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

kicked of. How can they reason / \
killed man in such circumstancesT
"They don't need any reasons-an
excuse is enough" laughed Hardinge
strong when he left. He died In some
way not yet determined just after
striking you. The physician who per-
formed the autopsy says he was MUIR
dered."
Does that prove killed himY'
'tWho else7 Pacheco's own men
certainly did not-they worshiped him.
You are against the guns, Williams
literally. But If you want to be OBJ
stinate, don't fancy I'm trying to per-
suade you to do the only thing that
will let me help you. Your mine or
your life-take your choice-or lose
them both If you want toll But when
you look into the rifles Of the firing
squad admit to yourself at least that
did all could to save you."
''Thank you," dryly answered the
prisoner. "But why this sudden so
licitude, HardingeT
Purely a matter Of expediency--
an anchor to Ieeward, Wen say. Gov
ernOr Moreno has already issued us a
legal title to Ri Tigre. If the provi-
SIGNAL government Is permanent, wen
need nothing more. If 1t falls, we will
then have your transfer Of title to us
and continue operating 1t aA If nothing
had happened. The exploration COM
pany Is interested in mining-not poll
tics"
"But see no reason to believe that
you can do what you promise-or win.
Why should / permit myself to be
frightened into transferring a title to
a five-million-dollar mina-and per-
haps be shot down, just the same, be-
tween here and the border2 If I'm
up against a brace game, Hardlnge.
60 ahead with 1t. i have associates in
the United States who put money into
that property. They trust me-"
II am fully aware Of that"
81 have full power to act for them
In any way that seems best to protect
their interests" holly went ON Will
Jams. but If did what you ask me
to do I'd be blithering ass. You
could take the deed and have me shot.
anyway-they'd only think I'd be-
trayed them-and fed with their
money. Then, again, may be out of
here tomorrow-and then where
would be? Suppose Moreno's provi-
sional government goes down? Your
company would then have Ell Tigre
without paying nickel. Nix, Har-
dinge; you've got to show me more
than that to get my signature"
Hardinge grinned evilly.
The saturnine features Of his pow
erful face leaped suddenly into the
blaze of the match with which he was
lighting a cigar. His hard eyes
l cleaned with amusement as he hall
2 turned away from the door.
"All right A man about to be shot
isn't altogether In position to make
terms, Williams. Believe 1t or not
: can do what I've promised, and PEG
pie who know me will tell you that
: always do as promise. 1t so happens
: that General Moreno will be quite will
= ing to mitigate your sentence In AM
way / might request; but you dom
have to believe that, either, unless i
. suits you to do so. Well, I'm going
This foul air is giving me headache.
He turned nonchalantly away. Buck
with a feeling OF supreme despair
\ tried to steady his voice for anothe
! question.
!, How do you happen to have sucl
I pull with General Moreno"
"Tm surprised that you ask, VIII
= iams. Moreno was ambitious to be
come governor and wanted to start
= revolution. That meant arms, meI
y money. He had none. The Unite
States has forbidden their export I
y rebels, so he talked things over wit
us. In return for certain mining cor
:, cessions In Sinaloa we supplied wha
he needed. It's very simple, but Q
course I'll deny that ! ever made thi
admission If you should mention 1t
N anyone else. However. guess there
little danger-you're incommunlcad'
= No one win see you until the sentenc
!, is carried out tomorrow morning"