Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

| howd’y do, Mr. Horton? This is Alma ~ Allyn.” Here followed the news item with true newspaper brevity, Miss Allyn giving such a graphic account of the fire and her rescue that her audience burst out laughing. -“Cailme ‘Jane Doe,’ or any old thing, Mr. Horton,” she wound -up, briefly, ° ‘only see that I get an ‘exclusive’ on this. I’m sorry for the fellow at headquarters, but this 1s mine by rights, I was right ‘in it, you know, so it’s bound to be authentic.” a. There was a moment’s silence and then Miss Ailyn laughed. — ~— * You'd believe it if you could see me. in my wrapper and slippers, and, oh, yes, just stick this in, we have all three just been invited to spend the night at the home of _ Samuel Haley, of the Central Mission.” “Oh, no!” gasped the astonished gentle- man, who was standing a her friends. “Can't be helped OW; ’ said Miss Allyn, I’m “How did you know me tleman, as they started out. ’ > ata + ~ minute,” said Miss Allyn, laughing. _ you directly.” " Only a short walk from the drug store and the gentleman stopped before a neat _- apartment-house. ___He opened the door with his latch key and _ rang his bell vigorously. At the top of the first flight of stairs a sweet-faced woman met them. She did not seem in the least surprised at her, three strange visitors. _ ~ ; ae “Some young ladies who have just been - burned out of house and home, Lizzie,” said her husband, smilingly. “I guess we can put them up somehow for the night, can’t we?” A “Bless their hearts, of course we can,” the motherly answer, and the girls were ushered into her apartments without any -. further ceremony. = “Now this is what [| call downright char- ity,” said Marion, as soon as the three girls were alone. “Did you ever in your life see s such kindness, Miss Allyn?” They had all had warm baths and a cup of . MY QUEEN. | 2” asked the gen- | a: owas | arré “Why, it popped. into my head at ‘that “Tye. 3 geet you often, it’ s fanny I Cicer recognize | “Marion Marlowe's was~ 15 tea, and each had been provided with suita- ble clothing. ye “These two people are brimming over with » charity,” said Miss Allyn, quickly. She was making herself comfortable tor the night on a wide sofa, so that the two sisters could sleep in the bed together. ‘“He’s a city missionary and a genuinely good man. ‘There never was a better, if all I’ve heard of him is true, and his wife 1s a mother to every poor girl in creation.” “That's downright goodness,” said Dollie, firmly. ‘‘Elalf the church people don't do it, nor the ministers either.” “Such goodness as this, puts the many pro- fessing Christians to the blush,” said Miss Allyn, with energy. ‘“There’s no. cant and no hypocrisy in Samuel Haley’s religion.” Bright-and early the next morning Miss Allyn started out. Her hostess loaned her some clothing that had been contributed to ~ the mission, and which would go there as soon as Miss Allyn was. done with it. EAN guess Pm an object of charity if ever ere was one,” said Miss Allyn, when she ed in them. ~ “However, Ill Seg richer. by noon by the looks of that paper.” She handed Marion a morning edition of the New York Star, and there, sure enough, was a full account of the fire and the words Heroism” letters that it rnade the young girl blush to ‘look at them. Then there were pictures of the fire show- ing the scene on the window ledge and an- other which demonstrated how she had pushed Miss Allyn to safety. Altogether it was an array of information which almost staggered her. “How in the world could they do it so quickly?” she asked her hostess, but before she was answered, there was an unexpected interruption. A young man came into the room, whom Mrs. Haley introduced as her nephew, Ralph Moore. He was a dark-eved, curly-haired young fellow, with charmingly courteous manners. While Marion talked with Mrs. Haley, Raiph Moore and Dollie chatted together. The young man was smitten at once with the country girl’s pretty features. in such big an Go NOO|/KS.€ (0)