Marion Marlowe on the Prairie, or, A Thrilling Ride Across Kansas — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

10 morbid!” said Alma, anxiously. ‘‘You are too sensible a girl to brood over that! Why, I amas good a prophetess as Madam Zhan- -gara, and I predict that we have a glorious ride across Kansas and enjoy every moment in its beautiful chmate!”’ “t certainly hope so, and [| will not speak b of that fortune teller again,’ said Marion, de- cidedly. ‘Just order some breakfast for me, Alma, and I'll hurry and dress, and, the mo- ment I have had my coffee, I shall write to the commodore. [am really anxtous to hear how his arm is doing, and I must thank him for. telling me about the interest his neighbors are taking in me. The bluff old ranchman must have written to some of them about me.” “He didn’t have to write!” laughed Miss Allyn, gayly. “He had only to open his mouth and roar out his information, and that voice would echo from the Atlantic to the Pacific. I doubt if even the Rocky Moun- tains would stop it.”’ oe “Tt was afi honest® voice if it was big,” said Marion, as she began to dress. “A great, monstrous, manly voice that wasn’t afraid of anything. Do you know, Alma, he was what { would.call a mental, moral and physical giant.” “You might have added ‘financial,’ ” said Alma, smiling. “I guess there’s no doubt that he is the biggest man in his State in every way; but listen, dearie, there is Jackets calling you.” Marion ran to the door and opened it a crack. The mascot was standing there with » little bunch of faded roses. “Ob, Jackets! where did you get those ?” asked Marion, sweetly. Jackets hung his head, but his voice was as firm as ever. “& feller wot wuz er cros§ ‘tween er Injun— an’ er giant give ‘em ter me las’ night,”’ he began glibly, but there was something about hig manner that made Marion suspicrous. them identikle langwich. MY QUEEN. “Who was he?” she asked, as she tried to grab the boy by the collar. Jackets ducked his head and eluded her grasp; then he burst out in a peal of shrill, childish laughter. -“You’d orter of seed him; Miss Marler,” he piped. “He wuz er dead game sfort, I don’t tink! He gimme ther posies an’ er nickel—t’ink er dat! A hull nickel fer deliv- erin’ his bokay to er loidy!" _ | “And you delivered them this morning, after they were wilted,” laughed Marion. “Well, I guess that serves him right for send- ing flowers to a stranger. [| don’t know any one in Kansas City that I care to accept them from, unless it is over the foothghts, as a tribute to my playing.” “Dat’s kerzactly wot | told him!” remarked Jackets, as she finished; “only, I didn’t use I tole him he wuz er bloomin’ chump ter t’ink youse ‘ud want his ole turnip-tops; an’ say, youse orter of If V’se hadn’t er lit out ther jay would er smashed me!” Marion and Miss Allyn both laughed heart- ily as the boy ran away. There) was no un- seen de look he gimme! derstanding or accounting for Jackets. “Are you ready for rehearsal?” asked Mrs. Burnside, putting her head inside the doorway, a few minutes later.. “Mr. Temple says we must swallow our coffee red-hot this morning. He wishes to try the new piece that we are to play in Topeka, and, as both of the children will be in it, we shall need extra rehearsing.” Marion and Miss Allvn both joined her and hurried through their breakfasts. It was nearly eleven o'clock, and at twelve they were at the rehearsal. “I’ve watched the papers all day, but | haven't seen another word about the cow- boys. I suppose they are lost in the vastness of space, and that we won't hear of them for days,” said Marion to Alma, just before the beginning of the everraray iifel s%eVe) 5_(COii)