human
The way to keep me from talking is to do it all yourself; what happened to me last night?
gpt
The 'last night' you mean was three weeks ago. Stevie was trying to shoot Mr. Cortwright in your office and you got between them. Do you remember that?
human
Perfectly, he said.
gpt
But it still seems as if it were only last night. Where am I now?--not that it makes any difference, so long as I'm with you.
human
You are at home--our home; at the 'Little Susan.' Mr. Leshington had the men carry you up here, and Mr. Ford ran a special train all the way from Denver with the doctors. Stevie's bullet struck you in the head, and--and we all thought you were going to die.
gpt
I'm not, he asserted, in feebly desperate determination.
human
I'm going to live and get to work and earn a hundred thousand dollars, so I can say: 'Come, little girl----'
gpt
You _mustn't_ talk! she insisted.
human
You said you'd let me. And when he made the sign of acquiescence, she went on:
gpt
At first the doctors wouldn't give us any hope at all; they said you might live, but you'd--you'd never--never remember--never have your reason again. But yesterday----
human
Please! he pleaded.
gpt
That's more than enough about me. I want to know what happened.
human
That night, you mean? All the things that you had planned for. Father got the mine back, and Mr. Leshington and the others got the riot quelled after about half of the city was burned.
gpt
But Cortwright and Schermerhorn--I promised them----
human
Mr. Leshington carried out your promise and helped them get the money out of the bank vault before the mob sacked the Niquoia Building and dynamited it. But at the hotel they were arrested on the order of the bank examiner, and everything was taken away from them. We haven't heard yet what is going to be done with them.
gpt
And Gomorrah?
human
There is where it was, she said soberly,
gpt
Then it's all up to me and the hundred thousand, he whispered.
human
And I'll get it ... honestly, this time.
gpt
Is she--the one incomparable she--worth it, Victor?
human
Her price is above rubies, as I told you once a long time ago.
gpt
You wouldn't let pride--a false pride--stand in the way of her happiness?
human
I haven't any; her love has made me very humble and--and good, Amy, dear. Don't laugh: it's the only word; I'm just hungering and thirsting after righteousness enough to be half-way worthy of her.
gpt
Then I'll tell you something else that has happened. Father and Stevie have reorganized the 'Little Susan' Mining Company, dividing the stock into four equal parts--one for each of us. You must take your share, Victor. It will break father's heart if you don't. He says you got it back for him after it was hopelessly lost, and that is true.
human
O boy--foolish boy! she said.
gpt
Wait: when you are well and strong again....