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Duchesne's gravity seemed to give that significance to this
symptom； and his cross…questioning of the patient was characterized
by more than his usual curtness。
〃You are sure you don't remember walking in the garden before you
were ill？〃 he said。 〃Come； think again。 You must remember that。〃
The old man's eyes wandered restlessly around the room； but he
answered by a negative shake of his head。 〃And you don't remember
sitting down on a stone by the road？〃
The old man kept his eyes resolutely fixed on the bedclothes before
him。 〃No！〃 he said； with a certain sharp decision that was new to
him。
The doctor's eye brightened。 〃All right； old man； then don't。〃
On his way out he took the eldest Miss Slinn aside。 〃He'll do；〃 he
said； grimly： 〃he's beginning to lie。〃
〃Why； he only said he didn't remember；〃 responded Esther。
〃That was because he didn't want to remember；〃 said the doctor；
authoritatively。 〃The brain is acting on some impression that is
either painful and unpleasant； or so vague that he can't formulate
it； he is conscious of it； and won't attempt it yet。 It's a heap
better than his old self…satisfied incoherency。〃
A few days later； when the fact of Slinn's identification with the
paralytic of three years ago by the stage…driver became generally
known； the doctor came in quite jubilant。
〃It's all plain now；〃 he said； decidedly。 〃That second stroke was
caused by the nervous shock of his coming suddenly upon the very
spot where he had the first one。 It proved that his brain still
retained old impressions； but as this first act of his memory was a
painful one； the strain was too great。 It was mighty unlucky； but
it was a good sign。〃
〃And you think； then〃 hesitated Harry Slinn。
〃I think；〃 said Dr。 Duchesne； 〃that this activity still exists； and
the proof of it； as I said before； is that he is trying now to
forget it； and avoid thinking of it。 You will find that he will
fight shy of any allusion to it； and will be cunning enough to
dodge it every time。〃
He certainly did。 Whether the doctor's hypothesis was fairly based
or not； it was a fact that； when he was first taken out to drive
with his watchful physician； he apparently took no notice of the
boulderwhich still remained on the roadside； thanks to the later
practical explanation of the stage…driver's visionand curtly
refused to talk about it。 But； more significant to Duchesne； and
perhaps more perplexing； was a certain morose abstraction； which
took the place of his former vacuity of contentment； and an
intolerance of his attendants； which supplanted his old habitual
trustfulness to their care； that had been varied only by the
occasional querulousness of an invalid。 His daughters sometimes
found him regarding them with an attention little short of
suspicion； and even his son detected a half…suppressed aversion in
his interviews with him。
Referring this among themselves to his unfortunate malady； his
children； perhaps； justified this estrangement by paying very
little attention to it。 They were more pleasantly occupied。 The
two girls succeeded to the position held by Mamie Mulrady in the
society of the neighborhood； and divided the attentions of Rough…
and…Ready。 The young editor of the 〃Record〃 had really achieved；
through his supposed intimacy with the Mulradys； the good fortune
he had jestingly prophesied。 The disappearance of Don Caesar was
regarded as a virtual abandonment of the field to his rival： and
the general opinion was that he was engaged to the millionaire's
daughter on a certain probation of work and influence in his
prospective father…in…law's interests。 He became successful in one
or two speculations； the magic of the lucky Mulrady's name
befriending him。 In the superstition of the mining community； much
of this luck was due to his having secured the old cabin。
〃To think；〃 remarked one of the augurs of Red Dog； French Pete； a
polyglot jester； 〃that while every fool went to taking up claims
where the gold had already been found no one thought of stepping
into the old man's old choux in the cabbage…garden！〃 Any doubt；
however； of the alliance of the families was dissipated by the
intimacy that sprang up between the elder Slinn and the
millionaire； after the latter's return from San Francisco。
It began in a strange kind of pity for the physical weakness of the
man； which enlisted the sympathies of Mulrady； whose great strength
had never been deteriorated by the luxuries of wealth； and who was
still able to set his workmen an example of hard labor； it was
sustained by a singular and superstitious reverence for his mental
condition； which； to the paternal Mulrady； seemed to possess that
spiritual quality with which popular ignorance invests demented
people。
〃Then you mean to say that during these three years the vein o'
your mind； so to speak； was a lost lead； and sorter dropped out o'
sight or follerin'？〃 queried Mulrady； with infinite seriousness。
〃Yes；〃 returned Slinn； with less impatience than he usually showed
to questions。
〃And durin' that time； when you was dried up and waitin' for rain；
I reckon you kinder had visions？〃
A cloud passed over Slinn's face。
〃Of course； of course！〃 said Mulrady； a little frightened at his
tenacity in questioning the oracle。 〃Nat'rally； this was private；
and not to be talked about。 I meant； you had plenty of room for
'em without crowdin'； you kin tell me some day when you're better；
and kin sorter select what's points and what ain't。〃
〃Perhaps I may some day；〃 said the invalid； gloomily； glancing in
the direction of his preoccupied daughters； 〃when we're alone。〃
When his physical strength had improved； and his left arm and side
had regained a feeble but slowly gathering vitality； Alvin Mulrady
one day surprised the family by bringing the convalescent a pile of
letters and accounts； and spreading them on a board before Slinn's
invalid chair； with the suggestion that he should look over；
arrange； and docket them。 The idea seemed preposterous； until it
was found that the old man was actually able to perform this
service； and exhibited a degree of intellectual activity and
capacity for this kind of work that was unsuspected。 Dr。 Duchesne
was delighted； and divided with admiration between his patient's
progress and the millionaire's sagacity。 〃And there are envious
people；〃 said the enthusiastic doctor； 〃who believe that a man like
him； who could conceive of such a plan for occupying a weak
intellect without taxing its memory or judgment； is merely a lucky
fool！ Look here。 May be it didn't require much brains to stumble
on a gold mine； and it is a gift of Providence。 But； in my
experience； Providence don't go round buyin' up dd fools； or
investin' in dead beats。〃
When Mr。 Slinn； finally； with the aid of crutches； was able to
hobble every day to the imposing counting…house and the office of
Mr。 Mulrady； which now occupied the lower part of the new house；
and contained some of its gorgeous furniture； he was installed at a
rosewood desk behind Mr。 Mulrady's chair； as his confidential clerk
and private secretary。 The astonishment of Red Dog and Rough…and…
Ready at this singular innovation knew no bounds； but the boldness
and novelty of the idea carried everything before it。 Judge Butts；
the oracle of Rough…and…Ready； delivered its decision： 〃He's got a
man who's physically incapable of running off with his money； and
has no memory to run off with his ideas。 How could he do better？〃
Even his own son； Harry； coming upon his father thus installed； was
for a moment struck with a certain filial respect； and for a day or
two patronized him。
In this capacity Slinn became the confidant not only of Mulrady's
business secrets； but of his domestic affairs。 He knew that young
Mulrady； from a freckle…faced slow country boy； had developed into
a freckle…faced fast city man； with coarse habits of drink and
gambling。 It was through the old man's hands that extravagant
bills and shameful claims passed on their way to be cashed by
Mulrady； it was he that at last laid before the father one day his
signature perfectly forged by the son。
〃Your eyes are not ez good ez mine； you know； Slinn；〃 said Mulrady；
gravely。 〃It's all right。 I sometimes make my Y's like that。 I'd
clean forgot to cash that check。 You must not think you've got the
monopoly of disremembering；〃 he added； with a faint laugh。
Equally through Slinn's hands passed the record of the lavish
expenditure of Mrs。 Mulrady and the fair Mamie； as well as the
chronicle of their movements and fashionable triumphs。 As Mulrady
had already noticed that Slinn had no confidence with his own
family； he did not try to withhold from them these domestic
details； possibly as an offset to the dreary catalogue of his son's
misdeeds； but more often in the hope of gaining from the taciturn
old man some comment that might satisfy his innocent vanity as
father and husband； and perhaps dissipate some doubts that were
haunting him。
〃Twelve hundred dollars looks to be a good figger for a dress；
ain't it？ But Malviny knows； I reckon； what ought to be worn at
the Tooilleries； and she don't want our M