The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 73 “A fight !’’ exclaimed all of them at once, with eager interest, for they were all Tom’s true disciples. ‘©? Twixt who ?’’ demanded Bob Rottle. ‘ Between Toni and Andy Lamb,’’ answered Phin. ‘Then Tom knocked his eyes out of his head,’’ added Josh Boole. ‘“No, he didn’t; Andy knocked him overboard, and then took him to Bunkel ;’’ and Phin told the whole story, as he understood it, and was sorry Tom had not been the victor in the battle. ‘Give usa tow, will you, Phin? Weare tired of rowing ; and you can bet there is going to be another fight down to Bunkel, if Andy Lamb don’t run off,’’? said Bob Rottle. Phin Barkpool had not the slightest objection to seeing Andy thrashed after the events of the day, and he took the painter of the row boat and made it fast to the stern of the Milly. Besides he was afraid of the trio of hood- lums, and it was not prudent to refuse the request. The course was nearly before the wind, and in a short time, the skipper cast off his tow near the spot where ‘Tom had landed. ‘They pulled the rest of the way; but before they reached the rock which served as a wharf, Tom came down to the water. The chief of the hoodlums wore a leather belt ; and when he appeared to his chosen followers on the present occasion, a pair of revolvers were thrust into it on the left hand side, so that he looked something like a walking arsenal. His face was terribly battered by the hard fist of Andy Lamb, though he had washed the blood from it ; and this was probably the first time in the current month that he had done such a thing as wash his face. “Hi! Hi! Hi!’’ shouted Bob Rottle, as soon as he saw his chief. ‘Twig the shooters in his belt !”’ , ‘“My eyes !’’ cried Buck Fishler. ‘Bully for Tom !’’ added Josh Boole. ‘‘ Where have you been all day?’’ demanded Tom imperiously, as the boat touched the rock. ‘‘I thought to see you two hours ago.’’ ‘“We couldn’t get the boat any sooner,’’ replied Bob Rottle, who appeared to be the second in influence in the gang. ‘‘I say, Tom, where did you get all them shooters? ’”’ ‘“Ask me no lies, and I’ll tell you no questions,’’ replied Tom, face- tiously, and with a smile on his battle stained face, for he was pleased to have his inferiors notice his armory. ‘*But where did you get the shooters?’’ persisted Bob. ‘‘ Can’t we get some in the same place?’’ ‘“No, you can’t ; these were sent to me asa free gift by my granny, and she hain’t no more on ’em.’’ : He certainly had not brought them from Montoban on the raft; and he would certainly have used them if he had had them in his fight with Andy, at least to frighten him. But Tom insisted that where and how he had obtained these weapons should remain a mystery. ‘Had a fight and got licked, Phin Barkpool says,’’ contigaee Bob Rottle, when he gave tp the attempt to penetrate the mystery of the revolvers. ‘““Who says I got licker ?’’ demanded ‘Tom. COMMiclooolks 5}