Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

THE AMERICAN SYNDICATE. _“T must be off, or lose the boat to St. Thomas. You may rest assured that I shall always feel a special interest in the fortunes of the gentlemen who have been first to utilize the services of the syndicate in Porto Rican business.” He meant every word of it. His heart -actually warmed for these weazened old fellows who had thus come to his rescue at a moment when his whole career could not be in a more critical situation, and there was no doubt but that they believed him, and as it was apparent that they did not dream how slender a reed they leaned upon, the atmosphere was simply surcharged with mutual satisfaction. Joe was the last passenger on the boat. The signing of the paper, the passing of the money, and the pouring out of the libation, had taken so much time that it nearly cost him his journey. The first persons he saw on going on board were five of the, Ponce café pro- prietors between whom -and himself contracts had passed for the purchase of ice cream freezers. He couldn’t well help seeing them, for they were gath- ered at the rail. near the gangway look- ing for him. | They, too, had had discussions of the American’s business operations, and being not utterly devoid of shrewd- ness, had come to the manifest conclu- sion with regard to it, namely, that he intended, if possible, to corner the mar- ket. They could see no other way by which he could come out of his ex- traordinary venture profitably, and so they hoped to get ahead of him in going to St. Thomas for the purpose of re- plenishing their stock. As the time for the departure of the boat drew near, they had hoped that the American had not heard of the change in the schedule, and they had gathered at the rail simply out of eagerness to learn whether he was to make the jour- ney or not. THese men were still very much in the dark as to Joe’s scheme, in spite of having got so far as to guess his design 99 to make a corner. How he could pos- sibly beat them they could not imagine, but they were not over confident of SUCCESS. They, too, had heard about Ameri- can shrewdness and cleverness in busi- ness matters, and they were fearful of the outcome. Joe greeted them all pleasantly, but made no effort to get into conversation with them. Nevertheless, before the few hours’ journey was concluded, he learned that these five represented all the caterers in Ponce with whom he had had transactions. As more than one had often been in his office at the same time to sign the -contracts, the news of what the Ameri- can was doing had gone abroad among them, and by the exercise of ordinary business sense, they had clubbed to- gether to send a few of their number to make purchases for all, and thus econo- mize on transportation expenses. The boat arrived in St. Thomas be- fore the close of the business day. The Ponce caterers gathered again in a bunch at the rail, eager to get off first. Joe watched them with no Iittle amusement. He made no effort to dis- embark early, but managed simply to keep his men in view as they went away from the wharf: He knew that they would go direct to Seeborg & Com- pany’s, and that, therefore, he could have no better guide than they would constitute. | When presently he saw them enter- ing a large storehouse on the principal street, he turned aside, and allowed several minutes to pass before he him- self sauntered up to the place. The men from Ponce were talking excitedly in the doorway. “None to be had!” he heard them saying. With a careless nod he passed them, and went inside. They seemed inclined to speak to him, and when he gave them little op- portunity to do so, they followed him into the office. There Joe aremotes SS) {CO