Marion Marlowe in Columbus, or, Accused of a Crime — page 18: what you’re looking at

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as the beautiful star of the company held out he r hand for him to assist her into the car. “The rest of the crowd are all kicking about something ; what is your particular grievance against the railroad and the country?” _ Marion poised herself on the top step and I oO sked back at him with a smile. — “The country is beautiful, only I can’t say that I am in love with hurricanes, exactly,” she said, gayly, “and as for the railroad com- pany, they can't help the’ wash-outs. The only thing that worries me is the appearance of Wiggin. His general look as well as his 4 _ extraordinary entrance upon the Temple _ Theatrical Company's stage is so peculiar that it is almost uncanny !” “Don’t let it worry you a bit!” said Bert, promptly. “He’s harmless enough, even if he -is uncanny. We'll keep an eye on him, you bet, until he has established his reputa- : “Well, you'll have to get a telescope’ if you ‘ intend to keep your eye on him many min- “utes longer!” exclaimed Mr. Temple, sud- f “denly. “Quick, Bert! Look sharp! Isn’t that ov Jiggin on the wrecking train? He’s cut us ; Bea and is going back, as sure as I am liv- ”? a 4 Both Marion and Bert gazed in surprise as he pointed. The “repair wagon” was well under way and steaming back in the direction from which they had come and, sure enough, there was Wiggin grinning back at them from the engine. # _ “That settles it! tal A cried Bert. “He told me over and over that he must go to Columbus! Now the fellow has deliberately gone back where he came from!” 4 “He told me he had to be in Columbus at te n to-night, ” said Marion, thoughtfully, “and he pe » paatsed ame -faithfully that he would be , He is a liar and a ras- fa | MY QUEEN. ‘Temple ; 15 loyal to Mr. Temple! Oh, I am more than disappointed to see such lack of principle!” The young girl’s eyes flashed with the sen- timent of disgust. She could hardly com- prehend the depths of such depravity. “Well, I, for one, am mighty glad he has gone!”’ cried Miss Allyn, in a tone of re- lief. “Now, me that he has left no dynamite cartridges be- hind him, I’d feel as easy as it is possible to feel on an empty stomach!’ “T’ll have the baggage car looked over if I just to reassure you,” laughed Mr. “but we are off, Miss Allyn, so if if some one would only assure can, there is to be an explosion it will come in a minute. There’s no nitro-glycerine on earth that will stand this jolting.” CHAPTER VI. THE SEARCH WARRANT, And right on time, that steady-by-jerk “Columbus, at last! nit! Thank goodness, ride is ended!” Bert sprang off of the train as it pulled in at the station, and, as he spoke, he held out his hand to the ingénue, Miss Ellis. “I feel as if I was dislocated all over,” “Thank said the young girl, laughing. Heaven, there is an hour to rest in before re-- IT need it, I can tell you, and so | hearsal ! does Miss Marlowe.” “Marion does look a little fagged out,” said Bert, as the star appeared upon the platform. | “T am tired, but an hour’s rest will fix me all right,” laughed Marion. “I’m only too thankful to get here without any more de- '? lays or dangers! “And I’m glad to get anywhere at all,” laughed Alma Allyn. breath ever since the departure of Wiggin, “T’ve been holding my for fear that my anatomy would be scattered 93 all over the country. “T guess he was harsplessraftes allo ‘CO,