Marion Marlowe's Christmas Eve, or, The Treachery of a Factory Inspector — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

¥ a . ’ MY QUEEN. 7 lowe, and paid in full, This man has prom- ised, and that is all we can expect of him.” Marion drew a sigh of relief, but her brow was. still thoughtful. She was the possessor of more than ordinarily clever intuitions, and there was something in this woman’s manner that she could not account for. When they had made their way to the street again, Miss French turned and looked at her angrily. “Don’t forget that you have nothing to do with the taking off of help, Miss Marlowe!” she said, coldly; “that is my business, as 1 am an authorized inspector. You look out for the sick folks and doctor thém all you please, ‘You'll get yourself disliked if you go to bossing the contractors.” : Marion did not answer except with a glance, but a curious suspicion entered her mind at once. 3 Almost involuntarily she glanced up at the number of the building, and as soon as she had an opportunity she jotted it down in a little note-book that she carried. “There’s Something strange about all this,” ~was her quiet thought. “I'll make it a point to see whether that child was really taken off. If she wasn't, I’ll report it just as sure as | live!” > GCERAPPER EY. A FEW.: SUSPICIONS. Marion. was almost ill from weariness and the sight of so much misery when she again ~ ascended the stairs to Mr. Landale’s office. She had visited eight of these “sweat shops” in all, climbing from four to seven pairs of stairs in every building. Mr. Landale was waiting for them when they returned, and Marion listened intently while Miss French reported the day's pro- ceedings. The episode of the child operator had not been the only peculiar incident that the young girl had noted, for, on several oc- easions, it seemed to her that Miss French showed almost criminal leniency, while in other places she was unnecessarily severe, and really made the ‘proprietors a great deal of trouble. She had seen and wondered at the varied treatment which the inspector had received, for, while some of the swarthy slave-drivers fairly cursed her in their native tongues, others almost groveled at her feet, as though begging for her favor. But Marion had decided to watch and wait. Her information would be far more valuable when she had corroborated all her suspicions. She had not intended to spy upon Miss French, but these things had been forced upon her, to some extent, although she could thank her sharp eyes and wits for seeing and understanding. At present she was acting solely as aide to Dr. Brookes, and her note-book was full of the names and addresses of ailing women. This was supposed to be the end of her re- sponsibility, but Marion was not the girl to close her eyes to her moral obligations, and she was always enlisted upon the side of hu- manity. The gratitude or ingratitude of human be- ings was nothing to her when she compared it with the dutv which she owed to herself— that of righting every wrong which came - within her power, and removing, as far as possible, the burdens of the innocent. “Is it beginning to frighten you yet?” asked Mr. Landale, smilingly. “Does the sight of so much misery make you feel like running away, particularly when you realize that it is beyond the bounds of possibility to relieve it?” “Oh! but I am sure I can relieve a little of it,” said Marion, stoutly; “and, even if it is only one poor creature’s life that is made brighter by my efforts, I shall not regret the undertaking.” COMmicoooks.€©