The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 311 claimed Andy. ‘‘ This is from Di. I suppose she thinks she did not thank me enough for helping her.”’ Andy opened the letter, and found that it was not from the fair skipper, but from her father. ‘The magnate of Montoban said he was actually sorry for what had happened, and wished him to call at the house as soon as he possibly could. Andy read it, and then passed it to his father. Then his mother lookeci at it. ‘‘Shall I go, father ?’’ asked Andy. “ Certainly ; go at once, my son,’’ replied the machinist, without any hesi- tation. ‘‘ That is a friendly letter.’’ ‘‘T don’t want to curry favor with him,’’ said Andy. ‘‘ He seems to be genuinely sorry for having treated you the way he did, and you were too proud to explain how you happened to be on his grounds after he had accused you of stealing his strawberries. He sends for you, and I do not think that you will demean yourself at all by going to see him,’’ re- plied the father. ‘‘T wish you could go with me, father,’’ suggested Andy. Mr. Lamb considered a moment, and then said he would do so. Mrs, Lamb would go with them a part of the way, and call upon a friend. In the road they found a great many people on foot and in vehicles, hastening to the Onongo Mill to ascertain what had happened there. The machinist informed those who asked for information that the upper dam had been blown up, and his supposition that the lower one had been car- ried away by the sudden rush of the immense volume of water, was confirmed. The whole town was out of doors, and great excitement prevailed. The news that the upper dam had been blown up was brought by the machinist, and it did not tend to allay the uproar. The whole of the lower town appeared to be gathered on the bank of the river. Andy and his father did not find the magnate at home, or even any of his family, for they had all gone out to see the havoc of the waters. Even the servants were not in the house. They went to the shore, where a large fire had been built to throw its light on the dashing stream. But there was nothing to be seen, for the water had done its work ; the dam had been car- ried away, and only the wreck of it remained. But the furious flow of the water was subsiding as the pressure was re- duced from above, and the people soon returned to their homes when there was nothing more to be seen. Just above the dam was a bridge; but fortu- nately it had been built high enough to be out of the reach of the rushing tide, and it had not been carried away. It was crowded with people, looking at the dashing water. As the inhabitants left the scene, all of them were talking about the event, and asking who had blown up the Onongo dam. It could not have been an enemy of Mr. Singerlay, for the deed had been done at the the upper dam ; but it was evident that the villain, whoever he was, had done more than he intended, for both dams had been destroyed. Andy and his father returned to the mansion of the magnate, but he had not arrived, though they found Dolph in the house. He had just come in, EOmMmichooksnco