Marion Marlowe in Omaha, or, Held up by Accident — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. 19 The morning was bright with sunshine, and the air felt cold and invigorating. The young girl’s cheeks were flushed with pleas- ure. It was the first time she had ever ridden behind Mexican mustangs, and the commo- dore entertained her with an enthusiastic his- “T puess you are fight. Look there,’ he said, gayly. “1 nearly ran over that black thing in the middle of the road. Now, what, in the name of all the stars, is it fe - They both strained their eyes, but the ponies would not stand still, and it was im- possible to get a clear view of the object. tory of his horses. Ane ‘pull them in tight, and I'll go and see,” said Miss Ellis, quickly. “Not for ten thousand worlds would I be left alone in this ‘sleigh! Why, those beasts would land me in ¢ the Pacific Ocean!” “Well, they won't land me anywhere. that “Do please let me drive! J am sure I can manage them!” She said the words with her. beautiful eyes fixed upon the spirited team, and, at the same time, she held out her hands for her companion to place the lines in them. - [don’t want to go!” said Bert, determinedly. Then, with a masterly hand, he quieted the They were several miles ahead of the rest of their party, but, in her enjoyment of the two bronchos. drive, Marion had quite forgotten the dis- . Miss Ellis sprang out and ran on ahead to tance. The old commodore passed her the lines He did not doubt for a moment that she could drive where a mysterious-looking something lay in = the snow. with a look of admiration in his eyes. She bent down eagerly and picked it up. The next moment she uttered a cry of gen- the ponies. ‘nine alarm, and, with the thing in her hand, “Now, thet thar is jest what I like! Gimme harried back to the wagon. er gal with spirit every time!” he said, laugh- ing. the prairies, an’ never turn er hair. It’s a black cloak and a mask,” she said, “Reck’n now you'd ride hossback over Wouid ye like ter try er gallop on ther finest saddie holding them out, so that Bert could see them. “And, of course, it’s that fellow on, horseback that has dropped them.” “That means that there’s trouble ahead!” “That fellow is really on the track of the commodore! hoss in ther country, Miss Marler?” Marion’s -eyes sparkled with excitement, cried Bert, quickly. for she had always longed to ride horseback. Jump in, = « = w, Oh, I would, indeed!” was her joyous quick, darling, and we'll try the speed of “When I was at home, in the coua- try, I used to ride ‘Old Ben.’ lovely old horse, but, of course, he had no spirit. Too many years behind a plough and ‘Old Ben’ had been everything, from a carriage answer. these beasts! I’m going to the rescue of our fs He was a traveling companion—for Marion is with him!” doesn’t improve a horse, I fancy, CHAPTER IX. A “HOLD-UP.’ “While Bert at Miss Ellis were salle so sweetly, another love scene had been going on horse to a plough horse.” os “ ao: 4 - ’” How’d yer ride?” asked the commodore, with a twinkle in his eve. Marion blushed a little, but she answered. = in the little cutter behind the spirited mus- / tangs. unhesitatingly : 7 , The commodore and Marion had left the “Straddle, of course! Father didn’t have city far behind them, and were speeding like the wind through the open country. a side saddle, and neither did the neighbors; but we were litt] sister and <S COUN COnnicooe