The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

104 “Ves; but permit me to doubt that it was to be a gratis one,”’ returned Saville. “Now we will sum up, if you don’t mind. Lisle’s case cost me two thousand dollars —it may possibly cost me more, but we will let that pass. With regard to Mrs. Van Thrupp, of course, I only want your receipt. Then there is, as I mentioned in the beginning, a million dollars for my- self—I might make it pounds sterling— you see I am English myself—but we will call it dollars.” Stanbury leaped to his feet, regardless of the revolver now held level with his head, for Saville had followed his move- ments with lightning-like rapidity. _ “A million dollars! Ill see you damned first!” CHAPTER II. TWO TO ONE. “QIT down,” ordered Saville sternly. “You asked me if I meant to mur- der you a while ago. I will ask you to remember that there is nothing to prevent my doing so, barring some slight reluc- tance on my part. Do not push that re- Juctance too far.” Stanbury stood undecided for a mo- ment, then he sank back in his old posi- tion, whereupon Saville imitated him. “But you are talking such infernal fool- ishness,” growled Stanbury. “A million dollars! How could I give it to you even if I wanted to, here in this place?” “We are coming to that,” replied Sa- ville. ‘‘I have a check-book with me. You can fill out a form, or you can give me a note of hand to your bankers. It is quite immaterial as far as I am concerned.” Stanbury stared at the speaker in amaze- ment. “Good Lord!” he exclaimed. ‘I begin to see how it is. You are mad—actually crazy. ‘This solitude has got on your brain. Why, you’d have to get your check or whatever it was cashed, and where would I be meanwhile, do you think?” “Here or hereabouts,” was the reply. THE ARGOSY. ‘““But—but,” stammered Stanbury, “you have said that you do not intend to harm me,”’ ‘Neither I do, if you are sensible. Listen, I said just now that we were not within hundreds of miles of another human being. That is not quite true. Just be- low in the lake is a motor-boat. It has been brought here by a man whom I can trust. He received instructions to be at this spot by a given date. He has obeyed orders and he replied to my signal a little while ago when I lit my pipe over yonder. ‘““He will take me in the boat—after cer- tain other arrangements have been carried out—and land me where I, or rather he, has a motor-car waiting. A few hours’ drive will take me to the rail. Within twelve hours of leaving here I shall be in ’Frisco. If your check or whatever it is you give me is honored I shall immediately send a wire to a man in Carson City whom I have there awaiting instructions, and he will set off at once to you. “Tf any difficulty confronts me as to obtaining the money, well, the wire will not be sent, and as even the man I speak of will not possess the remotest idea of your whereabouts, you can work out the result for yourself.” “Easy,” replied Stanbury sullenly. “Tl have to work my way to the railroad alone.” “Tf am afraid it would hardly pan out just like that,” said Saville, “because, you see, in the first place I shall leave you only sufficient food for a few days and no firearms to shoot anything; second, I shall plant you on an island.” “On an island?” “In the lake—yes. There is a nice, convenient one about a couple of miles from here and the same distance from the shore in any direction. I know you can- not swim ten yards, so you see how things will stand. “Tf all goes well and you play the straight game, you will simply suffer the inconvenience—if you look upon it as such—of camping alone for a few days. If, on the other hand, your bankers prove Gomicbooks (C@