or interests. Do you comprehend?"

"I think so," Tom nodded. "Many of the big corporations in my
country do about the same thing, though the privilege has not yet
been extended to individuals in the United States."

"Here," continued the mine owner, earnestly, "no man disputes
my will. That, of itself, is law. Here no man sues me, for if
he attempted to do so, he would go to prison and remain there.
If I tell a man to leave these mountains, he does so, for otherwise
he would never leave them. If a man annoys me, and I tell one
of my trusted servants to attend to my enemy--then that enemy
never troubles me further."

"That is interesting--it's so simple and effective!" cried Tom,
pretended enthusiasm glowing in his eyes. "Say, but that's practical!
A man annoys you, and you send a servant to tell him to stop.
Then he stops."

"Because my enemy also vanishes, you understand," smiled Senor
Luis, indulgently.

"But doesn't the governor of Bonista ever hear of the disappearances?"
suggested Reade, very casually.

"What if he does?" demanded Don Luis, snapping his fingers gayly.
"Are not his excellency, the governor, and I, the best of friends?
Would he give heed to rumors against me, brought by evil-tongued
men? Oh, no! _El gobernador_ (the governor) has, at times, even
kindly lent me his troops to make sure that an enemy of mine doesn't