“Harvey Montaine!” repeated Frank. “Indeed, he is a dear friend of mine.”
However, the young inventor continued reading the letter.
“This gentleman has made many friends here in Laredo. Both the Spanish people and the natives like him for his courtly manners and his generous heart.
“But his efforts to open up the Los Pueblos claim have been attended with ill-fortune. It seems that his first expedition was set upon by bandits who infest the region, and who are under the command of Miguel Costello, a noted desperado.
“His men were slaughtered, and he escaped himself by a narrow chance. But Senor Montaine is a gentleman of pluck, and he once more began to plan an excursion to Los Pueblos, when one morning he disappeared.
“From that day to this he has never been seen. A notice has been posted in Laredo, signed by Costello calling for a reward of ten thousand dollars, or Montaine will be slain.
“This reward, or ransom money, was quickly raised here among Senor Montaine’s friends, but the bandit promptly raised the figures to fifty thousand.
“This money cannot be raised, nor is it believed that Costello would release his prisoner for it.
“It is believed by many that this is a subterfuge employed by the bandit to cover his purpose of working the Los Pueblos claim himself.
“It is rumored that he has a large gang of men at work at the mine, and that they are sinking a shaft.