Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-23


that don't understand AZ all, JItendra.
I didn't ask you to come with me-I
did the best could TO get you TO 90 on
about your own business. So there's
no reason at all for you to be locked
up. and II there's any why ! should
be, ! want 10 know itr'
DO you, indeedT'
Buck leaped toward the sound and
p"ered through the tiny, grated orifc.
In the Iron bound oak door. The query
was In English, but II carried mock
ing sneer which worked the mine own
er into a new frenzy.
He could not make out the features
OF the speaker in the semi-darkness, yet
he fanclcd he had heard the voice on
some other occasion.
Il see you do not recognize me"
blanily went on the same speaker.
Well, Mr williams. I'm Herbert
HarIlnge-you recall the name. don't
you-Hardinge, agent for the United
Kingdom Exploration conpanyr
Yes" replied Williams brusquely:
that Is, II you are the same Hardinge
that tried to beat me out Of the FL
Tigre property FIVE years ago. What
OF 1T"
Il Just heard Of your plight"
smoothly answered the syndicate agent.
"and hurried down to see II could be
OF any assistance to you"
Williams hesltated.
Herbert Hnrdinge had consistently
and relsntlessly opposed him In the
past. Their litigation over the owner
ship Of FL TIgre had been expensive TO
both and 1t had only ended when the
highest court in Mexico upheld his own
prior rights.
But blood Is thicker than water. and
the Angle Saxon love OF Justice some
times causes white men in foreign
lands to forget past differences In new
per,ls So Williams replied:
That's mighty white Of you. Har.
dlnge. | don't know why I'm here. for
I've done nothing to merit imprison-
ment. OF course, don't wan, TO stay
- want TO get back to FL Tigre-
and II you can help me out I'll surely
be grEtcful TO you
II think the matter can be very cas-.
lily arranged" suayely answered the
Englishman; Otherwise ] should not
have bothered about coming down"
"HowT'
'If you will transfer FL Tigre mine
to the ownership OF my company,
promise to return to the United States
without delay. and give n pledge not to
re-enter Mexico for FIVE years. you
| will he free In half an hour"
Williams could not credit his hear
ing. What had FL Tigre's ownership
I to do with his arrest, or In what man.
ner could the abandonment Of his
| property be made an excuse for re-
/ leasing him?
| Il see that you do not thoroughly
understand your present position"
satirically observed Hardinge as VII.
| ltams groped vainly for words with
which 10 voice his indignant surprise.
/ You are right don't. Hardinge.
! But. before you 20 further, let me tell
| you this: returned TO FL Tlgre only
/ yesterday from the United States.
was set upon by my former mins
foreman. bound while asleep, and he
started to bring me here. He offered
no explanation for his extraordinary
and Illegal conduct
He died. from some cause I can
not understand. while on the way. But
did not teopardize myself by return
ing to Mexico with any intention OF
being coerced into signing away the
property ! have fought for years to
develop. Why should I purchase free
dom by voluntarily surrenderIng FL
Tigre. when came back here to hold
1t, at all hazardsf'
" would not advise haste In a de-
cision." Hardlnge's tone was frigid.
you ought to think this matter over
and weigh things carefully, Williams,
before coming to a conclusion which
may only involve you further"
! How can 1t involve me? What
matter are you referring to?"
"The officials OF the government at
Mexico City who decided that you
were the rightful owner Of FL Tigre
have been superseded by other men,
II know that, Hardlnge. But even
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. no,
before the reopening of case which
was settled before their highest court. '
MOP The query carried an un'
dertone Of insolent sarcasm.
Nor The defiance in the prison
er's voice was unmistakable.
i .T supposed, Williams. that you had
been In Mexico long enough to under
stand the unstable character Of the
! government. But you are evidently
i unaware that since your departure
from the state Of Sinaloa 1t has Sc
ceded-"
II had not heard Of It"
"Nor that General Juan Moreno I,
now the provisional governor Of th'