Marion Marlowe in Indianapolis — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

just like it. But, hurrah! one wing is 4 _ Siped he called out, suddenly. ‘Just look at this, Temple! The fellow was limping! — He’s hopped on his right foot to save the other!” The men all stooped down and examined * footprints, while, not twenty feet away, engines were puffing and snorting. a “You are right, young man!” said one of the oldest Officers. “Now, my theory is that the sharper was _ pursued by the doctor, and he led him here! There isn’t a doubt in my mind that he hoped _ he would be run over!” Marion stifled a cry of horror as she lis- _ tened, and Miss Allyn moved ,closer and put one arm around her. | “Don’t lose heart, dear; that is only a the- ory,” she said, Vrightly. ‘Perhaps we had better go to the hospital and stay with Bert. _ Henry will let us know when they have found _ the doctor.” a “Yes, please do!” ufged Mr. Fairfax, turn- ing quickly toward them. “I will take you out of this and put you in a carriage. It is - better that you should be out of this neighbor- ~ hood!” There was an dnote in his face which he strove hard to conceal, and, without a word, the two girls allowed him to lead them a few _ blocks to a drug store, from which he could _ call a carriage. : __ As soon as they were alone Marion burst _ out crying. Her friend comforted her silent- ty, for she knew of what she was thinking— _ that it was possible Dr. Brookes might have been crushed to death at midnight under one of those engines. , Marion would have found it hard at that instant to analyze her feelings for Dr. Brookes. That he had met with a very seri- ous misfortune could hardly be doubted, and _._the chances were that she would never see _ him alive again. It was this thought that let down the floodgates of her tears again, and she wept as if her heart would break. . If Miss Allyn had doubted before that _ Marion loved Dr. Brookes, that doubt was _ swept away by this uncontrollable expression of grief. What was her surprise, then, to hear Mar- ’ jon exclaim, nreteaty, 2 . i, 4 — ~ in 2 MY QUEEN. “Oh, Alma! He loved me! He loved me !” - “Ves, dear!’ whispered Alma, encourag- ingly; “but don’t cry, Marion pI’m sure he'll come back.” “Oh, how happy he would have been if I had loved him;” went on Marion, not noticing her companion’s remark. “Why did I ever let him come?” Marion seemed to think that in some way she was responsible for Dr. Brookes’ misfor- tune. CHAPTER XI. : IN THE HOSPITAL. When the two girls reached the hospital they found that Bert had been taken to a pri- vate room, and that his injuries were so severe that no one was allowed to see him. They were given leave to look over the building; and, as Marion had once been a hospital nurse, she could not help feeling in- terested in the familiar surroundings. As they wandered at will through the wards she spoke to several of the patients, and even the nurses smiled as they saw her beau- tiful face, for they could tell at a glance that she also was suffering. As they were passing the surgical ward, Alma Allyn glanced in. They had neither of them intended enter- ing. At that moment a man on the first cot turned his white face toward them, and Miss Allyn suddenly gripped her companion’s shoulder. . “Quick, Marion! Look! Oh, I believe that is the man,” she whispered, sharply. is exactly like the man Henry told us about!” “Are you sure?” asked Marion, almost’ holding her breath. “Sure! repeated Miss Allyn, after another glance. “Dll find out what ails him.” said Marion, aesperately. “Tf me is hurt in the left leg, I shall be suspicious.” She walked straight into the ward and was approaching the cot, when an orderly inter- cepted her with a courteous gesture. “No visitors allowed, 'GOmlG JOOKSTCO oat, im