The Young Engineers in Mexico | Page 3

mine owner, earnestly, "no man disputes my will.
That, of itself, is law. Here no man sues me, for if he attempted to do so,
he would go to prison and remain there. If I tell a man to leave these
mountains, he does so, for otherwise he would never leave them. If a
man annoys me, and I tell one of my trusted servants to attend to my
enemy--then that enemy never troubles me further."
"That is interesting--it's so simple and effective!" cried Tom, pretended
enthusiasm glowing in his eyes. "Say, but that's practical! A man
annoys you, and you send a servant to tell him to stop. Then he stops."
"Because my enemy also vanishes, you understand," smiled Senor Luis,
indulgently.
"But doesn't the governor of Bonista ever hear of the disappearances?"
suggested Reade, very casually.

"What if he does?" demanded Don Luis, snapping his fingers gayly.
"Are not his excellency, the governor, and I, the best of friends? Would
he give heed to rumors against me, brought by evil-tongued men? Oh,
no! El gobernador (the governor) has, at times, even kindly lent me his
troops to make sure that an enemy of mine doesn't travel too far. No! I
tell you, Senor Tomaso, I am over lord here. I am the law in these
mountains."
"It must be a great comfort, Don Luis--if you have many enemies,"
suggested Tom Reade smilingly.
"Ah, no! I have no enemies to-day," cried the Mexican. "Why should I?
I am generous and indulgent, and the soul of honor. No one has just
reason to disagree with me. Here I give all men the round trade--no,
what in your country you call the square deal. But you shall see. You
are now associated with me in a great, a gr-r-rand enterprise. You shall
soon see how just and generous I can be--am always. You shall
understand why the son of a noble house need have no foes. Senor
Tomaso, I have taken one great liking to you in the few hours that we
have been together. And as for you, Senor Henrico--"
With a courtly flourish Don Luis wheeled about to face young Hazelton.
But the sound of deep breathing was all that came from Harry. Fatigued
by the long, rough automobile ride, that young engineer had dropped
fast asleep in the broad porch rocker.
"Your friend is much fatigued," spoke Don Luis, with fine
consideration. "If you deem it best, Senor Tomaso, we will arouse him
and he shall go to his room for an hour's sleep before the evening
meal."
"If his sleeping in the chair doesn't annoy you, Don Luis, my friend will
wake up, refreshed, in twenty minutes or so."
"So be it, then. Let him sleep where he is. But you, Senor Tomaso,
would you not like to step inside and lie down for a while?"
"No, I thank you," Reade answered. "Unlike Hazelton, I feel very wide

awake. When shall we go to the mine?"
"To-morrow, or the next day," replied the Mexican, with a gesture
which almost said that "any day" would do. "First, you must both rest
until you are wholly refreshed. Then you may want to stroll about the
country a bit, and see the odd bits of natural beauty in these mountains,
before you give too serious thought to work."
"But that is not our way, Don Luis," Tom objected. "When we are paid
a thousand dollars a month apiece we expect to do an honest day's work
six days in every week."
"Ah, then, to-morrow, perhaps we will talk about the work. And now, if
you will pardon me, I will go inside for a few minutes in order to see
about some business matters."
Readers of the "Grammar School Boys Series," the "_High School
Boys Series_" and of the preceding volumes in the present series, will
feel that they are already intimately acquainted with Tom Reade and
Harry Hazelton, a pair of young civil engineers who, through sheer grit,
persistence and hard study had already made themselves well known in
their profession.
In the first volume of the "Grammar School Boys Series," Dick Prescott
and his five boy chums, Greg Holmes, Dave Darrin, Dan Dalzell, Tom
Reade and Harry Hazelton, were introduced under the name of Dick &
Co. These six chums, standing shoulder to shoulder, made a famous
sextette in school athletics. Their start was made during their grammar
school days, when they had many adventures and did much in the field
of junior sport. Their high school life, as set forth in the series of that
name, was one of athletics, mixed with much study and efforts to find
their true paths in life. In high school athletics the members of Dick &
Co. won a statewide reputation, as to-day