"Ranches and plantations? I've heard that all of Northern Mexico is barren and arid and practically worthless."
"Much of it is."
"How would you get hold of this land and obtain a railroad land grant from the Mexican government?"
"The grant is already in existence."
Hagan then explained to Jerome as clearly as possible Felipe Jalisco's claim to a great area of land in Sonora.
"The boy is without influence with the government," confessed Hagan, "else he would make application for his rights. Unfortunately, the politics of his family have run in the wrong direction, and he knows he would be turned down if he should try to secure his rights. But he actually owns the very land possessed by Merriwell—the land on which Merriwell's mine is located. And that mine is said to be fabulously rich. He will accept a fair sum as his share of the spoils; the rest we can divide between us."
"There's something in it," nodded Jerome.
"Here is the document," said Hagan, displaying Felipe's paper. "Can you read Spanish?"
"No."
"Well, even Merriwell, who can read Spanish, confessed that it seemed genuine. You see the opportunity, man; come in with us and make a good thing for yourself."