Marion Marlowe's Cleverness, or, Exposing a Bold Fraud — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

5. MY QUEEN. Re etdnerinne - behind her. They were both Jaden with viands, which they area noise- 4 lessly upon the table. -* Marion was keenly alive to this woman’s ’ presence now. Without appearing to do x0, she watched her every movement. As she glanced up quickly now she was sure she saw a meaning look exchanged between the woman and Arthur Stanton, but it was done ey “$0 quickly that she almost doubted her own i mn eyes; and besides, it seemed incredible that such a thing should happen. _ A moment later Gregg left the room. She had. gone to carry her mistress’ tray, as Mar- -. ion had gently, but firmly, directed her to do. - At last Arthur Stanton and she were prac- meecatly alone, for the maid-servant had re- ‘tired to the butler’s pantry to await any Rartirer summons from the table. ‘ Suddenly Marion leaned a little toward her companion and lowered her voice mys- ‘teriously. She had decided wpon a ruse oe P “Was uncle’s life insured?” she asked, in a ceeds half-whisper. | | Arthur Stanton raised his head with a ai Ben start, and it seemed to Marion that he _ became a shade paler. “T believe it was,” he said, very slowly. “A _ small amount—something like five thousand | ~ dollars.” “Then that would form no motive,” _ said, with a mock sigh of relief. 1 The young man looked at her keenly, as though she had set him to thinking. of “You don’t suppose a larger amount would have made it any different, do you?” he ~ asked, with an assumed indifference; “for, of _- course, if he is insured at all it is in aunt’s _ favor.” “Stranger things have happened,” said _ Marion, with another sigh. Her eyes were on her plate now, and she was eating dili- gently. _ “That is so,” said young Stanton, and Mar- _ ion detected a strange ring in his voice. __ It seemed to her that, like a drowning man, te had caught at a straw, but why was he $0 ) willing to accept her dreadful suggestion ? : EP Sirecaer things have happened, indeed,” a continued her companion, rapidly; “and of 3 course uncle may have been insured for a she B ceronech which she hoped to learn something. 15 much larger amount. Neither aunt nor I have looked over his papers.” “But don’t you think that should be done?” asked Marion, calmly. “In justice to Aunt Susan, don’t you think all these things should be considered ?” Young Stanton looked thoughtful for the -spacéof a fill minute. “She would have to do it—unless—” here he paused a moment—“unless some one could show good cause why sane should be consid- ered a suspicious person.” — “Well, she slept in the mext room,” Marion, grimly. “And I was two rooms away, and Mrs. Gregg was three distant,’ broke in the man, quickly ; “while Mr, Everett was the handiest of all—he had only to take a step and he would be on the balcony.” To save herself the young girl could not help paling. This sudden knowledge of Mr. Everett’s nearness to the scene of the crime was only a sequel to that thought which had said crept into her brain as she stood by her aunt's window looking out into the court-yard. She endeavored to recover herself before Arthur noticed it, but as she raised her eyes she found him watching her sharply. “Goodness! I hope you don’t think that he did it!” she tried to say carelessly, while her heart seemed almost to stop beating as she made the exclamation. “T don’t think anything if I can help it,” said the young man, shrugging his shoulders. “T’d rather be excused from doing any think- ing at present. You see, I’m all upset and as nervous as a woman. I’m not used to murders,” he added, trving to speak hghtly. “T guess none of us are,’ was Marion’s low answer; “but we.are facing one now, and we must not be cowards.” As the last word fell from her lips the young man flinched as though she had struck him. As he laid one hand on the table she could see that it trembled violently. “T will do my part,” he tried to say brave- ly, but there was a weakness in his voice that was not very convincing. “Poor fellow; he is either very innocent or very tricky,’ said Marion to herself. “In either case he deserves my pity.” Mrs. Gregg came back just then and ECOMICHOOOKS. EO