Marion Marlowe's Peril, or, A Mystery Unveiled — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

+ MY QUEEN. a healthy country girl, and the beauty of- both face and figure was exquisitely set off by a simple gown and dainty bonnet. “By Jove! She is a beauty!’ whispered Mr. Villard to Miss Allyn, as he watched pb that magnificent girl was a sister of mine her disappear behind the iron grating. I'd build a barbed wire fence around her instanter!” ‘“Miss Marlowe can take care of herself,” said Miss Allyn, proudly. | “I’m not so sure,’ was Villard’s low re- ply. not proof against treachery.’’ “She may be brave enough, but she’s ~ “None of us are,’ said Miss Allyn, calmly, “but what do you mean, Mr. Villard? You surely don’t think that Mr. Horton would harm her.” Mr. Villard shrugged his shoulders and the frown on his face deepened. “T don’t trust any man very far,” he said, sourly; “especially when he is dealing with a deucedly pretty woman.” : There was evidently something behind the careless words, but he walked away without further explanations. Alma Allyn’s brow puckered into a little frown, and she turned uneasily and stared at the iron grating. “Had she done right in bringing Marion She asked herself the question but could not an- into such an atmosphere as _ this? swer it. For Marion Marlowe was indeed her dear friend, tried and tested by experiences which could not have been more exacting; further- was as the soul pure as more, Marion’s driven snow—she was the emblem of all that was best and noblest in women, Both she and her twin sister Dollie had lived with Miss Allyn for a little while prior to Dol- lie’s nurtiage, and although there was no tie of blood to unite them, they loved each other dearly. The clever reporter went on with her work but her mind was ill at ease, and it was a relief when the boy came and fold her that Mr. Horton wanted her. of the paper as she entered, but she rose at once to greet Miss Allyn. “Oh, Alma, do you really think I can do itr’ she asked, softly. you to think of me, but somehow I doubt my own ability as a newspaper reporter.” “Nonsense! You'll do it all right,” said Miss Allyn, decidedly. “If you need any assistance in working up the story,” said the editor, “you can call on Miss Allyn, as I shall be busy. She will be able to give you what help you re- quire and for that reason,” he continued, turning to Miss Allyn, “I wanted you to hear the outline of the story as I give it to her.” Miss Allyn bowed, and the editor went on: “The case is this, Miss Marlowe: Vincent St. Clair was married two years ago to Le- onie Townsend, the daughter of the million- aire, Geoffrey Townsend. St. Clair at that time was an artist of no particular reputa- tion. He had just come over from the other side, and the match astounded society, as it was supposed that the daughter and heiress of so wealthy a man would wed some one in How- ever, everything seemed all right—the old the fashionable set if not a nobleman. man gave his daughter a house completely furnished and a dowry of fifty thousand dol- lars for her wedding present, and the young couple started off in life with a clear path before them. St. Her husband declared “Six months Leonie Clair sud- denly disappeared, ARO that she left her home one afternoon to eall upon Her mother, and as she did not return that evening, he supposed that she had re- He mained all night at her parents’ home. Eomichbooks * Marion was glancing over some old files. — “Tt was so kind of Gom | | —————————— ee EE —_—