Part 36 (2/2)
”_Caballeros_,” he murmured, ”I am delighted with the loyal service you have rendered me. Before to-day is over I shall hand you drafts on my bank at the capital for twenty thousand dollars each, gold. Then the transaction will be closed. Again I thank you.
Be good enough to remain about, for I shall soon want you.”
Over the hills a white-clad figure rode on horseback. As he came nearer, still at a gallop, the man was seen to be a soldier.
”I wonder if there is any treachery in this?” muttered Harry, in Tom's ear. ”Does Don Luis intend to have us arrested, after all, and sent to prison to be held _incommunicado_, and so make sure of keeping us out of the way?”
”I don't believe so,” Tom replied. ”It wouldn't be a wise move on his part. He'd be afraid that we'd denounce him even as we were being led away.”
”Then why the soldier?”
”Let's wait and see.”
No one else appeared to have paid any heed to the horseman. A few minutes later the soldier rode up the driveway.
”Senor--Haynes?” called the soldier, holding up an envelope.
Tom pa.s.sed the word. Messrs, Haynes and Ellsworth were absent, it seemed, on a walk.
”If it's a telegram,” said Mr. Hippen, ”I'm a director in the same road. It may be on railroad business. I'll take the telegram.”
It was turned over to him. Mr. Hippen broke the seal of the envelope, took out the enclosure and read it. Then he read it aloud, as follows:
”Train thirteen wrecked this forenoon.” It was signed by President Haynes's secretary.
”Humph!” said Mr. Hippen. ”I don't see the need of wasting the railroad's money to send that despatch here.”
He folded it and placed it in his pocket, against Mr. Haynes's return.
”I shall want to talk with you two for a few minutes,” Don Luis presently whispered to Tom. ”I shall have my car here soon.
When you see it, both of you come forward and be ready to take a short ride with me.”
In the background stood Dr. Tisco, looking on with cynical eyes.
”Of course, the poor American fools haven't any idea that they will set out on the ride, but will never return,” murmured Don Luis's secretary, to himself. ”Pedro Gato, turned loose on the same day he was arrested, has waited a long time for his revenge.
He and the dozen bandits he has gathered around him will shoot the American engineers full of holes out on the road, and Don Luis, when he returns, deluged in his own tears, will tell the awful story of the encounter with the bandits. What a clever scoundrel Don Luis is!”
Fifteen minutes later the automobile stood before the steps to the big porch.
”You two, my friends,” called Don Luis, resting a hand on Tom's shoulder and beckoning to Harry. ”You will take one last ride with me, will you not? And, while we are gone, I shall discuss a few more of my plans with you.”
Wholly unsuspicious of this final tragic touch to the drama, Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton went down the steps, following Don Luis Montez into the car.
CHAPTER XXII
MR. HAYNES ASKS A FEW QUESTIONS
Slowly the car started clown the drive. ”Oh, Don Luis!” called Mr. Hippen, running to the corner of the porch.
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