Marion Marlowe's Escape, or, A Dangerous Mistake on the Road — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

MY It was a simple little scheme that she was planning, but she felt sure that it would do nicely for advertising purposes. A moment later she saw her chance to _ speak quietly to Miss Allyn. “Come out on the rear platform; I want to - speak to you, Alma! Wait until I am out and then make it appear casual. I want to - consult you before I tell the others what I am planning.” Miss Allyn nodded her head. Neither of them remembered Preston at that moment. _If they had been asked to locate him, they would have said he was possibly in the smoker. Miss Lee’s fur cape was lying on a chair and, as Marion rose suddenly, she picked it up and threw it around her shoulders. “[’m just going for a breath of air and a look at the storm,” she said, merrily. “You _ know, I am from the country, and I positively _ adore watching the fury of a storm.” _ “Tt’s wainin’ awful hard!” called out little ~ Ruby. _ “It won't reach me, darling,” called back _ Marion, over her shoulder; then, something _ prompted her to turn back and kiss the little one fondly. | “We are a little behind time,’ said Mr. _ Temple, at that moment, as he glanced at his ~ watch. __ Dr. Brookes drew his timepiece from his _ pocket, and the two were comparing them when Marion slipped away, her face almost _ covered with the cape she had confiscated. od A moment later she had reached the door _ of the car, which she opened with a firm _ hand and then closed instantly behind her. The moment her foot touched the platform _ she saw that she was not alone. _ Percy Preston was leaning heavily against the end of the car and, as her arm brushed his shoulder, he turned quickly and faced her. _ Marion’s eyes were almost hidden behind the folds of the cape, and, as she saw the gleam in Preston’s eyes, she seemed trans- fixed with horror. _ “So you betrayed me, you hussy!” he hissed in her ear. __ The next second he had seized her with a madman’ s strength and fairly lifted her ae ge Mm his arms over the railing of the platform. QUEEN. 21 At exactly that moment the train touched a fragile bridge. Preston’s hand had crept over her mouth now, and he was still holding her in his arms. Marion seemed to know instinctively what was coming. Just as she caught a glimpse of dark water far, far below her, the madman suddenly swung her out from the rail as far as he could; his grasp was loosened, and Marion felt that she was falling. The group in the car were still talking ex- citedly when the train passed in safety over the weakened trestle. “Thank Fortune! We are over that!” cried Bert Jackson, coming back into the car. “That’s the last one, they tell me, between here and Albany.” “I’d give a thousand dollars for a reason- able excuse for not reaching Cohoes to- night,” said Mr. Temple, savagely. “Of course, | don’t want an accident or anything like that, but if something would only help us to skip that town honorably! I have plenty of time to settle with Barton later!’ Miss Allyn rose just then and started for the door. It was a good time to go out and have her talk with Marion. “By the way, what’s become of Preston ?” asked the manager, suddenly. “I haven't seen him for an age! Perhaps he has de- serted us.” There was a shriek from the rear of the car that cut short his remark. Miss Allyn was standing with one hand upon the open door, peering out into the gloom that still rested upon the platform. “Marion! Where is Marion!” she cried, in alarm. “Mr. Preston is here, lying full length on the platform; but oh! do some one tell me what has happened to Marion!” There was a rush for the door, every pas- senger in the car joining. Percy Preston was dragged in, white, limp and unconscious, but there was not a sign of the beautiful Marion. CHAPTER X. CLEVER WORK. For the first ten minutes after this fearful discovery Marion’s friends were very nearly frantic. ECORnNIECLOOOKS (é (0)