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a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第16章

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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。〃

〃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 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 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 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。

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。


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 dif
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