The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

302 THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. “I don’t care who he is; he has been stealing the strawberries,’”’ replied the father. ‘“TI have not touched your strawberries, Mr. Singerlay ; and I did not even know that you had any,’’ Andy ventured to say in the mildest of tones. ‘' Do you think a man would have a place like mine without having straw- berries on it?’’ demanded the magnate; and the remark seemed to be a new grievance to him. ““T meant only to say that I have no personal knowledge of your straw- berry bed,”’ added Andy. ‘‘ What are you doing on my grounds, then ?’’ demanded the owner of the Montoban mill. ‘“T landed from a boat and was on my way home.’’ Mr. Singerlay opened the side door, and conducted his prisoner to his office, which was a large apartment where he sometimes attended to the varied details of his business. As soon as they were in the room, he released Andy, and proceeded to look him in the face as though he intended to overawe him, and thus bring out the signs of his guilt. Andy did not overawe worth a cent. He had done nothing wrong, and he held up his head like a man. ‘The magnate looked at his face, and exam- ined his hands; but he could not find a single red stain upon him. Dolph appeared to have his reasons for conciliating the prisoner, and -he spoke in his favor. “Whether you stole my strawberries or not, you are a trespasser on my grounds, and if ever I catch you on my property again, I will prosecute you,”’ continued Mr. Singerlay. ‘' You can go now.”’ Andy’s self respect did not permit him to make any reply to this unpleas- ant speech, and he left the office. He was not even tempted to change the current which had set against him by alluding to the event on the lake, for he felt that he had been very shabbily treated. The office opened into an entry, on one side of which was the door leading out of the house. When he came to the door he found he could not open it. Hewasa machinist by nature, and while he was looking to see why he could not get ‘out, the father and son in the office resumed the conversation which had been interrupted by Andy’s unfortunate sneeze. The involuntary visitor had no intention of listening to it, but he could not open the door. ‘I must have the money, father,’’ said Dolph, very decidedly. ‘“Not a dollar for a steamer !’’ exclaimed the magnate, in the most un- compromising tone. , ‘‘ I have got a big idea in my head, father,”’ persisted Dolph. ‘‘I mean business, ’’ “Nonsense! There is no more business in your head than ina sick mule’s,’’ added the father, though he now seemed to be in better humor than he had been a moment before. ‘“‘In a dry time you run the mill at a loss because it costs so much to haul coal over the hills,’’ persisted the son. ‘‘ With a steamer on the lake and two or three barges ? Andy did not think it was the right thing for him to play the listener, and ‘bolo a com “Ss (e{o)