The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

HIS ISLE OF REFUGE. The introduction of General Vyner into the scheme had been a sudden inspiration of Saville’s. He had seen the papers early that morning; in fact, his first action on reaching San Francisco was to consult the arrivals list. There he had discovered the general’s presence in the city, and he de- termined to play that unconscious warrior as a further strong card. Waiting in Carson City was one Baldy Malone, a New York unworthy whom Sa- ville owned body and soul. He it was whose duty it would be to rescue Coulson Stanbury at the proper time. To this Baldy Malone Saville straight- way wired a long message in a cipher pre- arranged hetween them. The telegram so opportunely received by Carmichael was the result. The general had unwittingly clinched the matter by inviting Saville and Car- michael to dine with him that evening. Both men, however, politely declined, Car- michael on the excuse of his living at Oak- land and fear of night damp, and Saville on the score of business matters. Of course, neither Cordwainer nor Gen- eral Vyner was told of the precise reasons why they were asked to identify Saville, and they were under the impression that it was merely a trifling formality in connec- tion with business. They both knew that Saville had left New York in company with Coulson Stanbury, however, and some fencing was necessary to explain Sa- ville’s presence in San Francisco alone. In this Donald Carmichael aided, and Saville found no difficulty there. Carmichael, Scottish to the last, and un- known to Saville, did indeed make sure that General Vyner was General Vyner and no one else by means of a brief series of telegrams between New York and San Francisco, but probably the testimony of Cordwainer, whom Carmichael had known for twenty years, would alone have been sufficient to satisfy the bank president. A brief private conversation between the two, in the way of which Saville had been careful to place no obstacles, con- vinced Carmichael, beyond any shadow of 111 doubt, that Coulson Stanbury and Saville had been on most intimate terms in New York, and, moreover, that the latter was known to be a man of considerable means on his own account. This had really put Carmichael’s mind quite at ease, and his subsequent inquiries were merely for future reference, in case Stanbury found reason to regret the im- pulsive steps he was taking and tried to throw the blame on others. The Colum- bian Bank had had experiences of that sort in its time. But everything appeared decidedly O. K., and there remained only to pay over to Saville the sum demanded. At the very last moment Saville had produced the check for the two thousand dollars on Davenport Lisle’s account, saying, what was really true, that he had forgotten it until then, and Carmichael authorized its payment without demur. The million dol- lars, of course, was a slightly different mat- ter. “You say you want it in specie—gold,” said Carmichael, “not in notes. Well, gold is the usual currency out here in the West, but it will be a big lump for you to cart about, Mr. Saville—notes would be much handier.”’ “I have to go by Mr. Stanbury’s in- structions,” returned Saville a little curtly, “and he said gold. As to the inconven- ience—well, that is my lookout, isn’t it?” He felt that the moment had come to display a little impatience, and the effect had been satisfactory and immediate. He was to call at the Columbian Bank in two hours’ time and receive the money. “We haven’t that amount on the prem- ises at the moment,” Carmichael ex- plained, “but the government Treasury is within a couple of blocks—and there is al- ways the Mint,” he added, with cumbrous Caledonian humor. And on this he and Saville had parted. During the interval the latter got busy. Although he felt quite sure that the bank president no longer suspected him, Saville took no risks. For all he knew he might be watched, and his first step was to COMMICGLOOKS (C@