Marion Marlowe's Skill, or, A Week as a Private Detective — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

i8 Why should T sing, madame, while others are weeping ?” “Nonsense,” said Madame Leopold, stern- ly. “You are getting morbid, Marion! As if you were to bear the burden of all the misery in creation!” “I must bear my share,” girl, soberly, loaded.” “You must think first of yourself—of your own welfare,” said her teacher, a little sharp- ly; “and it will never do for you to omit your practice.” “Madame Leopold, I want to ask you a question,” was Marion’s only answer. She was looking her teacher straight in the eyes, with an expression of great eagerness. “Why was it that you spoke so to Miss Ross yesterday, madame? If you had spoken that way to me, [ should have considered it an insult.” There was nothing commanding or dis- Aourteous in her tone. She had simply asked a question in her usual sweet manner. Madame Leopold crossed her fat hands over each other as’she spoke, and for a mo- ment her face expressed a tinge of cunning. “T wish to get rid of Miss Ross,” she said, quietly, “and for reasons of my own I took pains to insult her.” Marion’s honest eyes dilated with astonish- ment. She could hardly wait for the wom- ans explanation. ‘Bessie Ross is dishonest,’ said Madame Leopold, calmly. “I have missed a number of things from the studio, Marion, and I have proven beyond a doubt that my pupil stole them.”’ “Mercy !"’ said the young “or someone else will be over- “Is she as bad She did wicked, gasped Marion. as that? Then I am not mistaken! it deliberately. Oh, she is terribly and I shall not hesitate to expose her.” [t was Madame Leopold’s turn to be aston- ished now, but for reasons of her own Marion hesitated about telling her what had hap- pened, “Vou shall hear my story of her dishon- esty to-morrow, madame,” she said, firmly. “And, oh, I am so glad that you knew you were right, for, do you know, | pitied her very deeply that morning. “Well. try and save your pity for a more MY QUEEN. Se ae 2 person, There was another light tap on Marion’s door, anda chambermaid handed her a note Madame that Miss Merton had left for her. Leopold left the room just then, so she read it immediately. It was merely to tell her that Miss Mertaa would be home that evening, and that both she and her brother would be delighted to have Marion’s company. The fair girl smiled a littie sadly as she read the note. Her two days as private shopper had been wonderfully successful ones. telling what she had learned to honest Tom Merton. Se CHAPTER X. MR. MERTON’S ADMIRATION, Five minutes later Marion was on her way to see the cripple. It was a long ride to his home, and she was obliged to change cars twice. ~ said the madame, laugh- ing; “for I should have had that girl arrested | ene ago if it had-not been that I hated the publicity of the matter.” J “he dreaded On nearing her destination, she suddenly | remembered that she did not know the num- ber. It was on Cherry street, but that was as much as she could remember. A search through her pocket showed her that she had forgotten the note. There was nothing to be done but to go back and get it. To say that she was disgusted was putting it mildly, for the day was waning and Marion was tired and unhappy. When she reached the hotel her sister Dollie was waiting there for her, so once more Marion was obliged to abandon her errand of mercy. Dollie stayed to dinner, and Marion enter- tained her gayly. Not for worlds would she have told her all the secrets of human de- pravity that she was learning. It was bad enough to have to tell her news to Mr. Merton, so when Dollie left she had not received so much as an inkling of her sister’s true feelings. But Marion was not the girl to shirk dis- agreeable duties. At eight o'clock she was sitting with the Mertons, and had told them in detail of her two days’ experience, omitting Gomie JOO) Ss.¢com