The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 303 he returned as far as the door of the office. He had satisfied himself that the outside door was locked, and that the key had been taken away. ‘“T told you to go, you young rascal !’’ cried the magnate, when he saw the visitor at the door. ‘The door is locked, and I cannot get out,’’ answered Andy, humbly enough. Mr. Singerlay did not explain the matter, but he had locked the door when he came in, and put the key in his pocket, for he thought his prisoner might try to escape. He had forgotten it. Now, without any explanation, he unlocked the door, and permitted Andy to retire. ‘‘T don’t want to‘hear another word about a steamer, Dolph,’’ said Mr. Singerlay, as he returned to the office. ‘‘I am sure you would get blown up if you had one, and your mother would worry all the time about you.”’ ‘Vou seem to think I ama baby, father, but Iam not. I am sixteen year old, and that was the age of Charles XII when he took command of the army of Sweden,’’ replied Dolph, throwing back his head as though he felt that he was somebody. ‘All right, Dolph the first ; but could Charles XII run a steamer? ‘That is the question before us now. If you want to take charge of an army, I have no objection, only I shall not find the army,’’ chuckled the magnate, who sometimes tried to be funny. “You needn’t make game of me, governor. I am going to have the steamer, whether or no! If you don’t give me the money I shall get it in some other way,’’ growled the hopeful son, who was a spoiled child, for he was looked upon by the magnate as his successor. ‘‘ Il let you know that I am not a baby.’’ ‘None of your impudence, Dolph! If you don’t behave yourself, I'll put you to bed without your supper. So you want to go into the coal busi- ness with your steamer ?”’ ‘‘T was going to put you in the way of getting ahead of Barkpool, but I won’t say another word about it until you give me the money for the steamer,’’ replied the son saucily. ‘Then you will hold your tongue until you are gray. You are an impu- dent puppy! Before I give you a steamer or anything else, I shall teach you better manners to your father,’’ replied Mr. Singerlay angrily. ‘‘ You treat me as though I were a boy like yourself.”’ ‘And you treat me as though I were a baby,’’ added Dolph, in no better temper than his father. | ‘‘T have simply refused to give you the money to buy a steamer, because it would be a dangerous plaything in the hands of a boy ; and I shall stick to what I have said.’’ * “Tn the hands of a boy !’’ exclaimed Dolph, starting up from his chair in a violent passion. ‘‘I am nota baby !’’ ‘‘No, you are not exactly a baby ; as you say you are like Charles XII, a boy of sixteen.’’ ‘‘T shall prove to you that I am a man ! Iam not a baby! I shall have the steamer.’’ & GoOmichbooksseo 5}