Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

rl 726 THE BUNKEL MYSTERY, sight made him angry, not so much because he was subjected to the expense of rebuilding it, as because his mill could not be started that day. With the new engineer he had engaged, Mr. Singerlay was ahead of him, and would turn out his usual supply of goods while the Onongo was idle. The magnate went into the house, and his nerves were shaken. He drank whisky again, and it inspired him with an artificial energy. At sunrise his groom was driving him to the railway station, five miles away, to go in search of an engineer. Mr. Singerlay left his bed at the usual time and looked over the local newspaper. There was nothing in it about the banks, though the battle with the hoodlums at the island was mentioned. When he had learned the news of the morning, he ate his breakfast, and then went to the mill, which he found at work as though nothing had happened. If he missed Dolph at the table, he did not mention the fact, or inquire about him, for the young gentleman was often absent from meals. Mr. Rob- lock, the cashier, read the newspaper at the bank even before he did anything else ; but he found nothing to astonish him in its columns. Then he looked over the few letters he had obtained at the post office on the way. As soon as he heard the church clock strike nine, he unlocked the outer door of the vault. Just then Mr. Gayberry, the man who kept the store under the bank, came in with a check he had received for goods, Mr. Roblock opened the inner door of the vault, and as it was rather dark inside, he took the drawer which contained the money—or had contained it—and went out into the banking room. He was talking all the time about : the blowing up of the upper dam, and looking at the visitor, so that he did 4 not see the interior of the drawer. He even slipped it into its place under the counter without noticing it, while he enlarged upon the wickedness of the person who had done the mischief. ‘‘I should say that Barkpool will offer a large reward for the conviction of the scoundrel who did it,’’ suggested Mr. Gayberry. ‘‘ Very likely he will, for the loss of the dams is not half the damage which has been done,” added Mr, Roblock, as he picked up the check the storekeeper had thrown upon the counter. ‘‘ Hundreds of poor people at the upper village are deprived of work by this deed, though the lower mill has gone to work as usual.”’ ‘Iam in a little a hurry, for I am going to take the stage to Bushrod this forenoon, where I have to pay a bill,’’ said Mr. Gayberry, looking at his watch. _ Mr. Roblock pulled out the drawer which he had just shoved into its place, though with his eyes on the check. ‘Sixty odd dollars; will you take three twenties ?”’ asked the cashier. ‘Small bills are rather scarce,’’ So were large bills, he might have added, as he looked into the drawer he had mechanically pulled out. ) | ‘‘ Large or small; it makes no difference to me,’’ replied the customer. 3 Just then Mr. Roblock started back as though a discharge of. electricity had been suddenly poured into his frame. He looked into the drawer, the a) \ Pe Eomicbooks.com —