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 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。
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 elaborate villa overlooking the blue
Mediterranean at Cannes were discussing； in the event of Mamie's
marriage with Prince Rosso e Negro； the possibility of Mr。
Mulrady's paying two hundred and fifty thousand dollars； the
gambling debts of that unfortunate but deeply conscientious
nobleman。
CHAPTER VI
When Alvin Mulrady reentered his own house； he no longer noticed
its loneliness。 Whether the events of the last few hours had
driven it from his mind； or whether his late reflections had
repeopled it with his family under pleasanter auspices； it would be
difficult to determine。 Destitute as he was of imagination； and
matter…of…fact in his judgments； he realized his new situation as
calmly as he would have considered any business proposition。 While
he was decided to act upon his moral convictions purely； he was
prepared to submit the facts of Slinn's claim to the usual patient
and laborious investigation of his practical mind。 It was the
least he could do to justify the ready and almost superstitious
assent he had given to Slinn's story。
When he had made a few memoranda at his desk by the growing light；
he again took the key of the attic； and ascended to the loft that
held the tangible memories of his past life。 If he was still under
the influence of his reflections； it was with very different
sensations that he now regarded them。 Was it possible that these
ashes might be warmed again； and these scattered embers rekindled？
His practical sense said No！ whatever his wish might have been。 A
sudden chill came over him； he began to realize the terrible change
that was probable； more by the impossibility of his accepting the
old order of things than by his voluntarily abandoning the new。
His wife and children would never submit。 They would go away from
this place； far away； where no reminiscence of either former wealth
or former poverty could obtrude itself upon them。 Mamiehis
Mamieshould never go back to the cabin； since desecrated by
Slinn's daughters； and take their places。 No！ Why should she？
because of the half…sick； half…crazy dreams of an old vindictive
man？
He stopped suddenly。 In moodily turning over a heap of mining
clothing； blankets； and india…rubber boots； he had come upon an old
pickaxethe one he had found in the shaft； the one he had
carefully preserved for a year； and then forgotten！ Why had he not
remembered it before？ He was frightened； not only at this sudden
resurrection of the proof he was seeking； but at his own fateful
forgetfulness。 Why had he never thought of this when Slinn was
speaking？ A sense of shame； as if he had voluntarily withheld it
from the wronged man； swept over him。 He was turning away； when he
was again startled。
This time it was by a voice from belowa voice calling him
Slinn's voice。 How had the crippled man got here so soon； and what
did he want？ He hurriedly laid aside the pick； which； in his first
impulse； he had taken to the door of the loft with him； and
descended the stairs。 The old man was standing at the door of his
office awaiting him。
As Mulrady approached； he trembled violently； and clung to the
doorpost for support。
〃I had to come over； Mulrady；〃 he said； in a choked voice； 〃I could
stand it there no longer。 I've come to beg you to forget all that
I have said； to drive all thought of what passed between us last
night out of your head and mine forever！ I've come to ask you to
swear with me that neither of us will ever speak of this again
forever。 It is not worth the happiness I have had in your
friendship for the last half…year； it is not worth the agony I have
suffered in its loss in the last half…hour。〃
Mulrady grasped his outstretched hand。 〃P'raps；〃 he said； gravely；
〃there mayn't be any use for another word； if you can answer one
now。 Come with me。 No matter；〃 he added； as Slinn moved with
difficulty； 〃I will help you。〃
He half supported； half lifted the paralyzed man up the three
flights of stairs； and opened the door of the loft。 The pick was
leaning against the wall； where he had left it。 〃Look around； and
see if you recognize anything。〃
The old man's eyes fell upon the implement in a half…frightened
way； and then lifted themselves interrogatively to Mulrady's face。
〃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
co