Marion Marlowe in Omaha, or, Held up by Accident — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

F never ‘oved, and that I could not possibly 4 -marry a man unless I loved him.” She looked ‘up into his face with such an ‘earnest glance that for a moment the ranch- man gazed down at her in silence. ee reck’n now yer couldn't,” he said, after ba minute. “Some women could—ther most P on em’, mebbe—but yer’re too honest fer thet | lar, an’ I reck’n thet’s why I like yer!” aT think it would be wicked to marry with- 0 it love,” “and I am too young, anyway, to think of went on the young girl, quietly ; marriage yet. I am only eighteen, and I have only been out in the world a few short 1 nonths. I have a great deal towlearn, both of myself and_ others, before I can decide such a serious question.” .. said the man, ain. Then he touched the right rein to pull e of the ponies in a little. ike reck’n you air right,” . n, slowly; “but ’tain’t my natur ter try ter i Biceno- ye none. Ef yer don’t want ter do it, I wouldn’tthev yer; but I’d powerful like ter see yer change! Somehow, I’ve got my heart sot, on seein’ yer on ther ranch. It would be like er bust of sunshine ter hev yer sittin’ on ther he’athstun.” - Marion’ s eyes filled with tears at the bluff ranchman’s words. There was poetry and | pathos” in the soul of this man, who looked like a desperado and used such rude lan- : guage. “ = “Perhaps I could visit you—with the com- ) ‘. “T don’t _ know exactly where we are to go after we _ reach Denver, but Mr. Temple is planning to s extend the tour a little further.” a pany, 1 mean,” she said, quickly. “Thar’ll be a welcome fer ther hull kit an’ - boodle of yer,” “T kin _ promise yer. a good time, an’ ther purtiest | f en’ry in ther country ; an’ if it comes ter big - game, as them kids wuz er sayin’, I reck’n I c ‘a'd manage ter give ‘em er glimpse of er was the answer. co MY QUEEN . . Tm sorry yer feel so, of course,” he went 4 21 bar, or mebby er moose—all accordin’ ter sar- cumstances !” “That would be grand,” began Marion, but the rest of her sentence was cut short. They were passing a clump of low ever- green trees that formed almost a grove, and the roadway was becoming a trifle narrower. The mustang on the right pricked up his ears. The next moment he stood still and snorted furiously. “Hello! thar’s somethin’ wrong!” said the “Thet + thar wouldn’t do thet ef thar wuzn’t sumthin’ ther commodore, quickly. hoss matter. Jes’ give me ther lines er minute, an’ [’1]——” The rest of the sentence was never spoken. There was a crack of a pistol, and the frightened mustang fell like a log in his tracks. The next second two masked men, on horseback, dashed out of the bushes just ahead, while a third appeared in the road at the rear of the wagon. Marion uttered a low cry, and then sat per- fectly still. She knew in an instant exactly what had happened. The rich commodore was being “held up” by desperate highwaymen. CHAPTER XX: THE PURSUIT. It was a dreadful moment, and the young girl glanced about wildly. The place was a desolate one, and there was no one to help. Then she turned and looked at the face of her companion. He had half risen in the sleigh when the raustang fell. The next second he whipped a monstrous revolver .from his overcoat pocket and proceeded to make the weapon crack merrily. Bert was not the only one who had been wrong in guaging the ranchman’s judgment. The highwaymen had, much to their dismay, found him quite prepared Aor emergencies. (CO) =