ty for us. In fact, with such a valuable mining
property on our hands we wouldn't feel in the least easy with
any one else in charge."

"Here is a telegram that came for you, Mr. Haynes," said Mr. Hippen,
quietly, handing over the sheet. "Of course, Reade and Hazelton
are not going to sign with any one else."

"Pardon me," said Mr. Haynes, and let his glance fall on the telegram.

Any one noting the railway president's face at that moment would
have noted a quick, though suppressed, change there.

"Don Luis," went on Mr. Haynes, quickly, "I fear that I really
shall have to interrupt your drive for a little while. I have
just received news that I shall want to discuss with you."

"Why, your news refers to nothing more than a wreck on your Arizona
railway system, doesn't it?" inquired Don Luis, who was eager
to get away and attend, as speedily as possible, to the impending
assassination of the young engineers.

"You will oblige me by coming back to the house, won't you, Don
Luis?" insisted Mr. Haynes, who seemed, somehow, a changed man
within the last minute.

"Certainly," agreed the Mexican courteously, and the chauffeur
turned the car.

As they walked along, Mr. Haynes managed to whisper a few words
in Mr. Ellsworth's ear.

"I have sent Ellsworth to call all our associates together," explained
Mr. Haynes, as he joined Don Luis and the young engineers on the
porch. Something in the changed atmosphere of the place made
Don Luis Montez feel decidedly uneasy.

The Americans responded quickly to Mr. Ellsworth's rounding up.
Each of them, as he came forward, looked unusually grave. Mr.
Haynes waited until he saw all of his associates around him.
Then he began:

"Don Luis, in my recent absence a telegram came for me. Mr. Hippen,
though a director of our railway, is not familiar with the telegraph
code that we use in our inner office. This telegram, sir"--unfolding
it--"is from my private secretary, a most careful and trustworthy
man of affairs. I feel certain, Don Luis, that he would not have sent
this telegram unless he had had the strongest reasons. Now, in our
office code a wire relating to a wreck of Train Thirteen--there's
no such train on our schedule--means always just one thing. The
significance of this telegram is, 'Don't on any account put through
the impending deal.'"

If Don Luis Montez felt any inward start he controlled his facial
expression wonderfully.

"Senor Haynes," he replied, "