Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 305: what you’re looking at

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296 cern as you appear to, there must be the names of some of vour associates there. You know perfectly well that it is not customary to give credit except when there is a commercial rating, or satisfactory references.” During this speech Joe had been fig- uring with a pencil on the back of an envelope. He had foreseen what was conung, and the one thing of all that he wished to avoid was an unanswerable question as to the names of the Amert- . can capitalists who stood back of the great Syndicate. ‘“ Forty one freezers,” he said, re- ferring to his figures, “at $15 each amount to $615. What discount do you propose to allow for cash?” ‘* Spot cash, Mr. Barber?” “ Certainly. As long as there is any disposition to question the standing of the American Syndicate, it will incur no bills.” “Well,” said Seeborg, who was evi- dently struggling with a serious doubt as to whether it would be good busi- ness to give offense to this cool, new customer, ‘I presume you will be sat- ished with ten per cent off.” “ Perfectly,’ responded Joe, “and deducting ten per cent off $615 we have a balance of $§53.50 which I shall be glad to place in your hands as soon as I see the forty one freezers loaded on the steamboat bound for Ponce.” To make certain that no effect should be lost. Joe drew from his pocket the roll of notes that the Porto Rican capitalists had given him in the morning. ‘“ Nothing could be more satisfac- tory to us, said Seeborg, *‘ and I hope that you will not regard us as urfduly inquisitive, Mr. Barber.” ‘* Not at all,” Joe answered, grandlv ; “you are simply exercising ordinary business precaution, and there is no fault to find. When can the freezers be shipped ? ” Seeborg told him that the freezers in stock would be conveyed to the steamboat wharf at once, and that the THE ARGOSY. others that were to be picked up from various parts of the city could be got together the following day. As Joe meantime had learned that a boat was going back to Ponce at noon of the next day, he desired Seeborg to hurry the cargo, and being assured that this would be done, he left the office to go to the hotel. The Ponce caterers had waited for him at the door of Seeborg’s office, and when he came out they surrounded him with angry words and fierce gesticu- lations. ‘We see through you now,” they cried, “‘ you would rob us of our busi- ness, but we shall get even with you. We shall yet find a sufficient. number of freezers in St. Thomas to enable us to supply the demand in Ponce, and we will give you an American trick in pay- ment for your own. We will sell ice cream at less than cost, so we shall get all the ice cream customers, and you wont have any.” This ultimatum they presented in- coherently, all five talking together, and when at last Joe understood it, and was able to get in’'a word on his own part, he said: * Gentlemen, when you have bought up your freezers, come to me at my hotel, and perhaps we can make an ar- rangement that will be mutually sat- isfactory.” * They looked at him with amazement at his effrontery in suggesting any more dealings with them, and in that condition of mind he left them. “These Ponce fellows,” thought Joe, when he was where he could think uninterruptedly, “have really got a hold on me that they don’t dream olf. I am bound by my contract with them to pay cash for their freezers when their week of free use expires. The neces- sity of keeping Seeborg from institut- ing too many inquiries about the American Syndicate has made it 1m- possible for me to keep my contract with the Ponce caterers. Give me two weeks of ice cream making an Fowall CO