An Interrupted Wedding, or Marion Marlowe as Maid of Honor — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

22 She picked up her-skirts daintily, as she spoke, and the next minute she and Bert were scampering down the dark street, which at that hour seemed to be entirely deserted. “What the mischief do you suppose she has come over here for?” muttered Bert, as he tried to keep pace with Marion. “Why, when I left her at the hotel, I honestly thought she was beginning to feel ashamed of what she had done, and now I’ll bet three dollars she is bent on more mischief!’ “Oh, Bert! I don’t! making for the river!” gasped Marion, sud- denly. “See, she has darted across that street and the pier is open!” I believe she is “Great Jumping Jerusalem! I wonder if it can be possible,” was Bert’s answer, and then they both redoubled their efforts to” catch up with the fleeting figure. It was just as Marion had said. The pier was open, and Gladys was already half way down the deserted structure. As the two dashed on after her, Bert yelled a word of warning. “Stop her! Stop her!” Marion joined in the cry, calling “Gladys! Gladys!” at the top of her lungs, but it seemed as if the girl only: fled from them faster, and in a second she disappeared in the shadows at the very end of the pier. But Bert's cry had: aroused some one, for as the two stumbled on two men, one a burly policeman, went striding past them. “Good-by, Marion!’ called back Bert, over his shoulder. “I musgtn’t let the cop outrun me! You can take care of yourself, can't you?” He did not wait for any answer, but darted off like an arrow, and just as he reached the policeman they all heard a splash in the water. Marion heard it, too, and for a moment her heart stood still. Then came another splash, and a moment later another, Gladvs had jumped into the river, there was no doubt about that, but just for a mo- ment Marion almost forgot the girl in her anxiety over Bert's danger. (ler limbs were trembling so she could hardly walk, but she managed to drag her- celf to the very edge of the pier, where the MY QUEEN. ; policeman was lying at full length and reaching down over the rotten timbers. It seemed like an eternity, but it was in reality but a few minutes when Gladys was litted up by two pairs of strong arms and seized by the muscular policeman. Then Bert dragged himself up over the edge of the pier and gave his hand to the man who had shared his danger. | “So you were watching her after all,” he said, as he recognized the detective. “I thought when I saw her bolt into that cab that you’d thrown up your job. I’m ai- mighty glad that I was mistaken!” “Well, I ain’t so glad,” said the detective, whose teeth were chattering, “you can bet if I had guessed that she was heading for . the river I’d have suddenly discovered that this wasn’t my vocation.” As they talked, the two men were wringing out their wet garments as best they could, while the officer, with Marion’s help, was try- ing to bring Gladys back to consciousness. “She’s more scared than hurt, I reckon,” said the policeman, looking up. “There ain’t nothing wrong with her, boys, except that she’s fainted. ie gal here will have her ©. K. in a minute.” “Gladys! Gladys!” called Marion, softly, as she took the girl’s wet head on her knee and stroked her forehead. The moon was rising and lighting up the pier, and as Gladys finally opened her eyes she looked straight up at Marion, whose face was as white as death in the moonlight. There was a sharp cry of horror and a startled look overspread her face. “Oh, where am [? “What has happened ?” she cried, hysterically. “My God! Am I dead! Is this an angel?” “You can bet your life it is!” broke in Bert’s voice, promptly. ‘But you ain't dead a little bit! alive and kicking!” Marion tried to smile, but it was a fecbie effort, for she was still trembling all over from the thrilling situation. “Oh, Gladys! Why did you try to die with such a.sin upon vour conscience?” she blurted out, finally. “Flow could you think of going to the judgment before you had You are righted your wrong -hytorp. spy. hed fe) |