This secret I, as the last of my race,
possess."
The aged man paused, his strength being hardly able to the task
he had set himself.
"It is much as I suspected," whispered Don Esteban to Donald,
while Lucia bent over and smoothed the brow of the sick man.
"A few years ago," Santiago finally continued, "I began to see an
opportunity for the people to assert their rights. In our good
Senor Madero I saw the one who should lead the common people out
of their bondage. I went to him and offered him all the wealth at
my command. He accepted the trust and we began our work. It was
at that time that I placed the money with Don Esteban. Also the
box, containing the secret of the mine, of which only I and
Madero knew.
"You all know what has happened since that time. Madero won, but
he was betrayed. His betrayer now seeks to rule the republic, but
he can never do it. He must be overthrown."
The aged man became greatly excited and the physician cautioned
him to be careful. In a few minutes he became more peaceful and
continued:
"I have always been a great friend of the Americans. I admired
their integrity and their government. I spent many years of my
youth in the United States. I have known many of their great men.
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