It was not this ingenious twisting of the truth that caused the lawyer to become filled with sudden dismay and stop, but the savage hardening of the engineer’s face.
“Go on,” Weir commanded.
“Well, the name was Joseph Weir. I looked it up again to be sure, and found the property had been deeded 59 to Sorenson and the others, who still have it. I wondered–––”
“What did you wonder?” came with a devouring look.
“If––if Joseph Weir received consideration according to law.” Martinez’ courage flowed back again. “I’ll make no attempt to justify my curiosity, sir, except to say that more than one man in the southwest was done out of property in early days; and the practice has not ceased, for that matter. But in these days the means is usually legal and Mexicans the victims. Sharp mortgage dealings and so forth. Now, if I’ve said too much, I’ll instantly forget all about it. On the other hand–––”
“Well?”
“I might be of assistance. If you wish to look into that old transaction, that is. If there was anything crooked about the deal, and I set it down that there was with Sorenson mixed in, and with Vorse and Burkhardt the witnesses named in the deed and Judge Gordon taking the acknowledgment of Joseph Weir’s signature, as the record shows, then there should be some weak spot that could be attacked. There may be men yet alive conversant with the circumstances; they may know whether duress or fraud was exercised, supposing the sale was not honest. Some of the old Mexicans may remember Weir, and could give a clue; they have good memories for things of those days. Of course, if the transaction was all right, then I’m all wrong in my suppositions.”
Weir arose.
“I can give you some of the company business, perhaps considerable of it,” he said.
Martinez sprang up, an expression of gratitude upon 60 his face. He had not realized all that he had hoped for, but he was nevertheless delighted.