Marion Marlowe in Indianapolis — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

22 affair?” he asked, suddenly. “Do you know when Gerry's agents sand-bagged this young man or what they did with the other fellow ?” Several of the men shook their heads and went about their business; they had only a passing curiosity as to what had befallen Gerry, but there were two black-looking fel- lows who nodded knowingly. “Faith, ther other chap’s down, furder in ther sheds,” said one of them. “I heard him yellin’ loike mad at daylight this mornin’. Gerry made a rich haul this toime, ther mur- derous owld baste! Sure, it’s mesilf that is glad ter see him enjoyin’ his reck’nin’ !” “That other chap-must be the doctor,” said Fairfax, as two of the officers came _ back. “We'll have to search those sheds from one end to the other, men. I'll tear them down to the ground, but IT’ll see what’s under them !” | “Faith, there do be sacrets under thim same shids,’ remarked the [rish laborer, again. “It’s Gerry, bad cess to him, as has used thim self-same shids to hoide the avil dades that he’s done wid—ther devil!” “Well, we’ll learn a few of them and don’t you forget it,’ said Fairfax, sternly, as he stepped out on the sidewalk to let the two officers pass, carrying Bert between them. “A brute like Gerry is not fit to be at large. I can’t imagine what this city has been think- ing about to allow him his liberty.” “Can't we get a carriage for Bert?” asked Marion, tearfully, as she followed the officers : with their burden. “T am afraid not, miss; and, anyway, the wagon will be better. He can lie straight out with a coat for a pillow. There’lt be an ‘ ambulance at the station-house to take him to the hospital.” “Poor Bert!’ whispered Marion, trying hard to keep from crying. “To think of his lying in that hideous place! Oh, we must hurry now and find Dr. Brookes!” “We had better tell the officers to telegraph to his father,” said Mr. Temple. “He is seriously injured and his parents ought to be with him. Do you know his father’s ad- dress, Fairfa¥?” “No: and I judge,anyway, that we had bet- ter wait until we hear what the physician at the hospital has to say. He may pull through MY QUEEN. all right, and now we must wait for more help,” he continued, when he happened to spy a half-dozen new recruits coming along. Then began a search through the dingy sheds, several of the railroad men ‘eaving their work to take part in it. One shed led to another throughout the entire row, and each seemed more full of rubbish and-darker than the last. , The men lobked behind piles of timbers and railroad iron and peered into every cranny, but there was no sign of Dr. Brookes. As they were giving up the search, Marion sud- denly tripped on something. She had been stumbling along in the semi-darkness trying to keep up with the others, as well as using her sharp eyes to pierce each nook and cor- ner. - “Oh, wait, Mr. Fairfax!’ she called out, shrilly; “I have stepped on something that feels like a weapon!” Mr. Fairfax went back, and so did one of the officers. As they reached her, Marion raised the thing from the ground. It was black and shaped like a gourd, and very heavy, “A blackjack !” cried Mr. Fairfax, the min- ute he saw it. “Ten to one it was used on poor Bert last night. A pretty weapon indeed for a civilized community !” “Whoever wielded that weapon niust have gone this way,” said one of the officers; “but this is the end of the sheds—there’s nothing but tracks out here, and they go in every di- rection.” ; “Railroad tracks?” gasped Marion, with a sudden thrill of horror. “Yes, and footprints,” said the officer, look- ing back over his shoulder. “There are foot- prints all over the mud, leading straight for the sheds. Well, all I’ve got to say is, it isa mighty dangerous spot to cross! I wouldn't take a thousand dollars to cross that net- work at midnight.” : “That’s the doctor’s footprint; I'd know it anywhere!” cried Mr. Temple, leaning sud- denly closer. “He wears a broad-toed shoe with a military heel, and steps as squarely as any drum major.” . “And that print is my bird’s!” cried Mr. Fairfax, bending to scrutinize another, “I . have his measure in (evoy Te syore) aac ;