Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

16 ~ You will let me come and see you, wher- ever you go, won't you?” he asked eagerly, as* Dollie finished telling him of their expe- riences at the fire. : Dollie blushed a little, but she promised readily. He was so handsome and agreea- ble it made-her heart flutter to look at him. Before noon their friendship had made rapid headway, for Mrs. Haley and Marion were too busy planning to heed them. When Miss Allyn came in at noon she had joyful news. The paper had not only paid her well for her excellent story of the fire, but they had given her an extra fifty- dollar bill to help her recuperate from -the loss of her wardrobe. _ | “Now we'll go’ and find some more fur- nished rooms,” she said, gayly, “and you girls must let me pay your bills until my wealth is gone; meanwhile who knows what may turn up—you may marry millionaires o1 something.” “How good you are,” tears,in her eyes. “You had better do it, my dear,” said Mrs. Haley, kindly. ‘She is so sweet in offering it, you must not refuse her, then when your fortune has changed you can find some way to repay her.” y | “And meanwhile, I shall never forget your kindness, Mrs. Haley,” said Marion, “and I am coming to see you often if your will let me.” | Qs “My door is always open and my heart, too,” said Mrs. Haley, laughing. “I am a mother to everybody, or at least that is what they say of me.” “Vou are, indeed,” said Marion, kissing her, “and now we must leave you and go with Miss Allyn.” . When Dollie parted from Ralph Moore she was shyer than ever, for the young man’s admiration was so plain that it embarrassed her. “They've been spooning, Ill bet,” said Miss Allyn, with a wink. “You'd better look out, Dollie, or I’ll put it in the paper.” “Good-by, Miss Dollie,” said young Moore with a sly pressure of her hand, “and remem- ber, you have promised to let me come and call. Don’t wait too long before sending your address or I shall be rude enough to hunt you up and take the chance of being scolded.” “T ouess I wouldn’t scold,” said Dollie, blushing, “but you must make friends with my sister, she is the ogre of the family. “She is the bravest girl in the world, and you are the sweetest,” whispered Mr. Moore, gallantly. “TI only wish I was something be- sides a poor book-keeper, for then I might be able to help you.” cried Marion, with MY QUEEN. Jenkins may be after me.” ‘out with her bread and milk when she came ~ Dollie smiled her thanks, but there was no time to say more, for the others were Waiting for her to join them. | mm Once more they started out in search of © furnished rooms, but thanks to Miss Allyn’s knowledge of the city, they were soon com- — fortably settled. ae “lll just run out and get some bread and milk,” said Marion, about dusk. “That will — do very nicely for our supper, Dollie, for” Miss Allyn will be away and I hate to spend her money. Until one of us gets work I shall be as economical as possible. When Marion reached the street she saw that they were only two blocks from the scene of the fire, so she walked over to look at the ruins. “Oh, Marion, I’m so thankful you are not~ burned up. I was nearly crazy when I saw the paper this morning.” wo a Marion turned around quickly and saw Bert Jackson running after her. <i “Oh, Bert, I’m so glad to see you,” was her cordial answer. ‘We have a room at 228, do go right over. I'll be back just as soon as | get something for supper.” “IT guess I will,” said Bert, quickly, “for. I’ni keeping pretty shady nowadays, Marion; — I don’t dare stay in the street for fear Matt ee hy y oe ye a He ran over to the house and Marion hur- ried to the grocery. She was just coming | Sin se, We enn Ruy face to face with a halfdrunken fellow. — — “Ah there, my eanty,eaid the felfow, im- pudently, as he caught sight of Marion. a “Bless your pretty face, ve seen you some-. — where before. Great Scott, but you're a” stunner. I'd like to kiss you.” ” ieee “How dare you!” cried Marion in a fright-- ened voice. ‘‘Let me pass at once, sir, or I will call a policeman.” | The fellow drew back and Marion darted past him like a flash. : “Where in the world have I seen him?” she muttered to herself. “There’s something familiar about him, and yet I can’t place. him.” | CHAPTER IX. THE GIRLS LOSE A FRIEND, When Marion returned to her room she found Bert and Dollie chatting merrily. “Oh, Marion, what do you think? Poor Bert was almost arrested last night. The dress you loaned him came near being the death of him,” cried Dollie, gayly. Marion looked at Bert with a questioning olance, ~ “A ‘cop’ followed me two blocks,” he said, 4 oe Gomicbooks.com