José — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

16 JOSE. CHAPTER II. AN INTERESTING ADVENTURE. The Jackson and Vicksburg train had not arrived ; that was the topic of ail absorbing interest at every station along the short line. Under the broad piazza of the hotel at Dixon’s, which commanded a full view of the railway track, sat a numerous group of people, indulging in ten different theories in regard to the lateness of the train, criticising the solidity of culverts and trestles, whittling chips of wood, and spitting tobacco juice. Not far from the portico, in the shade of a wide- spreading elm tree, a young man had seated him- self. comfortably, and was blowing blue clouds of smoke into the air from his cigar. A broad-rimmed Panama shaded a face framed in a dark, soft, full beard, that offered a striking contrast to the smooth- shaven faces of the group under the portico. His genial appearance and soft white hands justified the conclusion that he belonged to the fashionable circles of society. And this surmiss was well founded, at least in one direction. The gentleman was none other than Henry Baumann, first clerk of the firm of Flister, Becher, & Co., one of the largest European fur houses, which had commis- sioned him to study this branch of trade in the United States, and, if possible, to open new and more direct business connections. Henry had se- cured letters in New York and Boston to the North- western fur stations. then had drifted into Missouri, and had there witnessed extensive arrangements Eomicbooks.co