The Argosy — page 157: 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 eock enemies, and their quarrel is shared by their sons, Dolph Gingerlay and Phin Barkpool, but both the latter are beset by the same desire : to have a steamer of their own on the lake. Andy Lamb is the son of Mr. Barkpool’s engineer, and he rescttes 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, take the money from 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 dollars, 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, how- ever, 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, with no apparent result. Andy, however, remains behind to explore further, and finally falls in with Dolph and Phin, who explain to him the true state of affairs. Meantime a gale has arisen, and Andy dares not cross the lake in the small boat he has retained. Dolph and Phin return to Poddy’s cave, fearful lest they be missed, while Andy runs his boat into a little water cavern, where he over- hears Poddy talking to Tom Sawder, and presently is amazed to find a heavy satchel let down through an opening in the rocks over his head until it rests on a ledge by his side. Andy’s heart bounds as he realizes it must contain the money of which the two banks have been rifled. CHAPTER XXXII.—RELIEF FROM AN UNEXPECTED QUARTER. NDY LAMB was more excited than he had ever been before in his life. Dolph had told him during the interview at the foot of the hill that the money was contained ina traveling bag. He felt it all over with the greatest care ; and he could hear his heart thump against his ribs as he did so. Was it possible that the money stolen from the banks was within his grasp? It seemed to be altogether incredible. At the bottom of the bag he could feel some hard and unyielding sub- stances. These must be the instruments used in Poddy’s villainous trade. All the rest of the bag was soft and pliable, and he was sure the remaining space was stuffed full of bank bills. As he continued to listen Andy heard other sounds in the upper grotto, like the slam of boards on a rock. He concluded that the robber was cover- *This story began tn the April tssue of THE ArGosy. The five back numbers will be matlea to any address on vecetpt of 50 cents. COMiIcsoOo ¢ (S@)