The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 505 uneasy. Then some one hinted that Dolph was to have a steamer, for though this enterprising young gentleman did not expose his plan to meet the coal question, he had declared that he meant to have a steamer on the lake. People said he would have one if he wanted such a craft, for he always had his own way in such matters. Of course Phin wanted a steamer, and he wanted to have it before Dolph obtained one. But on one subject at least the two millionaires agreed. Mr. Barkpool refused to grant the request of his son, as Mr. Singerlay had done about the same time. Phin rebelled, as Dolph had done. He had been impudent to his father. He thought his rich parent was very unreasonable, and declared that he would have a steamer. ‘The battle with the son had followed that with the engineer. His father had stood by him in the quarrel with Andy, and Phin thought it was a favorable time to push his request. Dolph Singerlay, as I have said, lay on the floor of the Montoban Bank, with a man holding him by the throat. Though he was far from comfortable in this position, it is necessary to leave him there a while longer in order to explain some of his earlier movements. The hopeful son had found his father unwilling to listen to his scheme to run a steamer on the lake, and Dolph assured him that Mr. Barkpool would be more accommodating. This was touching the magnate in his most tender spot, but he regarded it as an idle threat ; for surely his son could not seri- ously think of such abominable treason. Very likely Dolph did use the idea as an idle threat. He hated the other mill owner as thoroughly as his father did, for he had been brought up to do so. He rushed out of the house, desperately angry because his father denied his request. He forgot all about the row boats, the sail boats, the ponies, and other gifts, and condemned his parent for this one failure to gratify his wishes. The threat which he had used in the house came to his mind before he reached the street. As he thought of it he was confident that the rival house would be willing to hear him. Spurred on by this sudden impulse, without considering that he was plotting treason which his father could never forgive, he hastened to the Onongo mill. Dolph happened to meet Mr. Barkpool going from the factory to his house. The magnate stopped and looked at him, for he had never seen one of the Singerlay family in that part of the town before. Dolph had covered his face with smiles, for he had a point to carry. The magnate could not help feeling indignant at what he regarded as the impudence of the young man in putting on a smiling face in his presence. ‘Good evening, Mr. Singerlay,’’ he said, somewhat scornfully, intending to thorn the visitor a little for his presumption in coming upon his territory. ‘‘ You do not often do us the honor of coming to this neighborhood.’’ ‘No, sir; but I have a little business with you,” replied Dolph, who was not lacking in impudence. ‘“ Business with me!’’ exclaimed the great man. ‘But I have; I told my father that I should apply to you if he refused to grant my request,’’ continued the scion of the house of Singerlay. comiclooolks