in a hollow of the hills-第7部分

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But　I　suppose　it's　all　in　my　dd　day's　work！　　Good…night！　　Forward
there！　　Get！〃

The　two　torches　danced　forwards；　with　the　trailing　off　of　vague
shadows　in　dim　procession；　there　was　a　clatter　over　the　rocks　and
they　were　gone。　　Then；　as　Preble　Key　gazed　after　them；　he　felt　that
with　them　had　passed　the　only　shadow　that　lay　upon　his　great
fortune；　and　with　the　last　tenant　of　the　hollow　a　proscribed　outlaw
and　fugitive；　he　was　henceforth　forever　safe　in　his　claim　and　his
discovery。　　And　yet；　oddly　enough；　at　that　moment；　as　he　turned
away；　for　the　first　time　in　three　weeks　there　passed　before　his
fancy　with　a　stirring　of　reproach　a　vision　of　the　face　that　he　had
seen　at　the　window。


CHAPTER　III。


Of　the　great　discovery　in　Sylvan　Silver　Hollow　it　would　seem　that
Collinson　as　yet　knew　nothing。　　In　spite　of　Key's　fears　that　he
might　stray　there　on　his　return　from　Skinner's；　he　did　not；　nor　did
he　afterwards　revisit　the　locality。　　Neither　the　news　of　the
registry　of　the　claim　nor　the　arrival　of　Key's　workmen　ever　reached
him。　　The　few　travelers　who　passed　his　mill　came　from　the　valley　to
cross　the　Divide　on　their　way　to　Skinner's；　and　returned　by　the
longer　but　easier　detour　of　the　stage…road　over　Galloper's　Ridge。
He　had　no　chance　to　participate　in　the　prosperity　that　flowed　from
the　opening　of　the　mine；　which　plentifully　besprinkled　Skinner's
settlement；　he　was　too　far　away　to　profit　even　by　the　chance　custom
of　Key's　Sabbath　wandering　workmen。　　His　isolation　from
civilization　（for　those　who　came　to　him　from　the　valley　were　rude
Western　emigrants　like　himself）　remained　undisturbed。　　The　return
of　the　prospecting　party　to　his　humble　hospitality　that　night　had
been　an　exceptional　case；　in　his　characteristic　simplicity　he　did
not　dream　that　it　was　because　they　had　nowhere　else　to　go　in　their
penniless　condition。　　It　was　an　incident　to　be　pleasantly
remembered；　but　whose　nonrecurrence　did　not　disturb　his　infinite
patience。　　His　pork　barrel　and　flour　sack　had　been　replenished　for
other　travelers；　his　own　wants　were　few。

It　was　a　day　or　two　after　the　midnight　visit　of　the　sheriff　to
Silver　Hollow　that　Key　galloped　down　the　steep　grade　to
Collinson's。　　He　was　amused；　albeit；　in　his　new　importance；　a
little　aggrieved　also；　to　find　that　Collinson　had　as　usual
confounded　his　descent　with　that　of　the　generally　detached　boulder；
and　that　he　was　obliged　to　add　his　voice　to　the　general　uproar。
This　brought　Collinson　to　his　door。

〃I've　had　your　hoss　hobbled　out　among　the　chickweed　and　clover　in
the　green　pasture　back　o'　the　mill；　and　he's　picked　up　that　much
that　he's　lookin'　fat　and　sassy；〃　he　said　quietly；　beginning　to
mechanically　unstrap　Key's　bridle；　even　while　his　guest　was　in　the
act　of　dismounting。　　〃His　back's　quite　healed　up。〃

Key　could　not　restrain　a　shrug　of　impatience。　　It　was　three　weeks
since　they　had　met；three　weeks　crammed　with　excitement；　energy；
achievement；　and　fortune　to　Key；　and　yet　this　place　and　this　man
were　as　stupidly　unchanged　as　when　he　had　left　them。　　A　momentary
fancy　that　this　was　the　reality；　that　he　himself　was　only　awakening
from　some　delusive　dream；　came　over　him。　　But　Collinson's　next
words　were　practical。

〃I　reckoned　that　maybe　you'd　write　from　Marysville　to　Skinner　to
send　for　the　hoss；　and　forward　him　to　ye；　for　I　never　kalkilated
you'd　come　back。〃

It　was　quite　plain　from　this　that　Collinson　had　heard　nothing。　　But
it　was　also　awkward；　as　Key　would　now　have　to　tell　the　whole　story；
and　reveal　the　fact　that　he　had　been　really　experimenting　when
Collinson　overtook　him　in　the　hollow。　　He　evaded　this　by　post…
dating　his　discovery　of　the　richness　of　the　ore　until　he　had
reached　Marysville。　　But　he　found　some　difficulty　in　recounting　his
good　fortune：　he　was　naturally　no　boaster；　he　had　no　desire　to
impress　Collinson　with　his　penetration；　nor　the　undaunted　energy　he
had　displayed　in　getting　up　his　company　and　opening　the　mine；　so
that　he　was　actually　embarrassed　by　his　own　understatement；　and
under　the　grave；　patient　eyes　of　his　companion；　told　his　story　at
best　lamely。　　Collinson's　face　betrayed　neither　profound　interest
nor　the　slightest　resentment。　　When　Key　had　ended　his　awkward
recital；　Collinson　said　slowly：

〃Then　Uncle　Dick　and　that　other　Parker　feller　ain't　got　no　show　in
this　yer　find。〃

〃No；〃　said　Key　quickly。　　〃Don't　you　remember　we　broke　up　our
partnership　that　morning　and　went　off　our　own　ways。　　You　don't
suppose；〃　he　added　with　a　forced　half…laugh；　〃that　if　Uncle　Dick　or
Parker　had　struck　a　lead　after　they　left　me；　they'd　have　put　me　in
it？〃

〃Wouldn't　they？〃　asked　Collinson　gravely。

〃Of　course　not。〃　　He　laughed　a　little　more　naturally；　but　presently
added；　with　an　uneasy　smile；　〃What　makes　you　think　they　would？〃

〃Nuthin'！〃　said　Collinson　promptly。

Nevertheless；　when　they　were　seated　before　the　fire；　with　glasses
in　their　hands；　Collinson　returned　patiently　to　the　subject：

〃You　wuz　saying　they　went　their　way；　and　you　went　yours。　　But　your
way　was　back　on　the　old　way　that　you'd　all　gone　together。〃

But　Key　felt　himself　on　firmer　ground　here；　and　answered
deliberately　and　truthfully；　〃Yes；　but　I　only　went　back　to　the
hollow　to　satisfy　myself　if　there　really　was　any　house　there；　and
if　there　was；　to　warn　the　occupants　of　the　approaching　fire。〃

〃And　there　was　a　house　there；〃　said　Collinson　thoughtfully。

〃Only　the　ruins。〃　　He　stopped　and　flushed　quickly；　for　he
remembered　that　he　had　denied　its　existence　at　their　former
meeting。　　〃That　is；〃　he　went　on　hurriedly；　〃I　found　out　from　the
sheriff；　you　know；　that　there　had　been　a　house　there。　　But；〃　he
added；　reverting　to　his　stronger　position；　〃my　going　back　there　was
an　accident；　and　my　picking　up　the　outcrop　was　an　accident；　and　had
no　more　to　do　with　our　partnership　prospecting　than　you　had。　　In
fact；〃　he　said；　with　a　reassuring　laugh；　〃you'd　have　had　a　better
right　to　share　in　my　claim；　coming　there　as　you　did　at　that　moment；
than　they。　　Why；　if　I'd　have　known　what　the　thing　was　worth；　I
might　have　put　you　inonly　it　wanted　capital　and　some　experience。〃
He　was　glad　that　he　had　pitched　upon　that　excuse　（it　had　only　just
occurred　to　him）；　and　glanced　affably　at　Collinson。　　But　that
gentleman　said　soberly：

〃No；　you　wouldn't　nuther。〃

〃Why　not？〃　said　Key　half　angrily。

Collinson　paused。　　After　a　moment　he　said；　〃'Cos　I　wouldn't　hev
took　anything　outer　thet　place。〃

Key　felt　relieved。　　From　what　he　knew　of　Collinson's　vagaries　he
believed　him。　　He　was　wise　in　not　admitting　him　to　his　confidences
at　the　beginning；　he　might　have　thought　it　his　duty　to　tell　others。

〃I'm　not　so　particular；〃　he　returned　laughingly；　〃but　the　silver　in
that　hole　was　never　touched；　nor　I　dare　say　even　imagined　by　mortal
man　before。　　However；　there　is　something　else　about　the　hollow　that
I　want　to　tell　you。　　You　remember　the　slipper　that　you　picked　up？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　I　lied　to　you　about　that；　I　never　dropped　it。　　On　the
contrary；　I　had　picked　up　the　mate　of　it　very　near　where　you　found
yours；　and　I　wanted　to　know　to　whom　it　belonged。　　For　I　don't　mind
telling　you　now；　Collinson；　that　I　believe　there　WAS　a　woman　in
that　house；　and　the　same　woman　whose　face　I　saw　at　the　window。　　You
remember　how　the　boys　joked　me　about　itwell；　perhaps　I　didn't
care　that　you　should　laugh　at　me　too；　but　I've　had　a　sore
conscience　over　my　lie；　for　I　remembered　that　you　seemed　to　have
some　interest　in　the　matter　too；　and　I　thought　that　maybe　I　might
have　thrown　you　off　the　scent。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　if　you　had　any
idea　who　it　was；　we　might　now　talk　the　matter　over　and　compare
notes。　　I　think　you　saidat　least；　I　gathered　the　idea　from　a
remark　of　yours；〃　he　added　hastily；　as　he　remembered　that　the
suggestion　was　his　own；　and　a　satirical　one〃that　it　reminded　you
of　your　wife's　slipper。　　Of　course；　as　your　wife　is　dead；　that
would　offer　no　clue；　and　can　only　be　a　chance　resemblance；　unless〃
He　stopped。

〃Have　you　got　'em　yet？〃

〃Yes；　both。〃　　He　took　them　from　the　pocket　of　his　riding…jacket。

As　Collinson　received　them；　his　face　took　upon　itself　an　even
graver　expression。　　〃It's　mighty　cur'ous；〃　he　said　reflectively；
〃but　looking　at　the　two　of　'em　the　likeness　is　more　fetchin'。　　Ye
see；　my　wife　had　a　STRAIGHT　foot；　and　never　wore　reg'lar　rights　and
lefts　like　other　women；　but　kinder　changed　about；　ye　see；　these
shoes　is　reg'lar　rights　and　lefts；　but　never　was　worn　as　sich！〃

〃There　may　be　other　women　as　peculiar；〃　suggested　Key。

〃There　MUST　be；〃　said　Collinson　quietly。

For　an　instant　Key　was　touched　with　the　manly　security　of　the
reply；　for；　remembering　Uncle　Dick's　scandal；　it　had　occurred　to
him　that　the　unknown　tenant　of　the　robbers'　den　might　be
Collinson's　wife。　　He　was　glad　to　be　relieved　on　that　point；　and
went　on　more　confidently：

〃So；　you　see；　this　woman　was　undoubtedly　in　that　house　on　the　night
of　the　fire。　　She　escaped；　and　in　a　mighty　hurry　too；　for　she　had
not　time　to　change　her　slippers　for　shoes；　she　escaped　on
horseback；　for　that　is　how　she　lost　them。　　Now　what　was　she　doing
there　with　those　rascals；　for　the　face　I　saw　looked　as　innocent　as
a　saint's。〃

〃Seemed　to　ye　sort　o'　contrairy；　jist　as　I　reckoned　my　wife's　foot
would　have　looked　in　a　slipper　that　you　said　was　GIV　to　ye；〃
suggested　Collinson　pointedly；　but　with　no　implication　of　reproach
in　his　voice。

〃Yes；〃　said　Key　impatiently。

〃I've　read　yarns　afore　now　about　them　Eyetalian　brigands　stealin'
women；〃　said　Collinson　reflectively；　〃but　that　ain't　California
road…agent　style。　　Great　Scott！　if　one　even　so　much　as　spoke　to　a
woman；　they'd　have　been　wiped　outer　the　State　long　ago。　　No！　the
woman　as　WAS　there　came　there　to　STAY！〃

As　Key's　face　did　not　seem　to　express　either　assent　or　satisfaction
at　this　last　statement；　Collinson；　after　a　glance　at　it；　went　on
with　a　somewhat　gentler　gravity：　〃I　see　wot's　troublin'　YOU；　Mr。
Key；　you've　bin　thinkin'　that　mebbee　that　poor　woman　might　hev　bin
the　better　for　a　bit　o'　that　fortin'　that　you　discovered　under　the
very　spot　where　them　slippers　of　hers　had　often　trod。　　You're
thinkin'　that　mebbee　it　might　hev　turned　her　and　those　men　from
their　evil　ways。〃

Mr。　Key　had　been　thinking　no