a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第4节
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and lawsuits。 The feminine Mulradys attended the funeral； in expensive
mourning from Sacramento； even the gentle Alvin was forced into ready…
made broadcloth； which accented his good…natured but unmistakably
common presence。 Mrs。 Mulrady spoke openly of her 〃loss〃； declared
that the old families were dying out； and impressed the wives of a few new
arrivals at Red Dog with the belief that her own family was contemporary
with the Alvarados； and that her husband's health was far from perfect。
She extended a motherly sympathy to the orphaned Don Caesar。 Reserved；
like his father； in natural disposition； he was still more gravely
ceremonious from his loss； and； perhaps from the shyness of an evident
partiality for Mamie Mulrady； he rarely availed himself of her mother's
sympathizing hospitality。 But he carried out the intentions of his father
by consenting to sell to Mulrady； for a small sum； the property he had
leased。 The idea of purchasing had originated with Mrs。 Mulrady。
〃It'll be all in the family；〃 had observed that astute lady； 〃and it's better
for the looks of the things that we shouldn't he his tenants。〃
It was only a few weeks later that she was startled by hearing her
husband's voice calling her from the hillside as he rapidly approached the
house。 Mamie was in her room putting on a new pink cotton gown； in
honor of an expected visit from young Don Caesar； and Mrs。 Mulrady was
tidying the house in view of the same event。 Something in the tone of her
good man's voice； and the unusual circumstance of his return to the house
before work was done； caused her； however； to drop her dusting cloth； and
run to the kitchen door to meet him。 She saw him running through the
rows of cabbages； his face shining with perspiration and excitement； a
light in his eyes which she had not seen for years。 She recalled； without
sentiment； that he looked like that when she had called hima poor farm
hand of her father'sout of the brush heap at the back of their former
home； in Illinois； to learn the consent of her parents。 The recollection
was the more embarrassing as he threw his arms around her； and pressed a
resounding kiss upon her sallow cheek。 〃Sakes alive！ Mulrady！〃 she
said； exorcising the ghost of a blush that had also been recalled from the
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past with her housewife's apron； 〃what are you doin'； and company
expected every minit？〃
〃Malviny； I've struck it； and struck it rich！〃
She disengaged herself from his arms； without excitement； and looked
at him with bright but shrewdly observant eyes。
〃I've struck it in the wellthe regular vein that the boys have been
looking fer。 There's a fortin' fer you and Mamie： thousands and tens of
thousands！〃
〃Wait a minit。〃
She left him quickly； and went to the foot of the stairs。 He could hear
her wonderingly and distinctly。 〃Ye can take off that new frock； Mamie；〃
she called out。
There was a sound of undisguised expostulation from Mamie。
〃I'm speaking；〃 said Mrs。 Mulrady； emphatically。
The murmuring ceased。 Mrs。 Mulrady returned to her husband。
The interruption seemed to have taken off the keen edge of his enjoyment。
He at once abdicated his momentary elevation as a discoverer； and waited
for her to speak。
〃Ye haven't told any one yet？〃 she asked。
〃No。 I was alone； down in the shaft。 Ye see； Malviny； I wasn't
expectin' of anything。〃 He began； with an attempt at fresh enjoyment； 〃I
was just clearin' out； and hadn't reckoned on anythin'。〃
〃You see； I was right when I advised you taking the land；〃 she said；
without heeding him。
Mulrady's face fell。 〃I hope Don Caesar won't think〃he began；
hesitatingly。 〃I reckon； perhaps； I oughter make some sorter
compensationyou know。〃
〃Stuff！〃 said Mrs。 Mulrady； decidedly。 〃Don't be a fool。 Any gold
discovery； anyhow； would have been yoursthat's the law。 And you
bought the land without any restrictions。 Besides； you never had any
idea of this！〃she stopped； and looked him suddenly in the face〃had
you？〃
Mulrady opened his honest； pale…gray eyes widely。
〃Why； Malviny！ You know I hadn't。 I could swear！〃
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
〃Don't swear； and don't let on to anybody but what you DID know it
was there。 Now； Alvin Mulrady； listen to me。〃 Her voice here took the
strident form of action。 〃Knock off work at the shaft； and send your man
away at once。 Put on your things； catch the next stage to Sacramento at
four o'clock； and take Mamie with you。〃
〃Mamie！〃 echoed Mulrady； feebly。
〃You want to see Lawyer Cole and my brother Jim at once；〃 she went
on； without heeding him； 〃and Mamie wants a change and some proper。
clothes。 Leave the rest to me and Abner。 I'll break it to Mamie； and get
her ready。〃
Mulrady passed his hands through his tangled hair； wet with
perspiration。 He was proud of his wife's energy and action； he did not
dream of opposing her； but somehow he was disappointed。 The
charming glamour and joy of his discovery had vanished before he could
fairly dazzle her with it； or； rather； she was not dazzled with it at all。 It
had become like business； and the expression 〃breaking it〃 to Mamie
jarred upon him。 He would have preferred to tell her himself； to watch
the color come into her delicate oval face； to have seen her soft eyes light
with an innocent joy he had not seen in his wife's； and he felt a sinking
conviction that his wife was the last one to awaken it。
〃You ain't got any time to lose；〃 she said； impatiently； as he hesitated。
Perhaps it was her impatience that struck harshly upon him； perhaps； if
she had not accepted her good fortune so confidently； he would not have
spoken what was in his mind at the time； but he said gravely； 〃Wait a minit；
Malviny； I've suthin' to tell you 'bout this find of mine that's sing'lar。〃
〃Go on；〃 she said； quickly。
〃Lyin' among the rotten quartz of the vein was a pick；〃 he said；
constrainedly； 〃and the face of the vein sorter looked ez if it had been
worked at。 Follering the line outside to the base of the hill there was
signs of there having been an old tunnel； but it had fallen in； and was
blocked up。〃
〃Well？〃 said Mrs。 Mulrady； contemptuously。
〃Well；〃 returned her husband； somewhat disconnectedly； 〃it kinder
looked as if some feller might have discovered it before。〃
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〃And went away； and left it for others！ That's likelyain't it？〃
interrupted his wife； with ill…disguised intolerance。 〃Everybody knows
the hill wasn't worth that for prospectin'； and it was abandoned when we
came here。 It's your property and you've paid for it。 Are you goin' to
wait to advertise for the owner； Alvin Mulrady； or are you going to
Sacramento at four o'clock to…day？〃
Mulrady started。 He had never seriously believed in the possibility of
a previous discovery； but his conscientious nature had prompted him to
give it a fair consideration。 She was probably right。 What he might
have thought had she treated it with equal conscientiousness he did not
consider。 〃All right；〃 he said simply。 〃I reckon we'll go at once。〃
〃And when you talk to Lawyer Cole and Jim； keep that silly stuff
about the pick to yourself。 There's no use of putting queer ideas into
other people's heads because you happen to have 'em yourself。〃
When the hurried arrangements were at last comple
