a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第2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！
contemptuously； half compassionately。
〃Don't forget yourself and drop it in some hollow tree for a letter…box；〃
be said。 〃Wellso long！since you won't drink。 Take care of yourself；〃
and； turning on his heel； Masters walked away。
Slinn watched him as he crossed over to his abandoned claim； saw him
gather his few mining utensils； strap his blanket over his back； lift his hat
on his long…handled shovel as a token of farewell； and then stride light…
heartedly over the ridge。
He was alone now with his secret and his treasure。 The only man in
the world who knew of the exact position of his tunnel had gone away
forever。 It was not likely that this chance companion of a few weeks
would ever remember him or the locality again； he would now leave his
treasure alonefor even a day perhapsuntil he had thought out some plan
and sought out some friend in whom to confide。 His secluded life； the
singular habits of concentration which had at last proved so successful had；
at the same time； left him few acquaintances and no associates。 And in
all his well…laid plans and patiently…digested theories for finding the
treasure； the means and methods of working it and disposing of it had
never entered。
And now； at the hour when he most needed his faculties； what was the
meaning of this strange benumbing of them！
Patience！ He only wanted a little resta little time to recover himself。
There was a large boulder under a tree in the highway of the settlementa
sheltered spot where he had often waited for the coming of the stage…coach。
He would go there； and when he was sufficiently rested and composed he
would go on。
Nevertheless； on his way he diverged and turned into the woods； for no
other apparent purpose than to find a hollow tree。 〃A hollow tree。〃 Yes！
that was what Masters had said； he remembered it distinctly； and
something was to be done there； but what it was； or why it should be done；
5
… Page 6…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
he could not tell。 However； it was done； and very luckily； for his limbs
could scarcely support him further； and reaching that boulder he dropped
upon it like another stone。
And now； strange to say； the uneasiness and perplexity which had
possessed him ever since he had stood before his revealed wealth dropped
from him like a burden laid upon the wayside。 A measureless peace stole
over him； in which visions of his new…found fortune； no longer a trouble
and perplexity； but crowned with happiness and blessing to all around him；
assumed proportions far beyond his own weak； selfish plans。 In its even…
handed benefaction； his wife and children； his friends and relations； even
his late poor companion of the hillside； met and moved harmoniously
together； in its far…reaching consequences there was only the influence of
good。 It was not strange that this poor finite mind should never have
conceived the meaning of the wealth extended to him； or that conceiving it
he should faint and falter under the revelation。 Enough that for a few
minutes he must have tasted a joy of perfect anticipation that years of
actual possession might never bring。
The sun seemed to go down in a rosy dream of his own happiness； as
he still sat there。 Later； the shadows of the trees thickened and
surrounded him； and still later fell the calm of a quiet evening sky with
far…spaced passionless stars； that seemed as little troubled by what they
looked upon as he was by the stealthy creeping life in the grasses and
underbrush at his feet。 The dull patter of soft little feet in the soft dust of
the road； the gentle gleam of moist and wondering little eyes on the
branches and in the mossy edges of the boulder； did not disturb him。 He
sat patiently through it all； as if he had not yet made up his mind。
But when the stage came with the flashing sun the next morning； and
the irresistible clamor of life and action； the driver suddenly laid his four
spirited horses on their haunches before the quiet spot。 The express
messenger clambered down from the box； and approached what seemed to
be a heap of cast…off clothes upon the boulder。
〃He don't seem to be drunk；〃 he said； in reply to a querulous
interrogation from the passengers。 〃I can't make him out。 His eyes are
open； but he cannot speak or move。 Take a look at him； Doc。〃
6
… Page 7…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
A rough unprofessional…looking man here descended from the inside
of the coach； and； carelessly thrusting aside the other curious passengers；
suddenly leant over the heap of clothes in a professional attitude。
〃He is dead；〃 said one of the passengers。
The rough man let the passive head sink softly down again。 〃No such
luck for him；〃 he said curtly； but not unkindly。 〃It's a stroke of paralysis
and about as big as they make 'em。 It's a toss…up if he ever speaks or
moves again as long as he lives。〃
7
… Page 8…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
CHAPTER I
When Alvin Mulrady announced his intention of growing potatoes
and garden 〃truck〃 on the green slopes of Los Gatos； the mining
community of that region； and the adjacent hamlet of 〃Rough…and…
Ready；〃 regarded it with the contemptuous indifference usually shown by
those adventurers towards all bucolic pursuits。 There was certainly no
active objection to the occupation of two hillsides； which gave so little
promise to the prospector for gold that it was currently reported that a
single prospector； called 〃Slinn；〃 had once gone mad or imbecile through
repeated failures。 The only opposition came； incongruously enough；
from the original pastoral owner of the soil； one Don Ramon Alvarado；
whose claim for seven leagues of hill and valley； including the now
prosperous towns of Rough…and…Ready and Red Dog； was met with simple
derision from the squatters and miners。 〃Looks ez ef we woz goin' to
travel three thousand miles to open up his dd old wilderness； and then
pay for the increased valoo we give itdon't it？ Oh； yes； certainly！〃 was
their ironical commentary。 Mulrady might have been pardoned for
adopting this popular opinion； but by an equally incongruous sentiment；
peculiar； however； to the man； he called upon Don Ramon； and actually
offered to purchase the land； or 〃go shares〃 with him in the agricultural
profits。 It was alleged that the Don was so struck with this concession
that he not only granted the land； but struck up a quaint reserved
friendship for the simple…minded agriculturist and his family。 It is
scarcely necessary to add that this intimacy was viewed by the miners with
the contempt that it deserved。 They would have been more
contemptuous； however； had they known the opinion that Don Ramon
entertained of their particular vocation； and which he early confided to
Mulrady。
〃They are savages who expect to reap where they have not sown； to
take out of the earth without returning anything to it but their precious
carcasses； heathens； who worship the mere stones they dig up。〃 〃And
was there no Spaniard who ever dug gold？〃 asked Mulrady； simply。 〃Ah；
8
… Page 9…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
there are Spaniards and Moors；〃 responded Don Ramon； sententiously。
〃Gold has been dug； and by caballeros； but no good ever came of it。
There were Alvarados in Sonora； look y
