The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

sr ee THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 313 ‘‘Tam glad to see you again, Andy, and I was sorry that anything un- pleasant happened on your way from the boat house,’’ said Di, with a gush which overwhelmed the modest champion. . ‘No matter about that, Miss Singerlay ; it is all right now, and if you please, we won’t say another word about it,’’ replied Andy. ‘‘I am very glad I was able to be of some service to you.’’ ‘But you had to fight’ for it, and I see that you have.some of the scars of battle on your face now, Andy,’’ interposed the magnate. ‘‘ It is mar- velous to me that you were able to hold your own against that bruiser, for the policemen say he is an ugly customer.’’ ‘‘T had something better to fight for than he had,’’ replied Andy, glancing involuntarily at Di. 3 ‘“T have got out a warrant for the arrest of the four vagabonds who made the second attack, and three of them have been arrested. They are in the lockup; but Tom Sawder could not be found,’’ said Mr. Singerlay. ‘¢ Vou will be wanted as a witness tomorrow, Andy.’’ ‘We left them all clinging to the wreck of their boat, and I wonder how they got ashore,’’ added Andy, who had heard nothing from the hoodlums since his return. ‘“T sent two officers down in the Dragon, and they found all the rascals except Tom,’’ Mr. Singerlay explained. ‘‘ They said a man had come after them ina boat, and had landed them on the west side of the island.’’ ‘‘ Who was this man ?’’ asked Andy. ‘‘'The boys did not know him, or pretended they did not. As soon as he had put them ashore, he pulled away with Tom, and that was the last they saw of either of them. ‘They say that they heard high words between Tom and the man when the boat had passed around a point.’’ ; ‘‘ But where did the boat go?’’ inquired Andy. “The boys could not tell. They walked across the island to what they call the landing rock, but the boat was not there, and both the man and Tom had disappeared. ‘Then the officers took the boys and sailed around the island _ and walked all over it in search of the missing vagabond ; but they could not find him, the man, or the boat.’’ ‘That is very strange,’’ said Mr. Lamb. ‘Very singular indeed. I questioned the boys myself, and I am inclined to believe that they told the truth, for they were very badly scared,’’ added the magnate. Then Andy told what he knew about the stranger on Bunkel Island ; but the party did not make any progress in solving the mystery which had bothered the inquirer at the time he was in the Diana. ‘There is one thing about this affair which impresses me more than any- thing else,’’ said Mr. Singerlay, after they had exhausted the discussion of the mystery. ‘‘ Andy does not belong on my side of the controversy which has been kept alive between Barkpool and myself for over two years. Though he belongs to the Onongo faction, he went to the assistance of my daughter when she needed help; and if Barkpool himself would do such a deed, peace would be made at once.’’ COMIGHOOKS.EO 3