“The limits?” asked Mr. Ellsworth, keenly.  “Don’t you really know, Reade, what the limits of the property are?”

“Why, that is a matter to which I haven’t given much attention, so far,” answered Tom, with disarming candor.  “But, if we can have a map of this part of the country, I’ll quickly mark off the limits on which I think you should insist.”

Don Luis caught at this readily.

“My good Carlos,” Don Luis directed, turning to his secretary, “place in Senor Reade’s hands a map of this part of the country.”

“A map of your possessions only, Don Luis?” asked Dr. Tisco.

“A map of my possessions, of course,” agreed Don Luis.

The map was brought, a large one, and spread on the table.

“Now, perhaps,” suggested Tom, “the tract I am about to mark off on this map is a larger one than Don Luis had intended to include in the sale, but let us see what Don Luis will have to say.”

With Harry’s help Reade marked off on the map a tract containing about forty-four hundred acres.  This was fully twice as large as the tract Don Luis had planned to deed with El Sombrero.  However, as Don Luis reckoned all this wild mountain land to be worth not more than twenty-five cents an acre, he did not care about Tom’s liberality in the matter of real estate.

“We will have these limits ruled in with red ink,” Montez proposed, “and the deed shall cover the limits so indicated.  Yes; I will sell that whole tract of rich mineral land to you, gentlemen, for two million and a half of dollars.”

“Then,” declared Tom Reade, “you will find that you will not regret your purchase, gentlemen.”

“You are confident of that, Reade?” asked President Haynes, anxiously.

“I am more than confident,” Tom declared, promptly.  “I am as certain of what I state as ever an engineer can be of anything.”

“If we were alone,” thought Don Luis Montez, exultantly, “I would take off my hat to this young Gringo, Reade.  He is a far more accomplished liar than I can ever hope to be.  And these Americanos are becoming convinced all ready.”

“Do you agree with your associate, Hazelton?” inquired Mr. Ellsworth.

“Absolutely,” Harry proposed.  “I have been watching Tom Reade to see if he was making the statement emphatic enough to suit my ideas.  Gentlemen, the property we have staked off on this map is a good investment one that will soon make the American financial markets ring.”

“I’m satisfied, on Reade and Hazelton’s report,” declared Mr. Haynes.  “I know these young men, and I’d trust my life or my fortune to their honesty or their judgment alike.”

“I’m satisfied, too,” nodded Ellsworth.

“I can say the same,” nodded Mr. Hippen.

“Then we hardly need to look or inquire further,” laughed another of the intending investors, pleasantly.