Marion Marlowe's Cleverness, or, Exposing a Bold Fraud — page 24: what you’re looking at

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22 thought, as she watched her: judge. “but I must not Iam not here for that purpose.” It was Marion’s duty to tell the news of Mr. Everett’s arrest, and here again she was surprised at her aunt’s amazing coolness. * “Dear me!” she said, irritably; “how very extraordinary! and to think that poor, dear Frederic was really beginning to like him!’ ‘Now what do you suppose he could have had against uncle?” asked Marion, trying her best to conquer her aversion to the subject. 2 “T’m sure I don’t know,” was her. aunt’s doleful “They enough, but you can never tell. answer. seemed pleasant It is possi- ble, though, that poor Frederic owed him - money.” . ; “Why, aunt!” exclaimed Marion, now thor- “You,don’t mean to say Why, one man might owe millions to another with- oughly disgusted. that you think that was the cause! ? out dreaming of murder! “Well, perhaps he was envious or some- suggested her aunt, wearily. “You and Mr. 9? thing, know Frederic was in society, Everett works on a newspaper.” cried Marion, who could con- “When a man com- “Nonsense !” trol herself no longer. mits a crime, he has a motive in doing it—he either hates deeply and is looking for revenge or he has something to gain by it—either so- cially or financially.” | As Marion spoke she let her eyes wander toward Gregg. The woman was standing by her mistress’ chair and listening intently. “Well. [ am sure no one needed to hate Frederic,” said the widow; “although I be- lieve he left some enemies behind in his own country. And as for their being anything to, be gained by killing him, why, I am the only one who gets a penny by it!” She Sp! lke complacently, hut there Was per- fect candor in her speech Marion would have known by her very words that she was as innocent as a babe, MY QUEEN. even if she had not had strong suspicions of the guilty parties. =<” Just one part of her aunt’s speech had in- ~ terested her greatly. It was that indifferent mention of enemies “left ngerio 2 in his own country.” “But might not some of his enemies have followed him?” she asked, cautiously. Mrs. Gregg moved suddenly from the table, dropping a dish as she did so. In an instant her mistress was berating her, and Marion’s question passed unanswered. Just as they were firishing the meal, Ar- thur Stanton came in. He was as smiling,. courteous and handsome as ever. Marion’s cheeks flushed when she saw him, but the color was gone in an instant. Noone would ever have dreamed by his manner that he was such an ardent wooer—a man whose impulses led him to extravagant words and whose impassioned nature drove all conven- tionalities before it. If he loved her now, there was nothing to indicate it. Rather the occasional glances from his luminous, eyes spoke almost too plainly of an entirely opposite sentiment. Marion saw and marveled. She could not ‘He was unlike any swift understand this man. one whom she had ever met in all her numer- ous adventures. Not long after he entered she rose from the table and, excusing herself, went abruptly to her apartment. ' She felt instinctively what she did must be done quickly. She had offended this man by spurning his hot-headed offer of love, and it was quite apparent to her eyes that he would not forget it. “Not that IT have anything to fear from him,” she said to herself; “but his presence is distasteful. A moment later her aunt came to her door. I shall be glad to be rid of it.” “The postman just left this,” she said, handing Marion a letter. “T happened to be . Gomichbooks (E()