I was sure they would be pleased with Madero, and they were. But
after he was betrayed, then I began to fear them, as I was told
that the usurper, Huerta, had been helped by them."
"Who told you that?" asked Billie, almost without thinking.
"That man there," and Santiago pointed with his long bony finger
at the mountebank, Strong. "That man, Francisco Rodriguez, who
claims to be an American, but who is a traitor to his country. He
fed me with lies, as I now know, and he wormed out of me the
secret of Montezuma's Mine."
Again the aged man's excitement nearly overcame him, but again he
rallied with an almost superhuman effort.
"It was because of his lies that I made him my trusted agent;
but he betrayed me as he has others. It was to him I gave the ten
thousand pounds which the young senor took away from my servant,
Pablo Ojeda--who is not an Ojeda, but whom I have allowed to use
that name. I desire that the money become the property of the
young senor," and he feebly extended his hand toward Billie, "who
has always been such a good friend to me and mine. The secret of
the mine is to be found in the box which I left with Don Esteban.
I am getting to be an old man, and if you will now bring in the
box, I will turn it over to my daughter Lucia, who is my only
descendant.
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