Marion Marlowe in Indianapolis — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

8 . ve now, but as heck waited on the hospital steps for the carriage, she touched his arm tenderly. -. “T will answer, dear—honor bright, | will! : ¢ ‘ome to the hotel at two o'clock and have luncheon with me, and I will tell you then what day we will he married.” _ “Good-by, my darling, until two o’clock, - then,’ ’ whispered Fairfax, tenderly ; then the - ¢arriage Saag up and the two girls entered it. “The hick best Edie in the world,” a ~ murmured Alma, as she looked back at him. “ Marion did not answer ; her heart was very heavy. Even her dearest friend’s happiness _ did not aid in lightening it. “Oh, Marion! I am so selfish!” cried Miss Allyn, instantly. “It is wicked in me to be _ happy when you are so distressed. Poor Bert! Heaven grant that he may recover soon; -and as for the doctor, why, he must be found. He is so good, so noble, the world ~ eannot do without him!” “Tt doesn’t seem to me that I could!” mur- mured Marion, slowly. ‘He has been so good and kind to me! Oh, Alma, why is it, do you suppose? He is the dearest man on earth, and yet I have no such, feeling for him as you have for Mr. Fairfax.” “JT am sure I don’t understand it a little bit,” said Miss Allyn, shaking her head. “It _ is a mystery to me how you feel toward Dr. Brookes. I know if J was in your place I would positively adore him!” CHAPTER XII. - CONCLUSION. At exactly two o'clock the members of the Temple Theatrical Company sat down to luncheon in the hotel dining-room, where pthey were joined by Mr, Fairfax, who came “in smiling brightly. “Good news from Jackson! He is perfect- _ ly conscious, and the physicians say he will soon recover !" he cried, as he held out a hand to both Miss Allyn and Marion, | The ladies clapped their hands, for they - were delighted with the news. Their youth- a tul comedian was a great favorite with the company. __ Miss Ellis was so overjoyed that the tears i. sprang to her eyes, and Marion, understand- — a, Lied MY QUEEN. 25 ing the young girl’s feelings for Bert, gave her hand a little squeeze under the table. “And is there no news of Dr. Brookes ?” asked Miss Allyn, quickly. The young detective shook his head. “The police are doing their best, but they can’t find out a thing,” he said, soberly. “Not a soul can be found who was in the neigh- borhood of Gerry’s when the thing must have happened, but Bert will soon be able to give us a clew. They say he is anxious to talk, but the doctors won’t let him.” There was a little commotion at the door and every one turned. Even the waiters, who had heard the story, stared as though they were ‘Sees an ap- parition. “Tt is Dr. Brookes himself: P» cried Mr. Temple, springing from his chair. In an instant the entire company had sur- rounded him, and his arm was nearly shaken off in the violence of their greetings. “T am happy, now that I know that poor Bert is all right,” said the doctor, smiling. “But don’t look at me, please, for | am a sorry sight» been riding on a freight train since twelve-thirty this morning.” “Tell us all about it, just as quick as you can,” cried Marion, who was still holding his hand tightly, while her cheeks were as hot as fire. “Oh, we have had such an anxious day! We felt sure you had been run over.” The tears were trembling on her lashes now; and the joy of seeing that she wept cver his safety so overcame the young physi- cian that he could hardly speak for a min- ute. Mr. Temple offered him his chair, while the waiter got another, and as soon as they were all seated, the doctor told his story briefly. ¢ “T received a letter from a fellow calling himself Philip Dunlap,” he began, | straight at Marion. ‘ “We know that part,” broke in Mr. Tem- ple. “Dunlap is a ‘bunco-steerer,’ and used Marion’s father’s name as a decoy. Fairfax here has caught him and landed him in jail. What we want to know is, what happened when you and Bert got to Gerry’s ?” “Well, in the first place, we did not get there,” resumed the CO INICDOOIKSEGO looking