Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

Marion had walked on slowly with the two ~ men close beside her, and just as they reached particularly gloomy-looking house the last _ speaker clapped his hand suddenly over her mouth, while he threw the other arm in a strong grip around her shoulders. 4 “Quick! Drag her into the areaway,” or- dered the other fellow in a low voice. “I have a key to the basement, and the house 1s empty.” fe , As Marion heard the words she realized in an instant- what the villain meant. She was at their mercy. ‘he thought made her des- me_perate. In the same instant it flashed across her mind who the half-drunken fellow was. It ‘was Emile Vorse. She knew him in spite of his disguise—for was he not the man of all men whom she had cause to remember? With one fearful effort she wrenched his hand from her face and gave a cry for help tha: fairly woke the echoes. In a second both men were flying down the street and people came hurrying to her aid from every direction. As a burly policeman rushed up to her, _ Merion pointed in the direction of the fleeing _ “They tried to assault me—do catch them, officer,” she cried. “One is Emile Vorse, who is wanted at headquarters!” ; - Like a flash the officer was after his quarry, giving three short raps on the side- walk with his night-stick as he ran, to sum- _mon assistance. _ Marion explained the situation to a small _ crowd of men and boys who had gathered, and they promptly started off to _help the _ policeman. + —s- As quickly as possible Marion hurried home and retired. The first thing in the morning she went out and bought a paper. Er “They caught him! They caught Emile meee Vorse!” she cried out, happily, “but, oh, Dollie, just listen to this. They say he has _ been calling himself by the name of Max, and that he has been decoying young girls to ruin through an agency of some sort.” > “The very man that insulted me in his _ Office,” cried Dollie, with a gasp. “His name _ was Mr. Max, oh, I am so glad they have meeeauont him.” . _ “Miss Ray will be delighted,” was Mar- —ion’s answer, “for she has never felt quite _ Safe, knowing that the fellow was at liberty.” - “Well, it’s a very true saying that ‘it is a long lane that has no turning.’ ”’ _ “TI hope our lane will turn pretty soon,” _ said Dollie, sighing. MY QUEEN. 21 Just then Marion’s glance fell on another item in the paper. “That boy that was run over by the cable car was not identified,” she said, sadly. “He had no friends, apparently, for he has been buried by the city.” “He was just Bert’s age,” said Dollie, sor- rowtully. Marion dropped the paper and stared at her sister. “Oh, Dollie, I have a scheme,” she cried, excitedly. “Quick! Open your typewriter and be ready to take a dictation. [I’m going to play a trick on Matt Jenkins that will give Bert Jackson his freedom.” CHAPTERYXIT. A TERRIBLE SITUATION. While Dollie was getting her machine in shape ber sister composed the following let- Ce... : “Mr. MartHew JENKINS; Poor Farm, Hick- orytown, Conn. “Dear Sir—A boy about sixteen was re- cently run over by a cable car in this city and killed. As he was unidentified- within the regular time allowed by the city, he has been buried in Potter’s Field, the same as any other pauper. I have seen the garments left by the deceased and recognized them as be- longing to one of your truant boys, one Bert Jackson, who was in my employ a few days after his arrival in this city. Knowing that the boy was your charge, I write this letter. It should relieve you of all anxiety regarding him in future.” She signed the letter “John Johnson,” but appended no address. They could think whatever they pleased about the omission, it would make no difference in Matt Jenkins’ actions in the matter. “ELetl be tickled: todéath;” ~said; Dellie erimly. “‘He’ll just be glad he is dead and that’s the last he’ll ever think of him.” . “And that is exactly what I want,” said Marion, laughing, “for as soon as they think he is dead, they’ll stop looking for him.” “You are the cleverest girl in the world,” said Dollie, as she addressed the envelope. She had become quite proficient now on her typewriter. “I wish I was clever enough to get work,” was her sister’s answer as she inserted some newspaper clippings about the dead boy in the envelope, “but I shall very soon, for I am ectting desperate.” | As the girls were planning what to do next Mrs. Haley came in. She was as pleasant as usnal; but Marion could see that something was troubling her. After kissing the girls tenderly, she sat down by Dollie, who was not quite well yet, but slowly cony COL al OX KS (0)