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 mi