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〃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
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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
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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 criminal
a 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
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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 excite his doubts and derision； or；
worse （if I could bring proof to claim it）； have it perhaps pass into his
ungrateful hands。 No； I said nothing。 I let him bring me here。 He
could do no less； and common decency obliged him to do that。〃
〃And what proof could you show of your claim？〃 asked Mulrady；
gravely。
〃If I had that letterif I could find Masters；〃 began Slinn； vaguely。
〃Have you any idea where the letter is； or what h