Marion Marlowe on the Prairie, or, A Thrilling Ride Across Kansas — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

26 few affidavits,” said the station master, ab- ruptly. “The dead man is in the baggage room, and somebody has got to be tried for killing him. Just wait till I go out and cor- ral a coroner's jury.” : “Oh, we'll be the jury all right! We saw what happened,” broke in Bert, again. “We were all in the dining car when we saw some- thing was happening. There was a scuffle in the butler’s pantry, or whatever they call it; then the door was locked on us and we were caught like rats in a trap—everybody but Ajax and a handiul of passengers.” “And we made good time, I tell you!” cried one of the passengers. “A fellow with a black mask on told us to hold up our hands, but that big chap got the drop on him and down he went. Then we unlocked the dining car and got more help. We'd have had the thing over in a minute if one of them hadn’t disabled the conductor.” “Yes, and then the robber stopped the train, expecting to skip with the money! Well, I put an end to that by bawling orders over the tender!” “And Marion executed them!” exclaimed Dr. Brookes, springing upon a bench, where all could see him. “The engineer refused to take such orders, of course, but Marion brought the train through that fire—every foot of the way! Not another hand but hers once rested upon the throttle !”’ There was a cry .of astonishment, and every one stared in amazement. The waiting-room was overflowing now, for all of the passen- gers had crowded into it. “Marion! I[s it possible!’ Miss Allyn breathed the words, admiringly. “‘Why, you dear, brave girl! What an awful exneri- encef’ — “Tt was glorious, or it would have been, if I hadn’t been so worried,” answered Marion, quickly. “I was so anxious to know what had happened in the train, for, of course, I was astounded when Bert gave that order!” “Now, ladies and gentlemen, we'll proceed to business!” called the station master, loudly. “T’ve wired the division superintendent what happened on the train, and we've got just thirty minutes to acquit this fellow. Ajax came in as he spoke and stood quietly before them. There was a grin on his face, and he looked directly at Marion. “Three wounded and one dead,” called out a native of Dodge City. “T reckon now that erhout evens ther honors—only one was jus- tifiable and.t’other wasn’t.” A paper briefly stating the facts of the case was passed around and all the passen- gers signed it; then the entire crowd moved out to the baggage room while the bluff cer- MY QUEEN. - oner, who had been hastily summoned, viewed the body of the dead train robber. Marion turned her eyes away. She could not bear to look on, and then some one led the conductor to the scene and let him tell his story. He had been shot in both arms, but they were bandaged caréfully. “When they cut the bell rope I was unconscious,” he said, proudly; “but when I came to we were going like mad. We were just cutting our way through that prairie fire! It’s the first hold-up I ever had, and I don’t want an- other.” | “But here we are, safe and sound, and not a penny stolen,” cried Bert. “I’m sorry for the conductor—he was awfully cut up—but three cheers for Marion, our new engineer! By getting us here quick she’s saved the life of the messenger!” , The cheers were given with a will, and then every one piled back into the train. When they pulled out of the station, scarcely an hour late, they had a new con- ductor and a new engineer. No one slept that night, tor the excite- ment had made them nervous, and for hours Marion lay in her berth talking softly to Miss Allyn. : “What do you think of the fortune teller now, Alma?” she said, almost solemnly. “Isn’t it wonderful, to say the least, how near she foretold what has happened?” Miss Allyn’s answer startled her a little. “Not a bit of it, Marion; but I forgot to etell you something! Ajax admitted to me that Madam Zhangara knew he had planned _to help rob the train.” Marion gasped with horror, but it was a relief to know it. She disliked exceedingly to think she was growing superstitious. “That is about all there is to fortune tell- ing,” went on Alma; “but she did hit'it right when she said he was ‘loyal and brave,’ but, of course, she did not mean a word of it when — she said it.” “She must be a very bad woman,”’ Marion answered, slowly, “but Ajax has some good in him, at any rate, although I would not call him exactly a ‘child of nature.’ ”’ “If he has developed any goodness, it is since he met you, dearie,” said Alma, sweetly. “Dr, Brookes told me that the change in the fellow was all due to your influence.” “That is a compliment, and one that I am proud of,” was the young girl’s happy an- swer, “for I do so long to wield a g in-, fluence over others. It seems to me to be one of the very sweetest joys of living.” The beautiful face was flushed as_ she spoke, for Marion was expressing one of her deepest sentiments. a , The special train was waiting for them in comicbooks, com