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〃Have you any idea where the letter is； or what has become of
Masters？〃 continued Mulrady； with a matter…of…fact gravity； that seemed to
increase Slinn's vagueness and excite his irritability。
〃I don't knowI sometimes think〃 He stopped； sat down again； and
passed his hands across his forehead。 〃I have seen the letter somewhere
since。 Yes；〃 he went on； with sudden vehemence； 〃I know it； I have seen
it！ I〃 His brows knitted； his features began to work convulsively； he
suddenly brought his paralyzed hand down； partly opened； upon the table。
〃I WILL remember where。〃
〃Go slow； old man； go slow。〃
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〃You asked me once about my visions。 Well； that is one of them。 I
remember a man somewhere showing me that letter。 I have taken it from
his hands and opened it； and knew it was mine by the specimens of gold
that were in it。 But whereor whenor what became of it； I cannot tell。
It will come to meit MUST come to me soon。〃
He turned his eyes upon Mulrady； who was regarding him with an
expression of grave curiosity； and said bitterly； 〃You think me crazy。 I
know it。 It needed only this。〃
〃Where is this mine；〃 asked Mulrady； without heeding him。
The old man's eyes swiftly sought the ground。
〃It is a secret； then？〃
〃No。〃
〃You have spoken of it to any one？〃
〃No。〃
〃Not to the man who possesses it？〃
〃No。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because I wouldn't take it from him。〃
〃Why wouldn't you？〃
〃Because that man is yourself！〃
In the instant of complete silence that followed they could hear that the
monotonous patter of rain on the roof had ceased。
〃Then all this was in MY shaft； and the vein I thought I struck there
was YOUR lead； found three years ago in YOUR tunnel。 Is that your
idea？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then I don't sabe why you don't want to claim it。〃
〃I have told you why I don't want it for my children。 I go further；
now； and I tell you； Alvin Mulrady； that I was willing that your children
should squander it； as they were doing。 It has only been a curse to me； it
could only be a curse to them； but I thought you were happy in seeing it
feed selfishness and vanity。 You think me bitter and hard。 Well； I should
have left you in your fool's paradise； but that I saw to…night； when you
came here； that your eyes had been opened like mine。 You； the possessor
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of my wealth； my treasure； could not buy your children's loving care and
company with your millions； any more than I could keep mine in my
poverty。 You were to…night lonely and forsaken； as I was。 We were
equal； for the first time in our lives。 If that cursed gold had dropped
down the shaft between us into the hell from which it sprang； we might
have clasped hands like brothers across the chasm。〃
Mulrady； who in a friendly show of being at his ease had not yet
resumed his coat； rose in his shirt…sleeves； and； standing before the hearth；
straightened his square figure by drawing down his waistcoat on each side
with two powerful thumbs。 After a moment's contemplative survey of
the floor between him and the speaker； he raised his eyes to Slinn。 They
were small and colorless； the forehead above them was low； and crowned
with a shock of tawny reddish hair； even the rude strength of his lower
features was enfeebled by a long； straggling； goat…like beard； but for the
first time in his life the whole face was impressed and transformed with a
strong and simple dignity。
〃Ez far ez I kin see； Slinn；〃 he said； gravely； 〃the pint between you and
me ain't to be settled by our children； or wot we allow is doo and right
from them to us。 Afore we preach at them for playing in the slumgullion；
and gettin' themselves splashed； perhaps we mout ez well remember that
that thar slumgullion comes from our own sluice…boxes； where we wash
our gold。 So we'll just put THEM behind us； so；〃 he continued； with a
backward sweep of his powerful hand towards the chimney； 〃and goes on。
The next thing that crops up ahead of us is your three years in the hospital；
and wot you went through at that time。 I ain't sayin' it wasn't rough on
you； and that you didn't have it about as big as it's made； but ez you'll
allow that you'd hev had that for three years； whether I'd found your mine
or whether I hadn't； I think we can put THAT behind us； too。 There's
nothin' now left to prospect but your story of your strike。 Well； take your
own proofs。 Masters is not here； and if he was； accordin' to your own
story； he knows nothin' of your strike that day； and could only prove you
were a disappointed prospector in a tunnel； your letterthat the person you
wrote to never gotYOU can't produce； and if you did； would be only
your own story without proof！ There is not a business man ez would
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look at your claim； there isn't a friend of yours that wouldn't believe you
were crazy； and dreamed it all； there isn't a rival of yours ez wouldn't say
ez you'd invented it。 Slinn； I'm a business manI am your friendI am
your rivalbut I don't think you're lyin'I don't think you're crazyand I'm
not sure your claim ain't a good one！
〃Ef you reckon from that that I'm goin' to hand you over the mine to…
morrow；〃 he went on； after a pause； raising his hand with a deprecating
gesture； 〃you're mistaken。 For your own sake； and the sake of my wife
and children； you've got to prove it more clearly than you hev； but I
promise you that from this night forward I will spare neither time nor
money to help you to do it。 I have more than doubled the amount that
you would have had； had you taken the mine the day you came from the
hospital。 When you prove to me that your story is trueand we will find
some way to prove it； if it IS truethat amount will be yours at once；
without the need of a word from law or lawyers。 If you want my name to
that in black and white； come to the office to…morrow； and you shall have
it。〃
〃And you think I'll take it now？〃 said the old man passionately。 〃Do
you think that your charity will bring back my dead wife； the three years
of my lost life； the love and respect of my children？ Or do you think that
your own wife and children； who deserted you in your wealth； will come
back to you in your poverty？ No！ Let the mine stay； with its curse；
where it isI'll have none of it！〃
〃Go slow； old man； go slow；〃 said Mulrady； quietly； putting on his coat。
〃You will take the mine if it is yours； if it isn't； I'll keep it。 If it is yours；
you will give your children a chance to sho what they can do for you in
your sudden prosperity； as I shall give mine a chance to show how they
can stand reverse and disappointment。 If my head is leveland I reckon
it isthey'll both pan out all right。〃
He turned and opened the door。 With a quick revulsion of feeling；
Slinn suddenly seized Mulrady's hand between both of his own； and raised
it to his lips。 Mulrady smiled； disengaged his hand gently； and saying
soothingly； 〃Go slow； old man； go slow；〃 closed the door behind him； and
passed out into the clear Christmas dawn。
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For the stars； with the exception of one that seemed to sparkle brightly
over the shaft of his former fortunes； were slowly paling。 A burden seemed
to have fallen from his square shoulders as he stepped out sturdily into the
morning air。 He had already forgotten the lonely man behind him； for he
was thinking only of his wife and daughter。 And at the same moment
they were thinking of him； and in their e