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overtook him in the hollow。 He evaded this by post… dating his discovery
of the richness of the ore until he had reached Marysville。 But he found
some difficulty in recounting his good fortune： he was naturally no boaster；
he had no desire to impress Collinson with his penetration； nor the
undaunted energy he had displayed in getting up his company and opening
the mine； so that he was actually embarrassed by his own understatement；
and under the grave； patient eyes of his companion； told his story at best
lamely。 Collinson's face betrayed neither profound interest nor the
slightest resentment。 When Key had ended his awkward recital；
Collinson said slowly：
〃Then Uncle Dick and that other Parker feller ain't got no show in this
yer find。〃
〃No；〃 said Key quickly。 〃Don't you remember we broke up our
partnership that morning and went off our own ways。 You don't
suppose；〃 he added with a forced half…laugh； 〃that if Uncle Dick or Parker
had struck a lead after they left me； they'd have put me in it？〃
〃Wouldn't they？〃 asked Collinson gravely。
〃Of course not。〃 He laughed a little more naturally； but presently
added； with an uneasy smile； 〃What makes you think they would？〃
〃Nuthin'！〃 said Collinson promptly。
Nevertheless； when they were seated before the fire； with glasses in
their hands； Collinson returned patiently to the subject：
〃You wuz saying they went their way； and you went yours。 But your
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way was back on the old way that you'd all gone together。〃
But Key felt himself on firmer ground here； and answered deliberately
and truthfully； 〃Yes； but I only went back to the hollow to satisfy myself if
there really was any house there； and if there was； to warn the occupants
of the approaching fire。〃
〃And there was a house there；〃 said Collinson thoughtfully。
〃Only the ruins。〃 He stopped and flushed quickly； for he
remembered that he had denied its existence at their former meeting。
〃That is；〃 he went on hurriedly； 〃I found out from the sheriff； you know；
that there had been a house there。 But；〃 he added； reverting to his
stronger position； 〃my going back there was an accident； and my picking
up the outcrop was an accident； and had no more to do with our
partnership prospecting than you had。 In fact；〃 he said； with a reassuring
laugh； 〃you'd have had a better right to share in my claim； coming there as
you did at that moment； than they。 Why； if I'd have known what the thing
was worth； I might have put you inonly it wanted capital and some
experience。〃 He was glad that he had pitched upon that excuse （it had only
just occurred to him）； and glanced affably at Collinson。 But that
gentleman said soberly：
〃No； you wouldn't nuther。〃
〃Why not？〃 said Key half angrily。
Collinson paused。 After a moment he said； 〃'Cos I wouldn't hev took
anything outer thet place。〃
Key felt relieved。 From what he knew of Collinson's vagaries he
believed him。 He was wise in not admitting him to his confidences at the
beginning； he might have thought it his duty to tell others。
〃I'm not so particular；〃 he returned laughingly； 〃but the silver in that
hole was never touched； nor I dare say even imagined by mortal man
before。 However； there is something else about the hollow that I want to
tell you。 You remember the slipper that you picked up？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； I lied to you about that； I never dropped it。 On the contrary； I
had picked up the mate of it very near where you found yours； and I
wanted to know to whom it belonged。 For I don't mind telling you now；
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Collinson； that I believe there WAS a woman in that house； and the same
woman whose face I saw at the window。 You remember how the boys
joked me about itwell； perhaps I didn't care that you should laugh at me
too； but I've had a sore conscience over my lie； for I remembered that you
seemed to have some interest in the matter too； and I thought that maybe I
might have thrown you off the scent。 It seemed to me that if you had any
idea who it was； we might now talk the matter over and compare notes。 I
think you saidat least； I gathered the idea from a remark of yours；〃 he
added hastily； as he remembered that the suggestion was his own； and a
satirical one〃that it reminded you of your wife's slipper。 Of course； as
your wife is dead； that would offer no clue； and can only be a chance
resemblance； unless〃 He stopped。
〃Have you got 'em yet？〃
〃Yes； both。〃 He took them from the pocket of his riding…jacket。
As Collinson received them； his face took upon itself an even graver
expression。 〃It's mighty cur'ous；〃 he said reflectively； 〃but looking at the
two of 'em the likeness is more fetchin'。 Ye see； my wife had a
STRAIGHT foot； and never wore reg'lar rights and lefts like other women；
but kinder changed about； ye see； these shoes is reg'lar rights and lefts； but
never was worn as sich！〃
〃There may be other women as peculiar；〃 suggested Key。
〃There MUST be；〃 said Collinson quietly。
For an instant Key was touched with the manly security of the reply；
for； remembering Uncle Dick's scandal； it had occurred to him that the
unknown tenant of the robbers' den might be Collinson's wife。 He was
glad to be relieved on that point； and went on more confidently：
〃So； you see； this woman was undoubtedly in that house on the night
of the fire。 She escaped； and in a mighty hurry too； for she had not time
to change her slippers for shoes； she escaped on horseback； for that is how
she lost them。 Now what was she doing there with those rascals； for the
face I saw looked as innocent as a saint's。〃
〃Seemed to ye sort o' contrairy； jist as I reckoned my wife's foot would
have looked in a slipper that you said was GIV to ye；〃 suggested Collinson
pointedly； but with no implication of reproach in his voice。
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〃Yes；〃 said Key impatiently。
〃I've read yarns afore now about them Eyetalian brigands stealin'
women；〃 said Collinson reflectively； 〃but that ain't California road…agent
style。 Great Scott！ if one even so much as spoke to a woman； they'd have
been wiped outer the State long ago。 No！ the woman as WAS there came
there to STAY！〃
As Key's face did not seem to express either assent or satisfaction at
this last statement； Collinson； after a glance at it； went on with a somewhat
gentler gravity： 〃I see wot's troublin' YOU； Mr。 Key； you've bin thinkin'
that mebbee that poor woman might hev bin the better for a bit o' that
fortin' that you discovered under the very spot where them slippers of hers
had often trod。 You're thinkin' that mebbee it might hev turned her and
those men from their evil ways。〃
Mr。 Key had been thinking nothing of the kind； but for some obscure
reason the skeptical jeer that had risen to his lips remained unsaid。 He
rose impatiently。 〃Well； there seems to be no chance of discovering
anything now； the house is burnt； the gang dispersed； and she has probably
gone with them。〃 He paused； and then laid three or four large gold pieces
on the table。 〃It's for that old bill of our party； Collinson；〃 he said。 〃I'll
settle and collect from each。 Some time when you come over to the mine；
and I hope you'll give us a call； you can bring the horse。 Meanwhile you
can use him； you'll find he's a little quicker than the mule。 How is
business？〃 he added； with a perfunctory glance around the vacant room
and dusty bar。
〃Thar ain't much passin' this way；〃 said Collinson with equal
carelessness； as he gathered up the money； 〃'c