CHAPTER V 

WOLF'S OFFER 

Jefferson sat in the shade of the bougainvillea and pondered some letters. Austin lounged in a basket-chair opposite and read the _Diario_. They had combined their business as far as possible, but Pancho Brown would not agree to a formal amalgamation. All was quiet. One heard the fountain splash and Betty's typewriter rattle. Sometimes a voice came from the room where Jefferson's Spanish clerks were occupied, but this was all. 

Presently Austin put down the newspaper. 

"The tomato crop was light and the vines are doing badly. It's ominous that the Palma import houses are cutting down their orders." 

"Martinez allowed he wanted to get out of the deal in chemical fertilisers. Trade is looking sick," Jefferson agreed. 

"When I joined Pancho Brown I used to study the accounts and congratulate myself when I saw our credits going up," Austin remarked with a smile. "To feel I could write a cheque for a good sum was something very new. Now I'm bothered because we have money at the bank. I don't see how it's going to be usefully employed." 

"You want to keep money moving. Well, I met Wolf a day or two since, and he hinted he knew about a deal. I wasn't keen, but he said he might come around and see us. I rather expect him." 

"You don't trust the fellow?" 

"Sure thing! Reckon it's instinctive. I like straightforward folks. Wolf's a mystery man." 

Austin looked up and laughed. "He's coming." 

Wolf crossed the flags, and when he stopped by the bougainvillea his face was red. He was fat and his thin, black alpaca jacket looked very tight. 
Was Jefferson sitting in the shade?
Of what?
What was he thinking about?
Who was lounging near him?
What was he reclined in?
What newspaper was he reading?
Is Austin Jefferson's wife?
What kind of partners are they?
Did Jefferson have any clerks around?
What country did they hail from?
Who was typing somewhat noisily?
Is the tomato crop doing well?
Who wanted to get out of fertilizers?
What houses are cutting down their orders?
What company had Austin joined?
What did he study then?
When did he tell himself he had done a good job?
Was it a new experience being able to write a large check?
Where does it bug him now to have money kept?
Who hinted he knows about a deal and is expected to come around?
Yes
Jefferson sat in the shade of the bougainvillea 
The bougainvillea
Jefferson sat in the shade of the bougainvillea
Some letters
Jefferson sat in the shade of the bougainvillea and pondered some letters.
Austin
Austin lounged in a basket-chair opposite and read the _Diario_.
a basket-chair
Austin lounged in a basket-chair opposite and read the _Diario_.
The Diario
Austin lounged in a basket-chair opposite and read the _Diario_. 
unknown
unknown
Business
 They had combined their business as far as possible,
Yes
Sometimes a voice came from the room where Jefferson's Spanish clerks were occupied, but this was all. 
Spain
Jefferson's Spanish clerks
Betty
All was quiet. One heard the fountain splash and Betty's typewriter rattle. 
No
"The tomato crop was light and the vines are doing badly. 
Martinez
"Martinez allowed he wanted to get out of the deal in chemical fertilisers.
Palma import houses
It's ominous that the Palma import houses are cutting down their orders." 

Pancho Brown
"When I joined Pancho Brown I used to study the accounts
The accounts
"When I joined Pancho Brown I used to study the accounts 
When the credits went up
"When I joined Pancho Brown I used to study the accounts and congratulate myself when I saw our credits going up,"
Yes
"To feel I could write a cheque for a good sum was something very new
At the bank
. Now I'm bothered because we have money at the bank.
Wolf
Well, I met Wolf a day or two since, and he hinted he knew about a deal. I wasn't keen, but he said he might come around and see us.