THE ENGINEER TURNS
"You are about to have more visitors, I see," announced Mr. Hippen,
from a corner of the porch.
Barely five hundred yards from the house, on one of the roughest
roads coming down the mountains, were some forty or fifty horsemen.
Nor did it require more than a second glance to show that the
newcomers were cavalry troops of the Mexican army.
At the head of the cavalcade rode three or four men who had an
official appearance.
"It is one of the periodical visits of the governor of the state
of Bonista," explained Don Luis. "Ah, if the governor is with
that party, Senor Haynes, you will soon have more reason to know
that it would be impossible for me to defraud you. The governor
himself will assure you that I am of an old Spanish family and
of the highest personal honor."
"I shall be most glad to meet the governor," remarked Mr. Haynes,
dryly.
Don Luis Montez stepped to where he could obtain a better view
of the horsemen, who were moving their horses at a walk. He held
his hands over his eyes to keep the light from interfering with
his view.
"I am afraid, after all, that his excellency, the governor of
the state, is not one of the horsemen," said Montez, regretfully.
"Not unless he is riding at the rear of the party. But we shall
soon know."
Just inside the limits of the estate all of the cavalrymen except
a half dozen halted. Three officers, six troopers and a gentleman
in citizen's dress rode on up to the porch.
"Is Don Luis Montez of your number?" called the man in citizen's
clothes.
"I am Don Luis," responded Montez, going forward and raising his
hat.
"I am Manuel Honda," continued the stranger, raising his hat in
return. "Will you be good enough to have one of your servants
take my horse?"
This was done at a gesture from Montez. Senor Honda dismounted,
then came up the steps.
"You are very welcome, senor," said Don Luis, holding out his hand,
which the other accepted. Then the stranger swept his glance over
the others grouped on the porch.
"These are your American visitors?" inquired Honda.
"Yes," nodded Don Luis.
"We will withdraw if you two gentlemen have business to discuss,"
suggested Mr. Haynes.
"I beg that all of you gentlemen will remain," urged Senor Honda.
"I wish to show you every courtesy, senor," said Montez, quickly,
"but it seems to me that you are taking the liberty of giving orders
in my home."
"Have you sold your mine?" asked Honda.
"Yes," Montez acknowledged.
"And this estate was part of the mine property?"
"Yes."
"Then I would suggest, Don Luis," Honda answered, with a smile,
"that this place is no longer your home."
"Senor, are you making fun of me?" demanded Don Luis, with heightening
color.
"By no means, Don Luis. But you have observed that I have an escort
of our country's troops."
"Assuredly."
"From that what would you infer?"
"You may very likely hold some government commission," guessed Don Luis.
"Assuredly I do," Honda replied.
"In the state of Bonista especially?"
"Even so."
"Then if you hold a commission in the state of Bonista," replied
Don Luis Monte; "you must represent my very good friend, his excellency,
the governor of this state."
"Just at present the governor of Bonista is in difficulties," hinted
Senor Manuel Honda.
"How?" demanded Don Luis.
"Yes; in difficulties," continued the visitor. "At least, his
excellency, the governor, is not able to leave his house."
"Ah! He is ill, then?"
"Ill in spirit, yes," smiled Senor Honda.
"Will you be good enough to explain?" Montez asked, anxiously.
"Don Luis, it was I, Manuel Honda, who confined his excellency
to his official dwelling and placed a guard about the buildings."
"Oh? Is there a revolution, then, in the state of Bonista?"
"None that I know of," Honda rejoined. "Don Luis, I am from the
national capital. I represent the government of the Republic
of Mexico, and I have considerable power in this state. I am
solely in command, at present, of all the national troops within
this state. These army officers will assure you that I hold a
national commission to investigate affairs even in this remote
state of Bonista. I could show you my credentials from the national
government, if it were worth while."
"Then will you be good enough, Senor Honda, to tell me what you
wish here."
"Don Luis, I am here because I believe this to be one of the central
points in the investigation that I am about to hold. I will come
to the point at once. You have sold your mining property here.
One of my first acts will be to make sure that you do not draw the
proceeds of the sale from any Mexican bank until after the national
government is satisfied."
"That is a high-handed proceeding, Senor Honda!" cried Montez, a
deadly glitter in his eyes.
"It is such a proceeding as a national government may take at
need," replied Senor Honda, calmly. "Of course, Don Luis, if
your conduct in selling the mine is found to be blameless, then
you will soon be able to use your money in any way that you please.
But, first of all, the government must be satisfied."
"Have you any further questions that you wish to ask me at present?"
Montez demanded, suddenly.
Though he had kept himself rather calm up to the present, the
rascal felt that he must soon vent the spite and hate welling
up within him, or explode from the pent-up force of his own emotions.
The late mine owner, though he could not penetrate the mysteries
of the present situation, was now sure that Tom Reade and Harry
Hazelton must be in some way behind it. No matter what happened
to him afterwards, Don Luis was now furiously bent on getting
the young engineers off on the lonely mountain trail where Gato
and his comrades were lying in wait for the two young Americans.
"I shall have no more questions for you, for the present," Senor
Honda replied. "Just now I wish to have some conversation with
these Americans."
"Then come, senores," cried Don Luis, with forced gayety, as he
thrust a hand under the arms of Tom and Harry. "Come, we will
have our ride and our talk. We will be back here in half an hour
and then we shall hear this affair through. Come!"
Tom Reade threw off the fellow's arm, exclaiming, warningly:
"If you touch me again, you snake in the grass, I'll reduce you
to powder with a fist that's fairly aching to hit you!"
The vehemence of Tom's declaration made every one within hearing
gasp with astonishment.
"What does this mean, Reade?" gasped President Haynes, looking
thunderstruck.
"It means, sir," reported Tom, wheeling about, "that this fellow,
Montez, threatened us with death if we did not sign a glaringly
false report concerning _El Sombrero_ Mine. We were also to be
killed if we did not stand by our report to the fullest degree
after you and your friends arrived."
"Then _El Sombrero_ Mine is worthless?" cried Mr. Haynes, his
face turning a ghastly white.
"As far as I know, sir, or as far as Hazelton knows," Tom Reade
made prompt answer. "_El Sombrero_ isn't worth the cost even
of filling up the shaft."
"And you, Reade--and you, Hazelton--the men we trusted
implicitly--you stood by and saw us robbed!"