all hope to see you daily until our investors
arrive and then all the time."

"You will find us always at your command, Don Luis," Tom remarked,
cordially.

"Ah, my good Carlos," murmured Don Luis, as the Mexican pair sped
homeward in the car, "for once you made a bad guess. You insisted
that the Gringos would hold out and would not serve me. You have
seen my patience and my firmness win over their foolish, stubborn
objections."

"But they still hope to trick you, my patron," suggested Dr. Tisco.
"Doubtless, now, their intention is to serve you until they can
escape; then they plan to get back to the United States and furnish
the testimony on which the American investors can sue you in the
courts for the return of the purchase money on a charge of fraud."

"There, again, the Gringos can meet only defeat," chuckled Don
Luis, his lips to his secretary's ears. "As soon as the sale
is made I shall see to it that our pair of young American engineers
are promptly done to death!"

CHAPTER XXI

THE FINAL TOUCH OF TRAGEDY

On the day announced, at about eleven in the morning, two automobiles
reached Don Luis's home. Besides the mine owner the cars contained
nine other travelers, all Americans.

These were the investors who were expected to buy _El Sombrero_
at a price of two and a half million dollars.

Over at the camp Tom and Harry saw the party arrive. They could
see the travelers being served with refreshments on the veranda.

"There's the crowd, Harry. And here's a car, coming this way,
undoubtedly for us. Now, we've got to go over there for our first
practice as bunco men."

Harry Hazelton made an unpleasant grimace. "I feel like a scoundrel
of the worst sort, but it can't be helped," he muttered.

The car was soon at hand. Tom and Harry were dressed and ready.
Though their clothing suggested the field engineer, they were
none the less dressed with a good deal of care. They entered
the tonneau of the automobile and started on their way to help
put the mine swindle through.

"Here are my engineers, gentlemen," smiled Don Luis, "and at least
three of your number, I believe, are well acquainted with Messrs.
Reade and Hazelton."

Tom ascended the steps, feeling rather weak in the knees. Then
the young engineers received one of the severest jolts of their
lives.

Three of the gentlemen in that group, both young men knew well.
They were President Haynes, General Manager Ellsworth and Dire