Читать книгу Boy Scout Explorers at Emerald Valley онлайн

45 страница из 47

“Want to see some emeralds?” the agent invited, pulling himself reluctantly from a swivel chair.

From an old-fashioned safe, he removed a cigar box. Almost reverently, he fingered a handful of large emeralds contained within. One which he offered Mr. Livingston was soft to the touch, very dark in color and had smoldering fire.

Another, somewhat smaller, was a shade lighter. Instead of having a subdued glow, it seemed to blaze with flame.

“Now this one’s a first quality emerald,” the agent informed the awed group. “We ain’t getting many of ’em any more from the Last Chance.”

“You say the mine is likely to close down?” Mr. Livingston questioned.

“Any day now. Then the workers will drift off to find work elsewhere. Once a mine shuts down, vegetation takes over. That’s how so many once-rich veins have been lost.”

“Mr. Corning didn’t tell you we were coming?”

“Not a word.”

“Our cables I think, came through here. Or perhaps they were sent by way of Santa Marta.”

“That’s the big banana shipping port. Corning has friends there. Your message to him still may be there uncollected.”