possibilities. When Rosendo
paused again, he quickly asked:

"The title, senor?"

Rosendo drew forth a paper from his bosom. It bore the government
stamp. He handed it to Reed.

"You will recall, Padre," he said, addressing the dully wondering
Jose, "that I once asked you to give me a name for a mine--a rare
name? And you told me to call it the--the--what is it?"

"The Chicago mine, Rosendo?" replied Jose, recalling the incident.

"Yes," exclaimed the old man excitedly, "that is it! _Bien_, I told no
one of my discovery of years before. I had never had money enough to
get the title to it. Besides, I was afraid. But when it seemed that I
might soon have use for it I sold my _finca_ for funds and had Lazaro
apply through Don Mario for title to a mine called--called--"

"The Chicago mine," said Jose, again coming to the rescue.

"Just so! _Bien_, Lazaro got the title, which I never could have done,
for at that time Don Mario would not have put through any papers for
me. I then had the unsuspecting Lazaro transfer the title to me,
and--_Bien_, I am the sole owner of La Libertad!"

Reed examined the paper at some length, and then handed it back to
Rosendo. "Can we not talk business, senor?" he said, speaking with
some agitation. "I am so situated that I can float an American company
to operate this mine, and allow you a large percentage of the returns.
Great heavens!" he exclaimed, unable longer to contain himself, "it is
your fortune!"

"Senor," replied Rosendo, slowly shaking his head, "I want no share in
any of your American companies. But--your friend--he has suggested
just what has been running through my mind ever since you came to
Simiti."

Jose's heart suddenly stopped. The wild, terrifying idea tore through
his fraught brain. He turned quickly to Reed and addressed him in
English. "No--no--it is impossible! The old man wanders! You can not
take the girl--!"

"Certainly not!" ejaculated Reed with some warmth. "Such a thing is
quite out of the question!"

"Stuff!" exclaimed Harris. "Now look here, Mr. Priest, Reed's wife is
in Cartagena, waiting for him. Came down from New York that far for
the trip. Kind of sickly, you know. What's to prevent her from taking
the girl to the States and placing her in a boarding school there
until such time as you can either follow, or this stew down here has
settled sufficiently to permit of her returning to you?"

Reed threw up a deprecatory hand. "Impossible!" he cr