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don't have much occupation at that game, do you, senor?" Tom asked, with an innocent smile. "That--that--game?" repeated Senor Montez, with a puzzled look at his young guest. "The game of war lord," Reade explained. "Mexico is not often at war, is she?" "Not since she was forced to fight your country, Senor Tomaso, as you help to remind me," pursued Montez, without a trace of offense. "Though I was educated in your country, I confess that, at times, your language still baffles me. What I meant to say was not 'war lord,' but--but--" "Over lord?" suggested Reade, politely. "Ah, yes! Perhaps that better expresses what I mean. In Mexico we have laws, senor, to be sure. But they are not for _caballeros_ like myself--not for men who can boast of the blood of Spanish hidalgos. I am master over these people for many miles around. Absolute master! Think you any judge would dare sign a process against me, and send _peon_ officers of the law to interfere with me? No! As I tell you, I, Luis Montez, am the sole master here among the mountains. We have laws for the _peons_ (working class), but I--I make my own laws." "Does it take much of your time, may I ask?" "Does what take much of my time?" repeated Senor Montez, again looking puzzled. "Law making," explained Tom Reade. Montez shot a swift look at the young engineer. He wondered if the American were making fun of him. But Reade's face looked so simple and kindly, his eyes so full of interest, that the Mexican dismissed the thought. "I spend no time in making laws--unless I need them," the Mexican continued. "I make laws only as the need arises, and I make them to suit myself. I interpret the laws as I please for my own pleasure or interests. Do you comprehend?" "I think so," Tom nodded. "Many of the big corporations in my country do about the same thing, though the privilege has not yet been extended to individuals in the United States." "Here," continued the mine owner, earnestly, "no man disputes my will. That, of itself, is law. Here no man sues me, for if he attempted to do so, he would go to prison and remain there. If I tell a man to leave these mountains, he does so, for otherwise he would never leave them. If a man annoys me, and I tell one of my trusted servants to attend to my enemy--then that enemy never troubles me further." "That is interesting--it's so simple and effective!" cried Tom, pretended enthusiasm glowin
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