Marion Marlowe in Columbus, or, Accused of a Crime — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

t MY QUEEN. out here. We are not likely to see a human being before evening.” “But ; what will we do with our wet clothes?” asked Marion. “We cant rig upa clothes-line, for there isn’t a tree in sight and the only telegraph pole is lying flat in the wash-out.” “We'll go up and spread them on the roof of the car after it dries,’ said Mr. Tem- ple, who had been asleep in the car until the squall had passed. “I’m very sorry in- deed that you all got so wet, but I can’t blame you for rushing out to see what be- came of little Ruby.” “She isn’t hurt a mite except for a few scratches,” said Marion, who was still hold- ing the child, “but, oh, I shall never forget how I felt when I saw her being swept to- ward the wash-out! Dr. Brookes was just in time! I don’t know how he ever did it!” “I just caught one glimpse of her,” said the doctor, gravely; “the wind did the rest! It fairly pitched me after her. Luckily, I reached her just in time. She was on the very edge of the embankment!” “Well, I hope the elements will notify us when they are going to cut up such didoes again, remarked Bert, disgustedly. “It isn’t very pleasant to be a dried herring one minute and a great, wet, sloppy porpoise the next, and that’s exactly the transformation this storm accomplished on me. { am leaving watery footsteps all over the carpet.” laughed Olcott, trying to wring out his trousers. “I’m off to help Gray fish out the trunk of togas.” “Do please bring me a_ handkerchief,” pleaded Mrs. Burnside, nervously; “mine is so wet that I can’t seem to dry my eyes at all, and it’s dreadfully hard to have to “So are we, all of us,” wipe them on the seat cushions!” There was a general laugh and they all ‘elt better. The incident would have been amusing if it had not been for the accident to little Ruby and the fright they all had when they saw her danger. “I guess we can get out a trunk or two,” said Gray, as he started out. “Of course, we'll have to get our two guardians to help us, and, by the way, where the deuce are they; has anybody seen them 2” | He had reached the door as he asked the question, and, exactly as he spoke, one of the two trainmen who had been left with the cars sprang upon-the platform. “Everybody safe?” he asked, with a grin, as he éntered the car and shut the door. “Bill and I found a shelter near the wash-out when the storm broke. Gee-wilikens, Gray, but wasn’t it a hummer!” “We are all wet through! Can you help us out?” asked the property man. “The la- dies and all are wet to the skin, I guess. We've got to get into that baggage car and get some dry duds if possible.” “Yes, we will be obliged to do it,” said Mr. Temple, ‘coming forward. “There can’t be any harm in your opening the car. Every article in it belongs to my company.” The trainman looked puzzled, for he un- derstood the situation thoroughly. “TI have orders not to open it until we get to Colum- bus,” he said, slowly, “but I'll ask my side partner, What he says goes, Mr. Temple.” There was a short conversation outside between the trainmen, in which Mr. Temple and the property man joined, but Bill, the head guardian of the baggage car, was dis- posed to be obstinate. “This car was locketl at the station when you left last night, and isn’t to be opened under any condition,” began the man, sourly, “But you can’t expect me to allow these ladies to get sick,” broke in Mr. Temple, “Why, they are taking chances with their lives every minute that they sit in that damp clothing!” EOPMICLOOOKS EOLKi