Marion Marlowe in Columbus, or, Accused of a Crime — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

24 “Naturally, Wiggin will come at once and demand his money. He probably knows that Jenkins will give up easier while he is — safely in jail than he would if he was free and master of the situation. There’s no doubt that Wiggin could hang him if he would. Oh, the fellow is bound to come at once for his money! He is desperate, I _feckon. He hasn’t a penny.” “But he might know that we’d be watch- ing for him,” said Mr. Temple. “And you might watch until doomsday and never see him,” laughed the detective. “Why, that fellow, Wiggin, is a corker from Corkersville. He'll be so well disguised that his own mother wouldn’t know him!” The two gentlemen looked at him ques- tioningly, but the detective could not ex- plain just then. There were several people coming into the lobby to purchase tickets. CHAPTER 2X1. rHE BEST DETECTIVE. When the train came in that ‘was supposed to bear Wiggin there were no less than four members of the company carefully hidden out of sight in the waiting-room of the sta- tion, and no less than three detectives on the platform, one of whom was armed with a warrant for Wiggin. Fourteen passengers alighted from the train—ten men and four women—and as they passed through the depot on the way to the street the detectives scrutinized their faces carefully. All left immediately, except one woman, who stopped at the news-stand to purchase a paper. Mr. Temple was standing with Bert, Ol cott and Miss Allyn in the darkest corner of the waiting-room; and, as the woman at the news-stand opened her purse to pay for the paper, one of the detectives came up to them. “Our bird is not on that train, Mr. Tem- ple,” he said, softly. “Those men were all business men fright here in Columbus. “There’s not a sign of that scallawag, Wig- gin.” ‘ r . 2 »??? “Did you if ok 17 the baggage Caf©r ! acked Miss Allyn, grimly. “You hnow MY QUEEN. that is his favorite place when traveling Mr. Detective.” “Better take a peep into the engine,” said Olcott, laughing. “Or, maybe, he is hidden in the coal! He is capable of anything.” “Hello, there’s Dr. Brookes!” cried Bert, very softly. “He'll bring news from Marion without a doubt.- No, he won’t! Look, Miss Allyn! He’s got her! He’s got her!” | Bert was so excited that he raised his voice and the woman,who had just bought the pa- per stopped short as if he had startled her. Dr. Brookes came into the depot with a broad smile upon his face and Marion Mar- lowe leaned on his arm, her face radiant with pleasure. : As she caught sight of her friends stié | took a step forward. The next instant she came face to face with the woman who hee just left the news-stand. y “Oh, Marion!” _ Miss Allyn called her friend’s name and then stood still half-way across the Niet | room. Marion was standing like a statue, tis straight at the woman, who seemed unabie , 4 2 ‘ ‘ eT to move for the space of a minute. “What the deuce is the matter?” asked — Bert, springing forward. ; With a disgusted exclamation one of the — detectives passed him. ; “Her eyes are sharper than ours,” Bert | heard him say, then Marion’s quick voice rang out as clear as a bugle. “Quick, Dr. — Brookes, Mr. Temple, or somebody! Arrest that fellow! That is Mr. Wiggin, dressed | up as a woman!” | There was a general cry of surprise, and then Wiggin made a dash for liberty, but, in. a second, Dr. Brookes had both arms around : him and was holding him firmly. | As the detective sprang to his aid, there was the sharp report and flash of a pistol. A bullet whizzed past Marion and struck the wall, creating a small panic in the station, In a second the smoking weapon was wrested from his grasp and Wiggin was al- most shaken out of his borrowed garments, The detective tore off the false hair and eye-glasses, and washed the “make-up” from his face at the waiting-room fountain, " ought to have a.medal, Miss Mar te ie wt iComicbooks.com