Marion Marlowe in Salt Lake City — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

24 Marion clenched her hands and held her breath in horror. Would he dare to lay vio- lent harfds upon her! “I will have you, Marion,” hissed the™~ treacherous voice again. “You are as beauti- ful as a dream, and I love you—do you hear me? I have brought you here for love and you shall not escape me!” Once more the cold finger tips were laid upon her, arm, and the young girl could feel the man’s hot breath as he leaned toward her in the darkness. “Back! Stand back! Don’t you dare to touch me, Artemas Canton!” she shrieked, shrilly. “Your touch defiles me! You area venomous serpent! Stand back, or , There was a- sudden movement and a strong arm encircled her. The man’s breath scorched her cheeks, and she was drawn vio- lently to his bosom. Exerting all her strength, Marion drew herself away; then suddenly something bright gleamed before her eyes. It was a sharp, shining blade in the hands of an Indian. CHAPTER XII. THE TRAGEDY. With a fearful groan Artemas Canton sank to the floor, and at that very instant the great door creaked again and a glimmer of day- light entered the buildings Marion uttered a cry of delight when she saw the gleam of muskets. The next minute she heard Alma Allyn’s voice calling to her excitedly from behind the squad of soldiers. A half hour later she was safe in her room at the hotel, with every member of the com- pany but Dr. Brookes seated beside her. “Oh, that dear old Indian! | could al- most hug him!” cried Miss Ellis, as Marion told her story. “To think that he should have been watching you when the explosion oc- curred! Why, Colonel Hayes says he fol- lowed Mrs. Canton’s carriage; so he must have crept into the Endowment House when you were carried in. ‘Thank Heaven, he pro- tected you from that infamous scoundrel ! “tle killed him instantly! Oh, it is hor- rible!” murmured Mrs. Burnside. a course, he deserved it, but it was a frightful end, and to think that the people of Utah re- spected him!” “They did not know he was so bad. He trickster, and he deceived them!” said was a tricl be one of his wives Miss Allyn, quickly. “Why, told the police this morning that she heard him plotting against Marion, and that, . spite of her fear of him, she came to the hote ‘Wee MY QUEEN. and warned her. She must have been the woman that you thought was crazy, Marion!” The young girl shuddered. seem possible. the Endowment stopped trembling. House she had hardly It did not Since that dreadful scene i a - th “That is what’I call an inspiration!” said | Bert, looking at Miss Allyn. “The idea of your starting us off in the right direction to — meet the soldiers, when they were on- their way to rescue Marion! Why, I could hardly believe it when they said they knew where she was! It seems they found the coachman and made him tell, and they have caught the other elder that helped lug her in! He is an- other tricky old sinner, and his name is Ma~ son.”’ “Here comes the doctor at last! Now we will hear all the news!” exclaimed Miss Ellis, as the “leading-man”’ entered. : Dr. Brookes went directly to Marion and took herhand. - | . “It is the most frightful tragedy that has ever taken place in Salt Lake City,” he said, soberly, “and it seems that the whole trouble ‘was started by Jackets telling Mr. Canton that you were very rich. Still, I can’t under- | stand how they dared do such a thing before they had investigated his story.” “T can explain that, I think,” broke in Bert, excitedly. ‘Some one started the rumor that one member of the company was the adopted child of a millionaire, and, somehow or other, they got Marion and me tangled. That is why they took so much stock in the yarn Jackets told them!” . | * “Then no doubt Canton thought, because you were only a young girl and an actress, that you had no one to protect you,” said Dr. Brookes; “so he laid that plot to get both you and your money. It is not the first scheme of the kind that he has entered into. Why, the chief of police tells me there have been sus- picions against him for some time. Two young girls whom he has seemed fascinated with have been brought to shame and _ sor- row. Thank Heaven, in his mad passion he has at last brought about his own undoing!” “What have they done to the Indian?” asked Miss Allyn, after a minute’s silence. “Sent him back to the guard-house, where he will be treated kindly. As soon as his mate is found they will be returned to the reservation.” “And how about the sergeant? The fel- low who set fire to the barracks?” asked Bert. Dr. Brookes grew even more solemn as he answered thre question. * “There is talk of shooting him at sunrise to-morrow morning,” he said, sadly; “but, of course, it may be only a rumor born of the excitement in the Cty ora F Biol P<, 4 * ¥ « com) 5