Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

THE AMERICAN SYNDICATE. reckoner. It takes five pesetas to make a dollar, and Joe’s bland acknowledg- ment of error in the use of words was in effect a reduction of his demand from five thousand dollars to one thou- - sand dollars. Even at that he had a moment of ter- rible dread, lest the don had been scared so completely by the announcement of the larger amount that he would refuse to supply the lesser. CHAPTER XI. SEEBORG & CO. Don Ocravio fairly bubbled over with apologies. He would not have the American understand that he and his friends underestimated the import- ance of the street car scheme, or that they had any reluctance about intrust- ing their interests to a gentleman who had so recently come to their notice, but in their own discussion of the af- fair, they had themselves felt that a for- feit might reasonably be demanded to the extent of five thousand pesetas; this in view of the figures that Joe him- self had given them on the evening previous. “Of course you will understand, Senor Barber,” the don rattled on, and for once Joe was perfectly content to have him make a long speech, “ when it comes to the point of investing in ac~’ tual shares of the company you will not find meand my friends slowin producing our money. As great a sum as twenty five thousand pesetas simply as a forfeit, however, and to be produced so sud- denly, you must admit would be some- thing of a staggerer. I can readily un- derstand how your tongue would slip on such a matter, and as to five thou- sand pesetas, I have no idea that the thing will be difficult. Of course I do not wish to pledge myself upon such a thing without consulting my friends, for naturally it is not the amount, but the principle that concerns me. If I were to take five thousand pesetas out ey, of my pocket at this moment, Senor Barber, and hand them to: you, you would thereby consider all of us pledged to your undertaking, would you not?” “Not necessarily,” answered Joe, guardedly. “I should have no objec- tions to considering you as the only Porto Rican investor in the enterprise, if you cared personally to assume so large a share of the capital stock.” The don shook his head decidedly. “IT cannot undertake so much alone, senor. I must be guided somewhat by friends who have been lifelong business associates, and moreover, I feel in honor bound to give them a share in the opportunity that has been pre- sented to me.” “That high sense of honor speaks well for the stability of the undertak- ing,” said Joe, grandly. “Thank you, Senor Barber. You will never find your estimate of Porto Rican honor too low. I will lay this matter before my friends at once, and let you know about it. I suppose it will be necessary to allow some time for the drawing up of papers, will it not? ” “Yes, and I should really like to get it off my mind this evening, if I could,” suggested Joe. “That may not be impossible. Shall we find you at your hotel after din- ner?” Joe answered “ Yes,” and the two parted, with the customary expressions of mutual high consideration. It would have pleased the American infinitely if the nervous don had actual- ly presented him then and there with five thousand pesefas. But neverthe- less, Joe did not suffer much from ap- prehension. The time dragged slowly, but he put down a good dinner when that meal was due, and solaced himself with much tobacco, until about nine o’clock, when the don and his friends drove up in state. An adjournment was promptly taken to the syndicate office, where, b the light of candles bor199uid fer te eo