From Farm to Fortune, or, Only a Farmer's Daughter — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

20 have just told me! Why the thing is in- famous! I can hardly believe it!’ Yet, it is true, every word, and I am glad I have told you, Mr. Ray! Some way you have given me courage by your un- expected sympathy. Yet it is strange that | should have made such a confidant of a stranger.” | “You can trust me absolutely, my dear young lady! I would scorn to deceive any man in the world, much less a young girl who needs my friendship and protection.” Marion was walking side by side with the young man whom she had met and who had insisted upon escorting her all the way to Police Headquarters. She could not explain how she came to tell him her story. It must have been her unaccountable confidence in the handsome young stranger. When she glanced at him shyly she read only honor and chivalry in his face, and every word that he uttered served to con- vince her of his refinement. It was plainly to be seen that he was a-thorough gentle- man, and if fine clothing counted for any- thing he was certainly wealthy. ~ “And you think no harm would come to Miss Gray by my story?’ she asked eagerly. “Poor girl, I am sure that she must have been deeply wronged, and not by one word would I ever injure her!” “T am sorry for her, too,” said the young man, seriously. “Her case is a sad one, | am sure. There are many such cases, the more’s the pity. But you must sacrifice her in order to save your sister. You will have to tell the whole story; there is no way out of it.” “T will if I must,’ said the fair girl, sighing; “for first of all | must rescue my poor sister from the clutches of that scoun- drel—but oh, Mr. Ray, do look at that pic- ture!” Marion had just caught sight of a flaming “poster” on the side of a building directly in front of them. She stopped as if spellbound and gazed at it intently. Her companion stared at it also, but could not quite under- stand her emotion. “Carlos Dabroski, Professor of Hypno- tism,” glared in large type from the poster directly over a full-sized lithograph of a man in evening dress, apparently addressing an aud?ence. “What is it, Miss Marlowe?” asked the young man quickly. * Marion gasped for breath as she tried to answer. “Oh, Mr. Ray, that is the picture of Mr. lawson!” ‘What! the fellow that abducted your sister?” cried her companion in dismay. MY QUEEN. © i j any trouble. I. F 4 The beautiful lips quivered pitifully over the awful revelation. ! “Jam almost sure it is the same,” she murmured as she stared hard at the picture. “He is changed in some way, I can’t tell exactly how. Oh, I see it all now! The black-hearted monster! He hypnotized her, my poor, innocent sister!” E | “Fle is to give an exhibition of his power to-night,” said Mr. Ray, who was reading the big bill. ‘The rascal will hypnotize some | ‘subjects’ at Poole’s Theatre this evening.” Marion shut her. white teeth with a:de-— fiant snap. | “Well, he shall have me for an audience, Mr. Ray,” she exclaimed, sharply. “Oh, to think of my sister being in the clutches of that monster!” | | , “Don’t cry, Miss Marlowe! - You may be mistaken,” said Mr. Ray, quickly. ae It hurt him as much to see her grief as though she had been his own loved sister. ? “Oh, I’m not going to cry,’ whispered | Marion, with the tears almost on her lashes, © “but Iam going to do some plotting to trap that fiend; and, oh, Mr. Ray, I do hope that you will help me!” . She turned toward him appealingly and — held out her hand. There was an expres- | sion on her face that made it radiantly beau- | tiful. Archie Ray glanced around quickly. | There was nobody looking. | ’ He would have given the whole world to_ have clasped her in his arms, but he knew in- stinctively that such an action would never be forgiven hii. - As he controlled himself and raised her hand to his lips, he murmured softly: “Till death, Miss Marlowe, you can count upon my friendship, for although I have not — known you an hour yet He stopped abruptly. An eloquent glance from his dark eyes left no doubt of his sen-_ timents. - Marion’s hand trembled in his grasp and her face was suffused with blushes. For a moment she was so confused that she did not know how to answer. | “You are very, very kind,” she stammered | at last, “and I appreciate your—your friend-— ship, I assure you, Mr. Ray. It comes like a burst of sunshine in this awful hour of mts-_ ery. If you will only help me to save my sister! Every hour, every moment must be fraught with agony to poor Dollie.” “Let us hurry to Police Headquarters,” said the young man, quickly, “and you must — tell them all—every word of your story.” There was no hesitation in Marion’s man- ner now, although she inwardly prayed that. her words would not bring Miss Gray into” ie . — Gomilichoo <S;€om