"Exactly."
"Does Señor Merriwell intend to hold a large amount of the stock?"
"I believe he has pledged himself to take a certain amount of it."
"I have heard that he has other valuable mines besides the one in Mexico."
"You seem very much interested in him?"
"Not particularly, although to my ears there has come a rumor at some time that his claim to the mine in Mexico is a very flimsy one and that he may lose it."
"Wind, sir—nothing more. The rumor was founded on the claims of a countryman of yours, Señor Porfias del Norte, who held an old and worthless land grant to the territory in which Merriwell's mine is located. The grant had been revoked, and Del Norte could have done nothing had he lived."
"Then he is dead?"
"Dead and buried so deeply that nothing but the horn of old Gabriel can ever bring him up."
"Then it is likely that Señor Merriwell may escape some annoyance, at least. I think he will be glad of that."