Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

94 & morrow. Anything wrong? Has the sailing been delayed? ” “Not that, your excellency, or I should not have ventured to intrude, for you see if the sailing had been de- layed you would have learned it in ample time at the hotel——”’ ‘“ Of course,” interrupted Joe, who speedily got out of patience with the roundabout way in which men of Span- ish blood approached the point, “ you need never hesitate to bring me in- formation that you think will be worth while. Now, what is it?” ‘The boat,” replied the porter, “ is going to sail tomorrow noon, one day ahead of the expected time.” ‘Well, that is serious!’ exclaimed Joe. “ How didit happen? But I sup- pose you don’t know anything about that.” ‘“ Well, sir, I heard some gentlemen talking with the agent of the boat. They were business men of Ponce who seemed to be anxious to get to St. Thomas in a great hurry in order to purchase supplies of one kind or an- other for their improving business.” “Any ice cream dealers among them?” asked Joe. The porter scratched his head. ‘“ T believe so,’ he answered. ‘‘ There were——’” and then he proceeded to name nearly every caterer in Ponce with whom Joe had made a contract for the purchase of freezers. ‘Your information is very useful to mie, my man,” he said, at the same time handing the fellow a peseta. The porter touched his cap and de- parted, and Joe, throwing himself into his swinging chair at the desk, relighted the cigar that had gone out during his conversation with the secretary. “ T see how it is,” he reflected; “ the caterers are suspicious of me, and no wonder, for I have given them a most extraordinary bargain. They expect to be held to the terms of the contract, and they don’t mean to lose a day’s business. So they are going to St. Thomas to buy freezers and get them THE ARGOSY. delivered here before they have to turn their present stock over to me. It isn’t likely that they will succeed in buying anything in St. Thomas, for Seeborg & Company will wait for me, but if I have no cash to make a deposit on the bill, or even to pay my fare to St. Thomas and back, I don’t see how I am to checkmate them. Of course I shall have to have some money twenty four hours sooner than I had expected to have any need of it, and of course I shall get it. Mike!” “ Si, senor.” Whatever Joe was about to say to his secretary must be guessed, for be- fore he spoke the outer door opened, and in came a telegraph messenger. He brought a despatch from Seeborg & Company which conveyed in the briefest possible terms the acceptance by that concern of Joe’s order. “All right,” thought Joe, “ that makes me safe so far as the local cater- ers are concerned. The next problem will be the raising of money, and to that I must devote my undivided attention.” Thereupon, he gave his secretary in- structions to make arrangements for the purchase of an outfit for the new café. ‘‘ Make no arrangements at exorbi- tant prices, Mike,” he said, “ and take with you a supply of the syndicate cards. If you find it is necessary, I will give you a letter authorizing you to deal in my name.” ‘You have not told me,” suggested the secretary, “how many of these various articles you wish me to pur- chase.” “No, for I was intending to go with you to the shop and take measurements to see how many tables it will accom- modate. You'll have to do that your- self, Mike. Go up there and make a written memorandum of how many tables and chairs will be required, and how many dishes and other articles of that sort. There'll have to be arrange- ments for a wash room, I suppose, if there is not one already. (Get bacie Gur KS eo