got to
face a body of stockholders from whom you have lured thousands of
dollars by your misrepresentations. From talks with your salesmen, I
am convinced that this body of stockholders is made up chiefly of
widows and indigent clergymen."

"Which of my salesmen told you that?" interrupted Ketchim heatedly.

"Let us waive that," replied Reed calmly. "The fact is, you are in a
hard way just at present, is it not so?"

"Fellows," said Ketchim, with an air of penitent humility, "the
officers and stockholders of the Molino Company have been grossly
deceived and unfortunately--"

"All right," interrupted Reed, "we'll pass that. But Harris and I have
played square with you. And we are going to continue to do so, and to
offer you a possible opportunity to do something for your poor
stockholders, and incidentally for yourself and us. The fact is, we do
know of another property down there, but we haven't the title--"

"That makes no difference!" interrupted Ketchim. "I mean, it can be
acquired--" striving to restrain his eagerness.

"That's just the question," replied Reed. "The title is at present
vested in a young Colombian girl, who, unfortunately, is lost. This
girl came up to the States with us--"

"Ha!" exclaimed Ketchim, unable longer to hold himself. "Then you
broke your contract, for that stipulated that whatever you might
acquire there should belong to me! I engaged your services,
remember!"

"I believe," put in Harris dryly, "we were employed by the Molino
company."

"But my mother advanced the funds to send you down there!" cried
Ketchim.

"How about the poor stockholders?" queried Harris, with an insinuating
grin.

"I'm speaking for the stockholders, of course," said Ketchim,
subsiding. "But, proceed, please."

"There is no likelihood that this poor girl will ever be heard of
again," continued Reed. "Nor is it likely that the title papers, which
she has with her, will be of any use to those into whose hands she has
fallen. Her old foster-father held the title to this mine, but
transferred it to the girl, stipulating that she and I should divide a
large interest in the stock of a company formed to develop and operate
it. For my share, I agreed to bring the young girl to the States and
place her in a school, at my own expense." He went on to relate the
manner in which Carmen had been lost, and then continued: "Of course,
the title to this mine is registered in Cartagena, and in the girl's
name, as th