Marion Marlowe in Omaha, or, Held up by Accident — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

Dr, Brookes groaned in despair. ~ see nothing of little Ruby. _ Everything was confusion outside the car. Inside, the shrieks and groans were increas- .: ing, but the doctor worked on. furiously. “Look out, young feller! Thet thar’s tew heavy fer you! Let me git er holt of it!” called a bluff voice, suddenly, | > _ The doctor was dragging at a heavy stick “ a of timber ; the next minute the ranchman had - lifted it easily and tossed it to a place where its weight could do no damage. vas _The next move of the brave old giant was ‘to pick Orrin Olcott up bodily. He was __ apparently unconscious as they passed him 4 4 a up through the window. Dr. Brookes worked on with the ranchman | ‘beside him. 4 ‘They tore cushions and splintered timbers He could s 4 aside until they came at length upon Mr. Temple, the manager of the company, who on was unharmed, but had been pase down by se & a stick of timber. . 7 ; _ “Thank God! Now I can do something!” _ were the manager’s first words; then he, too, _ began pulling at the wreckage that was all : a about them. % ‘a . ; Miss Allyn and Ida Inez, the soubrette, | aa were passed up next; still there was not so a - i. “hy much as a sign of Marion, The crash of glass was frequent now, and other passengers in the car were making their exit through the windows or working like heroes to save the injured. Help, doc!” cried Mr. He had caught sight of Marion wedged in between the seats, with a great mass of cushions and broken glass on — top of her. “Here she is! Temple, suddenly. “She has little Ruby in her arms!” cried the doctor, as he dragged off the last cush- ion. “I might have known that she would _ have the child! It is just like our Marion!” _ There was a sob in his voice, but his arms a ; MY QUEEN. & felt like a giant’s. Passing little Ruby up to Mr. Temple, he bent and raised the young girl bodily. With an eagerness that was agony itself, he strained her to his bosom. There was not a sign of life; her body was limp and motion- less. Whether all were saved, he did not know; not for one second would he lay down his precious burden. _ The smoke and steam had enveloped him now, and in the chaos in the car it was al- most impossible to gain a footing. The passengers who were struggling to their feet jostled against him at every step, and the weight of the young girl in his arms was beginning to tell upon him. Some one peered into his face. It was Mr. He was bracing himself upon the splintered arm of a seat, which was directly Temple. below the shattered window. “Tll go up first!’ he cried, as he dragged himself up with a little help from Bert; then the two who were outside bent over and reached their arms down for Marion. But it was a man’s head that protruded through the window. Bert caught a glimpse of his face and then drew back. What had become of the doctor and Mar- ion? Mr. Temple grasped the man’s shoulders and gave him a terrific jerk. He was angry and indignant that he should have crowded through the opening when an tinconscious woman was waiting to be rescued. _ As the man dropped swiftly from the car Bert recognized his face. He was one of the three who had been eyeing the ranch- man’s money. The next moment both he and Mr. Temple were peering down into the car. They were just in time to hear a tremen- dous oath, and then the big Westerner, who was just below them, sent out one of his fists fiercely. COMA CoOnniclooolkkSs