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！
It needed only this last blow to complete the humiliation that whitened
Mulrady's face。 But his eye was none the less clear and his voice none
the less steady as he turned to Don Caesar。
〃You know perfectly the contents of that letter？〃
〃I have kept a copy of it。〃 〃Come with me。〃
He preceded his visitor down the staircase and back into his private
office。 Slinn looked up at his employer's face in unrestrained anxiety。
75
… Page 76…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
Mulrady sat down at his desk； wrote a few hurried lines； and rang a bell。
A manager appeared from the counting…room。
〃Send that to the bank。〃
He wiped his pen as methodically as if he had not at that moment
countermanded the order to pay his daughter's dowry； and turned quietly to
Slinn。
〃Don Caesar Alvarado has found the letter you wrote your wife on the
day you made your strike in the tunnel that is now my shaft。 He gave the
letter to Mrs。 Mulrady； but he has kept a copy。〃
Unheeding the frightened gesture of entreaty from Slinn； equally with
the unfeigned astonishment of Don Caesar； who was entirely unprepared
for this revelation of Mulrady's and Slinn's confidences； he continued； 〃He
has brought the copy with him。 I reckon it would be only square for you
to compare it with what you remember of the original。〃
In obedience to a gesture from Mulrady； Don Caesar mechanically
took from his pocket a folded paper； and handed it to the paralytic。 But
Slinn's trembling fingers could scarcely unfold the paper； and as his eyes
fell upon its contents； his convulsive lips could not articulate a word。
〃P'raps I'd better read it for you；〃 said Mulrady； gently。 〃You kin
follow me and stop me when I go wrong。〃
He took the paper； and； in dead silence； read as follows：
〃DEAR WIFE；I've just struck gold in my tunnel； and you must get
ready to come here with the children； at once。 It was after six months'
hard work； and I'm so weak I 。 。 。 It's a fortune for us all。 We should be
rich even if it were only a branch vein dipping west towards the next
tunnel； instead of dipping east； according to my theory〃
〃Stop！〃 said Slinn； in a voice that shook the room。
Mulrady looked up。
〃It's wrong； ain't it？〃 he asked； anxiously； 〃it should be EAST towards
the next tunnel。〃
〃No！ IT'S RIGHT！ I am wrong！ We're all wrong！〃
Slinn had risen to his feet； erect and inspired。 〃Don't you see；〃 he
almost screamed； with passionate vehemence； 〃it's MASTERS'
ABANDONED TUNNEL your shaft has struck？ Not mine！ It was
76
… Page 77…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
Masters' pick you found！ I know it now！〃
〃And your own tunnel？〃 said Mulrady； springing to his feet in
excitement。 〃And YOUR strike？〃
〃Is still there！〃
The next instant； and before another question could be asked； Slinn
had darted from the room。 In the exaltation of that supreme discovery he
regained the full control of his mind and body。 Mulrady and Don Caesar；
no less excited； followed him precipitately； and with difficulty kept up
with his feverish speed。 Their way lay along the base of the hill below
Mulrady's shaft； and on a line with Masters' abandoned tunnel。 Only
once he stopped to snatch a pick from the hand of an astonished Chinaman
at work in a ditch； as he still kept on his way； a quarter of a mile beyond
the shaft。 Here he stopped before a jagged hole in the hillside。 Bared to
the sky and air； the very openness of its abandonment； its unpropitious
position； and distance from the strike in Mulrady's shaft had no doubt
preserved its integrity from wayfarer or prospector。
〃You can't go in there alone； and without a light；〃 said Mulrady； laying
his hand on the arm of the excited man。 〃Let me get more help and
proper tools。〃
〃I know every step in the dark as in the daylight；〃 returned Slinn；
struggling。 〃Let me go； while I have yet strength and reason！ Stand
aside！〃
He broke from them； and the next moment was swallowed up in the
yawning blackness。 They waited with bated breath until； after a seeming
eternity of night and silence； they heard his returning footsteps； and ran
forward to meet him。 As he was carrying something clasped to his breast；
they supported him to the opening。 But at the same moment the object of
his search and his burden； a misshapen wedge of gold and quartz； dropped
with him； and both fell together with equal immobility to the ground。 He
had still strength to turn his fading eyes to the other millionaire of Rough…
and…Ready； who leaned over him。
〃Yousee；〃 he gasped； brokenly； 〃I was notcrazy！〃
No。 He was dead！
77
… Page 78…
A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
78