Marion Marlowe's Noble Work, or, The Tragedy at the Hospital — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

- Her companion shivered as he saw a wa- : on load of pine coffins about ten feet ahead _ “What a horrible place!’ he said. ‘Have you ever been in there?” “No, but I’d like to go if there is time,” said Marion, quickly. “And I am quite sure a there is. The boat does not leave until _ eleven.” 3 ~ Mr. Ray spoke to the driver and then = helped Marion out. At the same moment an- iy other carriage rolled up and stopped directly before the entrance. : ee Tt is Mr. Atherton, Dollie’s employer! _ Marion whispered, as she drew back sud- 1”? ’ denly. a A man had stepped from the other car- She knew him instantly, although his back was toward her. — ? 3 Archie Ray hardly heard the young girl’s next words. riage and gone into the Morgue. He was staring after the law- . yer with a dazed expression. “He is the old lawyer who is Dollie’s em- ployer,” Marion said again, ‘‘and he’s a reg- Why, do you know, he took Dollie to luncheon one day ular roué, if I am any judge. ; t 1ad not stopped it.” ee 4 “Is it possible?” said Mr. Ray, coming back to her words, with a start. ‘Why, that He is the father of Has not his own daughter’s ca- , man is my father-in-law. m wife. ae reer made him more merciful of other maidens ?” Marion was shocked at his news, but there vas no time to reply. The next moment they were in the dingy home of the dead, gazing around them with curiosity. ae me & a 6g ° . . He did not see us,’ whispered Marion, as *: the lawyer went out again. “And I am very glad, for I should not care to speak to him.” “Dead John,” the keeper, came in at that MY QUEEN. aE urd would have taken her to a matinee if I. 17 moment. He was a little impatient as he looked at his visitors. “Be yees lookin’ fer any one in pertecke- ler?” he asked, crossly, “fer if yees ain’t, it ain’t no time ter be comin’ in wen I’m busy.” “What was he looking for?’ asked Mr. Ray, pointing after the lawyer. “You were civil enough to him, even if you were busy.” The man shook his head and became sud- denly better natured. | “He’s lookin’ fer his gal, he sez,’ “He ain’t seen her fer years an’ he was his answer. comes here lookin’ every mornin’.” “That’s a queer combination,” said Mr. Ray, as he put Marion back into the carriage. “A man who is always hunting the Morgue on the lookout for his own wayward one, yet never losing a chance to wrong some other man’s daughter.” | “T think a little more knowledge of the evil in the world will drive me mad,” said Mar- ion, sharply. “Oh, is there no end to it? I am beginning to be doubtful.” | Mr. Ray looked at her fair face with one of his old, tender glances. “It is wrong that you should have learned even so much as one lesson of the evil,’ he said, softiv. “You should have been kept free from it all, my peerless Marion.” The beautiful girl’s face flushed scarlet to the roots of her hair, but Mr. Ray touched her hand gently, almost in a pleading man- ner. “Let me think of you thus—it can do no harm,” he said, softly. “Let me say to my- self, she is my peerless Marion, even though a barrier exists between us which prevents my saying anything more.” Marion bowed her head and the tears sprang to her eyes. “You are too good to'think so well of me,” she said, “Oh, I wish you could know how deeply I sympathize with you. How sorry I am to know how you have suf- fered.” simply. ecomicboooks.€©