Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-01-05
CHAPTER II.

body had b,ca found. was. az his name
indicates. an Italian who haa emigratrd
to America i'm m ,diatcly after the close
Of the civil war. while he was still
youth.
His parents had been wcll-to-do, but
his father met with revcrses in conse-
qucnco OF n patriotic cndcavor u cstab-
l.sh some large factories near to Naples,
which had turned out failure.
Young Mario. full OF pluck and spirit,
determined not to become In any way
dco m lent on his father in his strait
cnel circumstances, so with p'aisc-
worthy energy no resolved to try his
luck in California. Like many others,
before and since, he was doomed to
meet with some bitter disappointmcnts,
Tut n he had made up his mind to bat
tic in earnest with tho world, there was
little fear that he would starve.
lie first tried the mining districts,
but there mot with indifferent success.
Still. by hard work he managed to get n
little money ahead and drifted to San
Francisco. where he opened fruit
store. There he was moro successful
and soon saved several thousand dol.
lars.
Growing tired OF the busy, yet hum
drum life OF the city. he resolved on
trying his hand in the wine-growing
districts, and bought few acres OF land
In the fertile Sonoma valley
Owing TO his imperfect knowledge OF
the busines IS he ut first lost great deal
OF money In tho venture. and by the
time that he had mastered all the nee
cssary points and was turning out sat
isfactory wines. he found that the poor
wines which many OF his competitors
were putting on the market had caused
the people to speak disparagingly OF
domestic wines. SO that the trade In
them was conside rably fallen off.
However, hc continued to persevere in
the face OF III fortune. and was at last
rewarded with success.
Elated with his good fortune. he con-
ceivcd the idea OF becoming part owner
and manager OF one Of the largest winc-
growing concerns in Sonoma County,
and in an evil hour took into partner
ship n Portuguese named Leon Velas-
qucz, so that no might have the means
TO purchase some neighboring vine
yards.
Velasquez brought quito largo sum
OF money into the business, though how
he came By 1t was often afterwards
theme for speculation in the mind OF
Mario.
For nearly q year all went we'll and
tho prospects for the next year were
quito brilliant But bofore tho cnd }!
,wrlyc months partnership Velasone1
began to show signs Of lcssening per-
soial interest in the business.
He took oft-repeated trips to San
Francisco and made frequent demands
for money, which at first Mario in
variably mot without questioning; but
when one day vclasluaz p.opoiei to
considerably ove:lrIw his account. q
quarrel ensuoi. caused by Mario's re-
fusal.
Theroupon vclasqucz displayed char
acteristic5 which told tina: he was not
quite the polished gentleman he pre-
tended 10 be.
But Ma:io's refu ial served cool pur'
pose; for. after this, velasquoz was not
so Emporium Ite In his domains on tho
financial resources Of the hrm Mat
ters won't on with comparative smooth
ness for time, but Mario wal not we'll
satisfied with his partner and often
wished that he had kept along alone in
his old quiet way. As year followed
year the PoIada property continued to
increase In value and Sonoma wines
found ready sale at all times Both
Mario and his partner were making
large sums OF money every year.
Mario was careful man and invested
his money very cautiously rs fast as he
made 1t, but Velasquez was given to
rash speculation. and frequently lost
large sums OF money dabbling In min
ing stocks in San Francisco.
This and his frequent absence from
the Posada cellars gave Delaro good
cause for complaint, and he suggested
TO Velasquez the purchase OF his share
In the business.
To this velasquez would not listen.
lie was always sure Of good thing. as
he knew full we'll, so long as he retained
his interest In the vineyard and the
wine-cellars and he knew enough TO
stick TO his partner.
Mario Delaro had built himself o
pleasant homo on the hillside little
bslow San Paola To this homo no took
alovoly wife, by whom no had one child,
q daughter. who was Of the time OF her
fathers death about eight years old
The child. Armida. was q bright little
brunette. combining In herself the
bcauty Of her handsome father and the