Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-12-19

terS, said Don MaurlZlO. 'fernanOeZ
does not pretend that Barrera shot you
himself, but he declares his belief that
he had it done and that the robbery was
q blind-not to deceive him, but the gov
ernment."
"He is more likely to have had 1t done
himselfl" cried Derwent impetuously,
without pausing to consider his words.
Don Maurizio's eyes met and held his.
with fash. You have spoken my own
suspicion" he said. II should not have
spoken it, because / have no knowledge
of how long you have known Senior Fer
nandez, nor what your degree Of inti-
macy with him may be. But certainly
suspect him of plot to injure Barrera
and at the same time revenge himself on
you for your refusal to buy the mine. l
know" he said, answering a look on
Derwent's face, "that this sounds to you
very melodramatic; but you must re-
member that we are primitive people
in Mexico, that we love and hate with q
good deal Of intensity, and that things
as strange as this of which | speak are
of sufficiently common occurrence among
u.s."
81 am sure" said Derwent, "that Fer
nandez is very vindictive man, and
suspect that he is also an unscrupulous
one. But it requires time to arrange q
plot such as you suspect; and what time
had he?"
"You spent the night at ranch which
belongs to Amanda. The matter might
easily have been arranged there do
not say it was, but it might have been.
1t certainly afforded him an admirable
opportunity to achieve double revenge
to punish you and throw stigma on
Barrera which he may never be able to
disprove."
"But it shall be disprovedr said Der
went, whose indignation grew as the
idea seemed to him more and more prob
able. "If Fernandez is accountable for
this thing | will follow the trail like
bloodhound until fasten 1t on him.
Certainly his neglect in failing to return
for me is very suspicious. He has been
here know. How did he explain that2"
"Oh, plausibly enough; he is always
plausible, you know. They were in
haste to reach Eitzatlan by night, and 80
they pressed on, thinking you were be-
hind. 1t was only when dark was clos
ing in-and there had been time for you
to die comfortably on the mountain side
that mozo was sent back to look for
you. He found your mule loose on the
road, and presently. met my messenger
on his way to obtain doctor and report
to the authorities what had occurred"
Derwent smiled slightly. 81 certainly
owe no thanks to Senior Fernandez for
my present safety" he said 81 shall be
very glad if you will show me some way
by which this affair may be thoroughly
sifted. | am more than ever anxious
now to know to whom / am indebted
for this"-he touched his shoulder.
1T is a difficult affair to sift," said the
other thoughtfully II will, however,
see Barrera and get him to come and
talk to you. Something in the way of a
clew may be elected. 1t is unfortunate
that his enmity to Fernandez with re-
gard to the Buena Esperanza is well
known: and it is doubly unfortunate
that he should have gone to the mine in
that reckless manner"
Il should like" said Derwent, "to
know the true state of the case between
Fernandez and himself Can you tell
it to me?"
"In few words, was the reply. Fer
nandez, as you may imagine from the
character of the man, is the plant tool
of the corrupt officials with whom Mexico
is cursed There is no transaction so in
famous that he is not ready to serve as
an instrument in it. and he has therefore
an influence altogether out of proportion
to his real importance-for men fear
him as it is in human nature to fear
those who have an almost unlimited
power to iniure. He has grown rich
from the bribes he has received, both
from those who have something to dread,
and those who have much to gain, from
the government. But Barrera is one
man who has neither feared nor bribed
him; and, since he is well known as an
uncompromising opponent of the present
government, he has suffered in conse-
quence. He has been imprisoned on
false charges. mulcted by heavy fines
until his fortune is greatly diminished.
and harassed and prosecuted in innumer-
able ways He is the chief owner Of the
Buena Esperanza, and on this Fernandez
has long been known to have covetous
eye. But, aware of the value of the mine,
Barrera has never been willing to sell;
and he was in negotiation with me to
obtain the money to work the mine,
when his son-who is as impetuous and
uncompromising as himself-fell into
trouble with the government. Fernandez
was sent to the father, and, while de-
manding heavy bribe for those who
sent him, he demanded also the Buena
Esperanza for himself Berrera thought
that he had no alternative; he gave the
bond on the mine. and it was not until
later that he learned that this had been no
part of the official bargain. He then de-
manded from Fernandez the return Of
the bond which had been obtained by
fraud and falsehood. The reply was a
contemptuous refusal. Do you wonder
at the anger of the man when he met the
| snoiler on his own propertV2"