Part 37 (1/2)

”Stop!” said Montez to his chauffeur. ”Mr. Haynes is signaling you,”

continued Mr. Hippen. ”I think he wants to say something to you.”

Don Luis turned, and beheld the president and the general manager of the A.G.& N.M. Railroad hastening toward the gate.

”Drive down to the gate and await the gentlemen there,” was Don Luis's next order.

Mr. Hippen, too, started down the roadway, seeing which Dr. Tisco reached his side and went with him.

There was a general meeting of the different parties at the gate.

”I signaled you, Don Luis, to inquire if Ellsworth and myself might go on your drive with you?” explained Mr. Haynes.

”Gentlemen, I am truly sorry,” began Don Luis Montez, in his most honeyed tones, ”but the truth is that I desire to have a private conference with Senores Reade and Hazelton.”

”Then we won't ask to accompany you, this time.” said Mr. Haynes, laughing.

”We would be glad to take you, but our business conversation would then be delayed,” Don Luis explained. ”However, if you wish--”

”I don't want to spoil your talk,” laughed Mr. Haynes. ”But I have this to say to Reade and Hazelton. We gentlemen have been discussing the new management of the mine, and we are united in feeling that we want these young men to remain here and manage our new property for us. In fact, with such a valuable mining property on our hands we wouldn't feel in the least easy with any one else in charge.”

”Here is a telegram that came for you, Mr. Haynes,” said Mr. Hippen, quietly, handing over the sheet. ”Of course, Reade and Hazelton are not going to sign with any one else.”

”Pardon me,” said Mr. Haynes, and let his glance fall on the telegram.

Any one noting the railway president's face at that moment would have noted a quick, though suppressed, change there.

”Don Luis,” went on Mr. Haynes, quickly, ”I fear that I really shall have to interrupt your drive for a little while. I have just received news that I shall want to discuss with you.”

”Why, your news refers to nothing more than a wreck on your Arizona railway system, doesn't it?” inquired Don Luis, who was eager to get away and attend, as speedily as possible, to the impending a.s.sa.s.sination of the young engineers.

”You will oblige me by coming back to the house, won't you, Don Luis?” insisted Mr. Haynes, who seemed, somehow, a changed man within the last minute.

”Certainly,” agreed the Mexican courteously, and the chauffeur turned the car.

As they walked along, Mr. Haynes managed to whisper a few words in Mr. Ellsworth's ear.

”I have sent Ellsworth to call all our a.s.sociates together,” explained Mr. Haynes, as he joined Don Luis and the young engineers on the porch. Something in the changed atmosphere of the place made Don Luis Montez feel decidedly uneasy.

The Americans responded quickly to Mr. Ellsworth's rounding up.

Each of them, as he came forward, looked unusually grave. Mr.

Haynes waited until he saw all of his a.s.sociates around him.

Then he began:

”Don Luis, in my recent absence a telegram came for me. Mr. Hippen, though a director of our railway, is not familiar with the telegraph code that we use in our inner office. This telegram, sir”--unfolding it--”is from my private secretary, a most careful and trustworthy man of affairs. I feel certain, Don Luis, that he would not have sent this telegram unless he had had the strongest reasons. Now, in our office code a wire relating to a wreck of Train Thirteen--there's no such train on our schedule--means always just one thing. The significance of this telegram is, 'Don't on any account put through the impending deal.'”

If Don Luis Montez felt any inward start he controlled his facial expression wonderfully.

”Senor Haynes,” he replied, ”I don't understand the meaning of your code message. You have no deal here to put through. You have made and closed the only deal here about which I have the honor to know anything.”

”But my secretary doesn't yet know the state of affairs here,”