Marion Marlowe in Salt Lake City — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

gente : , - A closed carriage containing two ladies came around the corner as he spoke, and, by the time he could get there, it had stopped almost abreast of the sergeant, “It's Marion!” yelled Bert, as he caught sight of the occupants; then he stood per- jectly still and stared in amazement, for the | two soldiers were emerging from the saloon d fairly dragging the Indians after them. It was a disgusting sight, for the soldiers were inclined to be brutal, and the Indians “ = were fighting mad from the effects of the vw t eo - “fire water’ they had imbibed. What would have happened next no one could guess, for the moment the oecupants of the carriage understood what was going on, the door flew open and a sweet voice cried out, sharply: “Don’t! Oh, don’t hurt them!” - The next instant a beautiful young girl sprang out upon the curbstone and stood looking at the uniformed officer with a be- seeching expression upon her lovely feat- ures. ° The sergeant stared at her and then sa- luted stiffly. | “Those Indians are runaways, Miss, and they are treacherous fellows. I cannot al- low any one to interfere with me when I am doing my duty!” “But there is no need to strike them!” retorted the young girl, hotly, asughe saw the heavy scabbard of one of the soldiers’ swords fall upon the head of an Indian culprit. “Oh, it is a shame to hit them! both of you cowards! You are Why do you not handcuff them, if they are dangerous, and not abuse them so brutally?” : Her eyes flashed like diamonds, and her voice rang out like a bugle. The sergeant’s dark face grew red at her words, and the two soldiers looked at him to Bert and the doctor had crossed the street and were standing by Marion now, and the two Indians stopped struggling and were watching her curiously, fiear his orders. -_ . MY QUEEN. ¢, “T supposed that Indians were being gov- erned by kindness, not brutality, in these en- lightened days,” she went on, bravely, “and I am ashamed of the United States Govern- Why is it any worse for a red man to drink liquor than ment if it allows such treatment! a white man?’ A small crowd was cathering in the street now; but the young girl was unabashed. She was determined that there should be no more blows struck if she could- prevent them. The sergeant bit his mustache savagely, but he knew that he was wrong. If the ac- count of his cruelty should reach the garri- son it would mean a court-martial for him beyond doubt. He had been foolish to al- low the soldiers to punish the Indians here; he should have waited until they-reached a ‘place where they would have no witnesses. With another grim salute to the fair girl he turned and gave an order to his soldiers. Instantly their swords were dropped and a pair of handcuffs substituted. Marion Marlowe stood upon the curb watching them as they moved away, the two Indians giving her a grateful look as they went quietly with their captors. “Well done, Marion,” said Dr.- Brookes, as he helped her into the carriage. “You have made two friends to-day, even if they ‘are only Indians, and you have taught that brutal officer a lesson, unless Iam much mis- taken.” “Fie’s an ugly duck. I saw it right in his eyes,’ said Bert, coming close to the car- triage. “Well, I am glad his time is not his own or he might take it into his head to get square with Marion.”’ “I shall certainly report him,” said Marion, decidedly. “He is too ugly to hold such a position as that. . I shall make my complaint this very day, and, of course. you will all have to sign your names to the paper.” “Certainly, we will,” said the doctor, promptly. GO JVOOKSHEO