The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-04-13

BILE, and my hands sought my vest but
tons with spontaneous obedience,
knocking my knuckles soundly against
the specimens of quartz, with which
my every pocket was bulging.
''My guide, however, was in quite a
different mood. First muttering under
his breath something in English about
not allowing any dog of a Greaser' to
talk to him in that way, he broke out
into Spanish, in which he cursed the
chief of the banditti roundly, and re-
fused to stir finger toward undress-
ing.
"Contreres laughed quietly at this
spirited rebellion against his COM
mands, and remarked
81 like to hear man talk that way.
He might prove quite companionable
fellow
But he did not descend to argu-
ment. AT nod of his handsome head
trio of his lieutenants seized the
guide and made.short work of the strip
ping process.
Meantime the rap of my knuckles
against the samples in my pocket
started my ideas in a new line.
''Senor,' said /, will you allow me
to make statement to your
Certainly; proceed he answered.
! Taking the samples from my pocket
/ said
81 am the engineer of New York
mining company and am returning
from their prospects just beyond this
range. These samples and those in
the saddle bags, yonder, will satisfy
you of the truth of this statement. l
had already decided to make favor
able report upon the property, and it
strikes me that it would be many times
more to your profit to permit me to go
on my way and make report which
and the hauling of gold bullion through
your stronghold, than to leave us to the
cougars and coyotes
"'What do you think your company
would pay for good prospect in this
section?'
"I could answer that only after see
ing the prospect and then only ap-
proximately,' l replied.
"T have a prospect up here IN the
hills which is simply being worked in a
crude way. 1t has never been exam
ined by an expert, so far as l know.
The fact is, that my intercourse with
gentlemen of your profession has been
confined strictly to passing interviews
Il smiled my appreciation of his
joke. This seemed to please him. Per-
ceiving that he was on his good nature,
determined to risk my chances on a
bold, frank proposition,
"'Senor, make you this proposition:
Set my men and myself free, make us
your guests instead of your captives
and 1 will make thorough examina-
ton and candid report upon your prop
erty. If l find it equal or superior to
that which l have already examined l
will recommend the company to pur-
chase and operate it. in which case you
are to guarantee them immunity and
protection from all depredations. And
in any event you pledge your honor as
gentleman to allow us to go our way
in peace after have made the exam
ination and written the report, ire
spective of what the latter may be-
''Then, with the positiveness of the
man of real decision of character he
said:
"'Senor, accept your proposition,
and enforced his words by stepping
forward and giving me the embrace
and dhandshake-thecu customary friendly
greeting of Mexican gentleman.
'cMy guide and servants were imme-
diately released and their clothes were
restored to them.
s'We were then conducted through
the mountains to where several poems
we're engaged in working his prospects,
in q very crude way. During the
nine days In which we remained his
guests we were as Hospitality enter.
tanned as the rude conveniences of a
mountain camp would permit, for, of
course, he was too shrewd and cautious
TO introduce US to any of the secrets of
his stronghold, save that of the mine
and 1 must confess that could not
keep from liking and even admiring
the man, who was not only a born
leader of men, but thoroughly
cultured gentleman, who had fallen
into high-handed ways through the
doubtful practice of .proclaiming'
towns in periods of high political ex-
citement and upheayal, His active
followers numbered no less than one
hundred, and probably most Of the
nearest rancheros were in league with
him, as a matter of self preservation,
If for no other reason.
"When my Investigations were COM
pleted l made out my report to the
company, recommending that they pay
him eight thousand dollars for his
claims and guarantee OF protection.
1.-The conservative stockholders in
New York debated long over the
unique problem of faith in gentle
mans word of honor, but at last con.
cluded that If the niue was rich enough
to tempt them to risk their capital in
its tsdevelopment, the output, in bullion,
would be sufficient to tempt Senor
Contreres to forget his fair promise of
protection and swoop down upon the
pack trains and appropriate the bulk of
the profits of the enterprise.
Therefore we decided to hold on to
their property, but discontinue all Of.
forts at development and wait for
something to turn up
About q year later something did
turn up, much to the discomfort of our
genial host, Senor Gontreres, in the
shape of formidable company of gov
ernment scouts, who finally succeeded
in routing the famous bandit from his
stronghold and sending a bullet
through his handsome body.
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