Bret Harte

A Millionaire of Rough-and-Ready Bret Harte

Book Excerpt: ...usiness. He dreaded lest Masters should insist upon going into the tunnel."I suppose you want to mail that letter," said Masters, drily. "The mail don't go till to-morrow, so you've got time to finish it, and put it in an envelope."Following the direction of Masters' eyes, Slinn looked down and saw, to his utter surprise, that he was holding an unfinished pencilled note in his hand. How it came there, when he had written it, he could not tell; he dimly remembered that one of his first impulses was to write to his wife, but that he had already done so he had forgotten. He hastily concealed the note in his breast- pocket, with a vacant smile. Masters eyed him half contemptuously, half compassionately."Don't forget yourself and drop it in some hollow tree for a letter-box," be said. "Well--so long!--since you won't drink. Take care of yourself," and, turning on his heel, Masters walked away. Slinn watched him as he crossed over to his abandoned claim, saw him gather his few mining utensils, s..