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or I'd have made you a fair offer。〃
〃I don't reckon to ever sell the mill；〃 said Collinson simply。 Then
observing the look of suspicion in his companion's face； he added gravely；
〃You see； I rigged up the whole thing when I expected my wife out from
the States； and I calkilate to keep it in memory of her。〃
Key slightly lifted his brows。 〃But you never told us； by the way；
HOW you ever came to put up a mill here with such an uncertain water…
supply。〃
〃It wasn't onsartin when I came here； Mr。 Key； it was a full…fed stream
straight from them snow peaks。 It was the earthquake did it。〃
〃The earthquake！〃 repeated Key。
〃Yes。 Ef the earthquake kin heave up that silver…bearing rock that
you told us about the first day you kem here； and that you found t'other
day； it could play roots with a mere mill…stream； I reckon。〃
〃But the convulsion I spoke of happened ages on ages ago； when this
whole mountain range was being fashioned；〃 said Key with a laugh。
〃Well； this yer earthquake was ten years ago； just after I came。 I
reckon I oughter remember it。 It was a queer sort o' day in the fall； dry
and hot as if thar might hev bin a fire in the woods； only thar wasn't no
wind。 Not a breath of air anywhar。 The leaves of them alders hung
straight as a plumb…line。 Except for that thar stream and that thar wheel；
nuthin' moved。 Thar wasn't a bird on the wing over that canyon； thar
wasn't a squirrel skirmishin' in the hull wood； even the lizards in the rocks
stiffened like stone Chinese idols。 It kept gettin' quieter and quieter； ontil
I walked out on that ledge and felt as if I'd have to give a yell just to hear
my own voice。 Thar was a thin veil over everything； and betwixt and
between everything； and the sun was rooted in the middle of it as if it
couldn't move neither。 Everythin' seemed to be waitin'； waitin'； waitin'。
Then all of a suddin suthin' seemed to give somewhar！ Suthin' fetched
away with a queer sort of rumblin'； as if the peg had slipped outer creation。
I looked up and kalkilated to see half a dozen of them boulders come；
lickity switch； down the grade。 But； darn my skin； if one of 'em stirred！
and yet while I was looking； the whole face o' that bluff bowed over softly；
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as if saying 'Good…by；' and got clean away somewhar before I knowed it。
Why； you see that pile agin the side o' the canyon！ Well； a thousand feet
under that there's trees； three hundred feet high； still upright and standin'。
You know how them pines over on that far mountain…side always seem to
be climbin' up； up； up； over each other's heads to the very top？ Well； Mr。
Key； I SAW 'EM climbin'！ And when I pulled myself together and got
back to the mill； everything was quiet； and； by Gd； so was the mill…
wheel； and there wasn't two inches of water in the river！〃
〃And what did you think of it？〃 said Key； interested in spite of his
impatience。
〃I thought； Mr。 Key No！ I mustn't say I thought； for I knowed it。 I
knowed that suthin' had happened to my wife！〃
Key did not smile； but even felt a faint superstitious thrill as he gazed
at him。 After a pause Collinson resumed： 〃I heard a month after that she
had died about that time o' yaller fever in Texas with the party she was
comin' with。 Her folks wrote that they died like flies； and wuz all buried
together； unbeknownst and promiscuous； and thar wasn't no remains。
She slipped away from me like that bluff over that canyon； and that was
the end of it。〃
〃But she might have escaped；〃 said Key quickly； forgetting himself in
his eagerness。
But Collinson only shook his head。 〃Then she'd have been here；〃 he
said gravely。
Key moved towards the door still abstractedly； held out his hand；
shook that of his companion warmly； and then； saddling his horse himself；
departed。 A sense of disappointmentin which a vague dissatisfaction
with himself was mingledwas all that had come of his interview。 He
took himself severely to task for following his romantic quest so far。 It
was unworthy of the president of the Sylvan Silver Hollow Company； and
he was not quite sure but that his confidences with Collinson might have
imperiled even the interests of the company。 To atone for this
momentary aberration； and correct his dismal fancies； he resolved to
attend to some business at Skinner's before returning； and branched off on
a long detour that would intersect the traveled stage…road。 But here a
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singular incident overtook him。 As he wheeled into the turnpike； he
heard the trampling hoof…beats and jingling harness of the oncoming coach
behind him。 He had barely time to draw up against the bank before the
six galloping horses and swinging vehicle swept heavily by。 He had a
quick impression of the heat and steam of sweating horse…hide； the reek of
varnish and leather； and the momentary vision of a female face silhouetted
against the glass window of the coach！ But even in that flash of
perception he recognized the profile that he had seen at the window of the
mysterious hut！
He halted for an instant dazed and bewildered in the dust of the
departing wheels。 Then； as the bulk of the vehicle reappeared； already
narrowing in the distance； without a second thought he dashed after it。
His disappointment； his self…criticism； his practical resolutions were
forgotten。 He had but one idea nowthe vision was providential！ The
clue to the mystery was before him he MUST follow it！
Yet he had sense enough to realize that the coach would not stop to
take up a passenger between stations； and that the next station was the one
three miles below Skinner's。 It would not be difficult to reach this by a
cut…off in time； and although the vehicle had appeared to be crowded； he
could no doubt obtain a seat on to