A Millionaire of Rough and Ready

unfit as a treasure hoard for a discreet squirrel, whatever its value as a receptacle for the

us criticism; a venerable crow sitting on a branch above him displayed great interest in his occupation, and, hopping down a few moments afterwards, disposed of some worm-eaten nuts, a few larvae, and an insect or two, with languid dignity and without prejudice. Certain incumbrances, however, still resisted the squirrel's general eviction; among them a folded square of paper with sharply defined edges, that d

ignominiously to the earth. The eager eyes of the ever-attendant crow, however, instantly detected it; he flew to the ground, and, turning it over, examined it gravely. It was certainly not edible, but it was exceedingly rare, and, as an old collector of curios, he felt he could not pass it by. He lifted it in his beak, and, with a desperate struggle against the superincumbent weight, regained the branch with his prize. Here, by one of those delicious vagaries of animal nature, he

ity, peered into it, and even passed his hand through its recesses. The delight visible upon his anxious and serious face at the disappearance of the letter, and the apparent proof that it had been called for, showed him to have been its original depositor, an

courtyard at Los Gatos, or found relief in furious riding at night and early morning on the highway. Once or twice the up-stage had been overtaken and passed by a rushing figure as shadowy as a phantom horseman, with only the star-like point of a cigarette to indicate its humanity. It was in one of these fierce recreations that he was obliged to stop in early morning at the blacksmith's shop

t the end of the month, anticipated the event nearly a fortnight, by taking this opportunity of accompanying Mr. Mulrady as far as San Francisco, on their way to the East. Mrs. and Miss Mulrady intend to visit London, Paris, and Berlin, and will be absent three years. It is possible that Mr. Mulrady may join t

sent word to Los Gatos, and the stupid messenger had blundered; she had probably appointed another meeting, or expected him to follow to San Francisco. "The day before yes

Why had he not thought of it before? The fault was his, not hers. Pe

evil, will you keep m

sar suddenly remembered that he was s

iend, if you have d

to quicken his efforts. Don Caesar again took up the paper. There

f the county. Mr. Slinn brings with him his father-H. J. Slinn, Esq.,-and his two sisters. Mr. Slinn, Sen., who has been suffering for many years from complete paralysis, we unde

young editor. But the next moment he dismissed it from his mind; all except a dull consciousness that, if she really loved him-Don Caesar-as h

boulder. Here he picketed his horse, and took the narrow foot-trail through the hollow. It did not take him long to reach their

here when he had last visited the spot. He began to grope in the cavity with both hands. His fingers struck against the sharp angles of a flat

nd thickness, was evidently due to some loose enclosures, that slightly rustled and could be felt by the fingers, like minute pieces of metal or grains of gravel. It was within Don Caesar's experience that gold specimens were often sent in that manner. It was in a state of singular preservation, except the address, which, being written in pencil, was sc

ny secret correspondence of hers with young Mr. Slinn; and the address was not in her handwriting. Was there any secret previous intimacy between the families? There was but one way in which he could connect this letter with Mamie's faithlessness. It was an infamous, a grotesquely horrible idea, a thought which sprang as much from his inexperience of the world and his habitual suspiciousness of all humor as anything else! It was that the letter was

as well. No; Slinn should open the letter before him. Slinn should explain everything, and answer for it. If it was nothing-a mere accident-it would lead to some general explanation, and perhaps even news of Mami

rity and companionship to the congregated buildings. It typified the former life of the great capitalist, as the tall new house illustrated the loneliness and isolation that wealth had given him. But the real points of vantage were the years of cultivation and habitation that had warmed and enriched the soil, and evoked the climbing vines and roses that already hid its unpainted boards, rounded its hard outlines, and gave projection and shadow from the pitiless g

he found himself unexpectedly in the presence of two pretty girls. They were evidently Slinn's sisters, whom he had neither thought of nor included in the meeting he had prepared.

unaffectedly. "You are Don Caesar Alv

of his reception and the allusion to their brother made it appear impossible that they should be either a party to his disappointment, or even aware of it. His excitement melted away before a certain lazy eas

the last few days, so that he is able to walk round with crutches," sa

lly when he is out-of-doors. He looks around on the scenery, and his eye brightens, as if he knew a

ure his memory has been a blank-that is, three or four years

with a grave sigh, as he looked at the delicate features

nger girl, laughingly; "for pa didn't recogni

happened before he came to California, when we were quite young, than he does of the interval that elapsed. Dr. Duchesne says it's a singula

ctor told us this morning," int

curtly. "UNLESS he has another stroke. Then h

and tenderness towards their unhappy parent. They seemed to him not only to have caught that dry, curious toleration of helplessness which characterizes even relationship in its attendance upon chron

to have missed you. Mrs. Mulrady spoke to him about you; you seem to have been g

to him, he felt embarrassed by this conversation. "Miss Mulrady is very pretty," he said, with g

o. I know my brother was quite surprised to hear from Mr. Mulrady that if we were going to decide about this

ness, when she can pick and choose elsewhere. I only wonder she ever come back from Sacramento. They talk about papa Mulrady having BUSINESS at San Francisco, and THAT hurrying them

tching the young man's face with her large languid eyes, "considering tha

ves, for Harry told me so. Give me her money and her looks, and you wouldn't catch me hanging round these diggings-goin'

next Sunday, when she came from mass, she should be honored and he would be delighted. It required all his self-possession to deliver himself of this formal courtesy before he could take his leave, and on the back of his mustang give way to the rage,

pa as you go. He's somewhere down there, near the woods, and we don't like to leave him alone too long. You might pass the time of day with him;

ed suffering, checked his speech. The loneliness of the helpless old man in this atmosphere of active and youthful selfishness touc

e wasn't something between him and that Mamie Mu

vility of ours would look as if we were ready to take up with her le

mon cabbage field and potato patch after all. In his disgust he felt conscious of even the loss of that sense of patronage and superiority which had invested his affection for a girl of meaner condition. His self-re

strength, and there was the more reason why he should continue his search, and render any assistance if required. There was another idea that occurred to him, which eventually decided him to go on. It was that both these trails led to the decayed sycamore stump, and that the older Slinn might have something to do with the mysterious letter. Quickening his steps through the field, he entered the hollow, and reached the intersecting tr

upon the hillside, now crowned with the engine-house and chimney that marked the site of Mulrady's shaft. He started slightly, and looked up, as Don Caesar paused befo

gentle respect. "I am Caesar Alvarado, your not very far neigh

h, yes! nice little girls. And my boy Harry.

ou no harm. God benefit you, senor," he added, with a profoundly reverential gesture, dropping unconscious

ing I want: good air, good food, good clothes, pretty little children, ki

ion, had so much of satisfied youth in it that the grave features of his questioner made him appear the elder. Neverthe

w, Senor Esslinn,

ing his happy eyes upon him for a moment, only

-not far, Senor Esslinn-I live. You shall

pression-the first and only change to the complete happiness th

on Caesar, gently.

aid the old man, with

aid Alvarado," return

rs, how could I say it?

nt the happy tranquillity returned to

by the road. When you are better you shall try it. Yond

expression. Partly to change his thoughts, and partly for some ine

is feet with ashen and distorted features, and was glancing at the letter which Don Caesar had drawn from his pocket. The muscles of his throat swelled as if h

my fortune-all mine! In the tunnel-hill! Masters

hands, and tore it open forcibly: a few dull yellow

letter! My gold! My

s in his pocket. He then sprang to his feet, so transformed with energy and intelligence that he seemed to have added the lost vitality of the man before him to his own. He glanced quickly up and down the highway. Every moment to him was precious now; but he could not leave the stricken man in the dust of the road; nor could he carry him to the house; nor, having alarmed his daughters, could he abandon his helplessness to their feeble arms. He remembered that his horse was still tied to the garden fence. He would fetch it, and carry the unfortunate m

from the box, white, but taciturn. When he had swallowed a glass of whiskey at

d, huskily. "Either that there rock hez got to get