Marion Marlowe's Money, or, Brave Work in the Slums — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

4 MY QUEEN. “Not if I can help it!’ cried Marion, mov- ing directly in his path. “Take another step toward her and I will rouse the block in an instant!” | There was a ring in her voice that made the fellow hesitate. He had no wish to draw a crowd just at this particular moment. Suddenly the old woman made a move that astonished Marion. She stepped boldly from Behind her, holding the bag above her head, and in her shrill, cracked voice cried out to the fellow: | “Touch it if you dare, you miserable scoun- drel! It is all I have got, and I am old enough to be your mother! Touch it, I say, and may all the curses Se Heaven fall upon you!” For just an instant the burly figure was motionless; then with a quick spring he seized the bag, tearing it from the old wo- mian’s hands, and as Marion gave a shriek for help he turned and fled around the cor- ner. | “Oh, how foolish of you!” cried the girl, as she started to dart after him. The old woman caught her by the arm with a determined grip. the strength in those flabby muscles. “You Marion, tempted him, madam!” went on excitedly; “and now he is gone. Oh! you must have been crazy "’. “Not so crazy as you think,” said the old woman, chuckling; “but come quickly before See, This way, miss, any one answers your cry! they are coming from all directions ! hurry!’ She clutched Marion tighter and almost dragged her into an alleyway which wound ‘1 and out among the buildings in a most confusing manner. After five to a rear door which seemed to belong minytes of rapid motion they Calhic ty a building on Jirst avenue, The old woman dragged Marion in and ~slammed the door behind her; It was wonderful, ; then to the young girl’s astonishment, she proceeded to lock 1t. | The room they had entered was a sort of | basement. It was gloomy and damp and ex- ceedingly dirty. | | As Marion peered about she saw a number of bundles -of rags, and .the odor that came © ~ ‘\ from them was decidedly obnoxious. “Oh; madam, what is this place that you have brought me into?” she asked, wildly. “Tt is a dreadful place | am sure—it smells. simply awful! I cannot understand your ex- traordinary actions!” She was standing in the middle of ee hideous room, her heart beating fiercely, for at last she was beginning to feel a presenti- ment of danger. _ “Hush!” said the old woman, in curiously softened tones, “don’t -be frightened, dearie, nobody shall harm you!” - She had mounted on a broken chair and was peering carefully*through a small erated window, but after a moment she descended in a wonderfully agile manner for one of her supposed years. “But why do you lock the door so care- fully?” did you not wait and tell an officer what had asked Marion; “and why in the world y in happened ! of The old woman pegan chuckling and rub- bing her skinny hands together, Her form shook with merriment and her small eyes twinkled curiously. he got only “Oh, a thief has got to be a sharp one to get ahead of the “He did not get my money; an empty bag,” she cackled, old woman!” * “Well, I should say so |” . . She was staring at the said Marion, with a sigh of relief. woman in the keenest wonder. oe! “Old Mother Nance knows a thing or two,” went on the old hag. “There’s not a_ thief nor a policeman in New York that can comicbooks.com s &