Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-07-02
Continued from last week

BE could not make out the features
p f the speaker in the semi-darkness, yet
le fancied he had heard the voice on
ONE other occasion.
II see you do not recognize me"
blandly went on the same speaker.
well, Mr.. Williams, I'm Herbert
Hardinge-yOu recall the name, don't
you-Hardinge, agent for the United
Kingdom Exploration company"
EYES," replied Williams brusquely;
''that is, if you are the same Hardinge
that tried to beat me out of the Ell
Tigre property five years ago. What
of it?"
II just heard of your plight"
smoothly answered the syndicate agent,
"and hurried down to see If could be
of any assistance to yOu."
Williams hesitated.
Herbert Hardinge had consistently
and relentlessly opposed him in the
past. Their litigation over the owner
ship of Ell Tigre had been expensive to
both and it had only ended when the
highest court in Mexico upheld his own
prior rights.
But blood is thicker than water, and
the AnglO-Saxon love of justice some
times causes white men in foreign
lands to forget past differences in new
perils. So Williams replied:
That's mighty white Of you, Har.
dinge. I don't know why I'm here, for
I've done nothing to merit imprison.
ment. Of course, don't want to stay
-. want to get back to Ell Tigre-
and if you can help me out I'll surely
be grateful to you"
81 think the matter can be very cas-.
lily arranged" suavely answered the
Englishman; otherwise I should not
have bothered about coming down."
"HOw?"
IF you will transfer Ell Tigre mine
to the ownership of my company
promise to return to the United States
without delay, and give pledge not to
re-enter Mexico for five years, you
will be free in half an hour"
Williams could not credit his hear
ing. What had Ell Tigre's ownership
to do with his arrest, or in what man
ner could the abandonment of his
property be made an excuse for re-
leasing him?
81 see that you do not thoroughly
understand your present position
satirically observed Hardinge as Will
liams CROPPED vainly for words with
oh &0 h &c, ind N
you are right don't, Hardinge
But, before you go further, let me tell
you this: I returned to Ell Tigre only
yesterday from the United States.
was set upon by my former mine
foreman, bound while asleep, and nc
started to bring me here. He offered
no explanation for his extraordinary
and Illegal conduct.
HE died, from some cause / can
not understand, while on the way. But
/ did not jeOpardize myself by return
ing to Mexico with any intention OF
being coerced into signing away the
property have fought for years tC
develop. Why should purchase free
dom by voluntarily surrendering III
Tigre, when / came back here to hold
1t, at all hazards"
II would not advise haste in a de
cision." Hardinge's tone was frigid
"YOu ought to think this matter over
and weigh things carefully, Williams
before corning to a conclusion which
may only involve you further"
"How can it involve me? What
matter are you referring tor
1.-THE officials of the government al
Mexico City who decided that you
we're the rightful owner of Ell Tigre
have been superseded by other men
1T know that, Hardinge. But ever
the ones now in power will not pre-
sumo to declare my titles invalid with
out hearing on the merits, nor up
hold an arrest for peacefully occupy
ing my property-surely, at least, not
before the reopening Of a case which
was settled before their highest court.