yer he had come to consult,
and upon one side of the sign ran the legend:

+---------------------------------+
| Despacho |
| de |
| Thomas M. Fitt, Licendiado. |
+---------------------------------+

Upon the other he read an English translation:

+---------------------------------+
| Law Office |
| of |
| Thomas M. Fitt, Attorney. |
+---------------------------------+

Plainly the old civilization was beginning to disappear before an alert,
aggressive Americanism.

At the hotel the modern spirit became so pronounced during breakfast,
owing to the conversation of a shoe and a dress-goods drummer at an
adjoining table, that Gordon's imagination escaped from the tramp of
Spanish mailclad cavalry and from thoughts of the plots and counterplots
that had been devised in the days before American occupancy.

In the course of the morning Dick, together with Davis, called at the
office of his attorney. Thomas M. Fitt, a bustling little man with a
rather pompous manner, welcomed his client effusively. He had been
appointed local attorney in charge by Gordon's Denver lawyers, and he
was very eager to make the most of such advertising as his connection
with so prominent a case would bring.

He washed the backs of his hands with the palms as he bowed his visitors
to chairs.

"I may say that the case is progressing favorably--very favorably
indeed, Mr. Gordon. The papers have been drawn and filed. We await an
answer from the defendants. I anticipate that there will be only the
usual court delays in pressing the action."

"We'll beat them, I suppose," Dick replied, with a manner almost of
indifference.

"One can never be positive in advance, but I'd like to own your claim to
the estate, Mr. Gordon," laughed the lawyer wheezily.

"Think we'll be able to wolf the real owners out of their property all
right, do you?"

Fitt's smile went out like the flame of a burnt match. The wrinkles of
laughter were ironed out of his fat cheeks. He stared at his client in
surprise. It took him a moment to voice the dignified protest he felt
necessary.

"Our title is good in law, Mr. Gordon. I have been over the evidence
very carefully. The court decisions all lean our way. Don Bartolome
Valdes, the original grantee, failed to perfect his right of ownership
in many ways. It is very d