a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第15节

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！


Slinn；　slowly；　gazing　at　the　fire。

〃No；〃　said　Mulrady；　dubiously。　　After　a　pause　he　began　more
vivaciously；　and　as　if　to　shake　off　some　disagreeable　thought　that
was　impressing　him；　〃But　I　mustn't　forget　to　give　you　YOUR
Christmas；　old　man；　and　I've　got　it　right　here　with　me。〃　　He　took
the　folded　envelope　from　his　pocket；　and；　holding　it　in　his　hand
with　his　elbow　on　the　table；　continued；　〃I　don't　mind　telling　you
what　idea　I　had　in　giving　you　what　I'm　goin'　to　give　you　now。　　I've
been　thinking　about　it　for　a　day　or　two。　　A　man　like　you　don't　want
moneyyou　wouldn't　spend　it。　　A　man　like　you　don't　want　stocks　or
fancy　investments；　for　you　couldn't　look　after　them。　　A　man　like
you　don't　want　diamonds　and　jewellery；　nor　a　gold…headed　cane；　when
it's　got　to　be　used　as　a　crutch。　　No；　sir。　　What　you　want　is
suthin'　that　won't　run　away　from　you；　that　is　always　there　before
you　and　won't　wear　out；　and　will　last　after　you're　gone。　　That's
land！　　And　if　it　wasn't　that　I　have　sworn　never　to　sell　or　give
away　this　house　and　that　garden；　if　it　wasn't　that　I've　held　out
agin　the　old　woman　and　Mamie　on　that　point；　you　should　have　THIS
house　and　THAT　garden。　　But；　mebbee；　for　the　same　reason　that　I've
told　you；　I　want　that　land　to　keep　for　myself。　　But　I've　selected
four　acres　of　the　hill　this　side　of　my　shaft；　and　here's　the　deed
of　it。　　As　soon　as　you're　ready；　I'll　put　you　up　a　house　as　big　as
thisthat　shall　be　yours；　with　the　land；　as　long　as　you　live；　old
man；　and　after　that　your　children's。〃

〃No；　not　theirs！〃　broke　in　the　old　man；　passionately。　　〃Never！〃

Mulrady　recoiled　for　an　instant　in　alarm　at　the　sudden　and
unexpected　vehemence　of　his　manner；　〃Go　slow；　old　man；　go　slow；〃　he
said；　soothingly。　　〃Of　course；　you'll　do　with　your　own　as　you
like。〃　　Then；　as　if　changing　the　subject；　he　went　on　cheerfully：
〃Perhaps　you'll　wonder　why　I　picked　out　that　spot　on　the　hillside。
Well；　first；　because　I　reserved　it　after　my　strike　in　case　the　lead
should　run　that　way；　but　it　didn't。　　Next；　because　when　you　first
came　here　you　seemed　to　like　the　prospect。　　You　used　to　sit　there
looking　at　it；　as　if　it　reminded　you　of　something。　　You　never　said
it　did。　　They　say　you　was　sitting　on　that　boulder　there　when　you
had　that　last　attack；　you　know；　but；〃　he　added；　gently；　〃you've
forgotten　all　about　it。〃

〃I　have　forgotten　nothing；〃　said　Slinn；　rising；　with　a　choking
voice。　　〃I　wish　to　God　I　had；　I　wish　to　God　I　could！〃

He　was　on　his　feet　now；　supporting　himself　by　the　table。　　The
subtle　generous　liquor　he　had　drunk　had　evidently　shaken　his　self…
control；　and　burst　those　voluntary　bonds　he　had　put　upon　himself
for　the　last　six　months；　the　insidious　stimulant　had　also　put　a
strange　vigor　into　his　blood　and　nerves。　　His　face　was　flushed；　but
not　distorted；　his　eyes　were　brilliant；　but　not　fixed；　he　looked　as
he　might　have　looked　to　Masters　in　his　strength　three　years　before
on　that　very　hillside。

〃Listen　to　me；　Alvin　Mulrady；〃　he　said；　leaning　over　him　with
burning　eyes。　　〃Listen；　while　I　have　brain　to　think　and　strength　to
utter；　why　I　have　learnt　to　distrust；　fear；　and　hate　them！　　You
think　you　know　my　story。　　Well；　hear　the　truth　from　ME　to…night；
Alvin　Mulrady；　and　do　not　wonder　if　I　have　cause。〃

He　stopped；　and；　with　pathetic　inefficiency；　passed　the　fingers　and
inward…turned　thumb　of　his　paralyzed　hand　across　his　mouth；　as　if
to　calm　himself。　　〃Three　years　ago　I　was　a　miner；　but　not　a　miner
like　you！　　I　had　experience；　I　had　scientific　knowledge；　I　had　a
theory；　and　the　patience　and　energy　to　carry　it　out。　　I　selected　a
spot　that　had　all　the　indications；　made　a　tunnel；　and；　without　aid；
counsel　or　assistance　of　any　kind；　worked　it　for　six　months；
without　rest　or　cessation；　and　with　scarcely　food　enough　to　sustain
my　body。　　Well；　I　made　a　strike；　not　like　you；　Mulrady；　not　a
blunder　of　good　luck；　a　fool's　fortunethere；　I　don't　blame　you
for　itbut　in　perfect　demonstration　of　my　theory；　the　reward　of　my
labor。　　It　was　no　pocket；　but　a　vein；　a　lead；　that　I　had　regularly
hunted　down　and　founda　fortune！

〃I　never　knew　how　hard　I　had　worked　until　that　morning；　I　never
knew　what　privations　I　had　undergone　until　that　moment　of　my
success；　when　I　found　I　could　scarcely　think　or　move！　　I　staggered
out　into　the　open　air。　　The　only　human　soul　near　me　was　a
disappointed　prospector；　a　man　named　Masters；　who　had　a　tunnel　not
far　away。　　I　managed　to　conceal　from　him　my　good　fortune　and　my
feeble　state；　for　I　was　suspicious　of　himof　any　one；　and　as　he
was　going　away　that　day　I　thought　I　could　keep　my　secret　until　he
was　gone。　　I　was　dizzy　and　confused；　but　I　remember　that　I　managed
to　write　a　letter　to　my　wife；　telling　her　of　my　good　fortune；　and
begging　her　to　come　to　me；　and　I　remember　that　I　saw　Masters　go。　　I
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　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
criminala　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　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　excit