\"Herearetwostrangers,\"saidMr.Grant,withextraordinarygravitylayingdownthecards,\"andhereisa\'journey;\'thisis\'unexpectednews,\'andthistenofdiamondsmeans\'greatwealth\'toyou,whichyouseefollowstheadventofthetwostrangersandissomewayconnectedwiththem.\"
\"Oh,indeed,\"saidtheyoungladywithgreatpertnessandatossofherhead.\"Isupposethey\'vegotthemoneywiththem.\"
\"No,thoughitreachesyouthroughthem,\"heansweredwithunflinchingsolemnity.\"Waitabit,Ihaveit!Isee,I\'vemadeamistakewiththiscard.Itsignifiesajourneyoraroad.Queer!
isn\'tit,Steve?It\'sTHEROAD.\"
\"Itisqueer,\"saidRicewithequalgravity;\"butit\'sso.Theroad,sure!\"NeverthelesshelookedupintothelargeeyesofClementinawithacertainconfidentialairoftruthfulness.
\"Yousee,ladies,\"continuedthesurveyor,appealingtothemwithunabashedrigidityoffeature,\"thecardsdon\'tlie!Luckilyweareinapositiontocorroboratethem.TheroadinquestionisasecretknownonlytousandsomecapitalistsinSanFrancisco.InfactevenTHEYdon\'tknowthatitisfeasibleuntilWEreporttothem.ButIdon\'tmindtellingyounow,asaslightreturnforyourcharminghospitality,thattheroadisaRAILROADfromOaklandtoTasajaraCreekofwhichwe\'vejustmadethepreliminarysurvey.
Soyouseewhatthecardsmeanisthis:You\'renotfarfromTasajaraCreek;infactwithaverylittleexpenseyourfathercouldconnectthisstreamwiththecreek,andhaveaWATERWAY
STRAIGHTTOTHERAILROADTERMINUS.That\'sthewealththecardspromise;andifyourfatherknowshowtotakeahinthecanmakehisfortune!\"
Itwasimpossibletosaywhichwasthemostdominantinthefaceofthespeaker,theexpressionofassumedgravityorthetwinklingofhumorinhiseyes.Thetwogirlswithsuperiorfeminineperceptiondivinedthattherewasmuchtruthinwhathesaid,albeittheydidn\'tentirelyunderstandit,andwhattheydidunderstand——excepttheman\'sgood-humoredmotive——wasnotparticularlyinteresting.
Infacttheywereslightlydisappointed.Whathadpromisedtobeanaudaciouslyflirtatiousdeclaration,andevenamischievoussuggestionofmarriage,hadresolveditselfintosomethingabsurdlypracticalandbusiness-like.
NotsoMr.Harkutt.Hequicklyrosefromhischair,and,leaningoverthetable,withhiseyesfixedonthecardasifitreallysignifiedtherailroad,repeatedquickly:\"Railroad,eh!What\'sthat?ArailroadtoTasajaraCreek?Yedon\'tmeanit!——Thatis——
itain\'taSUREthing?\"
\"Perfectlysure.ThemoneyisreadyinSanFrancisconow,andbythistimenextyear——\"
\"ArailroadtoTasajaraCreek!\"continuedHarkutthurriedly.\"Whatpartofit?Where?\"
\"Attheembarcaderonaturally,\"respondedGrant.\"Thereisn\'tbuttheoneplacefortheterminus.There\'sanoldshantytherenowbelongstosomebody.\"
\"Why,pop!\"saidPhemiewithsuddenrecollection,\"ain\'tit\'LigeCurtis\'shouse?Thelandheoffered\"——
\"Hush!\"saidherfather.
\"Youknow,theonewritteninthatbitofpaper,\"continuedtheinnocentPhemie.
\"Hush!willyou?GodA\'mighty!areyougoin\'tomindme?Areyougoin\'tokeepupyourjabberwhenI\'mspeakin\'tothegentlemen?
Isthatyourmanners?Whatnext,Iwonder!\"
Thesuddenandunexpectedpassionofthespeaker,theincomprehensiblechangeinhisvoice,andtheutterlydisproportionateexaggerationofhisattitudetowardshisdaughters,enforcedaninstantaneoussilence.Therainbegantodripaudiblyatthewindow,therushoftheriversoundeddistinctlyfromwithout,eventheshakingofthefrontpartofthedwellingbythedistantgalebecameperceptible.
Anangryflashsprangforaninstanttotheyoungassistant\'seye,butitmetthecautiousglanceofhisfriend,andtogetherbothdiscreetlysoughtthetable.Thetwogirlsaloneremainedwhiteandcollected.\"Willyougoonwithmyfortune,Mr.Grant?\"saidPhemiequietly.
Acertainrespect,perhapsnotbeforeobservable,wassuggestedinthesurveyor\'stoneashesmilinglyreplied,\"Certainly,Iwasonlywaitingforyoutoshowyourconfidenceinme,\"andtookupthecards.
Mr.Harkuttcoughed.\"Itlooksasifthatblamedwindhadblownsuthin\'looseinthestore,\"hesaidaffectedly.\"IreckonI\'llgoandsee.\"Hehesitatedamomentandthendisappearedinthepassage.Yetevenherehestoodirresolute,lookingatthecloseddoorbehindhim,andpassinghishandoverhisstillflushedface.
Presentlyheslowlyandabstractedlyascendedtheflightofsteps,enteredthesmallerpassagethatledtothebackdooroftheshopandopenedit.
Hewasatfirstalittlestartledatthehalooflightfromthestillglowingstove,whichthegreaterobscurityofthelongroomhadheightenedratherthandiminished.Thenhepassedbehindthecounter,butheretheboxofbiscuitswhichoccupiedthecentreandcastashadowoveritcompelledhimtogropevaguelyforwhathesought.Thenhestoppedsuddenly,thepaperhehadjustfounddroppingfromhisfingers,andsaidsharply,——
\"Who\'sthere?\"
\"Me,pop.\"
\"JohnMilton?\"
\"Yes,sir.\"
\"Whatthedevilareyoudoin\'there,sir?\"
\"Readin\'.\"
Itwastrue.Theboywashalfreclininginamostdistortedpostureontwochairs,hisfigureindeepshadow,buthisbookwasraisedabovehisheadsoastocatchtheredglowofthestoveontheprintedpage.Eventhenhisfather\'sangryinterruptionscarcelydivertedhispreoccupation;heraisedhimselfinhischairmechanically,withhiseyesstillfixedonhisbook.Seeingwhichhisfatherquicklyregainedthepaper,butcontinuedhisobjurgation.
\"Howdareyou?Clearofftobed,willyou!Doyouhearme?
Prettygoin\'son,\"headdedasiftojustifyhisindignation.
\"Sneakin\'inhereand——andlyin\'\'roundatthistimeo\'night!
Why,ifIhadn\'tcomeinhereto\"——
\"What?\"askedtheboymechanically,catchingvaguelyattheunfinishedsentenceandstaringautomaticallyatthepaperinhisfather\'shand.
\"Nothin\',sir!Gotobed,Itellyou!Willyou?Whatareyoustandin\'gawpin\'at?\"continuedHarkuttfuriously.
Theboyregainedhisfeetslowlyandpassedhisfather,butnotwithoutnoticingwiththesamelistlessyetineffaceableperceptionofchildhoodthathewashurriedlyconcealingthepaperinhispocket.Withthesameyouthfulinconsequence,wonderingatthismorethanattheinterruption,whichwasnonovelevent,hewentslowlyoutoftheroom.
Harkuttlistenedtotheretreatingtreadofhisbarefeetinthepassageandthencarefullylockedthedoor.Takingthepaperfromhispocket,andborrowingtheideahehadjustobjurgatedinhisson,heturnedittowardsthedullglowofthestoveandattemptedtoreadit.Butperhapslackingthepatienceaswellasthekeenersightofyouth,hewasforcedtorelightthecandlewhichhehadleftonthecounter,andreperusedthepaper.Yes!therewascertainlynomistake!Herewastheactualdescriptionofthepropertywhichthesurveyorhadjustindicatedasthefutureterminusofthenewrailroad,andhereitwasconveyedtohim——
DanielHarkutt!Whatwasthat?Somebodyknocking?Whatdidthiscontinualinterruptionmean?Anoddsuperstitiousfearnowmingledwithhisirritation.
Thesoundappearedtocomefromthefrontshutters.Itsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatthelightmightbevisiblethroughthecrevices.Hehurriedlyextinguishedit,andwenttothedoor.
\"Who\'sthere?\"
\"Me,——Peters.Wanttospeaktoyou.\"
Mr.Harkuttwithevidentreluctancedrewthebolts.Thewind,stillboisterousandbesieging,didtherest,andprecipitatelypropelledPetersthroughthecarefullyguardedopening.Buthissurpriseatfindinghimselfinthedarknessseemedtoforestallanyexplanationofhisvisit.
\"Well,\"hesaidwithanoddminglingofreproachandsuspicion.\"I
declareIsawalightherejustthisminit!That\'squeer.\"
\"Yes,Iputitoutjustnow.Iwasgoin\'away,\"repliedHarkutt,withill-disguisedimpatience.
\"What!beenhereeversince?\"
\"No,\"saidHarkuttcurtly.
\"Well,Iwanttospeaktoyeabout\'Lige.Seein\'thecandleshinin\'throughthechinksIthoughthemightbestillwithye.Ifheain\'t,itlooksbad.Lightup,can\'tye!Iwanttoshowyousomething.\"
TherewasaperemptorinessinhistonethatstruckHarkuttdisagreeably,butobservingthathewascarryingsomethinginhishand,hesomewhatnervouslyre-litthecandleandfacedhim.
Petershadahatinhishand.Itwas\'Lige\'s!
\"\'Boutanhourafterwefellerslefthere,\"saidPeters,\"Iheardtherattlin\'ofhoofsontheroad,andthenitseemedtostopjustbymyhouse.Iwentoutwithalantern,and,darnmyskin!iftherewarn\'t\'Lige\'shoss,thesaddleempty,and\'Ligenowhere!I
lookedroundandcalledhim——butnothingweretobeseen.Thinkin\'
hemighthaveslippedoff——tho\'ezageneralruledrunkenmendon\'t,andheisagoodrider——Ifolloweddowntheroad,lookin\'
forhim.Ikeptonfollerin\'itdowntoyourrun,halfamilebelow.\"
\"But,\"beganHarkutt,withaquicknervouslaugh,\"youdon\'treckonthatbecauseofthathe\"——
\"Holdon!\"saidPeters,grimlyproducingarevolverfromhisside-
pocketwiththestockandbarrelcloggedandstreakedwithmud.\"I
foundTHATtoo,——andlook!onebarreldischarged!And,\"headdedhurriedly,asapproachingaclimax,\"lookye,——whatInat\'rallytookforwetfromtherain——insidethathat——was——blood!\"
\"Nonsense!\"saidHarkutt,puttingthehatasidewithanewfastidiousness.\"Youdon\'tthink\"——
\"Ithink,\"saidPeters,loweringhisvoice,\"Ithink,byGod!HE\'S
BINANDDONEIT!\"
\"No!\"
\"Sure!Oh,it\'sallverywellforBillingsandtherestofthatconceitedcrowdtosneerandslingtheirideasof\'Ligegen\'rallyastheydidjessnowhere,——butI\'dlike\'emtoseeTHAT.\"ItwasdifficulttotellifMr.Peters\'triumphantdelightinconfutinghislatecompanions\'theorieshadnotevenusurpedinhismindtheimportanceofthenewshebrought,asithadofanyhumansympathywithit.
\"Lookhere,\"returnedHarkuttearnestly,yetwithasingularlyclearedbrowandamorenaturalmanner.\"YououghttotakethemthingsovertoSquireKerby\'s,rightoff,andshow\'emtohim.Youkintellhimhowyouleft\'Ligehere,andsaythatIcanprovebymydaughterthathewentawayabouttenminutesafter,——atleast,notmorethanfifteen.\"Likeallunprofessionalhumanity,Mr.
Harkutthadanexaggeratedconceptionofthemajestyofunimportantdetailintheeyeofthelaw.\"I\'dgowithyoumyself,\"headdedquickly,\"butI\'vegotcompany——strangers——here.\"
\"Howdidhelookwhenheleft,——kinderwild?\"suggestedPeters.
Harkutthadbeguntofeeltheprudenceofpresentreticence.
\"Well,\"hesaid,cautiously,\"YOUsawhowhelooked.\"
\"Youwasn\'troughwithhim?——thatmighthavesenthimoff,youknow,\"saidPeters.
\"No,\"saidHarkutt,forgettinghimselfinaquickindignation,\"no,Inotonlytreatedhimtoanotherdrink,butgavehim\"——hestoppedsuddenlyandawkwardly.
\"Eh?\"saidPeters.
\"Somegoodadvice,——youknow,\"saidHarkutt,hastily.\"Butcome,you\'dbetterhurryovertothesquire\'s.YouknowYOU\'VEmadethediscovery;YOURevidenceisimportant,andthere\'salawthatobligesyoutogiveinformationatonce.\"
Theexcitementofdiscoveryandthetriumphoverhisdisputantsbeingspent,Peters,aftertheSidonfashion,evidentlydidnotrelishactivityasaduty.\"Youknow,\"hesaiddubiously,\"hemightn\'tbedead,afterall.\"
Harkuttbecameatrifledistant.\"Youknowyourownopinionofthething,\"herepliedafterapause.\"You\'vecircumstantialevidenceenoughtoseethesquire,andsetotherstoworkonit;and,\"headdedsignificantly,\"you\'vedoneyoursharethen,andcanwipeyourhandsofit,eh?\"
\"That\'sso,\"saidPeters,eagerly.\"I\'lljustrunovertothesquire.\"
\"Andonaccountofthewomenfolks,youknow,andthestrangershere,I\'llsaynothin\'aboutitto-night,\"addedHarkutt.
Petersnoddedhishead,andtakingupthehatoftheunfortunateElijahwithacertainhesitation,asifhefearedithadalreadylostitsdramaticintensityasawitness,disappearedintothestormanddarknessagain.Alurkinggustofwindlyinginambushsomewhereseemedtoswoopdownonhimasiftopreventfurtherindecisionandwhirlhimawayinthedirectionofthejustice\'shouse;andMr.Harkuttshutthedoor,boltedit,andwalkedaimlesslybacktothecounter.
Fromaslow,deliberateandcautiousman,heseemedtohavechangedwithinanhourtoanirresoluteandcapriciousone.Hetookthepaperfromhispocket,and,unlockingthemoneydrawerofhiscounter,foldedintoasmallcompassthatwhichnowseemedtobethelasttestamentofElijahCurtis,andplaceditinarecess.
Thenhewenttothebackdoorandpaused,thenreturned,reopenedthemoneydrawer,tookoutthepaperandagainbuttoneditinhishippocket,standingbythestoveandstaringabstractedlyatthedullglowofthefire.Heevenwentthroughthemechanicalprocessofrakingdowntheashes,——solelytogaintimeandasanexcusefordelayingsomeothernecessaryaction.
Hewasthinkingwhatheshoulddo.Hadthequestionofhisrighttoretainandmakeuseofthatpaperbeensquarelyofferedtohimanhourago,hewouldwithoutdoubthavedecidedthatheoughtnottokeepit.Evennow,lookingatitasanabstractprinciple,hedidnotdeceivehimselfintheleast.ButNaturehasthereprehensiblehabitofnotpresentingthesequestionstoussquarelyandfairly,anditisremarkablethatinmostofouroffendingtheabstractprincipleisneverthedirectissue.Mr.
Harkuttwasconsciousofhavingbeenunwillinglyledstepbystepintoadifficult,nottosaydishonest,situation,andagainsthisownseeking.HehadneveraskedElijahtosellhimtheproperty;
hehaddistinctlydeclinedit;ithadevenbeenforceduponhimassecurityforthepittancehesofreelygavehim.Thisprovedtohimselfthathehimselfwashonest;itwasonlythecircumstancesthatwerequeer.OfcourseifElijahhadlived,he,Harkutt,mighthavetriedtodrivesomebargainwithhimbeforethenewsoftherailroadsurveycameout——forTHATwasonlybusiness.ButnowthatElijahwasdead,whowouldbeapennytheworseorbetterbuthimselfifhechosetoconsiderthewholethingasaluckyspeculation,andhisgiftoffivedollarsasthepricehepaidforit?Nobodycouldthinkthathehadcalculatedupon\'Lige\'ssuicide,anymorethanthatthepropertywouldbecomevaluable.Infactifitcametothat,if\'LigehadreallycontemplatedkillinghimselfasahopelessbankruptaftertakingHarkutt\'smoneyasaloan,itwasaswindleonhis——Harkutt\'s——good-nature.Heworkedhimselfintoarage,whichhefeltwasinnatelyvirtuous,atthistyrannyofcoldprincipleoverhisownwarm-heartedinstincts,butifitcametotheLAW,he\'dstandbylawandnotsentiment.He\'djustletthem——bywhichhevaguelymeanttheworld,Tasajara,andpossiblyhisownconscience——seethathewasn\'tasentimentalfool,andhe\'dfreezeontothatpaperandthatproperty!
Onlyheoughttohavespokenoutbefore.Heoughttohavetoldthesurveyoratoncethatheownedtheland.Heoughttohavesaid:
\"Why,that\'smyland.Iboughtitofthatdrunken\'LigeCurtisforasongandoutofcharity.\"Yes,thatwastheonlyrealtrouble,andthatcamefromhisowngoodness,hisownextravagantsenseofjusticeandright,——hisowncursedgood-nature.Yet,onsecondthoughts,hedidn\'tknowwhyhewasobligedtotellthesurveyor.
Timeenoughwhenthecompanywantedtobuytheland.Assoonasitwassettledthat\'Ligewasdeadhe\'dopenlyclaimtheproperty.
Butwhatifhewasn\'tdead?ortheycouldn\'tfindhisbody?orhehadonlydisappeared?Hisplain,matter-of-factfacecontractedanddarkened.Ofcoursehecouldn\'taskthecompanytowaitforhimtosettlethatpoint.Hehadthepowertodisposeofthepropertyunderthatpaper,and——heshoulddoit.If\'Ligeturnedup,thatwasanothermatter,andheand\'Ligecouldarrangeitbetweenthem.Hewasquitefirmhere,andoddlyenoughquiterelievedingettingridofwhatappearedonlyasimplequestionofdetail.Heneversuspectedthathewascontemplatingtheoneirretrievablestep,andsummarilydismissingthewholeethicalquestion.
Heturnedawayfromthestove,openedthebackdoor,andwalkedwithamoredeterminedstepthroughthepassagetothesitting-