r," 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," assented 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.
"You trust them. Now, are you not satisfied that I have dealt
fairly with you?"

"Somehow, I ought to be satisfied," agreed Mr. Haynes. "And yet
my private secretary is such a very careful and dependable man
that I shall have to await further advices. Of course, I place
the fullest confidence in the honesty of our American engineers,
Reade and Hazelton. Tom, do you believe that you could possibly
have been deceived as to the valued of this mining property?"

"I do not believe it possible, sir," Tom replied, as steadfastly
as before. "In the face of anything that might be said, Hazelton
and I will continue to claim that you have bought a property here
worth more than you have paid for it."

"Then I apologize, Don Luis, for what might have seemed to be
slighting language," Mr. Haynes continued, bowing to the Mexican.
"You will understand, of course, what good reason I had to be
anxious."

"Say no more, senor. You had most excellent reasons," smiled
Don Luis, at ease once more. "I cannot blame you in the least for
your passing doubts, but I am glad they have been set at rest by
these capable and honest young engineers. And now, Senores Reade
and Hazelton, shall we resume our interrupted ride in the car?"

CHAPTER XXIII

THE ENGINEER TURNS

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