a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第16章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
63
… Page 64…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
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； and point to me。 May God curse him！〃
〃Go slow； old man； go slow；〃 said Mulrady； gently。
〃I heard them speak of me as a friendless man； an outcast； a criminal
a being whom no one would claim。 They were right； no one claimed me。
The friends of others visited them； relations came and took away their
kindred； a few lucky ones got well； a few； equally lucky； died！ I alone
lived on； uncared for； deserted。
〃The first year；〃 he went on more rapidly； 〃I prayed for their coming。
I looked for them every day。 I never lost hope。 I said to myself； 'She
has not got my letter； but when the time passes she will be alarmed by my
silence； and then she will come or send some one to seek me。' A young
student got interested in my case； and； by studying my eyes； thought that I
was not entirely imbecile and unconscious。 With the aid of an alphabet；
he got me to spell my name and town in Illinois； and promised by signs to
write to my family。 But in an evil moment I told him of my cursed
fortune； and in that moment I saw that he thought me a fool and an idiot。
He went away； and I saw him no more。 Yet I still hoped。 I dreamed of
their joy at finding me； and the reward that my wealth would give them。
Perhaps I was a little weak still； perhaps a little flighty； too； at times； but I
was quite happy that year； even in my disappointment； for I had still
hope！〃
He paused； and again composed his face with his paralyzed hand； but
his manner had become less excited； and his voice was stronger。
〃A change must have come over me the second year； for I only
dreaded their coming now and finding me so altered。 A horrible idea that
they might； like the student； believe me crazy if I spoke of my fortune
made me pray to God that they might not reach me until after I had
64
… Page 65…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
regained my health and strengthand found my fortune。 When the third
year found me still thereI no longer prayed for themI cursed them！ I
swore to myself that they should never enjoy my wealth； but I wanted to
live； and let them know I had it。 I found myself getting stronger； but as I
had no money； no friends； and nowhere to go； I concealed my real
condition from the doctors； except to give them my name； and to try to get
some little work to do to enable me to leave the hospital and seek my lost
treasure。 One day I found out by accident that it had been discovered！
You understandmy treasure！that had cost me years of labor and my
reason； had left me a helpless； forgotten pauper。 That gold I had never
enjoyed had been found and taken possession of by another！〃
He checked an exclamation from Mulrady with his hand。 〃They say
they picked me up senseless from the floor； where I must have fallen when
I heard the newsI don't rememberI recall nothing until I was confronted；
nearly three weeks after； by my son； who had called at the hospital； as a
reporter for a paper； and had accidentally discovered me through my name
and appearance。 He thought me crazy； or a fool。 I didn't undeceive him。
I did not tell him the story of the mine to excite his doubts and derision； or；
worse （if I could bring proof to claim it）； have it perhaps pass into his
ungrateful hands。 No； I said nothing。 I let him bring me here。 He
could do no less； and common decency obliged him to do that。〃
〃And what proof could you show of your claim？〃 asked Mulrady；
gravely。
〃If I had that letterif I could find Masters；〃 began Slinn； vaguely。
〃Have you any idea where the letter is； or what has become of
Masters？〃 continued Mulrady； with a matter…of…fact gravity； that seemed to
increase Slinn's vagueness and excite his irritability。
〃I don't knowI sometimes think〃 He stopped； sat down again； and
passed his hands across his forehead。 〃I have seen the letter somewhere
since。 Yes；〃 he went on； with sudden vehemence； 〃I know it； I have seen
it！ I〃 His brows knitted； his features began to work convulsively； he
suddenly brought his paralyzed hand down； partly opened； upon the table。
〃I WILL remember where。〃
〃Go slow； old man； go slow。〃
65
… Page 66…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
〃You asked me once about my visions。 Well； that is one of them。 I
remember a man somewhere showing me that letter。 I have taken it from
his hands and opened it； and knew it was mine by the specimens of gold
that were in it。 But whereor whenor what became of it； I cannot tell。
It will come to meit MUST come to me soon。〃
He turned his eyes upon Mulrady； who was regarding him with an
expression of grave curiosity； and said bitterly； 〃You think me crazy。 I
know it。 It needed only this。〃
〃Where is this mine；〃 asked Mulrady； without heeding him。
The old man's eyes swiftly sought the ground。
〃It is a secret； then？〃
〃No。〃
〃You have spoken of it to any one？〃
〃No。〃
〃Not to the man who possesses it？〃
〃No。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because I wouldn't take it from him。〃
〃Why wouldn't you？〃
〃Because that man is yourself！〃
In the instant of complete silence that followed they could hear that the
monotonous patter of rain on the roof had ceased。
〃Then all this was in MY shaft； and the vein I thought I struck there
was YOUR lead； found three years ago in YOUR tunnel。 Is that your
idea？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then I don't sabe why you don't want to claim it。〃
〃I have told you why I don't want it for my children。 I go further；
now； and I tell you； Alvin Mulrady； that I was willing that your children
should squander it； as they were doing。 It has only been a curse to me； it
could only be a curse to them； but I thought you were happy in seeing it
feed selfishness and vanity。 You think me bitter and hard。 Well； I should
have left you in your fool's paradise； but that I saw to…night； when you
came here； that your eyes had been opened like mine。 You； the possessor
66
… Page 67…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
of my wealth； my treasure； could not buy your children's loving care and
company with your millions； any more than I could keep mine in my
poverty。 You were to…night lonely and forsaken； as I was。 We were
equal； for the first time in our lives。 If that cursed gold had dropped
down the shaft between us into the hell from which it sprang； we might
have clasped hands like brothers across the chasm。〃
Mulrady； who in a friendly show of being at his ease had not yet
resumed his coat； rose in his shirt…sleeves； and； standing before the hearth；
straightened his square figure by drawing down his waistcoat on each side
with two powerful thumbs。 After a moment's contemplative survey of
the floor between him and the speaker； he raised his eyes to Slinn。 They
were small and colorless； the forehead above them was low； and crowned
with a shock of tawny reddish hair； even the rude strength of his lower
features was enfeebled by a long； straggling； goat…like beard； but for the
first time in his life the whole face was impressed and transformed with a
strong and simple dignity。
〃Ez far ez I kin see； Slinn；〃 he said； gravely； 〃the pint between you and
me ain't to be settled by our children； or wot we allow is doo and right
from them to us。 Afore we preach at them for playing in the slumgullion；
and gettin' themselves splashed； perhaps we mout ez well remember that
that thar slumgullion comes from our own sluice…boxes； where we wash
our gold。 So we'll just put THEM behind us； so；〃 he continued； with a
backward sweep of his powerful hand towards the chimney； 〃and goes on。
The next thing that crops up ahead of us is your three years in the hospital；
and wot you went through at that time。 I ain't sayin' it wasn't rough on
you； and that you didn't have it about as big as it's made； but ez you'll
allow that you'd hev had that for three years； whether I'd found
