The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

102 He removed the pipe from his lips and thrust his face forward so that the fire- light shone up at it and gave his features a fierce, contorted expression. ‘““A good idea, Stanbury, for you and I to come away here in the wilds alone, only you and I, eh! No—sit still!” and a crim- son gleam showed where the polished bar- rel of a revolver hung level above the fire. Coulson Stanbury, who had started for- ward, sank back once more, the false rud- diness of the light disguising the actual pallor of his face. “You—Saville! Are you crazy?” he gasped. ‘“‘Put down that thing, man. Sure- ly you are not going to murder me!”’ Saville smiled grimly, the revolver still winking steadily in front of him. “Murder you, why no,” said he. ‘‘That would be a fool trick. But you have got to sit still right there while I talk.” “Oh, Dll do that,” returned Stanbury, “though what the Haischitel you are driving at I can’t imagine.” Then Saville spoke, dlowly and distinct- ly, as though he had rehearsed it all over many times beforehand, as indeed was the case. “Coulson Stanbury, you are a rich man, a multi-millionaire, they told me back in New York, though you yourself never con- fessed to over a million or so, and men in your position usually distrust their fellow creatures to an amazing extent. Even now it almost puzzles me to know how you came to confide in me to this extent, to come here alone with me many hundred miles from any other human being. “Tt seems that I must have played my part better than I thought. For playing a part I have been. You took me for one of your own kidney, an amasser of dollars, and a successful one at that. “Well, after all, you were not entirely wrong. Our methods differ somewhat, that is all. I am fairly wealthy, and now I am going to be wealthier still, for I am going to bleed you for a cool million— now remember your promise!” and the red gleam moved ominously as Stanbury made an involuntary movement. THE ARGOSY. “T have not finished yet—scarcely be- gun, in fact,” Saville went on. “It has just jumped into your mind that I am merely a low-down crook who has lured you here to hold you up in the good old- fashioned way. Well, it isn’t quite like that. I had reasons besides mere—super- taxing you, shall we say? I will give you two of those reasons. You remember Da- venport Lisle?”’ Stanbury started. “Is he at the back of this?” “Ah, you do remember him! No, he knows nothing of this little operation of mine. He was a rich man, too, once upon a time, wasn’t he? Not so rich as you, of course, but rich enough. The last time I saw him he was dying in a slum in New York, dying of fever, and lack of proper care and nourishment, but he had strength enough to curse the man who had brought him down, and curse him pretty heartily he did, I can assure you.” Stanbury made a husky noise which was meant for a laugh. “That is nonsense,” said he. “If one man makes money somebody else must lose it. Lisle was unlucky. I was the other thing, that is all it amounts to. Every poor devil who goes under curses the man who wins out. You know that as well as I do.” “T do know it,” returned Saville, ‘‘and if that was all I should not have thought it worth mentioning. But you did more than that—you.went to him when he was down and offered to put him on his. feet again—at a price.” Stanbury gave a little gulp, and when he spoke again his voice trembled. “Tf you believe all that Davenport Lisle told you,” he said with a harsh laugh, ‘“‘and I take it he pitched you some sort of yarn, you are a more credulous fool than I took you for.” Saville continued as though the oe had not spoken: “The price was the honor of his duck: ter—his only child, who was striving to support him and herself by giving swim- ming lessons in New York.” ECORMICGLOOOK (C@)