Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

728 THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. unlocked the door without them,’’ continued the storekeeper, as much puzzled as the cashier. ‘‘I-used the duplicate keys this morning to open the vault,’’ said Mr. Roblock. | ‘ Duplicate keys !’’ exclaimed Mr. Gayberry, sure that the explanation was now at hand. | ; ‘‘ Last night Pullerton, of the Onongo, called upon me and said that he had just carried his duplicate keys to Mr. Barkpool, so that both sets should not be destroyed in case of fire. Mr. Singerlay compels me to carry the keys I use every night to his house, though he knows that I have a duplicate set. Neither he nor I had ever thought of the absurdity of doing so while there was another set in existence. - I intended this afternoon to call his attention to the fact, and I brought the duplicates, which had been locked up in my desk at home since the bank was started, with me. As I had them, I thought I would open the bank with them, so that the president could see just how the matter stood.’’ ‘Then Mr. Singerlay has the other set of keys,’”’ added the storekeeper. ‘“Of course he has; I carried them to him last evening, I wish I had taken some other time to point out the absurdity of the way in which we were acting,’’ replied the cashier bitterly. ‘‘ Now I shall be charged with robbing the bank. I am tempted to start for Canada, but I have not money enough to pay my fare.”’ : ‘Don’t do that,’’ said Mr. Gayberry, as he passed into the rear room. ‘“ Here 1s where the robbers entered.”’ They examined the break which Poddy had made. ‘The cashier could not see why the robber had done that if he had the keys. They decided to wait upon the president at once, and Mr. Gayberry called up one of his clerks to stay in the bank after the vault had been locked. CHAPTER XXIV.—A SHOCK To THE HouUSE oF SINGERLAY. MR. SINGERLAY was not in the house when the despairing cashier and the storekeeper were admitted. He had gone to the mill, but his wife vol- unteered to send for him, for the bank official did not care to meet him in the presence of any of the operatives. In a few minutes the magnate appeared. Mr. Roblock was in a tremu- lous condition, and the storekeeper.counseled him to brace up and be a man. The sufferer had been disposed to rebel at the overbearing manner of the president, and it suddenly flashed upon his mind that he had nothing more to hope for from the great man. Guilty or innocent, he was sure to be condemned. The thought inspired him with the resolution to stand up for his own innocence, and he decided not to submit to any considerable amount of brow- beating. He had done his duty faithfully, and this reflection did more to strengthen his wavering mind than anything else. He was determined to behave like a man, as his companion advised him todo. A great change suddenly came over him. a) EComichooks (E(0)