with his elbow on the table, continued, "I don't mind telling you
what idea I had in giving you what I'm goin' to give you now. I've
been thinking about it for a day or two. A man like you don't want
money--you wouldn't spend it. A man like you don't want stocks or
fancy investments, for you couldn't look after them. A man like
you don't want diamonds and jewellery, nor a gold-headed cane, when
it's got to be used as a crutch. No, sir. What you want is
suthin' that won't run away from you; that is always there before
you and won't wear out, and will last after you're gone. That's
land! And if it wasn't that I have sworn never to sell or give
away this house and that garden, if it wasn't that I've held out
agin the old woman and Mamie on that point, you should have THIS
house and THAT garden. But, mebbee, for the same reason that I've
told you, I want that land to keep for myself. But I've selected
four acres of the hill this side of my shaft, and here's the deed
of it. As soon as you're ready, I'll put you up a house as big as
this--that shall be yours, with the land, as long as you live, old
man; and after that your children's."

"No; not theirs!" broke in the old man, passionately. "Never!"

Mulrady recoiled for an instant in alarm at the sudden and
unexpected vehemence of his manner, "Go slow, old man; go slow," he
said, soothingly. "Of course, you'll do with your own as you
like." Then, as if changing the subject, he went on cheerfully:
"Perhaps you'll wonder why I picked out that spot on the hillside.
Well, first, because I reserved it after my strike in case the lead
should run that way, but it didn't. Next, because when you first
came here you seemed to like the prospect. You used to sit there
looking at it, as if it reminded you of something. You never said