The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

68 THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. Andy brought up on the half deck of the Diana. ‘Tom Sawder was at the tiller, and Di Singerlay was seated in the standing room as far as she could get from her brutal companion. Her cheeks still glowed with the indigna- tion which had not subsided, for the hoodlum was still in possession. ‘‘I didn’t ask you to come into this boat, Andy Lamb,’’ said Tom, rising in his place and looking rather more belligerent than usual. ‘I know you didn’t, but Miss Singerlay did,’’ replied Andy, stepping down into the standing room by the side of the fair skipper. ‘‘ I came at her call, and not yours.’’ ‘“Tm runnin’ this boat jest now, le’ me tell you,’’ continued Toni, with a scowl which was intended to produce an impression on the newcomer, ‘I know very well that the sloop belongs to Miss Singerlay, and if she wants you to run it, I have nothing to say. But she screamed, and called for help. ‘That is the reason I am here,’’ replied Andy. ‘I don’t find no fault with your bein’ here, ’cause I want you to help me put them boards on Bunkel Island,’’ added Tom, with a coarse grin. ‘‘ But I want you to know I’m runnin’ this boat.’’ Andy looked at the fair skipper to see if she had objections to the arrange- ment proposed by the hoodlum. | ‘“ He was on that raft, and he shouted half a dozen times for help, and said he should be drowned if I did not save him,’’ said Di, half choked with emotion. ‘‘As soon as I took him in, he made me give him the helm. In a word, he took the boat away from me! ’’ ‘“That’s all so; I hain’t got a word to say agin’ any on’t,”’ replied Tom, with another grin, as though he thought his operations were all regular. ‘‘ I want the boat to get them boards over to Bunkel; then, I’m goin’ back home and she can have the boat again.’’ ‘But you have stolen the boat from Miss Singerlay, Tom Sawder,’’ pro- tested Andy. ‘“T don’t want no sass, Andy Lamb;’’ and the fist that was not on the tiller was clenched, as though he meant what he said. : ‘‘ That’s it, Andy; he took the boat away from me; he stole it!’’ ex- claimed Di, her indignation beginning to boil again as she rehearsed the out- rage. ‘“‘I was ready to save him, but I’m not going to be treated in this manner.’’ | ‘“T guess you can’t help yourself, Di,’’ added Tom. ‘“I came on board to assist you, Miss Singerlay, and I will do what you desire,’ said Andy; but he felt that in making this offer, he was taking a big contract on his hands. Tom Sawder was both older and heavier than Andy, and he was a thorough bruiser besides, so that the odds seemed to be all against the champion of the fair skipper. But he was old fashioned enough to believe there was a great deal in being on the right side. The wretch had committed an outrage upon a young lady in taking her boat from her, and he had heard the hoodlum threaten to ‘‘bat’’ her if she again called for help. ‘‘I want my boat, and that is all I want,’’ replied Di. ‘““She can’t have it till I git done with it,’’ said Tom. EOMmicbooks