The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

- sf op sh pees THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 503 on a bunch of nettles, and I am sure he means some harm to you after what has happened. Do be careful what you say to him, Morgan.”’ ‘“‘T will try to do so; but you had better go in and tell him to be careful what he says to me,’’ added the engineer, with a smile. ‘‘I won’t keep him waiting any longer.’’ ‘‘ Do be careful !’’ exclaimed the wife earnestly. ‘I will, Sarah. You may come with me, Andy, as you heard all that was said at his house.’’ Mr. Lamb entered the front room, followed by his son. He was prepared for a storm, though he could not imagine what his late employer wanted of him. ‘‘ Good evening, Mr. Barkpool,’’ said he, as he went into the apartment. “Good evening, Mr. Lamb,’’ returned the magnate, with as much suavity as though they had not had high words a few hours before. ‘I have been waiting for you some time.’ ~ Your call is very unexpected; if I had known you were coming, I should have been at home,’’ added the machinist, as blandly as his visitor, ‘We had a little fracas this evening ; but I don’t want to say a word about that, or bring up anything we talked about then,’’ said Mr. Barkpool, rising from his chair, as though his seat burned him, and walking towards his late employee. ‘‘I have been paying you eighty dollars a month for the year round, which is very good wages for steady work.’ ‘Very fair wages, and I found no fault with my pay,’’ added the machinist. ‘I discharged you; but I wish now to hire you again, and to pay you seventy five dollars a month, for the year round,’’ continued the mill owner, in one of his insinuating tones, ‘Iam very much obliged to you, Mr. Barkpool ; but when I go to work again, it will be at one hundred dollars a month, for the year round,’’ added Mr. Lamb, with a cheerful smile, as he glanced at his son. ‘ Oue hundred dollars a month !”’ exclaimed the magnate. ‘‘ That is too much.’’ ‘Then, if I had any influence with you, Mr. Barkpool, I should advise you not to pay it,’’ answered the engineer. ‘‘ But I am ina tight place; I need an engineer at once—to.iight, in fact, for Singerlay must know that my mill is at work at the usual time in the morning,’’ replied the magnate. ‘‘] hope you will not take advantage of the circumstances, ’’ ‘I assure you I will not take advantage at all of you, for I only said that “when I went to work again, it would be at one hundred dollars a month.”’ ‘Very well; fix your own price ; I will give you a hundred dollars a month,’’ said Barkpool, with a sort of desperate energy. ‘‘ Unfortunately, I am not in condition to accept your offer at present,’’ . added the engineer. ‘What do you mean, Lamb? Didn’t you say you asked a hundred dollars a month ??’ demanded Mr. Barkpool, beginning todance around the room in his excitement. : GOMIGDOOKSHEO