Marion Marlowe in Indianapolis — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

20 They had arrived at the low, dingy door of the rum-shop as he spoke, and were just peer- ing inside when a burly form appeared which completely filled the doorway. A hideous, red-faced, blear-eyed man was standing with arms akimbo, fairly glaring at the party in the most ferocious manner. But, notwithstanding the ugly expression upon the brute’s face, Mr. Temple stepped up to him and even raised his hat as he accosted the fellow. “Do you mind my party stepping inside for a minute? We are doing the town and are lost, | fancy. If you will be so kind as to harbor them for a short time, I will try and get a carriage.”’ The man eyed them narrowly and_ then stepped a little aside. In an instant Marion slipped past the burly form and entered the dingy bar-room. “Can’t get no kerridge ter come inter these diggin’s, the fellow, Yer’ll hev ter get out as yer come. mare’ll take yer!” “But we can rest a moment, can’t we?” asked Miss Allyn, as she too stepped boldly aver the sill into the vile-smelling place. “Is there a telephone or anything of the sort near here?” asked Mr. Temple, pausing just outside of the door; “if there is, I will bB | ; b Dd said sourly. Shank’s hyar eall a carriage, if not “T tells yer thar ain't no kerridge what'll come down hyar,” efunted the man, again. “Ef yer wants ter get out er Pike street yer'll hev ter hoof it.” ‘ Marion was half-way across the dirty floor, looking eagerly about her, before the man in the door thought to look behind him, [t was a low-ceilinged place, fairly reeking with vile odors, and in one corner, there was » low bar, behind which was a scant supply of black bottles. . | “Oh, Alma! What a place to entice a man to!” she whispered, and then turned to catch the fellow scowling at her. MY QUEEN. “See hyar, now! hyar, anyhow?” began the man, angrily. “Ef yer are jest snooping erroun’, I tells yer I won't hev it! Thar’s bin ernough spyin’ Better make known yer biz or get out quick, young led- erroun’ ther place this mornin’! dys!” Marion was considerably aiarmed, but she tried not to show it. the ruffian, she noticed that neither Mr, Tem- ple nor Olcott had entered, but another man, almost as brutal and burly as the first one, — was effectually blocking the entrance to the — enol begrimed hovel. “Are you Mr. Gerry?” she asked, as sweet ly as possible. “If you are, I am sure we have come to the right place, but can’t the gentlemen come in and rest a minute?” She looked the fellow squarely in the eyes — as she asked her question ; then, as she watched for his answer, something happened that startled her. sound of a groan coming from behind and under the bar in the corner. ; ' In an instant every drop of blood in her Wat’s wanted down — As she turned toward She heard distinctly the — body was on fire, for her thoughts had flown to the doctor and her friend, Bert Jackson. “Oh, Alma! Call them, quick! They must come in!” she cried, excitedly ; the next moment she felt Gerry’ : heavy hand descend- ing on her shoulder. “Stop! brute!” she cried, commandingly; “stand aside, while I see who is behind that bar! Some one is dead or dying there in that cor- ner!” her, savagely; but like a flash of lightning Marion broke from his grasp and darted across the room, Then, with a graceful bound, she sprang upon the bar and down upon the other side *before he could even touch her. The next second Marion’s voice rang out like a bugle-call. IOOKS Don’t you dare to touch me, you — The man muttered a curse and sprang at corr come: 45 Se