"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 041 - The Killer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

Herston's eyes gleamed as they stared at the map. The man listened intently as Mullrick continued.

"THIRTY years ago," said the man who had come from Mexico, "the Mexican government located the
famous lost mines of Durango, which had been covered up by Indians during the Spanish conquest. The
mines were regained during the period in which Porfirio Diaz ruled Mexico as virtual dictator. Diaz wisely
decided to keep their discovery unknown until the time should come for their development.

"The mines were watched by secret agents. When the Diaz regime was overthrown in 1911, the agents
remained loyal, and retained their posts, confident that Diaz would be restored to the presidency. Mexico
was in chaos. No one sought to ferret out this little group of men.

"In 1915, however, Pancho Villa gained partial control of three Mexican states: Sonora, Chihuahua, and
Sinaloa. One of Villa's lieutenants penetrated from Sinaloa into the neighboring state of Durango. There,
by pure accident, the roving bandits found and massacred the small Diaz garrison which still protected the
lost mines of Durango."
Mullrick's finger was upon the map. It indicated the shield-shaped state of Durango, and ran along the
border between Durango and the Pacific state of Sinaloa.

"At that time," resumed Mullrick, "General Obregon was battling Pancho Villa. The bandits who had
located the lost mines cut back toward Sinaloa, were engaged by Obregon's forces, and were wiped out.
The few who were not killed in skirmish were executed by firing squads. However, certain of Obregon's
soldiers learned that they had found the fabled mines.

"A few months ago, the Mexican government began to investigate this old story of the lost mines. The
present government is opposed to granting concessions to foreigners. Hence, when I arrived in Mexico
City and offered to exploit the lost mines, my proposal was rejected until I played my trump card."

Mullrick paused and looked at Herston. The ex-detective stared in a puzzled manner.

"Your trump card?" he questioned.

"Yes," announced Mullrick. "In return for the concession I promised to tell them the exact location of the
lost mines of Durango!"

"You did!" exclaimed Herston. "But how - where did you learn -"

"The location of the mines?" questioned Mullrick, with a smile. "That, Jerry, is a matter of speculation. I
do not know exactly where those mines are located, although I have information which might aid me in
finding them. I gained a six months' option from the Mexican government. If, within that time, I can place
my finger on that map and touch the exact spot, I shall be worth millions of dollars as my share of the
concession!"

"Why are you here, then?" asked Herston "It seems to me you should be in Mexico - in Durango -"

"Looking for the mines?" interrupted Mullrick. "Not a bit of it! That would merely be an exposure of my
doubts. No, Jerry, the clew to those mines lies here in New York!"

"In New York? How?"

"OLD Porfirio Diaz," explained Mullrick, "placed a great deal of confidence in Americans. He never