡¡their¡¡brother¡¡at¡¡Red
Dog¡£¡¡¡¡He£»¡¡alas£¡¡¡had¡¡neither¡¡father£»¡¡mother£»¡¡nor¡¡sister£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡they
would¡¡receive¡¡his¡¡aunt£»¡¡the¡¡Dona¡¡Inez¡¡Sepulvida£»¡¡the¡¡next¡¡Sunday£»
when¡¡she¡¡came¡¡from¡¡mass£»¡¡she¡¡should¡¡be¡¡honored¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be
delighted¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡required¡¡all¡¡his¡¡self¡­possession¡¡to¡¡deliver¡¡himself
of¡¡this¡¡formal¡¡courtesy¡¡before¡¡he¡¡could¡¡take¡¡his¡¡leave£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the
back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mustang¡¡give¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rage£»¡¡disgust¡¡and¡¡hatred¡¡of
everything¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡Mamie¡¡that¡¡filled¡¡his¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡Conscious
of¡¡his¡¡disturbance£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡entirely¡¡appreciating¡¡their¡¡own¡¡share
in¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡girls¡¡somewhat¡¡wickedly¡¡prolonged¡¡the¡¡interview¡¡by
following¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden¡£

¡¨Well£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡MUST¡¡leave¡¡now£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Esther£»¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡languidly£»¡¡¡¨it
ain't¡¡much¡¡out¡¡of¡¡your¡¡way¡¡to¡¡go¡¡down¡¡through¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡and¡¡take¡¡a
look¡¡at¡¡pa¡¡as¡¡you¡¡go¡£¡¡¡¡He's¡¡somewhere¡¡down¡¡there£»¡¡near¡¡the¡¡woods£»
and¡¡we¡¡don't¡¡like¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡him¡¡alone¡¡too¡¡long¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡might¡¡pass¡¡the
time¡¡of¡¡day¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡see¡¡if¡¡he's¡¡right¡¡side¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡Vashti¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have
got¡¡a¡¡heap¡¡of¡¡things¡¡to¡¡fix¡¡here¡¡yet£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡anything's¡¡wrong¡¡with
him£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¡call¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡So¡­long¡£¡¨

Don¡¡Caesar¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡excuse¡¡himself¡¡hurriedly£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡sudden
and¡¡acute¡¡perception¡¡of¡¡all¡¡kindred¡¡sorrow¡¡which¡¡belongs¡¡to¡¡refined
suffering£»¡¡checked¡¡his¡¡speech¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡loneliness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡helpless¡¡old
man¡¡in¡¡this¡¡atmosphere¡¡of¡¡active¡¡and¡¡youthful¡¡selfishness¡¡touched
him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡bowed¡¡assent£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡aside¡¡into¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡long
perspectives¡¡of¡¡bean¡­poles¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡girls¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡until¡¡out¡¡of
sight¡£

¡¨Well£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Vashti£»¡¡¡¨don't¡¡tell¡¡ME¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡if¡¡there¡¡wasn't¡¡something
between¡¡him¡¡and¡¡that¡¡Mamie¡¡Mulrady£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡a¡¡jilted¡¡man¡¡when
I¡¡see¡¡him¡£¡¨

¡¨Well£»¡¡you¡¡needn't¡¡have¡¡let¡¡him¡¡SEE¡¡that¡¡you¡¡knew¡¡it£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡any
civility¡¡of¡¡ours¡¡would¡¡look¡¡as¡¡if¡¡we¡¡were¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡take¡¡up¡¡with¡¡her
leavings£»¡¨¡¡responded¡¡Esther£»¡¡astutely£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡girls¡¡reentered¡¡the
house¡£

Meantime£»¡¡the¡¡unconscious¡¡object¡¡of¡¡their¡¡criticism¡¡walked¡¡sadly
down¡¡the¡¡old¡¡market¡­garden£»¡¡whose¡¡rude¡¡outlines¡¡and¡¡homely¡¡details
he¡¡once¡¡clothed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡poetry¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sensitive¡¡man's¡¡first¡¡love¡£
Well£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡common¡¡cabbage¡¡field¡¡and¡¡potato¡¡patch¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡In
his¡¡disgust¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡even¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡that¡¡sense¡¡of
patronage¡¡and¡¡superiority¡¡which¡¡had¡¡invested¡¡his¡¡affection¡¡for¡¡a
girl¡¡of¡¡meaner¡¡condition¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡self¡­respect¡¡was¡¡humiliated¡¡with¡¡his
love¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡soil¡¡and¡¡dirt¡¡of¡¡those¡¡wretched¡¡cabbages¡¡had¡¡clung¡¡to
him£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡she¡¡who¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡higher£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡he¡¡who
was¡¡left¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vulgar¡¡ruins¡¡of¡¡his¡¡misplaced¡¡passion¡£

He¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡without¡¡observing¡¡any¡¡sign¡¡of
the¡¡lonely¡¡invalid¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡cabbage¡¡rows£»¡¡and
through¡¡the¡¡long¡¡perspective¡¡of¡¡pea¡­vines£»¡¡without¡¡result¡£¡¡¡¡There
was¡¡a¡¡newer¡¡trail¡¡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¡¡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£º¡¡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
Masters¡£¡¨

Don¡¡Caesar¡¡was¡¡silent¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡another¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡happy¡¡tranquillity
returned¡¡to¡¡Slinn's¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡Don¡¡Caesar¡¡continued£º

¡¨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£º

¡¨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£º¡¡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¡£¡¡¡¡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£»
an

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