The San Francisco call. [volume], February 20, 1910, Page 6, Image 6

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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**\ "YOU'RE a queer chap, Carteret. What
••\ I under the sun makes you think you're
\' going on the Water Kelpie?"
£ Bidwell wore an expression of skeptical
good humor as he watched the Virginian.
He had an almost abnormal respect for this young
man and for his capabilities. He had gauged him
with his own quiet accuracy of judgment and had
found him shrewd and able. More tli2ii all else, he
had had a personal demonstration of Carter's intelli
gence. But the young man's intimation that he meant
to be one of a very especially select company soon to
leave for a month's cruise on Calvin Stanhope's yacht
seemed mere boastful extravagance.
"Why," said Carter coldly, "do you see any partic
ular reason why. I shouldn't?"
"No, my dear fellow, not the slightest reason. But
you haven't been invited."
"I shall be."
Bidwell shrugged his shoulders, smiling. "I like
your complete confidence in that desirable consum
mation. Incidentally, if I were close to Stanhope
myself you should have had your invitation anyway.
But I'm a parvenue in that crowd myself."
Carter smiled back. He did not resent Bidwell's
plain acceptance of R. P-endleton Carteret as a par
venue. He understood Bidwell perfectly and occa
sionally dropped the mask in his presence. The
insurance president rested- under heavy debt to him
and had remained his unreserved friend in spite of
that fact.
"I know you would have aided me if you could,"
he answered, "and it's quite clear to me that the
presence of Mrs. Bidwell and yourself on that craft
represents years of patient preparation. You nat
urally doubt that I, not nearly so well equipped
as 3-ourself, should count upon entering Stanhope's
charmed circle."
"A perfectly natural doubt, you'll admit," said the
other, rapping on the table to call the attention of a
passing waiter.
"Then you can see no possible opening for me?"
"Absolutely none, Carteret, if you want me to be
quite frank. Without any desire to discourage your
laudable ambition or to reflect undue credit upon
myself, Stanhope's cruises are things to marvel and
wonder at There are always just so many guests
on board, of just such a character, picked, so the
stories go, as an artist might weave colors or com
pose a bouquet of flowers, with studied care as to
the complementary and contrasting qualities of the
various individuals. A sort of social epicurean
dream. The masterly picking and choosing is said
to make the voyages delightfully congenial, and it's
certain that there's not a soul in New York who
won't jump at the chance to go. No one is out of
place, no one is left over and no one is lacking for
any of the entertainments and amusements with
which Stanhope so cleverly passes the time."
"And he's all filled up for this one," said Carter,
reflectively.
"The invitations were out last week. There are
to be 14 in all. Husbands with their wives account
for eight, and the gathering is really remarkable."
*'I know, you told me. The three remaining men
are Bascom, Little and Stuyver, bachelors all. " And
still I say that I shall be one of that same remarkable
THE $1,000 WAGER _ '
Bidwell felt there was small profit in carrying the
discussion further. The thing* was simply impos
sible, and if Carteret chose to think he could, do it,
well, what matter ?^;, V
! "Still unconvinced? I'll give you a chance to
back your view, of it," laughed the Virginian.
"I shouldn't care to rob you," returned Bidwell.
"Don't mention it, old fellow. . Come, are you
with me for a thousand?"
"If you press me I'll say done." . -
"Done it is," said Carter, and they shook on it.
"Now, I expect a little help," continued Carter.
"Nothing that will place your wager in • jeopardy.
But really if I'm going to be along with you for a
month I must have something to wear, and it may be
that I can only join you at the last minute. All I
want you to do is to include a trunk of mine with
your baggage. No, I don't mean to crawl inside It"
"I admire the way you have of still taking it foi
granted that you're coming," said Bidwell, with a
laugh. "I wonder what Stanhope would say to/heai
you talking? But there's no trouble about the trunk
We'll fix that easily. Perhaps you might be -kind
enough to send the key along. I might be able c
use the contents myself, and it would be too bad tc
have your outfit idle." • -
"Don't you worry about my outfit. I'm going tc
use that myself. I'll let you know when to expect the
trunk and send it around. Goodby.""
Carter kffew Stanhope slightly and liked- him. H.e
hoped to know him better, for the Stanhopes were the
leaders of a set he had never been able to enter
Robert Carter, now these several months in full bloorr
as R. P^endleton Carteret, was well and favorabl}
known in many desirable quarters. He was com
fortably settled in modest but presentable/ bachelo)
apartments, and was no longer ilTthe. position" of^ the
adventuring outlaw who sallies abroad with- hungrj
glance and ready weapon in search of. a chance wind
fall. He was safely ensconced part way up the sid<
THE SOCIETY WOLF
of the bristling? galleon that is society. But he had
gone so far only to. find unsuspected and hidden bar
riers that must still be passed jbefore. he' could win
aloft. .., •,
Mrs. Pulsain, a mighty ally in his campaigns, could
not aid him with the Stanhopes. They. were not of her
group, which was rather of the newer financial and in
dustrial fortunes. While she herself was sufficiently
well placed to have been one'of them, she had become
the leader of a set apart from theirs*, where "ancient
lineage and landed estates were accorded more weight.
Calvin Stanhope was a pleasant spoken, well* man
nered man, of the^youthfully bald -type, with ah. en- *
gaging smile and a mobile- mouth. Carter, had -met
him at the New York yacht' club, whither he some
times went with Percival Champney. With what tact
and shrewdness he might- he/ had, tried to cultivate
Stanhope, but with small success. Whether it was
that the man was conscious of the Virginian's arti
ficial claim to distinction or whether it was merely
the calni indifference to further acquaintance of one
whose present resources in all things are : sufficient,
Carter could not tell. His shafts, cleverly directed^to;
excite interest in himself, .rattled idly against the
yachtsman's polished armor. Yet with all his* re
serve Stanhope remained likable and most courteous./
He was q^iite lacking in insolence or the air of being
on his guard.
At a later meeting with Stanhope in; the club/Car
ter tried again. In the interval he-had studied yacht
ing and things thereto appertaining with his .won
derful facility for grasping, and assimilating, series^,
of facts. As a result he met with slightly. more- en-:
couragement. He attacked Stanhope through /his ;
foible. ,It was hard s to know: where the yachtsman,
ceased to be merely habitually decent and began
really to notice — so hard in fact that; if was almost
a matter of instinct./ Still, as: they sat chatting.cas
ually with Champney and. other's in the/ balustraded/
niche at the top of the wide marbJe/staircase,•.-Car-:.
ter began to feel that lie had at least identified him
self in Stanhope's mind, attaching his -face, -name
and some impression that he was not wholly impos
sible to the other's consciousness. This was ; some-;
thing, if he could find a way to^improve* it. / r£
LAYING THE "PIPES." !*"
And then it was in the -course of the talk, that
he learned of Stanhope's coming cruise^ in; his new
yacht, the Water Kelpie. .Having learned; from/Bid-/
well who were to form the company he examined
the possibilities. Shortly ; afterward Uie__fprmed the
• audacious resolve which took Bidwell so by surprise.
| On the morning after the conversation with/ Bid
well" Carter presented himself at- the office of Gatz
-Brown in Wall street, where of late he /had ,. been/
something of a stranger. The financier hailed him :
warmly. \ -i--' '\u25a0'-'\u25a0
"There you are, Carter, my boy. \u25a0 Hold s on. Car
teret'is the proper word now, eh? Coming up' fast, 1 ,
aren't you? Glad to see you. Sit down."- :
"Thanks, Mr. Gatz-Brown. How are.the trotters?"_
"Pacers, my boy, pacers. I ' haven't driven jj a trot
ter in three months.. Pacers for me every , time. I'{ye
- got .the best stable on Long. Island, even- if you -won't .
come to see it. But what can I do for you?" • ;".-."
"I've come to ask a favor; Mr. Gatz-Brown."
"Favor, eh?" returned the other, eyeing him keenly,
but chuckling all over his rotund" little body.* "Come,
now, Carteret, you played it ; pretty low on 'the ; old
man last time youflaunted your pennon in theseparts.'
Turned the double cross on, him, by, George! .Seems
to me you've got a well r developed; nerve to come
around talking favors." . v ; . «J« J ;
"I don't expect to get any," said the Virginian/bold
l}', with his open smile, /'but! tfeat -doesn't/ keep -me
from asking. And what you've just .;<. ;< said: is- my -'best
reason for asking. You'd rather help a man- when you
know what he's done than "when; you've, got .him
checked up as a question mark. However, ; this isn't an
t affair 'by which I propose to profit directly.'.'. ,"/; ./> '.
;/ "Philanthropic.'eh?" : ( . >..•; \u25a0:...:.-•; _\u25a0\u25a0 -^ -,•
"Not. exactly. Is -Bcrtrandv.Bascom . : still \. nursing
Hicksville. and Great Eastern?" -\u0084 : -; \u25a0 ' '\u25a0 : ' .
' "Nursing it? : That's good! ! .That's "Bascom's'way,
all right; he's the fussy ; nursemaid 'forjyou'.whcn 1 he's
got 'anything on. . • Yes," he : added \vith";suddcn'cau-
a m iiiiiip|Bi»iiiiii
PLAYING THE RAYS rAS BEST HE^MIGHT ;
TOWARD THE YACHT.
tion. "I believe h'e'.s ,. still 'pretty much .. interested \u25a0in
Hicksville and Great Eastern. -Why?" "• . • !
"It wouldn't be. hard for ypu> to. nod -your head in
the direction ; of that-stock and make it look as if it'had
a self-induced attack of delirium tremehs, would it?"
"Come, Carter, get to the pointy /What are you
gunning for?"
"I'm gunning for' Bascom." - :
\ "Well,- let's hear; the/scheme." \ /.;- \u25a0-.
The Virginian described the whole plan,; briefly and
frankly, while Gatz-Brown fumbled with the papers,
on-his desk, smiles and frowns. alternating. on his face. '
"Lord, what cheek you have to come bothering me.
with such .things" he snapped .finally:
v "Yesrand no," returned Carters calriily. "What dif- V
ference does it make 'to you? Trie market iis- like a
harp ' of a 'thousand-, strings- to. you. ;. I've watched
you.-;.. You; play for the "enjoyment of; the. game. It's i
business, yes, .but pleasure, too. You've got imagi
nation., . The harmony you: draw from \u25a0" the -thing is
the total- result of your- various manipulations.-' You
can just /as \u25a0 well ; include , the •; Hicksville and Great
Eastern in your next symphony; : it's -just -another
string to pluck." ,\u25a0->-••
NO HIS PROMISE.
; Gatz-Brqwn stared a little. 'Here/ was surely a"
novel . view , of the jj grind of stock : market "affairs. ' \u25a0 But ,
the- Virginians knew his man, knew >himVas?' he. made ;
a point of -knowing. all with, whom he > came"' in con- \
tact. There J was a, streak of , sentiment ' in the' little
financier and; the figure appealed to him. Privately/
he. had. always liked /to think-that' the" ledger balance,
of his operations was not the sum and total of his.
business life.- ' \u25a0
/' "You see, -Mr. ; Gatz-Brown; I'm not trying to coin
the thing. " I'm not asking you to put it up or put"
it down. -All I -ask. is that^you pick it- up .and use
it in some-w ay; \u25a0 you can -make it f pay as well as
anything else,"- 'Carter wound up.
Gatz-Brown v reflected, \u25a0 with his dancing eyes upon
his visitor. -."Strange \u25a0 what a ; hold you have over,. me,'
Carteret. Here ;you are : trifling with a busy manover
some kind : of horse ; play, and instead, of sending you
about your business: I suppose I'll have to ; do what
you ask." /,//. -"'_._. ', '\u25a0.--—"\u25a0- --•- —v-^-.; .•:\u25a0\u25a0*-/\u25a0•
'%. "rilbeyeternally, grateful,",. ventured Carter. .
"Damn your gratitude," said the other briskly. "I'll
do} what', you ask./ But \u25a0no - tricks,' rio\y. v ;No tricks." '•' "
. /"Not . a trick, ! I solerhly. vow,"/ said/Carter, as he
tdok'^his.' leave.V V ' •;\u25a0 ; ' ' // / / " , // "
. Hisinext visit in the 'financial district, was to his old
friend/ Welds tone, 'who greeted him .warmly. , Car
eer; explained his wants: once more,- and jthe broker
' agreed ; to help /him , as :\u25a0 far as possible. .: Weldstone
also undertook toT'drop' some ''comments where a -Wall
street/publication /would" be : likely to pick them/ up.
With =that- his preliminary i plan was as /well" laid as
'he could hope." .'' \u25a0 /. \
.vThe; whole, "affair was , as purely gambling as; any-_
/tKing.he.had.eyer.put.'his hand to, f but,the yirgirnan,
.was used tottakiiig chances.t It was^now ; the r 10th fof
\u0084 October. October. * "The AVater. Kelpie/ was to \ steam /with: her
• company r; on the -:12th:'-. As* part- of his-stakean' the;
game Carter, made a : trip 'do wn the > Long I slarid shore
and^purchasedc'an old gasoline, oyster/ boat; '_ Not a
-craft, to "awaken a thrill of pride ', in i the yachtsman's
breast/was his Yew; acquisition. Broad; in ithe/bearn
/and • -broad , in /the {nose, utilitarian, "vulgar/and^ noisy,'
she t could vdp >; no /better / than ?\u25a0; six knots at her * best. :
The fact that- "she ; had .been'; newly . painted/, white
engine was in' fairly good shape' were, her. best
to/her new owner.- *:/\u25a0:;
\u25a0/]On" the morning of October. l 2 Carter sent his trunk
Uo Bidwell's' home arid:iateVicalled;the'insurance.pres
"Still' coming/ Carteret?"
"I'll be with you."
"Shall we hold the Water Kelpie at the pier?"
. "Don't worry. I'll be there in time.. I hope'you
have the thousand with you."
As Carter headed out along the south shore in his
oyster boat on the afternoon of the* 12th he amused
himself with an armful of the evening newspapers.
All of them contained mention of mysterious rumors
concerning Hicksville and Great Eastern. For some
months the stock had been inactive, but with the open
ing of the market two days before it had jumped up
three^oints. Later, ithad fallen six, to .recover in a
wholly inexplicable fashion. Talk of approaching
dividend conflicted with prediction of a bad traffic
statement, and Wall street had hatched a brood of its.
strange tales, to the great delight . of the para
graphers. ...
OUT AT SEA ALONE
It . had \ been . a windy "/ early " fall, and Carter had
: counted upon weather favoring his purpose. As night
drew in a fresh - southeast breeze sent'the old oyster
boat wallowing; heavily, and Carter headed back be
fore it: He wished to be able to face ; the sea some
where off- Long'Beach. After a time he picked up the
; lights of Coney Island.' It was hazy to windward, but
a luminous, banlc of "clouds overhead made the sur
rounding expanse clear enough.- To the south the
long, powerful hulk of ah ocean liner, studded with
twinkling points, swept in toward the' Narrows. An
other was, coming .up from farther east. Two ocean
going tugs conveying' a massive. clump of lighters
plunged .sullenly and ponderously outward.. He
glanced at his watch by theglowpf his cigar. , It was'
8 o'clock. By this time he thought. the Water Kelpie
should have left her dockr* / '• ;\ ,
\u25a0His craftfheaved and squattered- among the waves
likea'hen in the sand. Her engine pounded on in
dustriously, missing 'fire with \ amiable " regularity. .It
came cold, and Carter had recourse, to "an oyercpatVof
ancient vintage- which he had had the forethought to
bring. He made a nest for himself near the wheel
with an old. awning dragged "from a cubby hole, and
smoked:cigars chain fashion. HeLwould have a pleas
ant outing- pf it fpr his thpusand odd dollars and his
trouble if nothing more.
He ran in well past- Rbckaway, then turned once
more. 'The southeast breeze was snoring comfortably
and -the oyster boat staggered into it- without too
much effort. It occurred to him thatwith the direc
tion of the -wind it would be .better to keep to the
south, and he altered his course a little. He shipped a
sea, or two- in the process' and began to find the
adventure not so : free from spice. About this time
he began to watchthe stretch behind him toward. the
harbor.; /; / \u25a0./ "• \
It was well \u25a0 past 10 o'clock ,and he was , chilled,
hungry, and far from-confident when ,he caught the'
red, green; and masthead lights of a vessel slipping
up':from the rear,_about a mile away. He sheered
off; south. again. Soon he made out the glow of her
-starboard : ports. - She came,, on swiftly... As he
watched, anxiously, he suddenly became aware that
he had misjudged her course, in. the obscurity and
as a /result of the loss of, the sense of distance and
direction due to his position; close to the water level
the Water Kelpie, if it Were' shc v A would pass fully
a quarter of amile inshore from him.- He headed
about desperately,, taking /the /sweep of the .waves
and soaked with sheeting, spray. V - \
.He raised a .shout, but the wind drowned his voice.
The oyster -boat struggled "laboriously* oh- with her
waddling.. gait. . He understood now that his plan
. had gone awry."- There was -no possibility of clos
ing- the' gap. He was caught, in/ a situation" 'that
was as ludicrous as it was futile. , Again he raised
a cry. ;The vessel was nearly abreast, of him and
"he; could make out the graceful outlines of a yacht,
cabin, ports : brilliantly illuminated. /He. climbed to
: the "-littlei-Strip ** of ,deck-> forward,- 'tore "loose -his -one
•battered /old 'lamp and nvaved^it wildly.
.-ment;- even "that failed him,:- for the light .went out.'
He sat'down sullenly on'hisbundle.of awning. • /,- '
Theyacht^had passed when he sprang suddenly/ to
renewed . action. /jHe /caught up: a •wrench.*, and
r knocked a flimsy .locker- door to splinters. ~ -Then %he
rolled fj the /newspapers,. into" a loose^bundle, i. thrust
; them To n, his little forward .'deck and -weighted them
\u25a0against^ the /wind with, fragments.^ .-He wasV diilyj
thankful that |he v was/ not dependent "upon" matches.
His pocket cigar "'lighter: was / at "hand and in a" mo
, ment 1 he L had '': kindled .the ; paper v L at ' a ' dozen poin ts.
•Still) holding;, to :;the*^^ flapping papers that ./thV breeze
"\u25a0 threatened j to: tear/ from 'him/ he;kickedsin\the;panel
iof v another Uocker> and* added -theV^ splintered 'pieces.
\The-;flarnesVflickered;;^^ flared^ and: suddenly; broke out
Hwildly. v;/He radded> more : fuel, feeding- the -.locker
'doors. ,-. -';'/\u25a0 \u25a0/'/• '/ -.-•... . \u25a0'• x . / / vs££&i
-^\u25a0;He -left ;• the ; fire andvpicked • up" \u25a0 the; useless -\u25a0 lamp.
\u25a0 .' -.\u25a0'"- : ' \u25a0' '•'•\u25a0 \u25a0""•: \u25a0 < '''-CfIBftaaBHHtSBBBHHIBM^WI
The , San Francisco Sunday Call
He knocked out the glass, flattened the. sides and
stood with the reflector held back of the blaze, play
ing the rays as best he might toward the yacht, which
was now well out from him. His own craft held its
course inshore slowly, and the wind kept the shower
of sparks clear of her over the bow. The gasoline
tank, was safe, well aft. He had no intention of allow
ing the fire to get beyond possible control unless his
plan should work. But in this, as in' all things, he
put forth every resource that came to his hand.
, PICKED UP •
Blinded by the fierce, leaping light, he could only
penetrate the darkness ahead by running to the stern
and shielding his eyes.. He could see no alteration in
the yacht's course. He hurried back to the fire and
resumed signaling with his makeshift reflector.
Then, with a throaty whoop that set his pulses to
jumping, the yacht's whistle sounded. Instantly he
stepped back to the engine and slowed it to the last
speed. V
The forward deck was all ablaze now, but he paid
no attention to it. Out at the stern he could see that
the yacht had swung widely to the south and was
traveling at reduced speed abreast of him. After five
minutes of waiting he decided to stop his engine alto
gether, taking a chance that the wind would not swing
the craft head to. Then he caught a glimpse of a
white object part way between himself and the yacht.
He pulled the flooring aside, tied a stout cord around
the plug in the bottom, which he loosened with hi 3
boot heel, and waited.
The forward half of the oyster boat was burning
when Carter, peering through the darkness, pulled
loose the plug. Then he stripped off his overcoat and
perched well out on the stern. The wind caught him
and his craft had swung into a dangerous position,
with the sparks showering about the engine, when he
made out a six oared surf boat skimming toward him.
Never was a more thrilling rescue. The oyster boat
was plunging and wallowing helplessly, a foot of
water in her.
Just as Carter, pulled by friendly hands, stumbled
into the surf boat the blazing craft swung head to
the wind, and a horizontal sheet of flame swept full
upon the men. The boatswain's shout was not
needed to warn the crew of the danger of the gaso
line. .Thrusting off quickly they laid to their oars
and started back to the yacht. Behind them the old
oyster boat, in the grip of the fire t from stem to
stern, lit the widening space. Apparently the ris
ing water had protected the fuel tank.
. **A close squeak, sir," said the boatswain, who
stood at the tiller.
"You may wellsay so," returned Carter. "What
ship is that?"
"The Walter Kelpie, sir. Mr. Stanhope's yacht."
When they reached the vessel the Virginian sprang
lightly to the lowered gangway. Curious faces lined
the rail above him." At the top of the steps stood
Stanhope in yachting costume, with several men and
women about him. 'He pressed forward as the res
cued man stepped on deck.
"What he asked quickly. "My pilot
seemed to think you set the fire yourself."
. "So I did, Mr. Stanhope," returned Carter, quietly,
stepping forward to where the light fell, upon his
face. "The engine had stopped and she was leaking
badly, with a foot of water in her. I took the last
chance I had." .
"Well, I'm blessed," cried the other, peering at
him and. holding put a hand. "Isn't this — isn't this
Mr. Carteret, -whom I met at the yacht club?"
"The same," answered Carter, returning the hand
shake, while exclamations arose from all sides. "Sorry
to have given you all this trouble, I'm sure. It all
comes of trusting one's self so far out in an open
launch." -
V WILL HE REMAIN?
>. Stanhope brushed the suggestion aside with laugh
ing good nature. The women had withdrawn. He
introduced the Virginian to the men, none of whom
Carter knew personally. Bidwell was not in sight.
"Come on, Carteret; you must be frozen^ and
starved. We'll have a little celebration of your timely
arrival on the scene." Stanhope led the way to the.
forward deck house, into the smoking room, and gave
quick orders to silent stewards. Cartef told his story
.of danger and shipwreck over the glasses, told it
extremely , well. Stanhope and the others listened
with interest and sympathy. The yachtsman watched
the handsome, expressive face with approval.
"And now, Mr. Stanhope," said Carter at the end,
"if it's nor too 'much trouble, I'll ask you to put me
off with the pilot. I can get back in the morning." \u25a0<
"Mr. Carteret," returned Stanhope courteously, "I
have a very great favor to ask. I pride myself on
arranging my cruises 'with great care. At the last
minute one of my guests failed me — Bertrand Bas
com—perhaps you-know him. He most traitorously
withdrew, sending word that tiresome stock compli
cations would detain him. Now, see my predicament.
We're off for a month^and here we are with a gap in
the 'company. Most pfovidentally, most happily, we
take you off a burning launch. \u25a0 In return for that
favor I must beg that you will accompany us." __
. ' "Now, that's very kind- of you," answered Carter,
returning Stanhope's smile. -- "But it would be poor
return for your saving ray life, I'm sure, to foist my
self upon you," :. "V "
- "Tut'tut!; 1 must really demand.it, Carteret. Lr»
: less,. of ;course, you have some absolutely necessary
engagement ashore," pressed Stanhope, warmly.
v The Virginian was forced to admit that he had
no 'such engagement.
' "Then we'll call it, settled," said Stanhope, beam
ing upon him. In the midst of the approving chorus
a' man stepped in from the deck and started on see
ing the little'tableau about the table. %
"What's this I * hear about a"— he began. Then,
"Why it's Carteret!" 4 . 4 \u25a0 . . . '
The newcomer, was .Bidwell. .He came lorward witn
outstretched hand and a stare of amazement.
"Yes," cried Stanhope, as the two men shook hands.
Carter smiling .slyly "at "Bid well, "and what's more*
he's going to :be one "of u<."
.'"But" what shall 'l- do for clothes?" asked Carter,
perplexed. Bidwell rose nobly to the situation, recov
ering with a gasp. ;
\u0084 •"Oh." don't worry about that, old man, he an—
*swered.; "I've somcextra duds along that will fit
• you. perfectly.'' : ~; \u25a0 - *
"I begin. to feel sorry for Bascom.' said Carter.
r ; (Continued Next Sunday.)