第27章 CHAPTER V(5)

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 news--I don't remember--I 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 letter--if 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 know--I 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.Iremember 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 where--or when--or what became of it,I cannot tell.It will come to me--it 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 Ithought you were happy in seeing it feed selfishness and vanity.