The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY.* How the robbery of the rival banks became a matter of strange coincidences—Far reaching and totally unexpected results of an act of gallantry—The battles on Bunkel Island, and the frustrating of carefully laid plans, SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. MR. SINGERLAY and Mr. Barkpool are the two wealthiest citizens of Montoban. The former is proprietor of the Montoban Mill, and president of the Montoban Bank ; the latter owns the Onongo Mill, and presides over the Onongo Bank. They have long been enemies, and their quarrel is shared by their sons, Dolph Singerlay and Phin Barkpool, but both the latter are beset by the same desire : to have a steamer of his own on the lake. Andy Lamb is the son of Mr. Barkpool’s engineer, and he rescues Diana Singerlay from the persecutions of Tom Sawder, a young hoodlum. Phin quarrels with him in consequence, and the father is dismissed from the Barkpool employ, only to be hired by Mr. Singerlay. Meantime Dolph and Phin, despairing of getting steamers from their fathers, rob the banks of which their fathers are the respective heads. They are surprised in their work by a professional burglar, called Poddy, and his assistant, Tom Sawder, who capture the two young gentlemen, together with a hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars, and carry them off in a rowboat to Bunkel Island in Lake Montoban. Here they are kept in a grotto, effectually concealed from view; while Montoban supposes that the two banks have been robbed by the sons of their respective presidents. Andy Lamb, however, has his doubts on this point, and he tells Rynon, an officer who has been put on the case, about a strange man he has seen on Bunkel Island. Although Rynon declares that this is no trail, Mr. Singerlay insists that the island shall be visited, which is done, and while the fugitives are eating breakfast in the cave, Poddy commands-silence at the sound of voices outside. CHAPTER XXVI.—LOooKING FOR THE Boys AND Nor THE MAN. ODDY drew his revolver from his hip pocket when he heard the sound of voices near the entrance to the grotto, and looked savage enough to shoot all his companions. He suspended his. trencher operations, and the others followed his example. He was afraid that even the working of their jaws might be heard by the intruders. ‘“ Tf one of you speaks, or makes the least noise, I will kill him!’ said Poddy, in a low but very impressive whisper. : Not one of them moved or ventured to utter a sound, They all listened, and could hear talking and the tramp of feet on the rocks outside of the cave. ‘I tell you there is nothing here ; and you are taking me on a wild goose chase,’’ said one of the speakers outside. ‘‘ We want the boys, and not the man you saw.”’ ‘“I don’t say there is anything here ; and I don’t see anything, though some one has been cutting down firs here,’’ added another voice, ‘“Come along! Iam not going to fool away any more of my time chasing a shadow,’’ added the first speaker, who was at some distance from the open- ing by this time. : *Thts story began in the A pril tssue of THE ARGOSY. The Jour back numbers witll be matled to any address on recetpt of 4o cents. (S©) Eomicbooks