Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

THE AMERICAN SYNDICATE. #299 at Don Octavio’s. He wondered he had not thought of it before. These people upon whose willingness to in- vest his whole career depended, were people of fashion, and with very rigid ideas in regard to etiquette. Strange that he had been so ab- sorbed in his negotiations as to forget the obligation imposed upon him by having once been Don Octavio’s guest. It was in this subtle way that Joe's business ambition and the affair of his heart were harmonized. Of course the plain fact was that Joe was interested, but when he set forth to call at the don’s, he was quite certain that he went simply because it was business policy to do so. CHAPTER XIII. NEPHEW VICTOR. Don OcTAVvIO was not at home. That worthy man of affairs, having been plunged after years of idleness into what he conceived to be the whirl of. business activity, spent many of his evenings nowadays at the house of Vil- amil, or some other of his associates in the street car enterprise, discussing the scheme, and counting with them the profits they felt sure they were to make. Acting on a suggestion from Joe, the don and his friends had interviewed the alcalde, or mayor, of Ponce, with a view to learning whether the munici- pality would interpose any objections to the use of the highway for the street car line. The alcalde, naturally enough, viewed the matter as a public improvement, and was quite ready to lo whatever he could, officially, to help it along. Knowing this, Joe was well content to wait patiently for a reply to his let- ters to New York. He was certain that Wolcott would manage to interest somebody in the scheme, if his own efforts failed to do so. Meantime, too, the ice cream business was in full SA swing, and there were daily receipts in cash at the office of the Syndicate. It was too early yet to figure the ac- tual profits from his undertaking, for _ there were many current expenses that had to be met promptly, but that the business of catering was on a firm foun- dation admitted of no doubt. It Joe felt the slightest disappoint- ment when the porter told him that Don Octavio was away, he was imme- diately solaced by information from the same functionary, that the ladies were within. Out came Joe’s cards, and the porter rising, struck twice on the gong over his head. If the don had been at home, the porter would have struck but once, one stroke signifying that there is a caller below to see the gentleman of the household, and two strokes telling the ladies that they are favored. The servant- who came down the patito stairway to take Joe’s card, re- turned quickly and ushered him up to the reception room. Donna Anna, a little more portly, it seemed, than before, and certainly more languid, advanced with a smile partly hidden in the folds of her cheeks, and gave him a flabby hand in wel- come. Sprightly, vivacious, and glow- ing with her young beauty, the Senor- ita Sylvia seemed to glide across the room, and when she took her visitor's hand it was with a warm, hearty grip, that gave the American extraordinary pleasure. It seemed homelike—funny word for him to use even in his thoughts— but of course all he meant by it was that an honest handshake was more American than Spanish in character. “TI must apologize for not coming sooner,” said Joe, almost interrupting her words of greeting, “ but perhaps vou can forgive me, ladies, in view of the pressure of business that I find upon me here. [ am too much a stranger to your beautiful island as yet to fall into its more leisurely and more sensible ways of dotag thi7z 3a) < CO