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significant to Duchesne； and perhaps more perplexing； was a certain
morose abstraction； which took the place of his former vacuity of
contentment； and an intolerance of his attendants； which supplanted his
old habitual trustfulness to their care； that had been varied only by the
occasional querulousness of an invalid。 His daughters sometimes found
him regarding them with an attention little short of suspicion； and even his
son detected a half…suppressed aversion in his interviews with him。
Referring this among themselves to his unfortunate malady； his
children； perhaps； justified this estrangement by paying very little
attention to it。 They were more pleasantly occupied。 The two girls
succeeded to the position held by Mamie Mulrady in the society of the
neighborhood； and divided the attentions of Rough… and…Ready。 The
young editor of the 〃Record〃 had really achieved； through his supposed
intimacy with the Mulradys； the good fortune he had jestingly prophesied。
The disappearance of Don Caesar was regarded as a virtual abandonment
of the field to his rival： and the general opinion was that he was engaged
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to the millionaire's daughter on a certain probation of work and influence
in his prospective father…in…law's interests。 He became successful in one
or two speculations； the magic of the lucky Mulrady's name befriending
him。 In the superstition of the mining community； much of this luck was
due to his having secured the old cabin。
〃To think；〃 remarked one of the augurs of Red Dog； French Pete； a
polyglot jester； 〃that while every fool went to taking up claims where the
gold had already been found no one thought of stepping into the old man's
old choux in the cabbage…garden！〃 Any doubt； however； of the alliance
of the families was dissipated by the intimacy that sprang up between the
elder Slinn and the millionaire； after the latter's return from San Francisco。
It began in a strange kind of pity for the physical weakness of the man；
which enlisted the sympathies of Mulrady； whose great strength had never
been deteriorated by the luxuries of wealth； and who was still able to set
his workmen an example of hard labor； it was sustained by a singular and
superstitious reverence for his mental condition； which； to the paternal
Mulrady； seemed to possess that spiritual quality with which popular
ignorance invests demented people。
〃Then you mean to say that during these three years the vein o' your
mind； so to speak； was a lost lead； and sorter dropped out o' sight or
follerin'？〃 queried Mulrady； with infinite seriousness。
〃Yes；〃 returned Slinn； with less impatience than he usually showed to
questions。
〃And durin' that time； when you was dried up and waitin' for rain； I
reckon you kinder had visions？〃
A cloud passed over Slinn's face。
〃Of course； of course！〃 said Mulrady； a little frightened at his tenacity
in questioning the oracle。 〃Nat'rally； this was private； and not to be
talked about。 I meant； you had plenty of room for 'em without crowdin'；
you kin tell me some day when you're better； and kin sorter select what's
points and what ain't。〃
〃Perhaps I may some day；〃 said the invalid； gloomily； glancing in the
direction of his preoccupied daughters； 〃when we're alone。〃
When his physical strength had improved； and his left arm and side
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had regained a feeble but slowly gathering vitality； Alvin Mulrady one day
surprised the family by bringing the convalescent a pile of letters and
accounts； and spreading them on a board before Slinn's invalid chair； with
the suggestion that he should look over； arrange； and docket them。 The
idea seemed preposterous； until it was found that the old man was actually
able to perform this service； and exhibited a degree of intellectual activity
and capacity for this kind of work that was unsuspected。 Dr。 Duchesne
was delighted； and divided with admiration between his patient's progress
and the millionaire's sagacity。 〃And there are envious people；〃 said the
enthusiastic doctor； 〃who believe that a man like him； who could conceive
of such a plan for occupying a weak intellect without taxing its memory or
judgment； is merely a lucky fool！ Look here。 May be it didn't require
much brains to stumble on a gold mine； and it is a gift of Providence。
But； in my experience； Providence don't go round buyin' up dd fools； or
investin' in dead beats。〃
When Mr。 Slinn； finally； with the aid of crutches； was able to hobble
every day to the imposing counting…house and the office of Mr。 Mulrady；
which now occupied the lower part of the new house； and contained some
of its gorgeous furniture； he was installed at a rosewood desk behind Mr。
Mulrady's chair； as his confidential clerk and private secretary。 The
astonishment of Red Dog and Rough…and… Ready at this singular
innovation knew no bounds； but the boldness and novelty of the idea
carried everything before it。 Judge Butts； the oracle of Rough…and…Ready；
delivered its decision： 〃He's got a man who's physically incapable of
running off with his money； and has no memory to run off with his ideas。
How could he do better？〃 Even his own son； Harry； coming upon his
father thus installed； was for a moment struck with a certain filial respect；
and for a day or two patronized him。
In this capacity Slinn became the confidant not only of Mulrady's
business secrets； but of his domestic affairs。 He knew that young
Mulrady； from a freckle…faced slow country boy； had developed into a
freckle…faced fast city man； with coarse habits of drink and gambling。 It
was through the old man's hands that extravagant bills and shameful
claims passed on their way to be cashed by Mulrady； it was he that at last
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laid before the father one day his signature perfectly forged by the son。
〃Your eyes are not ez good ez mine； you know； Slinn；〃 said Mulrady；
gravely。 〃It's all right。 I sometimes make my Y's like that。 I'd clean
forgot to cash that check。 You must not think you've got the monopoly of
disremembering；〃 he added； with a faint laugh。
Equally through Slinn's hands passed the record of the lavish
expenditure of Mrs。 Mulrady and the fair Mamie； as well as the chronicle
of their movements and fashionable triumphs。 As Mulrady had already
noticed that Slinn had no confidence with his own family； he did not try to
withhold from them these domestic details； possibly as an offset to the
dreary catalogue of his son's misdeeds； but more often in the hope of
gaining from the taciturn old man some comment that might satisfy his
innocent vanity as father and husband； and perhaps dissipate some doubts
that were haunting him。
〃Twelve hundred dollars looks to be a good figger for a dress； ain't it？
But Malviny knows； I reckon； what ought to be worn at the Tooilleries；
and she don't want our Mamie to take a back seat before them furrin'
princesses and gran' dukes。 It's a slap…up affair； I kalkilate。 Let's see。
I disremember whether it's an emperor or a king that's rulin' over thar now。
It must be suthin' first class and A 1； for Malviny ain't the woman to throw
away twelve hundred dollars on any of them small…potato despots！ She
says Mamie speaks French already like them French Petes。 I don't quite
make out what she means here。 She met Don Caesar in Paris； and she
says； 'I think Mamie is nearly off with Don Caesar； who has followed her
here。 I don't care about her d