Marion Marlowe in Omaha, or, Held up by Accident — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

= . lessly forward. Around the turn she knew dore was a Rough bit of roadway, bordered on either side by stunted trees and low bushes, Perhaps the fellow had been_headed off by some one coming from thé city. The thought gave her fresh courage. But on she dashed around the curve she almost gasped in amazement. : The robber was not in sight, yet she was nly a minute behind him. As she glanced Buarily ahead, she could see where. the tracks 0 the horse ended. _ She checked her horse involuntarily. The fellow had escaped. A cry of disap- her position. He was no doubt hidden in the bushes that bordered the roadway. But, thank Heaven, he was unarmed—he could not shoot her! ; She moved forward cautiously, with her gl ance darting here and there. As she leaned low in her saddle to peer at the’ light hoof- ints in the snow, there was a crackle in the b sheen, and her horse swerved sharply. The next instant there was a crash that startled the spirited animal, and, with a fear- il bound, he started forward. | - Marion clung to the saddle, and might have kept her seat, but there was a swish of a noose just over her head; then something like a lighterope settled down around her shoulders. ~ A quick, sharp jerk followed, and she felt herself slipping from the saddle. There was a gasp and a cry of horror as the horse sped on without her;*then a horrible darkness seemed to come upon her. She had fallen into a rift of snow at one side of the road. CHAPTER XII. SAFETY. When Marion next opened her eyes she could hardly believe her senses. She was tying upon a carriage robe spread out on the ern ow at the side of the roadway, and Bert pa ckson and Miss Ellis were bending over _ there was a cry of joy from Miss Ellis as MY QUEEN. She listened intently as she dashed reck-" ‘pointment fell from her lips as she realized. 25 Marion opened her eyes; then she felt her hand and wrist covered with the affectionate girl’s kisses. | “Oh, Marion, you darling! You are all right at last, aren’t you?” she asked, delight- edly. “Thank God! Bert and I were just in time. ye fellow escaped, but we saved you, Marion! The young girl’s beautiful eyes asked the question that her lips could not frame, and Bert, who was briskly rubbing her hands, attempted to answer their eager inquiry. “He lassoed you, Marion. Just think of that! We were just in time to see him do it —and, upon my word, Buffalo Bill isn’t in it! Why, he swung that lariat like a flash of lightning. The next minute you were out of the saddle and buried in a snow bank. I thought every bone in your body must be broken.” Marion smiled ‘ulp at him disaaette and managed to whisper a few words. “They feel as if they were, Bert,” she mur- mured, softly; ‘but did you see him clearly ? Can you identify the fellow?” “You bet!’ was Bert’s answer. ‘“‘Why, he was on the-train! I warned the commodore against him when he was counting his money there in the car.” Marion tried to rise to a sitting posture, for the commodore’s name had revived her. With the color rushing back to her cheeks, she clutched Bert’s arm frantically, ~~ “Never mind me, now, Bert! You must go to him!” she cried, wildly. “Ite was held up by three of them—and, oh, they shot him, Bert! Go, quick! You may be too late. Miss Ellis and I will wait together!” “Yes, go, Bert!” urged his sweetheart; but Bert shut his lips, decidedly. “Leave you two alone, Marion in this condition? Not much! It would be a crazy thing to do. Iam sorry for the commodore, but I’ve got my hands full at present.” “Then we must get back to town as fast as possible,” said Marion, determinedly.. “Put me in the sleigh, Bert, and then hurry, hurry !” Bert started to obey, and was just raising her gently when the sound of sleigh-bells was heard. especially with DOOKS (CO) = CONMUC