Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

THE AMERICAN SYNDICATE.’ BY FREDERICK R. BURTON. A sturdy fight against heavy odds. A narrative setting forth the devices resorted to by an enterprising New Yorker who goes into Porto Rico with grit, thirty three odd dollars, and a sign board. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. JorE BARBER, down on his luck in New York, borrows two hundred dollars from a friend, and armed with a signboard reading ‘‘The American Syndicate, J. A. Barber, Manager,’’ sets out to Porto Rico to make his fortune by his wits. Custonis dues on the signboard reduce his capital on arrival to thirty three dollars after paying his passage, but Joe puts on a bold front. By his assurance of manner he succeeds in hiring an imposing office, and chance brings him the acquaintance of a native, Don Octavio Valla del Rey, the chance in question being the precipitation into his arms of the don’'s beantiful daughter, owing to an accident to her carriage. Joe talks trolley line investments with the don and hires for his office assistant a young man of the don’s recommendation, who announces his name as Miguelo Marto, but whom Joe decides to call Mike, which, he adds, is all the English he wishes the fellow to know. After looking over the field, Joe elects to get up a corner in the ice cream freezer market, and begins by buying up the entire stock of a restaurant keeper, giving him the privilege of using them fora week longer. Meantime he arranges by wire with Seeborg & Company, St. Thomas, the near- est point where freezers are obtainable, to purchase the thirty seven they have on hand at their own terms. Joe is asked to dine with Don Octavio, and over the cigars explains the proposed trolley line to the don’s friends, wlio, to his great satisfaction, are deeply interested ; Joe also is much impressed by the beautiful daughter Sylvia. Hearing, the next day, that the Ponce caterers are all going to St. Thomas, he decides to accompany them; and by allowing the don to think he contemplates closing the trolley deal with others, he so alarms the Spaniard and his friends that they put up one thousand dollars forfeit money. When the young manager walks into Seeborg’s store, in St. Thomas, to pay for his freezers he finds the Ponce caterers there in excited talk over his corner on the market. CHAPTER XII. THE CATERERS COME, TO TERMS. “A month, I suppose, but I was going to say that in view of your being unknown to us, while these gentlemen Wit an evident air of reluctance, seeborg intimated to the cater- ers from Ponce that they had better withdraw. When they had done so, Joe asked at once whether any atten- tion had been paid to his request for second hand freezers. “Yes,” said Seeborg, “and with those we have in stock, we can supply you with forty one _ altogether, but ” “ How long,” interrupted Joe, “ will it be before you can get any more?” who were just in, are established cus- tomers, | am in doubt as to whether we should be held to our agreement. We don’t find any mention of the American Syndicate in Bradstreet’s.” “How should you expect to?” de- manded Joe, sharply. ‘‘ The Syndicate was not even organized until the end of the war was in sight.” “True,” replied Seeborg, cautiously, “but your own name, Mr. Barber, surely that ought to appear in~ Brad- street’s, or, if you represent such a con- *This story began in the November number of THe ARGOSY. The two back numbers will be matled to any address on receipt of 20 cents. a COMUCIOOKS.