Part 18 (1/2)

”No?” Tom inquired. ”Harry, our late host wishes us to leave by the windows.”

”All right,” nodded Hazelton, smiling. ”I used to be something of an athlete.”

”You shall not leave me in any such childish spirit,” Don Luis insisted, stubbornly.

”If you are going to try to reopen the proposition that you made us,”

said Reade, ”you may as well stop.”

”You will come to your senses presently.”

”We are in full possession of them at present.”

”We shall yet come to a sensible arrangement of the matter,” Montez continued, coaxingly. Indeed, the Mexican had suddenly come to see that he was absolutely dependent upon the young Americans if he hoped to sell his mine in the near future.

”You are wrong, Don Luis,” Reade continued. ”We can come to no understanding. Matters have now gone so far that we are no longer bound by the rules of courtesy. Nor do the laws of hospitality weigh with us, for you have chosen to bully and threaten us under your own roof. I will therefore be frank enough to tell you that we regard you as a mere rogue. Am I right, Harry?”

”Wholly right,” nodded Hazelton. ”Don Luis, I cannot see that you are one whit more honest, or in any sense more of a gentleman, than any of the outlawed bandits who roam these mountains. Therefore, as Americans and gentlemen, we find it wholly impossible for us to remain either your employs or your guests. There can be no hope whatever that we shall consent to serve you, even in the most innocent way.”

Don Luis heard them with rising anger, which, however, he kept down with a fine show of self-control.

”_Caballeros_, you are young. You have not seen much of the world.

You are mere boys. You have not even, as yet, developed good manners. Therefore I overlook in you what, in men, might arouse my anger. Take my advice. Go to your rooms. Think matters over.

When you have cooled we will talk again. No--not a word, now.”

Don Luis stepped aside. Tom bowed, very stiffly, in pa.s.sing the Mexican. Harry merely gazed into the Mexican's eyes with a steadiness and a contempt that made the mine owner wince.

Straight down the hallway, to their rooms, Tom marched, Harry following. Barefooted Nicolas sprang forward, bowing, then swinging open the door. He bowed again as the young engineers stepped inside. Then Nicolas pulled the door shut.

”Are you going to stay, Tom, and have any further talk with this thief?” sputtered Harry, who had held in about as long as was safe for him.

”What do you think?” Tom asked, grimly, as he knelt upon his trunk and tugged at the strap.

”I reckon I think about the same as you do,” rejoined Hazelton, closing his own trunk and strapping it.

”One--two _hoist_!” ordered Reade, settling his own trunk upon his shoulder.

Harry followed suit. In Indian file they moved across the room.

”Nicolas,” called Tom, ”be good enough--the door!”

The barefooted servant swung the barrier open.

”Thank you,” said Tom, marching out. Then he dumped the trunk, noiselessly, to the floor. Going into an inner pocket he produced a five dollar bill.

”Nicolas,” said the young chief engineer, ”you have certainly done all in your power to make us comfortable. I am sorry that we are not longer to have the comfort of your services. Will you do me the favor of accepting this as a remembrance? It is American money, but you can easily get it changed. And now, let us shake hands.”

Nicolas appeared dazed, both by the money and by Tom's desire to shake hands with him. The hand that Tom clasped trembled.

”Same here,” murmured Harry, also producing a five-dollar bill.