a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第6章
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Red Dog highway； sat down in somewhat moody contemplation； with his
head bowed over the broad cowhide brogues； that seemed to have already
gathered enough of the soil to indicate his right to that title。 Mamie； who
had recovered her spirits； but had not lost her preoccupation； wandered off
by herself in the meadow； or ascended the hillside； as her occasional
impatience at the delay of the coach； or the following of some ambitious
fancy； alternately prompted her。 She was so far away at one time that the
stage… coach； which finally drew up before Mulrady； was obliged to wait
for her。
When she was deposited safely inside； and Mulrady had climbed to the
box beside the driver； the latter remarked； curtly；
〃Ye gave me a right smart skeer； a minit ago； stranger。〃
〃Ez how？〃
〃Well； about three years ago； I was comin' down this yer grade； at just
this time； and sittin' right on that stone； in just your attitude； was a man
about your build and years。 I pulled up to let him in； when； darn my skin！
if he ever moved； but sorter looked at me without speakin'。 I called to
him； and he never answered； 'cept with that idiotic stare。 I then let him
have my opinion of him； in mighty strong English； and drove off； leavin'
him there。 The next morning； when I came by on the up…trip； darn my
skin！ if he wasn't thar； but lyin' all of a heap on the boulder。 Jim drops
down and picks him up。 Doctor Duchesne； ez was along； allowst it was a
played…out prospector； with a big case of paralysis； and we expressed him
through to the County Hospital； like so much dead freight。 I've allus
been kinder superstitious about passin' that rock； and when I saw you jist
now； sittin' thar； dazed like； with your head down like the other chap； it
rather threw me off my centre。〃
In the inexplicable and half…superstitious uneasiness that this
coincidence awakened in Mulrady's unimaginative mind； he was almost
on the point of disclosing his good fortune to the driver； in order to prove
how preposterous was the parallel； but checked himself in time。
〃Did you find out who he was？〃 broke in a rash passenger。 〃Did you
ever get over it？〃 added another unfortunate。
With a pause of insulting scorn at the interruption； the driver resumed；
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
pointedly； to Mulrady： 〃The pint of the whole thing was my cussin' a
helpless man； ez could neither cuss back nor shoot； and then afterwards
takin' you for his ghost layin' for me to get even。〃 He paused again； and
then added； carelessly； 〃They say he never kem to enuff to let on who he
was or whar he kem from； and he was eventooally taken to a 'Sylum for
Doddering Idjits and Gin'ral and Permiskus Imbeciles at Sacramento。
I've heerd it's considered a first…class institooshun； not only for them ez is
paralyzed and can't talk； as for them ez is the reverse and is too chipper。
Now；〃 he added； languidly turning for the first time to his miserable
questioners； 〃how did YOU find it？〃
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
CHAPTER II
When the news of the discovery of gold in Mulrady shaft was finally
made public； it created an excitement hitherto unknown in the history of
the country。 Half of Red Dog and all Rough…and…Ready were emptied
upon the yellow hills surrounding Mulrady's； until their circling camp fires
looked like a besieging army that had invested his peaceful pastoral home；
preparatory to carrying it by assault。 Unfortunately for them； they found
the various points of vantage already garrisoned with notices of
〃preemption〃 for mining purposes in the name of the various members of
the Alvarado family。 This stroke of business was due to Mrs。 Mulrady； as a
means of mollifying the conscientious scruples of her husband and of
placating the Alvarados； in view of some remote contingency。 It is but
fair to say that this degradation of his father's Castilian principles was
opposed by Don Caesar。 〃You needn't work them yourself； but sell out to
them that will； it's the only way to keep the prospectors from taking it
without paying for it at all；〃 argued Mrs。 Mulrady。 Don Caesar finally
assented； perhaps less to the business arguments of Mulrady's wife than to
the simple suggestion of Mamie's mother。 Enough that he realized a sum
in money for a few acres that exceeded the last ten years' income of Don
Ramon's seven leagues。
Equally unprecedented and extravagant was the realization of the
discovery in Mulrady's shaft。 It was alleged that a company； hastily
formed in Sacramento； paid him a million of dollars down； leaving him
still a controlling two…thirds interest in the mine。 With an obstinacy；
however； that amounted almost to a moral conviction； he refused to
include the house and potato…patch in the property。 When the company
had yielded the point； he declined； with equal tenacity； to part with it to
outside speculators on even the most extravagant offers。 In vain Mrs。
Mulrady protested； in vain she pointed out to him that the retention of the
evidence of his former humble occupation was a green blot upon their
social escutcheon。
〃If you will keep the land； build on it； and root up the garden。〃 But
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Mulrady was adamant。
〃It's the only thing I ever made myself； and got out of the soil with my
own hands； it's the beginning of my fortune； and it may be the end of it。
Mebbee I'll be glad enough to have it to come back to some day； and be
thankful for the square meal I can dig out of it。〃
By repeated pressure； however； Mulrady yielded the compromise that
a portion of it should be made into a vineyard and flower…garden； and by a
suitable coloring of ornament and luxury obliterate its vulgar part。 Less
successful； however； was that energetic woman in another effort to
mitigate the austerities of their earlier state。 It occurred to her to utilize the
softer accents of Don Caesar in the pronunciation of their family name；
and privately had 〃Mulrade〃 take the place of Mulrady on her visiting card。
〃It might be Spanish；〃 she argued with her husband。 〃Lawyer Cole says
most American names are corrupted； and how do you know that yours
ain't？〃 Mulrady； who would not swear that his ancestors came from
Ireland to the Carolinas in '98； was helpless to refute the assertion。 But
the terrible Nemesis of an un…Spanish； American provincial speech
avenged the orthographical outrage at once。 When Mrs。 Mulrady began
to be addressed orally； as well as by letter； as 〃Mrs。 Mulraid；〃 and when
simple amatory effusions to her daughter rhymed with 〃lovely maid；〃 she
