“I presume his title to the mine is a good one?”
“Without doubt. Frank seldom gets trapped. A little while ago a powerful mining syndicate attempted to wrest his property from him. They investigated his right to his mine in Arizona and to the one in Mexico. They engaged expert lawyers to look over the titles to both properties. As a result it was decided that his claim to the San Pablo Mine was solid and could not be shaken by process of law. They thought differently in regard to the Queen Mystery. After trying to seize it, they took the matter into the Arizona courts, where it was fought out, with the result that Frank’s claim to the mine was made indisputable. Had the Consolidated Mining Association believed there was the slightest chance to shake his claim to the San Pablo they would have made more trouble than they did for him down there. Fancying he did not have that mine well protected, they employed a famous brigand to raise a force and seize it. He discovered the plot, and the attack on the mine was repulsed, the result being that the syndicate quickly gave over the attempt to get hold of it.”
“Señorita,” said Del Norte, “I wish to tell you something. There are very few titles to mining properties in Mexico that cannot be broken. You must know that the government of my country has undergone such vicissitudes that thousands of old claims and titles are utterly worthless. I have told you that I am perfectly frank and outspoken. You suggested a desire to hear my story. You admitted I had aroused your curiosity. Señorita, if you are truly in earnest, if you care to listen, I will tell you the story.”
“It will interest me very much,” she declared. “Elsie has gone in. Frank will be back soon, and you will amuse me by telling me the story to pass the time.”
“Then listen,” he said.
CHAPTER XXIV
SEÑOR DEL NORTE’S STORY.
“I have said, señorita, that the blood of the Hidalgoes is in my veins. Perhaps you did not know that Miguel Hidalgo, the priest, was the organizer of the first conspiracy against the Spanish provincial government in Mexico. That was in the year eighteen hundred and ten. For some time my people had been saying among themselves that they could survive and flourish independent of a foreign government. There were the signs and the spirit of nationality and independence. They wished to become a nation in many respects like the United States. The influence of the Spanish government was already declining when Miguel Hidalgo started the insurrection in the province of Guanajuato. At first it was a mere speck on the horizon. At the beginning he had less than a hundred men, but his army grew swiftly until it finally became a host of a hundred thousand men. He was brave and energetic, and would have succeeded in his scheme had not he been betrayed by treacherous enemies. He fell into the hands of the Spanish viceroy and was executed.
“That did not end the matter, however. Although the patriots were broken up into small bands, another priest, by the name of Morelos, soon placed himself at their head and carried on the war. A national congress was convened, and an act was passed declaring the independence of Mexico.
“It may seem strange to you, señorita, that with a hundred thousand men Hidalgo could not accomplish his design. It may seem strange that, although as many men, and still more, flocked to the leadership of Morelos, they were unable to crush the power of Spain. I will explain why this was. The Spanish army came equipped in the best possible manner, while hundreds of the patriots were without any arms save such implements as they could manufacture themselves. Being thus poorly armed, they were unable to cope with their enemies, and in December, eighteen hundred and fifteen, Morelos was taken and shot.