The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 507 tion,’’ said the niill owner, disgusted with the plan, and leaving the advocate of the new method of transportation. Dolph was as mad as he was when his father refused his request. CHAPTER XVI.—THE VAULT OF THE ONONGO BANK. DoLPH went home angry from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head—angry with both of the magnates, though one of them was his father. He had a brilliant business idea, and neither of them would listen to him. Of the two he was the more angry, with Mr. Barkpool, for he had humiliated himself in going to his father’s enemy. He was inclined to punish both of the great men, and he decided to begin with the Onongo magnate. An old scheme which he had fostered into being in the fall came to his mind again. He went on board of the Dragon to think it over. He ate his supper on the remnants of a lunch he had carried with him the day before. = There was rather more water than usual coming down the river this sum- mer, and there might be no drought, though the stream had failed the mills nearly every year before. There might be no dry time this season ; and the Onongo could draw upon the reservoir. It was necessary to create a demand for coal; and neither of the mills had taken in its usual supply. Dolph left the Dragon when he had finished his meal. He crossed the river on the bridge, and walked to the upper dam. As soon as it was dark, | he recrossed the river ona foot bridge a short distance above, and crept cautiously to the brick spring house. He pried off the hasp by which the padlock secured the door. With a great deal of hard work for a fellow who was not used to it, he conveyed several kegs of the blasting powder to the dam. He had studied up his plot before, and found the crevice in which the powder was to be placed, and he laid his mine with no little skill. 3 He had taken a supply of match paper, and when he had lighted it, he made a hasty retreat. Of course it was only by a miracle that he did not blow himself up. When he had completed his preparations, he started by the road for home taking care that no one should see him. Before he reached the bridge, the explosion took place. He was startled when he heard the thunder of his own work, but he could not see what executioh the powder had caused. In a moment more he heard the roar of the rushing waters, and then he knew that the mine had success- fully accomplished the mischievous result. The river roared with a sound like thunder, and seemed to be tearing everything away before it. He stopped on the bank of the stream a short distance above the bridge and concealed himself in the bushes, where he could see the uproar which he had caused. He had hardly taken this position before another crash saluted his ears. The lower dam had been carried away. ‘This was more than he had bar- gained for, or plotted to accomplish. He had punished both of the magnates at the same time for refusing to listen to his magnificent steamboat scheme. Comicboolks