The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-09-28

reminder OF that word peneiled ON
the slip of paper-remember?- Sen.
aramos.'"
Resilius Marvel was a quick think.
er and never slow in action. Behold
us the very next day, a steam
launch at our disposal and a man in
charge who knew the Caribbean like
book
Resilius Marvel would not have
been what he was had he started ON
the cruise unaware of what he was
running into. Separation Island was
one of those innumerable dots on the
water north of Venezuela, sometimes
an appurtenance of the state, some
times coded to corporation, often
sold to individuals. For fifty years it
had been bone of contention among
varied claimants. 1t was in dispute
now, as we were soon to learn.
l think | shall never forget the
scene that greeted our eyes the morn
ing we reached the island One end
ran up into bold promontory that
was natural fortress. The remain
der of the island, famous for large
deposits of a silica nature of sound
commercial value, was quite level.
Grouped on that portion in the bril-
liant sunlight was small army of
about one hundred men. AS we
neared them we stared and wondered.
Never was a coterie of apparent
warriors so equipped. There was
scarcely man who had not at his
belt half dozen weapons They car
r1ed knives, daggers, stillettos, pis-
tolls, revolvers, sawed-off guns. Then
l guessed what had happened-they
had discovered that fearful armament
aboard The Arrow and had utilized
1t to the limit.
We were not menaced, only stared
at as we ran ashore. The first man
to greet US officially was Colonel Aloa
Gaspard
When he knew that we knew of
The Arrow and of its contraband
load, he was open, smiling and friend
ly. He was about to do some labori-
GUS explaining, when a gun doomed
from the promontory and a white flag
was waved from that natural rock
battlement.
1T is all settled-ah! the dread ar
ray of our troops, veritably armed to
the teeth, did 1t! That, and the cash"
declared one host. Gentlemen, your
missions and you shall be seen to
grandly by Senior Rodney Vincent,
who will soon be at your service"
And Just then the mysterious one,
the girl who had vanished" ap-
peared.
Il have come to see Miss Geraldine
Farrar," explained Resilius Marvel.
and her wondering eyes were soon
gazing inquiringly into his reassuring
ones.
A plain man, Resilius Marvel told a
plain story, to witness incredulity.
then horror. then grief steal over the
expressive face of the young girl.
She was white truth itself, as she
, explained that Warner Clay had beer
: her guardian for an estate in the
south. A month before the present
!, time she had attained her majority
| The estate was worth over 100000
but could not be readily turned into
cash.
Il needed money" she confessed
blushingly. Il was engaged to Mr..
Rodney Vincent, who owns this is.
land, who has just been negotiating
with a false claimant who stole all
our weapons and preserved posses.
slon OF the fortress. Mr.. Clay paid
me $4,000 cash for my property. The
deed on record in Baldwin county.
Alabama, will verify that fact. He
knew that | would be practically out
or the world on this lonely island. and
trusted to the impulse of greed to
cover my name with crime. think
Ing l would not be located"
We found Mr.. Rodney Vincent a
most estimable young man who wor-
SHIPPED the ground that Miss Geral-
dine Farrar trod on-the fair young
girl who had brought her fortune to
his rescue. The dynamite was
thought of the sanguinary Colonel
Gaspard, who wanted to blow the in
truders clear off the island.
have pleasant memories vet OF the
sight of celebration we passed on
Separation Island. We went north
the next day, prepared to clear the
fair name of Warner Clay's ward Of
all reproach
When Resilius Marvel, arrived 1T
home, went to confront our bank
client with the evidences of his per-
fidy, ! never saw a man turn so
craven-nor SO yellow. The man left
the city as soon as he could sell his
tagged" to every bank
within the clearing house.