The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-27
HEARTS OF THREE
By JACK LONDON.
Francis and the Haciendada Engage
In a Discussion of South American
Oil Industry
CsS-opsis Of Preceding chapters-)

AIvarez Torres, a south American. who
announces. he has tip on the location o.
treasure buried by Morgan in the old
pirate days. Regan has an idea
Young Morgan sails for South Amer
lea in pursuit Of the treasure. upon
landing he encounters . strange young
woman who appears to mistake him Tor
some one else. He 10 fred upon Sy three
natives and seeks safety aboard his VeS'
Francis Learns he and Hr-ry. the mys-
tericus islander, are both descendants OF
Pirate Moran
Francis discovers his resemblance to
greeting upon first leading on South
American territory. Francis encounters
Torres again. Francis Is saved from
death on Eallows and Henry - aEres.eo
in his place. Leoncia finds her fancy
has strayed from Henry TO FranelA
The two plot to save Henry.
Francis, Geonica and Henry eiude
their enemies and go aboard FrAnciS
vessel. The Angslique IL pursued down
the coast. Francis and his party decide
to go ashore to elude their pursuers.
Don't tell me, Senior" he began,
that they have located oil in
Panama."
They have" the haciendado
nodded gravely. 1--WE knew OF the
oil ooze. and had known OF it for
generations. But it was the Hermit
silIo Company that sent it's Gringo
engineers in secretly and then
bought up the land. They say it is
a great field. But know nothing
of oil myself. They have many
wells, and have bored much, and so
much oil have they that it is run
ming away over the landscape. They
say they cannot choke II entirely
down, such is the volume and pres
sure. What they need is the pipe
line to ocean carriage, which they
have begun to build. In the mean
time 1t flows away down the can
yons, an utter loss OF incredible
proportion"
Have they built any tanks?"
Francis demanded. has mind run
ming eagerly on Tampico Petroleum,
to which most of his own fortune
was pledged, and of which, despite
the rising stock market he had
heard nothing since his departure
from New York.
The haciendado shook his head.
Transportation" he explained.
The freight from tidewater to the
gushers by mule back has been
productive. But they have i'm
pounded much Of it. They have
lakes OF oil, great reservoirs in the
hollows Of the hills. earthen dam
ed, and still they cannot choke down
the flow, and still the precious sub
stance flows down the canyons"
Have they rooted these reser-
voirs?" Francis inquired, remem-
bering a disastrous fire in the early
days OF Tampico Petroleum
NO, Senior"
provingIy.
They should be rooted he said.
A match from the drunken or re-
vengeful hand OF any peon could
set the whole works on. It's poor
business, poor business"
They Do Happen.
But I am not the Hermosillo,"
the haciendado said.
For the Hermosillo Company,
meant, Senior" Francis explained.
II am an oil man. I have paid
through the loss to the tune Of hun
dreds OF thousands for similar &C
cidents or crimes. One never knows
just how they happen. What one
does know is that they do hap
pen"
What more Francis might have
said about the expediency Of pro-
tecting oil reservoirs from stupid
or wiIful poems. was never to be
known; for, at the moment the
chief overseer OF the plantation.
stick in hand, rode up, half his in
terest devoted to the newcomers,
the other hal flo the squad of poems
working close at hand.
Senior Ramirez. will you favor
me by dismounting." his employer.
the haciendado. politely addressed
him, at the same time introducing
him to the strangers as soon as he
had dismounted.
The animal is yours, friend En-
rico" the haciendado said. IF il
dies. please return at your easy con-
venience the saddle and gear. And
II your convenience be not easy.
please do not remember that there
is to be any return, save ever and
always of your love for me. I re-
greet that you and your party can
not now partake OF my hospitality.
But the Jefe is a bloodhound, I
know. We shall do our best to send
him astray"
With Leonica ard Eurico mount
ed, and the gear made fast to the
saddles by leather thongs, the cav
alcade started. AleSandro and Ri
cardo clinging each to a stirrup OF
their fathers saddle and trotting
alongside. This was for making
greater haste. and was emulated by
Francis and Henry, who chung to
Leoncia's stirrups. Fast to the pom
mel Of her saddle was bag of sill
yer dollars.
1T is some mistake" the hacien-
dadO was explaining TO his Overseer.
Enrico Solano is an honorable man.
Anything to which he pledges him
self is honorable. He had pledged
himself to this, whatever il may be,
and yet is Mariana Vercario Hijos
on their trail. We shall mislead him
If he comes this way"
And here he comes" the over
seer remarked, without luck So far
in finding horses" Casually he
turned on the laboring poems and
with horrible threats urged them TO
do at least half a days decent wc.k
in a day.
From the corner Of his eye the
haciendado observed the fast-walk-
ing group of men. with Alvarez
Torres in the lead; but, as il he had
not noticed, he conferred with his
Overseer about the means OF grub
bling out the particular stump the
poems were working on.
He returned the greeting of Torres
pleasantly. and inquired politely,
with a touch OF deyiltry il he led