a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第17章
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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 your mine
or whether I hadn't； I think we can put THAT behind us； too。 There's
nothin' now left to prospect but your story of your strike。 Well； take your
own proofs。 Masters is not here； and if he was； accordin' to your own
story； he knows nothin' of your strike that day； and could only prove you
were a disappointed prospector in a tunnel； your letterthat the person you
wrote to 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
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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。
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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。
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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 Mamie
should 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
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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。〃
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〃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
