. Outwardly he was as amiable as

had not occurred to me in that light before. True, the report was intended only f

e did not suspect that, at this very instant,

muttered Don Luis, between his teeth

l dinner time let us go outside and be gentlemen. Business for to-morro

her's summons. Dr. Tisco bowed low before the charming girl. Tom and Harry were presented, and tried to make themselves agreeable to the young Mexican girl. Se

as the meal was finished Senorita Francesca was escorted

lady, Tom?" Harry asked his chu

d be highly offended if she knew that, all through dinner, my every

ine, and about some impressions that

y dear fellow, for he

o returning fr

eers, still relentlessly attended by Nicolas, sought their own rooms H

ving in the parlor that separated the two bedrooms. An instant after

igure. Like a panther Harry sprang, la

lton hissed, wrapping his

o you," drawled Tom

Hazelton, dropping h

and I

t's the

sleep," To

with nerves!"

ut I was thinking, thinking, and I sat by the window y

, Hazelton softly followed

m, pointing, "and te

saw a light twinkling ov

se lights are on the trail that leads from the nearest gold mines

t w

t on my clothes and sli

nt to go

but

he way. Come on; dress! We can easily

y as he dressed with speed and stealth, bent on slipping unobserved out

ot out into the broad corridor. As he did so he kicked against a man lying prostrate on the floor. It w

athe more deeply. Tom, after waiting, took a step over the body of Nicolas. Harry

voice. "The fellow would have insisted on following us, and I w

hat on

ething has aroused a suspicion in me that Don Luis Montez wishes to use us in some way that we would

re," Hazelton retorted. "What cou

pidly down the road. "But I'm going to watch, and, if

ne. Surely he hasn't hired us to

I'm going to do my own watching and gather some of my own information. See, there are the lights

Harry repeate

That's what I'm here

rer to the twinkling lights along the trail tha

muttered to himself. "However, I may as well save my breath

ravan, or whatever it is, turn from the hill trail into thi

boulders jutted out, making a frequent change in the course of the road necessary. It was Tom's intenti

int when out of the darkness a

m, in a low voice, all

rth did yo

demanded the servant. "Do not go around that next point in the road, caballeros