a dook or a poor man； as long as he's on the square。 I was ready
to take Don Caesar； but now things seem to have shifted round。 As
to Don Caesar's being a dangerous enemy if Mamie won't have him；
that's a little too high and mighty for me； and I wonder the old
woman don't make him climb down。 What do you think？〃
〃Who is Don Caesar？〃 asked Slinn。
〃The man what picked you up that day。 I mean；〃 continued Mulrady；
seeing the marks of evident ignorance on the old man's face；〃I
mean a sort of grave； genteel chap； suthin' between a parson and a
circus…rider。 You might have seen him round the house talkin' to
your gals。〃
But Slinn's entire forgetfulness of Don Caesar was evidently
unfeigned。 Whatever sudden accession of memory he had at the time
of his attack； the incident that caused it had no part in his
recollection。 With the exception of these rare intervals of
domestic confidences with his crippled private secretary； Mulrady
gave himself up to money…getting。 Without any especial faculty for
itan easy prey often to unscrupulous financiershis unfailing
luck； however； carried him safely through； until his very mistakes
seemed to be simply insignificant means to a large significant end
and a part of his original plan。 He sank another shaft； at a great
expense； with a view to following the lead he had formerly found；
against the opinions of the best mining engineers； and struck the
artesian spring he did NOT find at that time； with a volume of
water that enabled him not only to work his own mine； but to
furnish supplies to his less fortunate neighbors at a vast profit。
A league of tangled forest and canyon behind Rough…and…Ready； for
which he had paid Don Ramon's heirs an extravagant price in the
presumption that it was auriferous； furnished the most accessible
timber to build the town； at prices which amply remunerated him。
The practical schemes of experienced men； the wildest visions of
daring dreams delayed or abortive for want of capital； eventually
fell into his hands。 Men sneered at his methods； but bought his
shares。 Some who affected to regard him simply as a man of money
were content to get only his name to any enterprise。 Courted by
his superiors； quoted by his equals； and admired by his inferiors；
he bore his elevation equally without ostentation or dignity。
Bidden to banquets； and forced by his position as director or
president into the usual gastronomic feats of that civilization and
period； he partook of simple food； and continued his old habit of
taking a cup of coffee with milk and sugar at dinner。 Without
professing temperance； he drank sparingly in a community where
alcoholic stimulation was a custom。 With neither refinement nor an
extended vocabulary； he was seldom profane； and never indelicate。
With nothing of the Puritan in his manner or conversation； he
seemed to be as strange to the vices of civilization as he was to
its virtues。 That such a man should offer little to and receive
little from the companionship of women of any kind was a foregone
conclusion。 Without the dignity of solitude； he was pathetically
alone。
Meantime； the days passed； the first six months of his opulence
were drawing to a close； and in that interval he had more than
doubled the amount of his discovered fortune。 The rainy season set
in early。 Although it dissipated the clouds of dust under which
Nature and Art seemed to be slowly disappearing； it brought little
beauty to the landscape at first； and only appeared to lay bare the
crudenesses of civilization。 The unpainted wooden buildings of
Rough…and…Ready； soaked and dripping with rain； took upon
themselves a sleek and shining ugliness； as of second…hand
garments； the absence of cornices or projections to break the
monotony of the long straight lines of downpour made the town
appear as if it had been recently submerged； every vestige of
ornamentation swept away； and only the bare outlines left。 Mud was
everywhere； the outer soil seemed to have risen and invaded the
houses even to their most secret recesses； as if outraged Nature
was trying to revenge herself。 Mud was brought into the saloons
and barrooms and express offices； on boots； on clothes； on baggage；
and sometimes appeared mysteriously in splashes of red color on the
walls； without visible conveyance。 The dust of six months； closely
packed in cornice and carving； yielded under the steady rain a thin
yellow paint； that dropped on wayfarers or unexpectedly oozed out
of ceilings and walls on the wretched inhabitants within。 The
outskirts of Rough…and…Ready and the dried hills round Los Gatos
did not appear to fare much better； the new vegetation had not yet
made much headway against the dead grasses of the summer； the pines
in the hollow wept lugubriously into a small rivulet that had
sprung suddenly into life near the old trail； everywhere was the
sound of dropping； splashing； gurgling； or rushing waters。
More hideous than ever； the new Mulrady house lifted itself against
the leaden sky； and stared with all its large…framed； shutterless
windows blankly on the prospect； until they seemed to the wayfarer
to become mere mirrors set in the walls； reflecting only the watery
landscape； and unable to give the least indication of light or heat
within。 Nevertheless； there was a fire in Mulrady's private office
that December afternoon； of a smoky； intermittent variety； that
sufficed more to record the defects of hasty architecture than to
comfort the millionaire and his private secretary； who had lingered
after the early withdrawal of the clerks。 For the next day was
Christmas； and； out of deference to the near approach of this
festivity； a half…holiday had been given to the employees。
〃They'll want； some of them； to spend their money before to…morrow；
and others would like to be able to rise up comfortably drunk
Christmas morning；〃 the superintendent had suggested。 Mr。 Mulrady
had just signed a number of checks indicating his largess to those
devoted adherents with the same unostentatious； undemonstrative；
matter…of…fact manner that distinguished his ordinary business。
The men had received it with something of the same manner。 A half…
humorous 〃Thank you； sir〃as if to show that； with their patron；
they tolerated this deference to a popular custom； but were a
little ashamed of giving way to itexpressed their gratitude and
their independence。
〃I reckon that the old lady and Mamie are having a high old time in
some of them gilded pallises in St。 Petersburg or Berlin about this
time。 Them diamonds that I ordered at Tiffany ought to have
reached 'em about now； so that Mamie could cut a swell at Christmas
with her war…paint。 I suppose it's the style to give presents in
furrin' countries ez it is here； and I allowed to the old lady that
whatever she orders in that way she is to do in Californy styleno
dollar…jewelry and galvanized…watches business。 If she wants to
make a present to any of them nobles ez has been purlite to her；
it's got to be something that Rough…and…Ready ain't ashamed of。 I
showed you that pin Mamie bought me in Paris； didn't I？ It's just
come for my Christmas present。 No！ I reckon I put it in the safe；
for them kind o' things don't suit my style： but s'pose I orter
sport it to…morrow。 It was mighty thoughtful in Mamie； and it must
cost a lump； it's got no slouch of a pearl in it。 I wonder what
Mamie gave for it？〃
〃You can easily tell； the bill is here。 You paid it yesterday；〃
said Slinn。 There was no satire in the man's voice； nor was there
the least perception of irony in Mulrady's manner； as he returned
quietly；
〃That's so； it was suthin' like a thousand francs； but French
money； when you pan it out as dollars and cents； don't make so
much； after all。〃 There was a few moments' silence； when he
continued； in the same tone of voice； 〃Talkin' o' them things；
Slinn； I've got suthin' for you。〃 He stopped suddenly。 Ever
watchful of any undue excitement in the invalid； he had noticed a
slight flush of disturbance pass over his face； and continued
carelessly； 〃But we'll talk it over to…morrow； a day or two don't
make much difference to you and me in such things； you know。
P'raps I'll drop in and see you。 We'll be shut up here。〃
〃Then you're going out somewhere？〃 asked Slinn； mechanically。
〃No；〃 said Mulrady； hesitatingly。 It had suddenly occurred to him
that he had nowhere to go if he wanted to； and he continued； half
in explanation； 〃I ain't reckoned much on Christmas； myself。
Abner's at the Springs； it wouldn't pay him to come here for a day
even if there was anybody here he cared to see。 I reckon I'll
hang round the shanty； and look after things generally。 I haven't
been over the house upstairs to put things to rights since the
folks left。 But YOU needn't come here； you know。〃
He helped the old man to rise； assisted him in putting on his
overcoat； and than handed him the cane which had lately replaced
his crutches。
〃Good…by； old man！ You musn't trouble yourself to say 'Merry
Christmas' now； but wait until you see me again。 Take care of
yourself。〃
He slapped him lightly on the shoulder； and went back into his
private office。 He worked for some time at his desk； and then laid
his pen aside； put away his papers methodically； placing a large
envelope on his private secretary's vacant table。 He then opened
the office door and ascended the staircase。 He stopped on the
first landing to listen to the sound of rain on the glass skylight；
that seemed to echo through the empty hall like the gloomy roll of
a drum。 It was evident that the searching water had found out the
secret sins of the house's construction； for there were great
fissures of discoloration in the white and gold paper in the
corners of the wall。 There was a strange odor of the dank forest
in the mirrored drawing…room； as if the rain had brought out the
sap again from the unseasoned timbers； the blue and white satin
furniture looked cold； and the marble mantels and centre tables had
taken upon themselves the clamminess of tombstones。 Mr。 Mulrady；
who had always retained his old farmer…like habit of taking off his
coat with his hat on entering his own house；