The Young Engineers in Mexico | Page 6

mountains?
The Gringos refuse me--betray me? Are they such fools as to refuse me
when they find that I hold their lives in the palm of my hand?"
"They may even refuse your bait with death as the alternative,"
persisted the secretary. "Don Luis, you know that there are such foolish
men among the Gringos."
"Then let them refuse me," proposed Don Luis, jestingly, though his
white teeth shone in a savage smile. "If they are difficult to
manage--these two young Gringos--then they will quickly disappear,
and other Gringos shall come until I find those that will serve me and
be grateful for their rewards."
"I wish you good fortune with your great schemes, Don Luis," sighed
young Dr. Tisco.
"Carlos, you have not eaten for hours. You are so famished that the
whole world is colored blue before your eyes. Come, it is close to the
hour for the meal. You shall meet and talk with my Gringos. You will
then be able to judge whether I shall be able to tame them."

CHAPTER II
THE WOLF WHO SHOWED HIS TEETH

A rare host at table was Don Luis Montez. He possessed the manner,
even if not the soul, of a great nobleman.
His daughter, Francesca, reputed to be a beauty, did not appear at table.
So far the young engineers had not met her. They would be presented,
however, within a day or two, after the Mexican custom, for Tom
Reade and Harry Hazelton were to be guests in the white palace during
their residence in this part of Mexico.
Dr. Tisco, too, tried to be most entertaining, and succeeded.
"You are the surgeon at the mine?" Harry ventured.
"A _medico_?" suggested Dr. Tisco, with a bow of humility. "Ah, no,
senor, I have not that honor. I am a doctor of philosophy, not of
medicine."
"Then you may be a scientific expert," Harry hazarded. "You are the
expert here at the mine?"
"Not so," broke in Don Luis, gently. "It is true that Carlos has some
knowledge of chemistry, but he is not a mining expert. He is my
secretary, my man of affairs."
"Oh, really the manager of the mine, then?" pursued Harry. "Pardon me
if I ask too many questions. I do not mean to be impertinent. But, as we
are going to work here I wish to know who's who is Senor Montez'
representative."
"Carlos," broke in Don Luis, again, "is rather more than the mine
manager. He serves me in a variety of interests, and the mine is only
one of them."
"If you wish to know whether you are to be under my instructions," Dr.
Tisco continued, "I can assure you that you are not. I seldom give
orders except as the direct--I might say the directed--mouthpiece of
Don Luis."

"I have a separate manager at the mine," added Don Luis. "You shall
meet him to-morrow. His name is Pedro Gato. You will find him a
self-opinionated fellow, and one used to having his own way. He has to
be somewhat turbulent, or he would never hold some of my peons
(laborers) in check. But under the surface you will find Pedro Gato an
excellent fellow if you do not rub him too hard the wrong way."
"Gato will not attempt to give us any orders, of course?" Tom asked
very quietly.
"Possibly not," dubiously replied Don Luis. "I really do not know. That
point has not before come up to me for consideration."
"Then I hope you will make it clear to Senor Gato, Don Luis, that we
are engineers, wholly in charge of our own work; that we have been
engaged as experts and that we manage our own work in the way that
appears to us best to serve our employer's interests."
"That can all be arranged very amicably, I am certain," replied Don
Luis, as though to dismiss the matter for the present.
Dr. Tisco, covertly, was intently watching the eyes and faces of the
young engineers. The secretary was most anxious to take an accurate
measure of these two young Americans, who were now highly \
important to his plans.
After the evening meal, Don Luis summoned a number of his home
retainers, who played mandolins and guitars. Some of them sang with
considerable sweetness and power. The full moon, soon to wane, shed
lustrous light over the tropical scene of beauty. It was a delightful
evening. Tom and Harry, when they retired, found themselves ready to
sleep instantly. Their bedrooms opened into a common parlor. Early in
the morning they were astir.
"What shall we wear, Tom?" inquired Hazelton, going toward his
trunks.
"Eh?"

"I wonder what people wear in Mexico," Harry continued. "I don't want
to make any mistake in my clothing."
"The best clothing for engineers