Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-06-04
CHAPTER v,-contlnued.


---5--
He loosened the collar Of his shirt
and mopped the perspiration from his
neck The foul apology for air was
suffocatIng.
"See here, Jitendra, do you want to
help me get out?"
"Assuredly, sahib."
"Then get up, go to the door, and
demand that the British ambassador
be notified of your arrest. When you
get out, as you surely will, send tele-
gram to William Scott, International
hotel, Nogales, Arizona, u. S. A., tell
ing him I'm here. That may help a lit
tie. There's something going on here
that don't understand at all, Jitendra.
/ didn't ask you to come with mel
did the best could to get you to go on
about your own business. So there's
no reason at all for you to be locked
up, and if there's any why should
be, want to know iti'
do you, indeedY
Buck leaped toward the sound and
peered through the tiny, grated orifice
In the iron-bound oak door. The query
was In English. but II carried mock
ing sneer which worked the mine own
or into new frenzy.
He could not make out the features
of the speaker in the semi-darkness, yet
he fancied he had heard the voice on
some other occasion.
II see you do not recognize me-
bIandly went on the same speaker
swell, Mr.. Williams, I'm Herbert
Hardinge recall the name, don't
you-Hardinge. agent for the United
Kingdom Exploration company"
Eyes," replied Williams brusquely
shat is, If you are the same Hardinge
that tried to beat me out Of the El
Tigre property five years ago. What
of it?"
81 just heard Of your plight
smoothly answered the syndicate agent
'.and hurried down to see If I could b
of any assistance to you."
Williams lesitated.
Herbert Hardinge had consistent.
and relentlessly opposed him in tn
past Their litigation over the owner
ship of El Tigre had been expensive t
both and 1t had only ended when tn
highest court In Mexico upheld his owl
prior rights.
But blood is thicker than water, AM
the Anglo-Saxon love of justice some
times causes white men in foreigl
lands to forget past differences In neS
y,.-sV- c. NxyfVasar1c vavnl4al
That's mighty white Of you, Hal
dinge. don't know why I'm here, 70
I've done nothing to merit imprisor
ment. Of course, don't want to sta
- want to get back TO El Tigre-
and II you can help me out I'll surel
be grateful to you"
81 think the matter can be very eai
lily arranged" suavely answered th
Englishman; otherwise should M
have bothered about coming down"
"How7'
eff you will transfer 81 Tigre min
to the ownership of my compan,
promise to return to the United State
without delay, and give pledge not
re-enter Mexico for five years, 20
will be free In half an hour"
Williams could not credit his hea
ing. What had 81 Tigre's ownersh
to do with his arrest, or in what maj
ner could the abandonment OF h
property be made an excuse for r
leasing him2
Il see that you do not thorough
understand your present position
satirically observed Hardlnge as w
Hams CROPPED yainiy for words wi
which to voice his indignant surpris
ssYou are right don't, Harding
But, before you go further, LET me t.
vDu this: / returned to El Tlgre on
yesterday from the United States.
was set upon by my former mi
foreman. bourd while asleep, and
started to bring me here. BE offer
no explanation for his extraordina
anfl Illegal conduct.
@Ha died, from some cause ! e
not understand, while en- the way. T
] did not jeopardize myself by retui
snR to Mexico with any Intention