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pocket； with a vacant smile。 Masters eyed him half contemptuously；
half compassionately。
〃Don't forget yourself and drop it in some hollow tree for a
letter…box；〃 be said。 〃Wellso long！since you won't drink。
Take care of yourself；〃 and； turning on his heel； Masters walked
away。
Slinn watched him as he crossed over to his abandoned claim； saw
him gather his few mining utensils； strap his blanket over his
back； lift his hat on his long…handled shovel as a token of
farewell； and then stride light…heartedly over the ridge。
He was alone now with his secret and his treasure。 The only man in
the world who knew of the exact position of his tunnel had gone
away forever。 It was not likely that this chance companion of a
few weeks would ever remember him or the locality again； he would
now leave his treasure alonefor even a day perhapsuntil he had
thought out some plan and sought out some friend in whom to
confide。 His secluded life； the singular habits of concentration
which had at last proved so successful had； at the same time； left
him few acquaintances and no associates。 And in all his well…laid
plans and patiently…digested theories for finding the treasure； the
means and methods of working it and disposing of it had never
entered。
And now； at the hour when he most needed his faculties； what was
the meaning of this strange benumbing of them！
Patience！ He only wanted a little resta little time to recover
himself。 There was a large boulder under a tree in the highway of
the settlementa sheltered spot where he had often waited for the
coming of the stage…coach。 He would go there； and when he was
sufficiently rested and composed he would go on。
Nevertheless； on his way he diverged and turned into the woods； for
no other apparent purpose than to find a hollow tree。 〃A hollow
tree。〃 Yes！ that was what Masters had said； he remembered it
distinctly； and something was to be done there； but what it was； or
why it should be done； he could not tell。 However； it was done；
and very luckily； for his limbs could scarcely support him further；
and reaching that boulder he dropped upon it like another stone。
And now； strange to say； the uneasiness and perplexity which had
possessed him ever since he had stood before his revealed wealth
dropped from him like a burden laid upon the wayside。 A
measureless peace stole over him； in which visions of his new…found
fortune； no longer a trouble and perplexity； but crowned with
happiness and blessing to all around him； assumed proportions far
beyond his own weak； selfish plans。 In its even…handed
benefaction； his wife and children； his friends and relations； even
his late poor companion of the hillside； met and moved harmoniously
together； in its far…reaching consequences there was only the
influence of good。 It was not strange that this poor finite mind
should never have conceived the meaning of the wealth extended to
him； or that conceiving it he should faint and falter under the
revelation。 Enough that for a few minutes he must have tasted a
joy of perfect anticipation that years of actual possession might
never bring。
The sun seemed to go down in a rosy dream of his own happiness； as
he still sat there。 Later； the shadows of the trees thickened and
surrounded him； and still later fell the calm of a quiet evening
sky with far…spaced passionless stars； that seemed as little
troubled by what they looked upon as he was by the stealthy
creeping life in the grasses and underbrush at his feet。 The dull
patter of soft little feet in the soft dust of the road； the gentle
gleam of moist and wondering little eyes on the branches and in the
mossy edges of the boulder； did not disturb him。 He sat patiently
through it all； as if he had not yet made up his mind。
But when the stage came with the flashing sun the next morning； and
the irresistible clamor of life and action； the driver suddenly
laid his four spirited horses on their haunches before the quiet
spot。 The express messenger clambered down from the box； and
approached what seemed to be a heap of cast…off clothes upon the
boulder。
〃He don't seem to be drunk；〃 he said； in reply to a querulous
interrogation from the passengers。 〃I can't make him out。 His
eyes are open； but he cannot speak or move。 Take a look at him；
Doc。〃
A rough unprofessional…looking man here descended from the inside
of the coach； and； carelessly thrusting aside the other curious
passengers； suddenly leant over the heap of clothes in a
professional attitude。
〃He is dead；〃 said one of the passengers。
The rough man let the passive head sink softly down again。 〃No
such luck for him；〃 he said curtly； but not unkindly。 〃It's a
stroke of paralysisand about as big as they make 'em。 It's a
toss…up if he ever speaks or moves again as long as he lives。〃
CHAPTER I
When Alvin Mulrady announced his intention of growing potatoes and
garden 〃truck〃 on the green slopes of Los Gatos； the mining
community of that region； and the adjacent hamlet of 〃Rough…and…
Ready；〃 regarded it with the contemptuous indifference usually
shown by those adventurers towards all bucolic pursuits。 There was
certainly no active objection to the occupation of two hillsides；
which gave so little promise to the prospector for gold that it was
currently reported that a single prospector； called 〃Slinn；〃 had
once gone mad or imbecile through repeated failures。 The only
opposition came； incongruously enough； from the original pastoral
owner of the soil； one Don Ramon Alvarado； whose claim for seven
leagues of hill and valley； including the now prosperous towns of
Rough…and…Ready and Red Dog； was met with simple derision from the
squatters and miners。 〃Looks ez ef we woz goin' to travel three
thousand miles to open up his dd old wilderness； and then pay for
the increased valoo we give itdon't it？ Oh； yes； certainly！〃 was
their ironical commentary。 Mulrady might have been pardoned for
adopting this popular opinion； but by an equally incongruous
sentiment； peculiar； however； to the man； he called upon Don Ramon；
and actually offered to purchase the land； or 〃go shares〃 with him
in the agricultural profits。 It was alleged that the Don was so
struck with this concession that he not only granted the land； but
struck up a quaint reserved friendship for the simple…minded
agriculturist and his family。 It is scarcely necessary to add that
this intimacy was viewed by the miners with the contempt that it
deserved。 They would have been more contemptuous； however； had
they known the opinion that Don Ramon entertained of their
particular vocation； and which he early confided to Mulrady。
〃They are savages who expect to reap where they have not sown； to
take out of the earth without returning anything to it but their
precious carcasses； heathens； who worship the mere stones they dig
up。〃 〃And was there no Spaniard who ever dug gold？〃 asked Mulrady；
simply。 〃Ah； there are Spaniards and Moors；〃 responded Don Ramon；
sententiously。 〃Gold has been dug； and by caballeros； but no good
ever came of it。 There were Alvarados in Sonora； look you； who had
mines of SILVER； and worked the