ears hummed. His
heart throbbed violently. "How do you make that out, Mr. Ames?" he
heard Harris say in a voice that seemed to come from an infinite
distance. "I myself saw the title papers which old Rosendo had, and
saw them transferred to Mr. Ketchim for the Simiti Company. Moreover,
I personally visited the mine in question."

"La Libertad? Quite so," returned Ames. "But, here's the rub. The
property was relocated by this Rosendo, and he secured title to it
under the name of the Chicago mine. It was that name which deceived
the clerks in the Department of Mines in Cartagena, and caused them to
issue title, not knowing that it really was the famous old La
Libertad."

"Well, I don't see that there is any ground for confusion."

"Simply this," returned Ames evenly: "La Libertad mine, since the
death of its former owner, Don Ignacio de Rincon, has belonged to the
Church."

"What!" Harris was on his feet. "By what right does it belong to the
Church?"

"By the ancient law of _'en manos muertas'_, my friend," replied Ames,
unperturbed.

"Good Lord! what's that?"

"Our friend, Monsignor Lafelle, representing the Church, will
explain," said Ames, waving a hand toward that gentleman.

Lafelle cleared his throat. "I deeply regret this unfortunate
situation, gentlemen," he began. "But, as Mr. Ames has pointed out,
the confusion came about through issuing title to the mine under the
name Chicago. Don Ignacio de Rincon, long before his departure from
Colombia after the War of Independence, drew up his last will, and,
following the established custom among wealthy South Americans of that
day, bequeathed this mine, La Libertad, and other property, to the
Church, invoking the old law of _'en manos muertas'_ which, being
translated, means, 'in dead hands.' Pious Catholics of many lands have
done the same throughout the centuries. Such a bequest places property
in the custody of the Church; and it may never be sold or disposed of
in any way, but all revenue from it must be devoted to the purchase of
Masses for the souls in purgatory. It was through the merest chance, I
assure you, that your mistake was brought to light. Knowing that our
friend, Mr. Ames, had purchased stock in your company, I took the
pains to investigate while in Cartagena recently, and made the
discovery which unfortunately renders your claim to the mine quite
null."

"God a'mighty!" exploded Harris. "Did you know this?" turning savagely
upon the paraly