Marion Marlowe in Chicago, or, Trapped by a Lunatic — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

out if there is a grain of truth in what he is Saying.” | | _ The negro’s teeth began to chatter and his _ eyeballs rolled convulsively. It was plain that he did not relish the work _ she had suggested. “*Taint safe, miss,” he muttered, wiih a quick glance into the carriage. “Dey wuz in ~Dago alley; dat’s de toughest ob de lot! Doan’ ketch dis niggah roamin’ roun’ dose hyah quarters ’cept in de middle ob de day, _w’en he cain see whar he’s a-goin’!” “But if we pay you well?” began the doc- tor. | The negro shrank back and tried to pull away from the hand that was upon his shoul- der. “’Tain’t safe,’ he mumbled again. “Dey’s all drunk at dis time ob night in dat alley! If de gal am dere, she’s hid whar nobody cain’t find her!’’ 3 “Tl find her, if she’s on earth!” exclaimed Bert, emphatically, “but we are only losing time here, doc! Let’s go somewhere, or do something. Tie the nigger to the carriage and drag him if he won’t guide us!” A perfect howl of terror escaped the mon- 'Strous thick lips; then, withea deft wriggle of the body, the dwarf slipped out of his coat, and, leaving it in the doctor’s hands, darted off into the darkness. ‘There was no use in following—the young physician saw that in a glance—the neigh- borhood was overflowing with too many dangers. | The class of people who lived there were evidently of the toughest in Chicago, and, besides, the locality was fairly criss-crossed _ with dark, impenetrable alleys. _ “If one only knew who to call upon for aid,” he said, as his glance swept the rows of dark, dilapidated buildings that lined the Narrow street, “but there is hardly a light to be seen, except in the groggeries, and we have no use at present for drunken loafers.” “Not a policeman in sight,” said Bert, dis- gustedly. “Why, even the gas lamps have ‘Jags’—just look at them, doc, and that one arc light on that corner is spluttering with the hiccoughs !” _ “It’s a dirty place to be in, all right,” was the answer ; “but I suppose it looks better in “ , r. - . MY QUEEN. 19 the daytime than it does at night, particu- larly on a night like this, when there is not a star shining; but there is one thing I can do, and I’ll do it at once!’’’ “Drive back to the hospital,” he called to the river. “I'll have another interview with treston, and, perhaps, I can learn something. He may tell the truth even in his ravings.” They started back and were some distance from the spot when a peculiar sound reached them. ¢ A. vehicle-of some kind was coming over the rough roadway, and, as it loomed up be- fore them in the darkness, they could see that the horse was either picking its way as best it could or was being guided by a drunken driver. | To avoid a collision, their own carriage was stopped, ‘and, once more, Bert and the ‘doctor sprang to the street. “He’s as drunk as a lord and actually asleep on the box,” called out Bert, after he had stopped the weary horse and climbed up to investigate. © Dr. Brookes peered into the cab, but it held no occupant. The next second some- thing caught his eye. It wag a white wrap of some kind, lying in a heap in one corner of the empty: vehicle. Without a word, he jerked open the door and caught up the garment; then sprang back to the other carriage, holding it out to- ward Miss Allyn. “See! It was in the cab!” he cried, with a groan of agony. “It is Marion’s wrap! I knew it in an instant!” : Miss Ellis burst into tears, but Miss Allyn hardly heeded her. Every drop of blood in her body was pulsing at that moment. “Marion is here, or near here! There is no doubt about it!” she said, clearly. “She has been followed by Preston and inveigled into some den! Quick! Let us hurry to the nearest telephone and send an alarm to the police station of this precinct! It is the first step to be taken in Marion’s rescue!” “Oh, Marion! Poor Marion!” cried Miss Ellis, who was weeping pitifully. “Oh, what if she has been killed!” ) Bert sprang irto the carriage and put his arm around her. He had never realized until then how much he cared fas patclooolks.co