Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 44: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

834 eat, and then went to the office of a sugar merchant who was interested in the Made- line’s voyage. “How will you take your money, Mr. Hunt?” asked De Castro, as they seated themselves at a table. “TI can give you sight drafts on either Havana or New e= York.” ““T must go home by way of Havana, ~. ~ L understand, and a draft payable there will suit me,” replied Hunt. ‘Your wages per month comes to three hundred and thirty-three dollars, less your advance, two hundred and fifty dollars, leaves eighty-three dollars wages due you. The head money at ten dollars per head comes to three thousand seven hundred dol- lars, total three thousand seven hundred and eighty-three dollars due you, as I cal- culate. How is that?” “Correct, sir,” replied Hunt. “Now, Mr. Hunt, in view of your per- sonal exertions, that contributed so much to our safety and our short passage and the success of the voyage, i have been request- ed by my partners here to present you with an additional thousand.” ‘You are very kind, sir,” said Hunt, “I only did my duty as I saw it. Give me the odd money in gold and a sight draft on Havana for the balance, if you please. A coaster leaves here to-night for Havana. I want to go in her. It is much pleasanter than to jolt over the rough country roads.” “Don’t leave Havana before I see you,” THE Le v ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. said De Castro. “I may get there before you do, and, if I do, I will wait for you. Leave your address at De Bances’, Obispo Street.” Hunt went aboard the coaster in the night, lived on fish and garlic for three days, and, finally, arrived at Havana. There he bought exchange on New York, and had to wait a week for the mail steamer to sail. The day before the steamer left De Castro called on him at his hotel, and over a bottle of wine the Madeline’s voyage was sailed again. “Mr. Hunt,” said De Castro as he was about to leave. “I shall make one more trip to the African coast, and in a larger vessel than the Madeline. I and my part- ners want you to go as master. Of course we will furnish all the money; and we will give you as large an advance as you want, the regular captain’s wages and one-eighth interest in the profits. You may purchase and fit out the vessel to your own liking. What do you say to my offer, sir?” It was a little while before Hunt could reply. Not that he was in any doubt about what his answer should be, but he wished to give no offense. Finally he spoke. “Your confidence in me is flattering, I assure you, but, De Castro, if you were to give me the weight of every black in Africa in gold I would not engage in the business again,” and as he looked in De Castro’s face, the Portuguese negro-stealer saw that the Yankee sailor meant what he said. . ZND v *““TREAT *EM ROUGH! ’’ AGAVE MAN spent a week or two In carving neatly, “I love you,” Upon a handy bit of shale— And needed strong right arm to mail It at the chosen maid; On whom it such impression made, That all the old wives—when they wed— Were jealous of her broken head! R. E. Alexander. comiclook (©)