Part 37 (2/2)
continued Mr. Haynes, gravely, ”and he doesn't know that we have yet bought the _El Sombrero_ Mine. Therefore, his despatch can't refer to anything else. My private secretary is certainly warning me not to buy _El Sombrero_ Mine until we have further information.”
”But you have bought it,” cried Don Luis, in a voice pitched rather higher than usual. ”You have bought it and have the deed to all this property. The money has been paid, and is now mine, subject to my order.”
”Don Luis,” continued the American railway president, ”I ask you, before all my a.s.sociates, to consider the matter still open until I can receive further particulars from my private secretary.
If there is any good and sound reason why we should not have bought this mine--”
”But you have bought it, paid for it, and the money is mine!”
cried Don Luis Montez. ”There is no more to be said about it.”
”Sir,” went on Mr. Haynes, gravely, ”there is but one question of fact that can affect the sale. Suppose--I hate to say it, but suppose that the mine is not a rich one, not worth any such price as we paid for it, and that you sold it to us, knowing--”
”The mine is a rich one--one of the richest in Mexico,” insisted Montez, ”and you have secured a very great bargain.”
”I trust and hope that all that is true,” continued Mr. Haynes.
”Yet, if such should not be the case, and if we have bought a property under conditions that would make it certain swindle had been perpetrated--”
”Senor!” warned Don Lids, taking a step forward, a deadly light in his eyes. ”Be Careful!”
”I am only stating a supposition,” resumed Mr. Haynes, coolly.
”Don Luis, I believe I have stated enough of that supposition to make it all clear. If that supposition is true, then you would have to buy the mine back from us again.”
”Would I?” sneered the Mexican.
”Yes, Don Luis, or we could bring the matter about in another way. I know the name of the bank in Mexico City to which you have transferred the funds received from us. Our attorneys, acting through Mexican lawyers, can tie that money up and keep it in the bank until the question has been decided as to whether--”
”Be careful, senor!” again warned Don Luis.
”Sir,” demanded Mr. Haynes, bluntly, ”is the mine a valuable one, or is it a swindle?”
”You should not ask me,” Montez retorted, bitterly. ”You have your own engineers on the ground--engineers whom you trust.
Ask them! They will tell you.”
”Thank you,” a.s.sented Mr. Haynes, bowing. Then, turning to Tom, the American railway president went on:
”Reade, tell me the truth about this matter in a word. Have we been defrauded in any way?”
”You have not, Mr. Haynes,” Tom answered steadily. ”You have now in your possession a property that is worth far more than has been paid for it.”
”You agree with that statement, do you, Hazelton?” asked Mr. Haynes.
”I do, sir,” Harry nodded.
Dr. Tisco, standing in the background, had all he could do to keep himself from dancing a few jig-steps.
”Decidedly, these young Americans are champion liars!” he thought to himself. ”They can readily outlie Don Luis or myself. Now, if Don Luis still insists on having these gifted young engineers killed I am afraid I shall look upon him as being a man without honor.”
”You have heard your own engineers, senores,” broke in Don Luis.
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