Marion Marlowe in Columbus, or, Accused of a Crime — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

16 Mr. Temple, coming up. “The baggage car is very nearly unloaded now and everything seems all right. If I could explain his action in going back I should feel easy about Wig- gin!” ~ “What's going on down there, anyway?” asked Bert, nodding toward the baggage car. “There are two fellows talking with our trainman who look for all the world like detectives.” The whole company was on the platform now, and they all looked as Bert spoke. Bill, the trainman, was standing near the door of the baggage car, engaged in what seemed to be an important conversation with two shrewd-looking fellows. “TIL just saunter down that way. Come on, Miss Ellis,” said Bert, softly; “we'll walk by as unconcernedly as though we did not know they were on earth, and, perhaps, we can catch a few words. I am just dying of curiosity.” : He winked at Mr. Temple as he spoke, and the manager nodded approvingly. The next minute Bert was walking by the group at the baggage car talking animatedly to Miss Ellis. at “You'll have to get out another! you [’ve lost it!” Bill said the words in a low voice, but Bert caught them distinctly. ‘So he is the guilty party. Well, I sur- mised it,” thought Bert, but he did not say a word, only listened politely to his compan- -ion’s chatter. As they walked back a mo- ment later, Bert heard another sentence. It was spoken by one of the men whom he had taken for detectives. “Then I’ll have to use the search warrant first, and arrest her after. Do you know her private trunk, Bill? If you do, point it out to us!” sert excused himself to Miss Ellis and wheeled around suddenly, at the same time beckoning for Mr, Temple to join him, “Whose trunk are you intending to search, gentlemen?” he asked, coolly, wif it belongs to a member of this company, you will please show your warrant.” One of the men pulled a »aper from his pocket and handed it to Bert, who in turn r to the manager, I tell passed it ove MY QUEEN. “A search warrant to examine Miss Mar- | lowe’s trunks!” he said, disgustedly. “Did you ever in your life hear of anything so impudent?” ; “What is the meaning of this?” asked Mr. Temple, angrily. “Who accuses Miss Mar- lowe of stealing jewelry?” The man’s only reply was to turn to the trainman, but the fellow slunk back and grew as red as a poppy. “Well, why don’t you speak out, if you have anything to say?” asked Mr. Temple, glaring at the fellow. “What do you know about this matter, anyway?” x The fellow hemmed and spluttered for a minute before he answered, and then blurted out some sort of an explanation. “I used to be a process-server once, and—well, I was given a paper to serve on | Miss Marlowe, but—but———” “But you lost the paper, so you couldn't serve it! Is that what you told the detective, Bill Jenkins?” “That is what he told me, but I thought he was lying,” said the detective, grimly. “I know nothing about the matter, sir, except that I got this warrant from headquarters, with instructions to examine Miss Marlowe’s trunks. I was told that she would be served with the other paper before she got to Co- lumbus.”’ | “Well, she hasn't been served, and you must not touch her trunks!” burst out Bert, impulsively. “It is bad enough to call Miss Marlowe a thief, but it would be adding in- sult to injury to touch her belongings!” There was a half-suppressed cry as Bert said the words, for the rest of the company, with Miss Marlowe in the lead, had walked quickly across the platform and were right behind him. “Who dares call Miss Marlowe a thief?” asked Dr. Brookes, striding forward, angrily, “No one calls her a thief, mister,” an- swered one of the detectives, more mildly. “We are only officers who are under orders. We were told that Miss Marlowe had stolen jewelry in Cleveland from an actress by the name of Miss Chester; that she would be arrested on the train by another detective, and we were provided with a search warrant to go through her trunks, and that we are Eomichooks.com ee a oe