The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 315 down stairs. Ele had changed his clothes, and looked like himself again, for he might easily lave been mistaken for a common laborer when he came into the house. Dolph had heard nothing about the affair on the lake, for he had gone away as soon as his father had refused to comply with his request to supply the money for the purchase of a steamer. He was a good deal surprised to see his sister on such good terms with Andy, but he did not ask any questions. The magnate returned as soon as he had shown the new engineer the engine room, and Mr. Lamb came with him, for he found everything in order there, and it was not necessary to start the fires till after midnight. While Mr. Singerlay and the engineer were talking about the running of the mill the next day, Mr. Roblock, the cashier of the Montoban Bank, came in to bring the keys. The magnate was the president of the institution, and he had a theory of his own in regard to the security of banks. He did not believe in trusting any one, and the cashier was hardly more than a clerk. He was required to carry the keys to the house of the president when he closed the bank, and to come for them in the morning. The official did not object to this method, though it was rather humiliating, for if any one was taken from his bed in the night at the muzzle of a revolver, it would be the president, and uot himself. ‘* You are rather late, Mr. Roblock,’’ said the magnate, with a frown on his brow, as he consulted his watch. ‘‘ Have you been out to see the river with the keys in your pocket ?’’ ‘“No, sir; I have not been out of the bank since I closed at five o’clock,’’ replied the cashier, annoyed at this implied suspicion. ‘‘I have not been to supper yet, for I have only just finished my work.’’ ‘‘T hope you do your work. as far as possible in the day time,’’ added the president, as he took the keys. ‘‘I do, sir; and this is the first time for a year that I have kept the keys till after darks” ’ answered the cashier, with his lips compressed. “The Pontport Bank was robbed last week, and I think you have more cash on hand than usual at the present time,’’ continued the magnate. ‘‘T have nearly a hundred thousand dollars in the vault.’’ ‘You will not have so large a sum for a long time,’’ said Mr. Singerlay, with asmile. ‘‘I was thinking of building a better dam as.soon as the dry © time came, for the old one was getting very weak, as has been fully proved tonight.’’ ‘‘T heard that the dam had been carried away as I came along the street,’’ added the cashier, who seemed to be the only man in town who had not been out to see the scene of the wreck. ‘“‘ Ss hardly believed it, 5 aeaee I heard a strange roaring sound for some time.’ ‘The upper dam was blown up, and the rush of water carried the lower one away.”’ The cashier asked a few questions, but he did not seem to be much inter- ested ; and it was evident that he would resign his office as soon as he could find another where his self respect would not be a constant burden to him. | ‘“Take these keys up tomy room, Dolph,’’ said the magnate as soon as the Eomichooksico 3