red Don Esteban to Donald,
while Lucia bent over and smoothed the brow of the sick man.

"A few years ago," Santiago finally continued, "I began to see an
opportunity for the people to assert their rights. In our good
Senor Madero I saw the one who should lead the common people out
of their bondage. I went to him and offered him all the wealth at
my command. He accepted the trust and we began our work. It was
at that time that I placed the money with Don Esteban. Also the
box, containing the secret of the mine, of which only I and
Madero knew.

"You all know what has happened since that time. Madero won, but
he was betrayed. His betrayer now seeks to rule the republic, but
he can never do it. He must be overthrown."

The aged man became greatly excited and the physician cautioned
him to be careful. In a few minutes he became more peaceful and
continued:

"I have always been a great friend of the Americans. I admired
their integrity and their government. I spent many years of my
youth in the United States. I have known many of their great men.
I was sure they would be pleased with Madero, and they were. But
after he was betrayed, then I began to fear them, as I was told
that the usurper, Huerta, had been helped by them."

"Who told you that?" asked Billie, almost without thinking.

"That man there," and Santiago pointed with his long bony finger
at the mountebank, Strong. "That man, Francisco Rodriguez, who
claims to be an American, but who is a traitor to his country. He
fed me with lies, as I now know, and he wormed out of me the
secret of Montezuma's Mine."

Again the aged man's excitement nearly overcame him, but again he
rallied with an almost superhuman effort.

"It was because of his lies that I made him my trusted agent;
but he betrayed me as he has others. It was to him I gave the ten
thousand pounds which the young senor took away from my servant,
Pablo Ojeda--who is not an Ojeda, but whom I have allowed to use
that name. I desire that the money become the property of the
young senor," and he feebly extended his hand toward Billie, "who
has always been such a good friend to me and mine. The secret of
the mine is to be found in the box which I left with Don Esteban.
I am getting to be an old man, and if you will now bring in the
box, I will turn it over to my daughter Lucia, who is my only
descendant."

Don Esteban made no move to comply with the request, but looked
at the boys in such a perplexed