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〃Do you know that pick？〃
Slinn raised it in his trembling hands。 〃I think I do； and yet〃
〃Slinn！ is it yours？〃
〃No；〃 he said hurriedly。
〃Then what makes you think you know it？〃
〃It has a short handle like one I've seen。〃
〃And is isn't yours？〃
〃No。 The handle of mine was broken and spliced。 I was too poor to
buy a new one。〃
〃Then you say that this pick which I found in my shaft is not
yours？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Slinn！〃
The old man passed his hand across his forehead； looked at Mulrady；
and dropped his eyes。 〃It is not mine；〃 he said simply。
〃That will do；〃 said Mulrady； gravely。
〃And you will not speak of this again？〃 said the old man； timidly。
〃I promise younot until I have some more evidence。〃
He kept his word； but not before he had extorted from Slinn as full
a description of Masters as his imperfect memory and still more
imperfect knowledge of his former neighbor could furnish。 He
placed this； with a large sum of money and the promise of a still
larger reward； in the hands of a trustworthy agent。 When this was
done he resumed his old relations with Slinn； with the exception
that the domestic letters of Mrs。 Mulrady and Mamie were no longer
a subject of comment； and their bills no longer passed through his
private secretary's hands。
Three months passed； the rainy season had ceased； the hillsides
around Mulrady's shaft were bridal…like with flowers； indeed； there
were rumors of an approaching fashionable marriage in the air； and
vague hints in the 〃Record〃 that the presence of a distinguished
capitalist might soon be required abroad。 The face of that
distinguished man did not； however； reflect the gayety of nature
nor the anticipation of happiness； on the contrary； for the past
few weeks； he had appeared disturbed and anxious； and that rude
tranquillity which had characterized him was wanting。 People shook
their heads； a few suggested speculations； all agreed on
extravagance。
One morning； after office hours； Slinn； who had been watching the
careworn face of his employer； suddenly rose and limped to his
side。
〃We promised each other；〃 he said； in a voice trembling with
emotion； 〃never to allude to our talk of Christmas Eve again unless
we had other proofs of what I told you then。 We have none； I don't
believe we'll ever have any more。 I don't care if we ever do； and
I break that promise now because I cannot bear to see you unhappy
and know that this is the cause。〃
Mulrady made a motion of deprecation； but the old man continued
〃You are unhappy； Alvin Mulrady。 You are unhappy because you want
to give your daughter a dowry of two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars； and you will not use the fortune that you think may be
mine。〃
〃Who's been talking about a dowry？〃 asked Mulrady； with an angry
flush。
〃Don Caesar Alvarado told my daughter。〃
〃Then that is why he has thrown off on me since he returned；〃 said
Mulrady； with sudden small malevolence； 〃just that he might unload
his gossip because Mamie wouldn't have him。 The old woman was
right in warnin' me agin him。〃
The outburst was so unlike him； and so dwarfed his large though
common nature with its littleness； that it was easy to detect its
feminine origin； although it filled Slinn with vague alarm。
〃Never mind him；〃 said the old man； hastily； 〃what I wanted to say
now is that I abandon everything to you and yours。 There are no
proofs； there never will be any more than what we know； than what
we have tested and found wanting。 I swear to you that； except to
show you that I have not lied and am not crazy； I would destroy
them on their way to your hands。 Keep the money； and spend it as
you will。 Make your daughter happy； and； through her； yourself。
You have made me happy through your liberality； don't make me
suffer through your privation。〃
〃I tell you what； old man；〃 said Mulrady； rising to his feet； with
an awkward mingling of frankness and shame in his manner and
accent； 〃I should like to pay that money for Mamie； and let her be
a princess； if it would make her happy。 I should like to shut the
lantern jaws of that Don Caesar； who'd be too glad if anything
happened to break off Mamie's match。 But I shouldn't touch that
capitalunless you'd lend it to me。 If you'll take a note from
me； payable if the property ever becomes yours； I'd thank you。 A
mortgage on the old house and garden； and the lands I bought of Don
Caesar； outside the mine； will screen you。〃
〃If that pleases you；〃 said the old man； with a smile； 〃have your
way； and if I tear up the note； it does not concern you。〃
It did please the distinguished capitalist of Rough…and…Ready； for
the next few days his face wore a brightened expression； and he
seemed to have recovered his old tranquillity。 There was； in fact；
a slight touch of consequence in his manner； the first ostentation
he had ever indulged in； when he was informed one morning at his
private office that Don Caesar Alvarado was in the counting…house；
desiring a few moments' conference。 〃Tell him to come in；〃 said
Mulrady； shortly。 The door opened upon Don Caesarerect； sallow；
and grave。 Mulrady had not seen him since his return from Europe；
and even his inexperienced eyes were struck with the undeniable
ease and grace with which the young Spanish…American had
assimilated the style and fashion of an older civilization。 It
seemed rather as if he had returned to a familiar condition than
adopted a new one。
〃Take a cheer；〃 said Mulrady。
The young man looked at Slinn with quietly persistent significance。
〃You can talk all the same；〃 said Mulrady； accepting the
significance。 〃He's my private secretary。〃
〃It seems that for that reason we might choose another moment for
our conversation；〃 returned Don Caesar； haughtily。 〃Do I
understand you cannot see me now？〃
Mulrady hesitated； he had always revered and recognized a certain
social superiority in Don Ramon Alvarado； somehow his sona young
man of half his age； and once a possible son…in…lawappeared to
claim that recognition also。 He rose； without a word； and preceded
Don Caesar up…stairs into the drawing…room。 The alien portrait on
the wall seemed to evidently take sides with Don Caesar； as against
the common intruder； Mulrady。
〃I hoped the Senora Mulrady might have saved me this interview；〃
said the young man； stiffly； 〃or at least have given you some
intimation of the reason why I seek it。 As you just now proposed
my talking to you in the presence of the unfortunate Senor Esslinn
himself； it appears she has not。〃
〃I don't know what you're driving at； or what Mrs。 Mulrady's got to
do with Slinn or you；〃 said Mulrady； in angry uneasiness。
〃Do I understand；〃 said Don Caesar； sternly； 〃that Senora Mulrady
has not told you that I entrusted to her an important letter；
belonging to Senor Esslinn； which I had the honor to discover in
the wood six months ago； and which she said she would refer to
you？〃
〃Letter？〃 echoed Mulrady； slowly； 〃my wife had a letter of
Slinn's？〃
Don Caesar regarded the millionaire attentively。 〃It is as I
feared；〃 he said； gravely。 〃You do not know or you would not have
remained silent。〃 He th