The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-05-25


las breath something in English about
not allowing any dog Of 4 Grcaser' TO
talk 10 him in that way. he broke out
into Spanish, IN which he cursed the
chief of the banditti roundly. and re
fused 10 stir a finger toward undress-
ing.
''Contreres laughed quietly At this
spirited rebellion against his com
mands, and remarked:
- 1 like to hear a man talk that vav-
He might prove quite a companionable
fellow
but he did not descend to arcu-
ment AT nod OF his handsome head
"a trio Of his lieutenants seized the
gnlde and made.short work Of the strip
ping process
Meantime the rap of my lzuuczles
against the samples IN my pocket
started my ideas in a neyy line
'Senor,' said J. viii You allow me
to make a statement 10 youg'
- Certainly; proceed he answered
Taking the samples from my pocket
said:
! am the engineer Of a New York
mining company aud am returning
from their prospects Just beyond this
range These samples and those IN
the saddle bags, yonder, viii satisfy
you Of the truth Of this statement /
had already decided To make a favor
able report upon the property. and II
strikes me that II would b.. many times
more t. your profit To permit me To go
on my way and make q report which
viii result in the operation of the mine
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
scction2'
I could answer that only after see
ing the prospect, aud then only ap-
proXimatcly. ! replied.
4 have prospect up here IN the
hills which Il simply being worked IN a
crude WAY. II has never been exam
ined by an expert. 50 far asI know
The fact Is that my intercourse with
gentlemen of your profession has heen
confined strictly to passing interviews
i smiled my appreciation Of ms
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, l make you this proposition:
Set M men and myself free make Us
your guests instead Of your captives
and | viii make "a thorough eNamina-
tion and candid report upon your prop
erty. If l find 1t equal or su perior 10
that which ] have already examined l
Will recommend the company Ia pur-
chase and operate IL. in which ease you
are to guarantee them immunity and
protection from All depredat.ous And
in any event you pledge your honor as
in peace after I have made the exam
ination and written the report, ire
spective Of what the latter may be
Then, with the Prsitiveness Of the
man of real decision of character ne
said:
'Senor. l accept Your proposition
and enforced his words 10y stepping
forward and giving Ine the embrace
and handshake-the customary friendly
greeting of a Mexican gentleman
My guide and servants were imme-
diately released and their clothes were
restored To them
We were then conducted through
the mountains To where several poems
we're engaged in working his prospects.
in u very crude way During the
nine DAYS in which we remained his
guests we were as Hospitality enter
tained as the rude convcnicnccs of a
mountain camp would permit, for. Of
course, he was too Shrewd and cautious
To Introduce us 10 any of the secrets OF
his stronghold. save that OF the mine
and / must confess that l could not
keep from liking and even admiring
the man, who was not only a born
leader Of men. but a thoroughly
cultured gentleman, who had fallen
into high-handed ways through the
doubtful practice of 'proclaimin-'
towns in periods of high political eN-
citcment and upheavaL His active
followers numbered no less than one
hundred. and probably most OF the
nearest rancheros were in league with
him. a. a matter of self preservation.
if for no other reason
when my Investigations were com
pleted made ont my report TO the
company. recommending that they pay
him eight Thousand dollars for his
claims and guarantee of protection.
The conservative stockholders in
New York debated long over the
unique problem of faith in a gentle
mans word of honor. but at last con
cluded that if the miue was rich enough
to tempt them To risk their capital in
its Development the output, IN bullion.
would be sufficient To tempt Senor
ContrereS II forget hls 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 ef-
forts at development and wait for
something To turn up
"A bout a year late- something did
turn up. much To the discomfort of our
genial host. Senor Contreres, in the
shape OF formidable company Of gov
ernment scouts. who finally succeeded
ia routing the famous bandit from his
stronghold and sending n bullet
through his handsome body
Then the company resumed opera
tions under charge Of a Lew superin-
tendent, and have developed the mine
into finely paying property
THAT Is the secret of their long de
lay. which has PcrplcNed many we'll
posted mining men - far as 1 am
concerned 7 believe Contreres would
have kept his word To the last He was
just that kind of mana perfect gen
tleman. Forrest Crissey, in Banner
of Gold.
Unnecessary.
The Ainu, an unciviiized tribe on the
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