Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-12-12

DerWent dld NOT reply at once. he
could not say what he distinctly thought;
you are deceiving me. This man is no
fool, and there is more in the matter
than you pretend" But he decided that
he would waive the purchase of the
Buena Esperanza for the present. The
counsel and direction which he had de-
sired few minutes before had come to
him most unexpectedly He had dis
trusted Fernandez vaguely from the
first He now determined that he would
take nothing through his hands, for he
felt sure that the taint of fraud would
be upon it. Entirely ignorant though he
was of the point at issue between the
two men before him, he was neverthe-
less certain that Barrera was an honest
man and Fernandez a scoundrel. After
short pause he spoke with decision
of manner that could not be mistaken:
| BE kind enough to say for me to the
gentleman that he may set his mind at
rest SO far as | am concerned. shall
not buy the Buena Esperanza until am
assured that there is harmony among
the sellers wish to take no mans prop
erty against his will Further object
to having the price of the mine doubled
upon me, as you have doubled it within
the last half hour. We will therefore say
nothing more at present of purchase"
Fernandez turned sharply and looked
at him with light in his eyes that was
altogether evil. DO you really mean
this?' he demanded. "Do you intend,
after all my trouble and expense. to re-
| fus to take the miner
ii regret your trouble, but it was
taken, believe, in the line Of business"
answered Derwent. "Your expense
will reimburse But shall certainly
not take the mine with the passionate
opposition of one of its owners"
"This man has no power to harm you.
| will warrant that"
But it seems that | have power to
harm him by taking his property against
his wishes That will not do unless
know something of the history of the
bond that he evidently repudiates.
Frankly, there is look about this thing
that do not like. and will not touch
it"
Il should have taken care to keep this
fool away if had imagined that his
mere appearance would intimidate you
80 completely" said Fernandez with a
bitter sneer.
II am not intimidated in the least"
said Derwent calmly. "If you think SO
you are mistaken But you do not think
30. You know very well why decline
to have anything further to do with this
affair Let us have no more words. 1t
is sufficient to state explicitly that l will
not buy the Buena Esperanza under the
present circumstances at any price"
Having said this he turned and walked
away 1t was the only thing to do, for
he felt that his own anger was rising,
and he knew that nothing could have
been more inadvisable than an alterca-
ton with Fernandez. In fact. as cooler
thought came to him, he was conscious
that he had been rash to speak so openly
and decidedly A little diplomacy would
have been better. He might have de-
ferred his decision until they returned to
Guadalajara But ii was too late to
think Of that now; and as he walked
down the bank of the stream toward the
mules and the mozos, he thought rue
| fully that his first effort in Mexico seemed
likely to prove tasco in every respect.
While he stood idly watching the
whirling water on its course, Senor
Amanda came down the path and said a
few words to the two attendants. They
at once began to saddle the animals, and
it was evident that an order for depart
ure had been given. This was relief;
and as Derwent moved forward to lend
q helping hand, hoof strokes sounded
again ON the rocky descent behind him.
He turned in time to see the powerful
black horse and his rider pass and to re-
ceive courteous salutation. Whether
or not Fernandez had rightly interpreted
him to Barrera-and this he knew was
doubtful-the latter obviously did not
include him in his anger. There was
something almost friendly in the "Adios,
senor," with which he passed.
But there was nothing friendly in the
air and manner of Fernandez when he
appeared. If Derwent had ever doubted
what was in the man he saw it now
saw the bitter and implacable enmity Of
which he was capable in lowering brow
and angry glance, There were no words
exchanged. Derwent would have been
glad to be courteous as long as the ex-
igencies of their journey threw them to-
gether; but Fernandez for once seemed
unable to put any constraint upon him
self or else did not care to exercise it.
He mounted silently and rode off with
Amanda, leaving Derwent to follow with
the mozos.
AS they passed down the canada the
young man turned in his saddle and
looked back at the majestic peak, the
first appearance Of which had SO fasci-