Gravely, in military fashion, the chauffeur saluted, then allowed
the automobile to roll slowly away.

"It is not an attractive road, after we leave the _hacienda_,"
explained Don Luis Montez to Tom. "It is a dusty road, and a
somewhat hard one. The mining country is not a beautiful place
in which to live."

"It is at least more beautiful than the country in which our mine
is located," Tom replied.

"Are you gentlemen, then, mine owners as well as mine experts?"
inquired their host.

Tom told Don Luis briefly about their mine, the Ambition, in the
Indian Smoke Range, Nevada.

"And is your mine a profitable one?" inquired the Mexican.

"It hasn't made us millionaires," Tom rejoined, modestly, "but
it pays us more money, every month, than we really need."

Don Luis glanced covertly at his secretary, with a look that conveyed:

"If these young Gringos have all the money they want, and more,
then we may find it difficult to appeal to their avarice."

Dr. Tisco's return glance as much as said: