Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

- ee ae ee ee 82 THE ARGOSY. Peytons at any cost?” he asked him- self. Well, if he had, he would not have been the important member of the Unt- verse staff he is today, nor would he re- joice in the friendship of John Waring, who prophesies great things of the “honest young fellow” he met that Christmas Eve under such peculiar cir- cumstances. 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. JOE 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. Customs 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 beautiful 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 for a 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 a Se terms. CHAPTER VII. AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIETY. J OE was rather surprised to find him- self so susceptible to nervous ex- citement over his deal. He had thought that he should be able to carry off any operation, large or small, without turn- ing a hair, but the little back room served him the good purpose of en- abling him to recover quickly, and in a few minutes, therefore, he was again in the main office with his secretary. “ Mike,” he said, “ I think I noticed a large shop with closed doors on the east side of the Plaza.” “Yes, senor,” the secretary respond- ed; “ that is a shop that was abandoned by a man whose Spanish sympathies were so strong that he would not ven- ture to remain in Ponce after its occu- pation by the American army.” “Do you suppose that shop could be rented? ” ‘“ Undoubtedly, senor, for the former proprietor has left the island.” “Do you know the owner of the premises? ” “ Surely, senor.” “Then take one of my cards, Mike, hunt him up, and tell him I want to hire that shop, and ask him to come down here to make arrangements. How lIong will it take you? ” “ A half hour, perhaps, senor.” “Well,” said Joe, looking at his watch, “ I am too busy to wait so much as ahalf hour. Tell the landlord to call *7hts story began in the November issue of THs Arcosy, which will be mailed to any address on receipt of zo cents. a | ecomicooolKs eco