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the dining…room； also； I was trying to decide between green and blue for
the upholstery of the drawing…room； for； although my preference was blue
I feared it was a color that would be too easily damaged by dust and
sunlight； likewise while I was content to put the coachman in a modest
livery； I was uncertain about a footmanI needed one； and was even
resolved to have one； but wished he could properly appear and perform his
functions out of livery； for I somewhat dreaded so much show； and yet；
inasmuch as my late grandfather had had a coachman and such things； but
no liveries； I felt rather drawn to beat him；or beat his ghost； at any
rate； I was also systematizing the European trip； and managed to get it
all laid out； as to route and length of time to be devoted to it
everything； with one exceptionnamely； whether to cross the desert from
Cairo to Jerusalem per camel； or go by sea to Beirut； and thence down
through the country per caravan。 Meantime I was writing to the friends
at home every day； instructing them concerning all my plans and
intentions； and directing them to look up a handsome homestead for my
mother and agree upon a price for it against my coming； and also
directing them to sell my share of the Tennessee land and tender the
proceeds to the widows' and orphans' fund of the typographical union of
which I had long been a member in good standing。 ＇This Tennessee land
had been in the possession of the family many years； and promised to
confer high fortune upon us some day； it still promises it； but in a less
violent way。＇
When I had been nursing the Captain nine days he was somewhat better；
but very feeble。 During the afternoon we lifted him into a chair and
gave him an alcoholic vapor bath； and then set about putting him on the
bed again。 We had to be exceedingly careful； for the least jar produced
pain。 Gardiner had his shoulders and I his legs； in an unfortunate
moment I stumbled and the patient fell heavily on the bed in an agony of
torture。 I never heard a man swear so in my life。 He raved like a
maniac； and tried to snatch a revolver from the tablebut I got it。
He ordered me out of the house； and swore a world of oaths that he would
kill me wherever he caught me when he got on his feet again。 It was
simply a passing fury； and meant nothing。 I knew he would forget it in
an hour； and maybe be sorry for it； too； but it angered me a little； at
the moment。 So much so； indeed； that I determined to go back to
Esmeralda。 I thought he was able to get along alone； now； since he was
on the war path。 I took supper； and as soon as the moon rose； began my
nine…mile journey； on foot。
Even millionaires needed no horses； in those days； for a mere nine…mile
jaunt without baggage。
As I 〃raised the hill〃 overlooking the town； it lacked fifteen minutes of
twelve。 I glanced at the hill over beyond the canyon； and in the bright
moonlight saw what appeared to be about half the population of the
village massed on and around the Wide West croppings。 My heart gave an
exulting bound； and I said to myself； 〃They have made a new strike to…
nightand struck it richer than ever； no doubt。〃 I started over there；
but gave it up。 I said the 〃strick〃 would keep； and I had climbed hill
enough for one night。 I went on down through the town； and as I was
passing a little German bakery； a woman ran out and begged me to come in
and help her。 She said her husband had a fit。 I went in； and judged she
was righthe appeared to have a hundred of them； compressed into one。
Two Germans were there； trying to hold him； and not making much of a
success of it。 I ran up the street half a block or so and routed out a
sleeping doctor； brought him down half dressed； and we four wrestled with
the maniac； and doctored； drenched and bled him； for more than an hour；
and the poor German woman did the crying。 He grew quiet； now； and the
doctor and I withdrew and left him to his friends。
It was a little after one o'clock。 As I entered the cabin door； tired
but jolly； the dingy light of a tallow candle revealed Higbie； sitting by
the pine table gazing stupidly at my note； which he held in his fingers；
and looking pale； old； and haggard。 I halted； and looked at him。 He
looked at me； stolidly。 I said：
〃Higbie； whatwhat is it？〃
〃We're ruinedwe didn't do the workTHE BLIND LEAD'S RELOCATED！〃
It was enough。 I sat down sick； grievedbroken…hearted； indeed。 A
minute before； I was rich and brimful of vanity； I was a pauper now； and
very meek。 We sat still an hour； busy with thought； busy with vain and
useless self…upbraidings； busy with 〃Why didn't I do this； and why didn't
I do that；〃 but neither spoke a word。 Then we dropped into mutual
explanations； and the mystery was cleared away。 It came out that Higbie
had depended on me； as I had on him； and as both of us had on the
foreman。 The folly of it！ It was the first time that ever staid and
steadfast Higbie had left an important matter to chance or failed to be
true to his full share of a responsibility。
But he had never seen my note till this moment； and this moment was the
first time he had been in the cabin since the day he had seen me last。
He； also； had left a note for me； on that same fatal afternoonhad
ridden up on horseback； and looked through the window； and being in a
hurry and not seeing me； had tossed the note into the cabin through a
broken pane。 Here it was； on the floor； where it had remained
undisturbed for nine days：
〃Don't fail to do the work before the ten days expire。 W。
has passed through and given me notice。 I am to join him at
Mono Lake； and we shall go on from there to…night。 He says
he will find it this time； sure。 CAL。〃
〃W。〃 meant Whiteman； of course。 That thrice accursed 〃cement！〃
That was the way of it。 An old miner； like Higbie； could no more
withstand the fascination of a mysterious mining excitement like this
〃cement〃 foolishness； than he could refrain from eating when he was
famishing。 Higbie had been dreaming about the marvelous cement for
months； and now； against his better judgment； he had gone off and 〃taken
the chances〃 on my keeping secure a mine worth a million undiscovered
cement veins。 They had not been followed this time。 His riding out of
town in broad daylight was such a common…place thing to do that it had
not attracted any attention。 He said they prosecuted their search in the
fastnesses of the mountains during nine days； without success； they could
not find the cement。 Then a ghastly fear came over him that something
might have happened to prevent the doing of the necessary work to hold
the blind lead （though indeed he thought such a thing hardly possible）；
and forthwith he started home with all speed。 He would have reached
Esmeralda in time； but his horse broke down and he had to walk a great
part of the distance。 And so it happened that as he came into Esmeralda
by one road； I entered it by another。 His was the superior energy；
however； for he went straight to the Wide West； instead of turning aside
as I had doneand he arrived there about five or ten minutes too late！
The 〃notice〃 was already up；