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 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
criminala 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 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 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。〃
〃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 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 with