The sun., 1908-06-21
TRICKS In SELLING MINES
ROMANCE SOMETIMES BETTER
THAN MERE FACTS.

THAN MEHE FAUIS.
Tale OF the Aztec Treasure That Caught \
Capitalist whom Mining Reports Could
Not Move-PrO0f OF Honest Dealing
Imagination OF q Boston Engineer.
A mining man from Mexico tried to in
terest New York capitalist in his PROPOSE
ton, but was turned down politely but
firmly. shade Of disappointment crossed
his face He half arose from hir chair and
reached for his hat. He hesitated moment
as If debating some momentous step. Then
he dropped back into his seat and leaned
forward confidentially. as though. he had
decided to impart some weighty secret.
Suppose should tell you," he began,
that know where the long sought treasure
OF the Aztec kings Is buried, that within
an hour after reaching the city Of Mexico
l could 20 to the place where 1t lies. the vast
store Of gold and jewels that Guatemotzin
hid when the little band Of conquistadores,
Cortezs conquering Spaniards, appeared
before his capital2
How do 1 know this2 Listenls The
promoters voice sank to tense whisper.
Can any one hear2 Don't let US be inter-
rupted. I have never told this to soul
before. May look the door?
Suppose 1 tell you how mozo, one who
had served me faithfully for many years,
had left my employ at the mines and had
gone to the city of Mexico there to take
service with one Of the old Spanish families
who live In street little back Of the great
Cathedral which, as you know was built
on the site Of the ancient temple where they
used to sacrifice thousands Of human cap
tives each year? You can see the huge
sacrificial stone In the National Museum
there to-day.
This family went to the TERRA Caliente, to
their hacienda there, in the winter months,
when there is no rain but the air Is chill in
the city. Before they left the master told
this Indian servant to take up the stones
in the patio. the interior court around
which the house is built-the residence has
been in the same family for two centuries
and q half-and to clear out the ancient
drain that had become half choked and
unserviceable, also to relay all the paving
stones fat and level.
'The soil is soft there. There are no
cellars to the houses. for the city is built
on an ancient lake bed and almost anywhere
you strike water ten feet down.
ain due time the family departed, leav-
ing this Indian in charge Of the other SER
wants in the empty house. These Mexican
poems. by the way. are slow. but faithful
and sure. Without undue haste the work
began and proceeded.
Sometimes Juan worked alone digging
in the damp SOIL at other times some of the
other men helped him. carrying out the
dirt or lifting the heavy blocks OF stone that
paved tie courtyard. Juan one night had
dream that II he should dig In certain
spot in the patio he would find a vast
treasure.
"The next day was the Fiesta OF All Souls
great religious holiday when every one
goes to the Dolores Cemetery. deoorates
the graves Of his dead and gets stupid
with pulque. Juan made some excuse,
pleaded illness. suppose; the rest Of the
servants went away and left him alone in
the great house.
@Tbe moment they were gone and the
outer door fast bolted Juan commenced to
dig. with feverish haste such as he had
never shown before, in the spot indicated
by his dream. He was standing In pit as
long and as narrow as grave when chance
thrust Of his shovel into the black, reek ing
soil touched a stone.
Now there are no stones In the oty Of
Mexico except what have been brought
there from the quarries. miles away, 30 Juan
knew that what he had encountered was
either an ancient idol Of the Aztecs or else
the forerunner of what he sought. He
stopped to take a drink of pulque, and
went back to work. With infinite labor he
uncovered what appeared to be a great
square stone. and finally, don't know how,
succeeded in lifting it from the place It had
rested in foa, nearly three centuries.
Two weeks !ater-I was in the mountains
OF Durango. at Topia. at the time-I re-
ceived letter from Juan. 1t was written
by one Of those public letter writer's who
sit In the plaza before the Cathedral, for
Juan. like nearly every one OF his class.
cannot read or write.
-The letter urged me to come to Mexico
at once and to see him Immediately on my
arrival, that he was In great trouble. that he
had news Of personal interest to impart.
In short gathered from the letter. aided
by my intimate knowledge of Juan's charao-
ter that there really was something urgent.
He had saved my life once, and as had in
tended going to Mexico soon l decided to
hasten my trip and start Immediately.
Its week . journey by mule. horse and
rail from the mines to the capital. On my
arrival sent for Juan. and he came to my
room at the Iturbide. where he was we'll
known as my former mozo.
"What would you say II told you that
he recounted to me how he had dreamed
and dug and lifted the stone. how he had
found mass Of coarse gold. washed from
pla Ger workings by the Aztecs no one
kn ows where and no one knows when;
how he had found, also, curious images OF
gold. figures Of the gods and OF the sun
and rain; how he brought from fold in
his blouse, tied in avery dirty handkerchief,
a double handful OF coarse gold mixed
with huge uncut rubies. like cherries In
handful of wheat2
"Did he tell any one else Of it2 No, he
would not do that. He had an idea of the
value OF the gold, but not of the ubies
What next2 This is only supposing, you
know, kind OF hypothetical question.
Suppose / should tell you how assayed
the gold myself and found II what thought
1t, from placer; that had two of the uncut
rubies priced in one Of the jewelry stores
along Plateros street, and found them
gems OF great value. have bought a
rood many mines, and great many people