Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

86 ply recalled what might have been said to her by the blades of her not distant youth. | At all events, she could not but glow with a semblance of pleasure, and al- though her response was not as frank and hearty as that of the senorita's, there was no doubting that Joe had made as favorable an impression as the circumstances demanded upon the la- dies of the household. Then there were presentations to three pompous elderly men, and one extremely pompous young man, who made up the rest of the party. There was Antonio Vasquez, introduced as one of the leading coffee growers of Porto Rico; Porfirio Hernandez, an- nounced as the owner of an immense _ banana plantation; Pablo Vilamil, said to be a retired merchant. These evidently were the friends of the don’s in whom there might be aroused an interest in the trolley line and other enterprises for public im- provement and private gain. The young man aforesaid was evidently not an ele- ment in the business situation, for he was introduced simply as “ my dear nephew, Victor.” The “ dear nephew” acknowledged the presentation with the utmost stiff- ness. There was a barely perceptible inclination of the head, something in- comprehensible mumbled, and while he kept his hands at his sides, a mes- sage went from his dark eyes that be- tokened anything but a cordial wel- come to the American. Joe, not in the least nonplussed by the young man’s frigidity, was as charmed to meet him as any of the others, but it seemed the part of good diplomacy to take the cue from the don, and regard Victor as of no moment, save as a worthy, if inconspicuous, member of the household. ; A few minutes were spent in the ex- change of complimentary remarks, in- cipient discussions of the peace pro- posals, with light touches on other easy topics, not excepting that good old b THE ARGOSY. stand by, the weather, and then dinner was announced. CHAPTER VIII. BUSINESS AND SONG. THERE is no occasion to describe the don’s dinner. It was a long, formal, and bountiful repast, just such as any gentleman of great wealth might be expected to set before distinguished guests. Between courses the conversation ran along just such lines as it had oc- cupied in the preliminary chat. There was never a hint of the trolley road, though occasionally one or other of the gentlemen betrayed the fact that busi- ness absorbed his attention by some remark upon the general mission of Senor Barber in Porto Rico. Joe was well content. It appeared to him that the time was fast ripening for the winning stroke. There could be no doubt that these gentlemen had anticipated a revival of business inc1- dent to American occupation, and that in reality they were as eager to go ahead as he was. Naturally they would be cautious, and on both sides it would be the part of good business diplomacy not to ap- pear to hurry matters. In this lay by far the greatest danger that Joe anti- cipated. He must hurry. The ice cream situation demanded that, to say nothing of the yawning condition of his purse. It must, therefore, be the aim of his maneuvering to bring the situation to a head with all possible speed, while ap- pearing to be as slow and cautious about it as the most conservative in- vestor. At the conclusion of the dinner, the ladies and nephew Victor withdrew to the street balcony. Cuigars, coffee and cognac were passed to those that re- mained, and the don, squaring himself in his chair, lit a cigarette and uttered aloud “ Ahem! ” CONIC oo SS) eo