The Lady of Tarpon Springs

by Judith Miller

  “No. My father has a private launching area he uses for the boats he builds, and when there are boats in need of repair, it’s much easier for my father and the owners to bring them to his launching area.”

  He withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead. “I should try to visit him. I enjoy spending time with other Greeks.”

  “Then you should be pleased to know there are fifty more Greeks in Tarpon Springs since you last visited.” She stepped closer to the desk. “But I’m sure Mr. Francis has already told you of their arrival.” She didn’t wait for an answer. “I’m a lawyer here in Tarpon Springs and I represent Miss Lucy Penrose. I believe you and her father were well acquainted.”

  “Yes, we had spoken at length about his possible investment in a sponging business, and I offered my help.”

  She frowned. “You do know that Mr. Penrose died some time ago, don’t you?”

  He nodded. “Very sad—and very sudden, as I recall.” He stroked his thin black mustache. “I sent letters to Greece for him and told him I would do everything I could to help him succeed if he decided to go ahead with the business.” His eyes widened. “So those are the Greeks you mentioned? I didn’t know he’d completed the arrangements for their travel before his death.” He rubbed his hands together. “This is exciting news. My promise to Mr. Penrose holds true; I will help in any way I can. To have a prosperous sponging business in Tarpon Springs will be a good thing for the town—especially for us Greeks, eh?”

  Zanna didn’t know what to make of Mr. Pappas. He seemed a mixture of both knowledge and ignorance. Was this man truly as uninformed as he appeared to be? Perhaps a few questions were in order.

  She pulled another chair close to the desk and directed a bright smile at Mr. Pappas. “Given how you’ve been in the area on several occasions since Mr. Penrose’s death, I’m surprised you didn’t make any attempt to inquire about the business proposal on one of your visits.”

  “You . . . you believe I should have gone looking for his relatives and poked my nose into their business?” He shook his head. “I’m sure they could have found my name among Mr. Penrose’s papers and contacted me if they had any questions.”

  Zanna sighed. “The paper work wasn’t immediately examined, but once I noted your name among some of Mr. Penrose’s business contacts, I was interested in speaking to you. Even more, Dr. Lucy Penrose has expressed a deep desire to meet you. She is the only living heir of Mr. Penrose.” Zanna leaned forward in her chair. “How long will you be in town?”

  “A few days. I came for the Friday sponge sale and may remain until Tuesday’s sale, depending on what I see.” He lowered his voice. “Long ago I learned that sometimes the best sponges are held back for a higher price at subsequent sales. My customers prefer the best wool sponges. And now that the divers have arrived, I’m eager to see what they have found in the Gulf.”

  “So you could meet with Dr. Penrose tomorrow afternoon?”

  “I suppose I could. I’ve told you all I can about my dealings with her father, but I’ll keep my word and help the business in any way I can. I wouldn’t want to see our countrymen fail here in America.”

  “Thank you for your offer.” Zanna pushed up from the chair. “I know Dr. Penrose looks forward to meeting you.”

  He tipped his hat. “I don’t think there is much I can tell her, but I’ll meet with her nonetheless. However, it’s the Greek spongers I’m truly eager to meet. I’ll enjoy talking to them about the homeland.”

  Slivers of sunlight shone through the wood slats of the warehouse and danced across his white shirt. Zanna wanted to tell him she’d prefer if they never met. The last thing she wanted was Lucy selling the sponge business to Mr. Pappas. She took heart in the fact that he’d offered to help, yet he didn’t appear to have much interest in the business itself. Instead, his excitement centered around meeting the new Greek arrivals.

  She remained standing near the desk. “Say, one o’clock tomorrow afternoon? Would you like to meet at her office or would you prefer someplace else?” She wasn’t going to leave the warehouse until she had a firm time and place set for the meeting. If Lucy discovered Mr. Pappas was in town and Zanna hadn’t arranged a meeting, she’d never hear the end of it.

  He removed a thick cigar from his suit jacket. “You may tell the doctor I’ll be at her office at one o’clock tomorrow.”

  She tipped her head and smiled. “Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, our boats should be arriving any minute.”

  Mr. Pappas pushed to his feet. “The Greeks? They are coming in now?”

  “They are. And it appears they’ve had a successful trip.”

  He strode to her side. “I’ll go out to the dock with you. I want to greet them.”

  They hadn’t yet made it to the door when Zanna turned to him. “I understand you and Bessie Rochester are good friends. I’m curious how you and the Rochester sisters became acquainted.”

  He appeared momentarily befuddled, then took her elbow and directed her to the door. “That’s a story for another time. Look! The boats are almost here.”

  CHAPTER

  15

  While Zanna, Mr. Pappas, and Nico waited for the boats to dock, the two men visited as though they’d known each other for years. Mr. Pappas was curious about deep-water diving equipment, and Nico was pleased to share his knowledge. Zanna understood every word that passed between the two men, but she paid little attention. She’d heard Nico describe the equipment and diving methods to her father and brothers, as well as to many of the dockworkers.

  It wasn’t until the first boat, heavily laden with sponges, had arrived at the dock that Mr. Pappas’s unbridled enthusiasm captured her attention.

  “I cannot believe my eyes!” Mr. Pappas lowered the brim of his hat to shade his eyes from the bright sun. “I’ve never seen so many large sheepswool sponge on one boat.”

  Nico chuckled. “You see? This is what can be harvested using diving equipment rather than the hook boats or old diving methods. We harvest more and better sponges using the diving equipment. And I believe the sponge in the Gulf is as fine, if not better, than what we harvested in the Aegean Sea.”

  Mr. Pappas twisted the tip of his thin mustache. “I’ll have to examine them once they are ready for market. Then I’ll tell you if I think these are equal to Aegean sponge.” He pointed toward the second arriving boat. “Looks like they’ve all made an excellent haul. The sheepswool will bring the best price at market, so you should have your divers harvest as many of those as possible.”

  “I understand. The same is true in Greece, but I don’t discourage my divers from harvesting yellow and grass sponge. It is better to hook what is in your path than to wander below water searching for only one kind of sponge. My men are expected to follow strict rules on the depth and length of time for each dive, so I want them to fill their nets with whatever sponge they locate.” Nico hiked a shoulder. “Even wire sponge will sell, and I wouldn’t want my men to remain underwater too long simply because I insisted upon only sheepswool sponge.”

  Zanna gave the older man a sidelong glance. She was pleased Nico had told Mr. Pappas that he valued the lives of his diving crew more than money. Judging from the frown on Mr. Pappas’s face, Zanna wasn’t certain he agreed, and then their discussion was cut short by the docking of the second and third boats.

  The boisterous greetings and cheers among Nico and the men echoed along the waterfront and continued as the crew unloaded the sponge and carried it to the warehouse. When they’d finally completed the task, Zanna, Nico, and Mr. Pappas walked to the warehouse.

  Mr. Pappas nudged Nico as they stepped inside. “Maybe I made a mistake by passing this opportunity to Mr. Penrose. If you continue these excellent harvests, I may have to see if I can arrange the finances should his daughter have an interest in selling.”

  “Who can say for sure, but I am hopeful we will be prosperous.” Nico turned and strode across the warehouse to direct the men.

&n
bsp; Zanna moved closer to Mr. Pappas. Now that he thought there was a handsome profit to be made, did he intend to take advantage of Lucy? It certainly sounded that way to her. “I didn’t realize you were interested in owning a sponging business, Mr. Pappas.”

  He clenched the cigar between his teeth. “My interest is in making money, Miss Krykos. I don’t care if I make it from sponges or grapes or olive oil. Whether I could own the sponging business remains to be seen. If Dr. Penrose wants to sell, and the business is making a profit, who can say? Financing can usually be arranged if a company is profitable, but I would need to seek advice from my banker if I wanted to make an offer.”

  Her jaw muscles tightened. “Then why didn’t you invest when the opportunity was first presented to you, rather than passing it along to Mr. Penrose?”

  He twisted the end of his mustache. “As I said, financing is simple for a profitable business. At the time Mr. Penrose revealed an interest in forming a sponging company, I didn’t have adequate funds. Besides, I didn’t know if diving in the Gulf would prove fruitful. But after what I’ve witnessed today, I would be inclined to seek funding to purchase the business.”

  The tightness in her stomach eased. “So, you’re unable to make an immediate offer to purchase the business?”

  “Only if Dr. Penrose would be willing to wait for her money.” He chuckled. “And if she’s any kind of a businesswoman, I doubt she’d agree. However, I’ve told you that I plan to keep my word to Mr. Penrose and help in any way possible.”

  Zanna forced a weak smile. “Since I’m her business manager and consider myself a capable businesswoman, I can tell you that I would advise Lucy against any arrangement where she wouldn’t immediately receive payment. However, if you’re ever financially able to purchase, you should present your offer to me. Lucy has no interest in dealing with the business.”

  “Since you are such a sound businesswoman, I am wondering how much you know about the sale of your sponges, Miss Krykos. Will you attend the sale tomorrow?”

  She nodded. “Of course. Mr. Francis has explained a little to me, and I observed a sale last week. However, I watched from a distance since we weren’t selling that day. Mr. Francis said only owners and buyers should attend the sales. Otherwise the dock would become too congested.”

  “Will you or Nico be the one who accepts bids on your sponges?”

  “Dr. Penrose has placed me in charge, so I’ll be the one who decides.”

  “That’s good to know.” He gestured toward the opposite side of the warehouse. “If you’ll excuse me, I believe I’ll go and visit with the men while they finish their work.”

  Before departing for her office, Zanna stared after Mr. Pappas. She hoped his offer to help was no more than a desire to honor his promise. If not, he might seek financial backing as soon as he returned to New York City.

  Nico released the crews once they’d finished unloading. They’d worked hard and needed time to relax before heading out again. Though he had planned to remain behind, the men insisted he join them. One of the men looped arms with Mr. Pappas and insisted he come along, as well. Nico was pleased the older man accepted the offer. Visiting with a Greek who had been living in this country for many years would be helpful to all of them, and Mr. Pappas appeared happy to oblige them.

  Having Mr. Pappas around would also provide Nico further opportunity to ask questions outside of Zanna’s presence. Truth be told, she was sometimes quick to add her opinion, whereas Mr. Pappas answered questions and let Nico draw his own conclusions.

  After they’d finished a hearty supper of fish stew and crusty bread, Mr. Pappas patted his stomach and sat down beside Nico. “I am surprised to find you living in such poor conditions.” He nudged Nico in the side and arched his brows. “But what can one expect when a woman oversees a business?”

  Nico shook his head. “I thought the same thing when we first arrived, but I soon changed my mind. I can’t blame these conditions on Miss Krykos. She was assigned to manage the business the day we arrived. Dr. Penrose didn’t learn that her father had sent money to bring us to America until a short time before we appeared. No man could have done better. Zanna has worked very hard to get the business functioning, and she learns quickly.”

  “Sounds like you may think of Miss Krykos as more than a business manager.” Mr. Pappas winked at him.

  “She has become a good friend, and I admire her determination to make the business a success.”

  Mr. Pappas grinned. “I won’t force you to admit any more than you’re willing, but I think there may be more than friendship between you two. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”

  Nico’s hearty laughter broke the nighttime quietude. “You mean that look when her eyes appear to be shooting fire? That means I’ve done something to anger her, nothing more.”

  “You go ahead and deny all you want, Nico, but I know what I’ve seen.” He leaned closer. “Are you hoping to one day buy the business from Dr. Penrose?”

  He shook his head. “I could never save enough money, but I do hope that one day the doctor will see I am able to take charge of the business and that Zanna can return to her work as a lawyer. I’m learning the language and the way things are done. That’s why I’m glad you are here.”

  “I can tell you about what happens at the Exchange during sale days, and I can help with general business matters regarding the sponging business, but I don’t know all the permanent residents who live in Tarpon Springs.” He paused before continuing, “I’ve been coming here for many years to purchase the sponge harvested from the hook boats, so I know the other buyers and the captains who sell at the Exchange, but not many others. I would never have met Mr. Penrose had he not come to the docks seeking my advice about forming a sponge company. I had never even met Miss Krykos or Dr. Penrose before now. I’m pleased to say I’d never had need of a doctor or lawyer while in Tarpon Springs.”

  “Then you are a fortunate man.” Nico gestured toward the other men. “While they finish their supper, tell me what I can expect at the sale tomorrow.”

  Mr. Pappas mentioned the names of several buyers and their penchant for locating the finest sponge at the lowest price and what to expect when the bids were announced. “Just remember that you don’t need to accept any bid. If you believe it is too low, you can return your sponges to the warehouse and wait until the next sale.”

  The men joked and exchanged stories about their good fortune over the past days, each crew certain they had been the most successful. Laughter filled the air. A few of the men gathered their musical instruments while others surrounded the crackling campfire.

  One of the men picked up his bouzouki and slowly turned the tuners while he plucked each string. He nodded to the other men. “As soon as I have this tuned, get ready to join in.”

  Mr. Pappas gestured to the musicians. “Do you have a defi?”

  A crew member with a klarino motioned to the fellow holding a percussion instrument. “The daouli player has one.”

  The drummer passed the hand drum with hanging metal bangles to Mr. Pappas, then arched his brows. “You know how to play, Mr. Pappas?”

  Mr. Pappas nodded. “I used to. It’s been a few years, but I’ll do my best.”

  A sharp metallic sound echoed through the campground, and soon the klarino player joined in and carried the melody. The men clapped along with the beat of the drummer and cheered when Mr. Pappas struck the defi. The metal jangles embellished the tune with a rhythm of its own. Some of the men jumped to their feet and danced while others clapped along with the music until most of the men finally wandered off to bed.

  Only a few of the divers, Nico, and Mr. Pappas remained around the fire. The older man praised the divers for what they’d accomplished. “Those sponges you harvested will bring a fine price. You should be proud. Did you find it more difficult to dive in the Gulf than the Aegean?”

  “No. The sponge is so dense that it is much easier,” one of the divers said. “These waters will provide m
ore sponge than we can ever harvest.”

  “That’s good to know. My buyers in New York will be pleased to hear such news.” Mr. Pappas leaned forward and rested his forearms across his knees as he looked toward the river. “You know, there once were reports of a vessel lost at sea not far from where you men were diving in the Gulf. It was rumored to have carried jewels and gold.”

  “We’ve heard those stories about ships being lost in the Aegean Sea, too. There are always rumors, yet no one ever finds any of those riches.”

  Mr. Pappas laughed. “You can’t be certain. Maybe someone was lucky, and he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut so he didn’t have to share with anyone.”

  “If I ever found a ship filled with jewels and gold, I’d be more than happy to share—after I’d purchased everything I wanted for myself,” one of the divers replied.

  The men continued to joke about what they would do with a chest of gold, until Mr. Pappas rose to leave. Before departing, he turned to the divers. “You men have already found your riches in those sponge beds. No need to worry about anything else. Just keep bringing in bigger and better loads each time you go out.”

  The men remained by the fire after Mr. Pappas departed. When he was out of earshot, one of the divers nudged the man beside him. “Mr. Pappas wouldn’t think the sponges were equal to gold if he was sleeping out here in one of these shacks instead of on a soft mattress in the hotel.”

  The other man nodded. “Or if he’d had to leave his wife and children back in Greece.”

  Nico patted the diver on his shoulder. “One thing is certain: Mr. Pappas doesn’t understand the danger of diving. He cares only about bigger and better sponges. He doesn’t think about what can happen out there in the Gulf. That’s why I’m always telling you not to do anything foolish. I promised your families to keep you safe.”

  The diver sighed. “We know, Nico—over and over, you announce those rules like a nagging parent.”