Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 733 The officers searched the town, and listened to every story that was brought to them. ‘The citizens had plenty of theories, but they brought no facts to bear on the subject. Everybody was satisfied that Dolph and Phin were the robbers ; no one expressed a doubt on the point. In what manner had they left Montoban? Which way had they gone? Not a boat was missing on the lake, not a horse from any stable ; and there was no train within five miles on the south, and twelve on the north. But they had gone by some route, and Officer Marmon was sent to the nearest station to make inquiries. Rynon was an officer who understood boating, and he was appointed to make the search on the lake, though it seemed to be useless, since no boat was missing. He went first to the boat house of Mr. Singerlay. He looked the Dragon over. While he was doing so, Andy Lamb came out of the mill, where he had been to tell his father the news of the robbery of the two banks. He related to him all the particulars that had come out. Andy had an idea; and he was the first one who had been delivered of any- thing that could be called an idea. He had told his father about the man he had seen on Bunkel Island, and he brought it all up again. His father directed him to tell the officers all about it. When he came out of the mill, he saw Rynon at the boat house, and he joined him. He told his story. ‘’ What has the man to do with the matter ?”’ demanded Rynon, who was disposed to treat with contempt the information Andy brought him. ‘‘It is just as certain as anything can be that Dolph and Phin robbed the banks.” ‘““And it may be that neither of them had anything to do with the robbery,’’? added Andy. ‘‘N othing has been proved.”’ ‘ Nothing proved !’’ exclaimed Rynon, with a sneer at the lack of intelli- gence on the part of Andy. ‘‘If you see a fish, don’t you know that he came out of the water? If you find a fellow wet, don’t you know that he has been in the water? Both banks have been robbed ; the keys were at their houses ; both boys are gone; both sets of keys are gone. What more do you want?’’ ‘Tom Sawder has disappeared also,” suggested Andy. ‘“ He has nothing to do with this robbery. I know all about him, for I was at Bunkel last night looking for him. I saw your man; he was in the boat with the four vagabonds. He landed three of them, and I arrested them. When I went to look for Tom and the man, I could not find them.’’ Where did they go?” asked Andy. ‘That is more than I know. I looked all around the island, and couldn’t find any sign either of them or the boat.”’ : Mr. Singerlay came to the boat house for any news that he might learn, and Andy told him what he had seen at the island. He insisted that the place should be visited ; and Rynon reluctantly yielded. It was their voices that were heard in the grotto. (TO BE CONTINUED. ) Oliver Optic. Eomichbooks AD (EC)