a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第17章
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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
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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
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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
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Slinn。 There was no satire in the man's voice； nor was there the least
perception of irony in Mulrady's manner； as he return
