Marion Marlowe's Peril, or, A Mystery Unveiled — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

- With one bound she reached the canvas ad tore away the curtain. ‘The distorted face of the beautiful maiden by as again before her gaze, and as she looked closer and closer she commenced to detect the amiliar features of poor, missing Leonie. - Asa flash, the whole dastardly thing was revealed to her, and she clenched her hands and almost groaned in agony. This young wife had been poisoned in her own beautiful home, and her dying struggles had been por- trayed on canvas by no other hand than that ‘of her mad artist husband! _ Marion’s breath came in gasps for the space of a minute. It was plain that she was doomed. She must do something desperate. T here was a pencil and paper in the pocket of her gown. She scribbled a note and tied it with her handkerchief to the heavy goblet on the tray, then with her strong, young arm hurled it violently through the window. CHAPTER XII. THE DOCTOR'S CALLER. ? Dr. Reginald Brookes had hardly returned tc his office after leaving Marion at the art- t's door when he received a caller, who eemed strangely excited. He was a slightly built young man, well dressed, and of genteel appearance, and in an instant the physician knew that his errand : was not an ordinary one. 7 “My name is Villard,” Began the young man as soon as he entered, “and I have come to ask you the apace’ os: Mrs. Dent’s death. I understand from the undertaker that you were with her in her last moments.” | & On the contrary,” said the doctor, sadly, 1 arrived there too late. There was no one with her when she died but a friend of mine a Miss Marlowe.” What not Miss Marion Marlowe, yee r!” exclaimed the young man, sharply. he doctor smiled faintly. “T believe she is a reporter,” he said, very 310 erly; “but I understand that she has held € position only two days—in fact, she was on 1 her first assignment when Mrs. Dent’s y attracted her attention and told her of his 1other’s condition.” q “And she went to her—a stranger—and MY QUEEN. 25 remained with her until she died!’ exclaimed the young man, in astonishment. “Miss Marlowe is full of good works. She is the soul of kindliness,” was the physician’s answer; “but pardon me, are you a relative or friend of Mrs, Dent’s, and is there any information that I can give you?” “T am a—a friend,” was the slightly hesi- tating answer. “I knew, Mrs. Dent at her home in England. She had important papers —did Miss Marlowe see them?” “T have them,” said the doctor, evasively, | “and I must refuse to give them up. There are one or two matters that will have to be straightened out, and if you are her friend, I shall be pleased to consult with you about them.” “But, how does it happen that you are in- terested?” asked the young man, quickly. “The undertaker tells me that you have made yourself responsible for the burial.” Dr. Brookes smiled again, this time very pleasantly. .. “T happen to be a police surgeon, for one thing,” was the answer, thing in this woman’s life that directly con- cerns another. In other words, her marriage certificate, if proven valid, will give the po- lice authorities a clue to an important mys- tery—it will explain, or help explain, the dis- appearance of Leonie St. Clair, the wife of the artist who lives on Fifth avenue.” “Ah! you have learned her secret! know who she was!’ exclaimed the young man, delightedly. “Then the seal of silence can be raised from my lips!” A smile swept over his features, lighting and brightening them wonderfully. . “She has left the history of her life as well as the certificate,’ said Dr. Brookes, “and You “and there is some-. I have already cabled to her old home to see | if her statements can be verified.” “You did not need to do that, sir; but [ thank you for your kindness!’’ cried the young man, gratefully. “You see, it is this way: Mrs. Dent was my sister! Oh, it is positively dreadful how I have been forced to keep silence in this matter!” He began pacing the floor excitedly, and talking with great rapidity. “IT saw them married, my sister and Vin- cent St, Clair; she was only a child—he was ECOMmicaooc! SS (CO)