his
assurance. He looked toward Hendrix.
“Go ahead, Legira,” said the portly man. “We want to hear your summary. Then there will be some
questions. Our discussion has been favorable. It's up to you, now.”
Legira smiled. These men were just the type that he had expected to meet. In appearance, they
resembled the standardized pattern of American businessmen whom he had encountered so often since
his arrival in New York.
He felt a vast superiority over men of this type. His suavity, his keenness, his clever ease of
speech—these were all to his advantage. Legira had a mission with these men, and he could picture
himself swaying them by his persuasive arguments.
Yet there were elements present that made his task a mighty challenge. These men were more than
ordinary businessmen. They were financiers who represented vast interests. That, in itself, was a factor
that required skill and diplomacy of speech. But to Alvarez Legira it was only a secondary matter.
The great challenge to the man from Santander was the tremendous stake that hinged upon to- night's
negotiations. If he could be calm, keen, and persuasive, he would gain his mission. If he should betray
anxiety and lack assurance, he would lose.
This thought was uppermost in Legira's mind as he began to speak. He had come here to ask for
something. Before he left, he would have the final answer from this group. That answer would be either
“yes” or “no”—without further qualification.
The matter that thus hung in the balance was a sum of money which Legira hoped to receive in return for
concessions that he had offered.
That sum was exactly ten million dollars!
CHAPTER II. LEGIRA ANSWERS QUESTIONS
THE silent group of financiers listened with intense interest while Alvarez Legira spoke persuasively. The
soft, purring voice of the South American carried a convincing tone.
With keen eyes watching his auditors, Legira unfolded a large map and spread it upon the table. All eyes
followed his finger as it indicated the territorial divisions that Legira had marked upon the chart.
“The state of Santander,” explained the consul, “has always been regarded as an important territorial
division of the Republic of Colombia. It has at times been practically an autonomous government; at other
periods, it has been merely a province of Colombia. It bears a close relationship to bordering territories
of Venezuela, leading to Lake Maracaibo, which provides outlet to the Caribbean Sea.
“The Spanish conquerors swept past this district when they drove southward. It was also a scene of strife
during the campaigns of Simon Bolivar, the Liberator. Thus the natural resources of Santander have
always been neglected.
“We, of Santander, had great hopes that through trade with the United States, we could develop the
tremendous mineral wealth that has not, as yet, been touched. Unfortunately, the controversy between
Colombia and the United States that followed the affair of the Panama Canal produced a prejudice
throughout Colombia.
“Now, through the work of important men in Santander, we have virtually established a new republic, an
offshoot of Colombia, with a territorial grant from Venezuela. We have managed to curb the factions that
have demanded violent revolution.
