第20章 CHAPTER IV(2)

"And durin'that time,when you was dried up and waitin'for rain,I reckon you kinder had visions?"A cloud passed over Slinn's face.

"Of course,of course!"said Mulrady,a little frightened at his tenacity in questioning the oracle."Nat'rally,this was private,and not to be talked about.I meant,you had plenty of room for 'em without crowdin';you kin tell me some day when you're better,and kin sorter select what's points and what ain't.""Perhaps I may some day,"said the invalid,gloomily,glancing in the direction of his preoccupied daughters;"when we're alone."When his physical strength had improved,and his left arm and side had regained a feeble but slowly gathering vitality,Alvin Mulrady one day surprised the family by bringing the convalescent a pile of letters and accounts,and spreading them on a board before Slinn's invalid chair,with the suggestion that he should look over,arrange,and docket them.The idea seemed preposterous,until it was found that the old man was actually able to perform this service,and exhibited a degree of intellectual activity and capacity for this kind of work that was unsuspected.Dr.Duchesne was delighted,and divided with admiration between his patient's progress and the millionaire's sagacity."And there are envious people,"said the enthusiastic doctor,"who believe that a man like him,who could conceive of such a plan for occupying a weak intellect without taxing its memory or judgment,is merely a lucky fool!Look here.May be it didn't require much brains to stumble on a gold mine,and it is a gift of Providence.But,in my experience,Providence don't go round buyin'up d--d fools,or investin'in dead beats."When Mr.Slinn,finally,with the aid of crutches,was able to hobble every day to the imposing counting-house and the office of Mr.Mulrady,which now occupied the lower part of the new house,and contained some of its gorgeous furniture,he was installed at a rosewood desk behind Mr.Mulrady's chair,as his confidential clerk and private secretary.The astonishment of Red Dog and Rough-and-Ready at this singular innovation knew no bounds;but the boldness and novelty of the idea carried everything before it.Judge Butts,the oracle of Rough-and-Ready,delivered its decision:"He's got a man who's physically incapable of running off with his money,and has no memory to run off with his ideas.How could he do better?"Even his own son,Harry,coming upon his father thus installed,was for a moment struck with a certain filial respect,and for a day or two patronized him.

In this capacity Slinn became the confidant not only of Mulrady's business secrets,but of his domestic affairs.He knew that young Mulrady,from a freckle-faced slow country boy,had developed into a freckle-faced fast city man,with coarse habits of drink and gambling.It was through the old man's hands that extravagant bills and shameful claims passed on their way to be cashed by Mulrady;it was he that at last laid before the father one day his signature perfectly forged by the son.

"Your eyes are not ez good ez mine,you know,Slinn,"said Mulrady,gravely."It's all right.I sometimes make my Y's like that.I'd clean forgot to cash that check.You must not think you've got the monopoly of disremembering,"he added,with a faint laugh.

Equally through Slinn's hands passed the record of the lavish expenditure of Mrs.Mulrady and the fair Mamie,as well as the chronicle of their movements and fashionable triumphs.As Mulrady had already noticed that Slinn had no confidence with his own family,he did not try to withhold from them these domestic details,possibly as an offset to the dreary catalogue of his son's misdeeds,but more often in the hope of gaining from the taciturn old man some comment that might satisfy his innocent vanity as father and husband,and perhaps dissipate some doubts that were haunting him.

"Twelve hundred dollars looks to be a good figger for a dress,ain't it?But Malviny knows,I reckon,what ought to be worn at the Tooilleries,and she don't want our Mamie to take a back seat before them furrin'princesses and gran'dukes.It's a slap-up affair,I kalkilate.Let's see.I disremember whether it's an emperor or a king that's rulin'over thar now.It must be suthin'first class and A 1,for Malviny ain't the woman to throw away twelve hundred dollars on any of them small-potato despots!She says Mamie speaks French already like them French Petes.I don't quite make out what she means here.She met Don Caesar in Paris,and she says,'I think Mamie is nearly off with Don Caesar,who has followed her here.I don't care about her dropping him TOOsuddenly;the reason I'll tell you hereafter.I think the man might be a dangerous enemy.'Now,what do you make of this?Iallus thought Mamie rather cottoned to him,and it was the old woman who fought shy,thinkin'Mamie would do better.Now,I am agreeable that my gal should marry any one she likes,whether it's 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.