Marion Marlowe Entrapped, or, The Victim of Professional Jealousy — page 26: what you’re looking at

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24 There was a sudden movement of the burly fellow, then a quick, cat-like spring from his companion. Marion felt a heavy hand upon hes left arm and shoulder. “In a second she wheeled around, her re- volver inher hand. “Stand back!” she said, sternly. lay a hand on me, cowards! “Don’t {79 woman! Both men fell back for the space of a ‘second, then together they sprang at her and seized her arms. Marion snapped the trigger of the pistol in the leader’s face. ‘There was no report; the weapon was broken. In less than a minute the beautiful, strug- sling girl was bound and gagged. The last that she remembered was hearing Miss Lind- say cry for mercy. When she opened her eyes again she was in a closed carriage. There was a handker- chief across her mouth and her “wrists were tied together loosely. Opposite, her in the carriage sat Jack Green’s companion. gleamed at her from under a slouch hat and never left her face for a moment. | The air in thé carriage was almost stifling, and without thinking of the consequences Marion half rose from her seat and with her manacled hands madea feeble effort to lower the window. ~ “The window is locked and so are the doors,” said a muffled voice. “You are a prisoner, Miss Marlowe, so you may as well submit gracefully.” Marion glanced at the speaker as she sank back upon her seat. The voice was almost familiar. She tried to think where she had heard it. After that not a word was spoken until the They had bean riding for Marion ex- carriage stopped. and almost a long time was hausted, Some one opened the carriage door from the outside and let ina shaft of light from the side lamps. The young girl caught one glimpse of a hideous face, and then drew back with a gasp of horror. I'll shoot you like dogs if you dare touch me or this. moved, His dark, burning eyes MY QUEEN. ie was the Chinaman with the fearfully scarred face who stood by the step. In the glare of the lamp she had recognized hiny instantly. “et cup? m The words were Sa aene in the same muf- | fled voice by the occupant of the carriage, and as Marion rose to her feet her as ee ion deftly blindfolded her. She could smell a sickening odor as~ the ? hideous Chinaman took her in his arms. It made her ill and faint almost in a second. The poor girl realized that she was being carried into some sort of a house and almost instinctively she guessed th@t it was a laun- dry. Passing through a room that smelled strongly of suds, she could feel that she was being carried down some steps and through a long, narrow passage-way. At last a key clicked in a lock and a door was opened and then closed behind her. She had evidently arrived at the end of her journey. In an instant the bands were entirely re- looked about she almost cried aloud in on tonishment. It was as if she ee been suddenly trans- ported to another sphere—there was abso- lutely nothing familiar in a single detail of her surroundings. She was in a large, low room, hung with Oriental tapestries and covered with thick, rich rugs., There were multi-colored lan- terns hanging from various points of the ceiling, and low couches, small tables and magnificently inlaid stools were scattered profusely about the apartment. The hideous Chinaman had disappeared completely, but her companion in the car- riage was still seated at her side; he seemed to be watching her amazement with a great deal of satisfaction. As Marion gazed about she soon became sensible of a delicate, all-pervading odor— it greeted her nostrils at every turn and was exerting its influences upon her senses as a powerful soporific. “Where am 1? What is this place?” she demanded of her companion. “Tow dare you bring me here! Have you no regard for the laws of your country ?” There was 4. iti low chuckle from the € oOmiGbooks:com slowly and as she opened her eyes and | ee