Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 19: what you’re looking at

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* ~~ / with a grin, “but I took to my heels and he was too fat to catch me.” oe pom | “Oh, my goodness,” cried Marion, with a burst of laughter. “How you must have ~ looked, Bert. I wish I could have seen you. _ Ican just imagine Miss Ray’s long dress get- fe carry it.” — “And with a big, fat policeman in hot pur- suit,” éried Dollie; “but he didn’t catch you, and that’s the best of it. It must have sur- prised him to see a woman such a good runner,’ | ' “He knew I was a man all right,” said Bert, “and I guess he would recommend me © as a first-class ‘sprinter.’ Well, after I had eluded him, I went into a little ‘junk-shop’ on First avenue, and bought a cap and jacket ; of - course they were pretty cheap ones, but I _ masquerading.” . | — “But didn’t they know your voice was not a woman’s where you bought the things?” broke in Dollie, excitedly. “Oh, that Jew wouldn’t have cared if I had _ been a dime museum freak. All he wanted was my money. He didn’t ask any ques- tions.” é — “And what then?” asked Marion, who was very much interested. _ “Then I sneaked into an alley and made a ‘lightning change,” said Bert, “and I’ve got your swell clothes, Marion, all carefully done up in a bundle.” «| > “And you went to. the little boarding- house?” asked Marion, again. , “Sure,” said Bert, “and I’ve got a receipt ' tor a week’s board in advance in my pocket. ~ Now if I could only get a job I’d be all fight,” he said, cheerfully, ‘unless the Poor Farm people keep on chasing me around the “They are mighty interested in you, Bert,” _ said Dollie, slowly. “Other boys have run away and they did not chase them.” _ _ “That’s just it,” said Bert, quickly. “Matt Jenkins is scared to death. He’s lost so many boys that he’ll lose his job next, that is _ why he is trying so hard to find some of his Se truants,”’ _ Marion had put the bread and milk on the table, making a place for Bert, and as they » all ate their frugal meal she glanced over the «evening paper. “Here is a mention of our beloved aunt and uncle in the society columns,” she said, scornfully. “TI wonder if they have ever re- _ pented of their hard-heartedness to their _ poor niece.”’ Bert and Dollie stared at her as she has- _ tened to explain. “Mother’s sister Susan is living at ‘The , = MY QUEEN. ting over the ground at the speed you would — was glad to get them. I was mighty sick of laughing, 17 Norwood,’ a fine apartment-house here in the city, and when I came to New York in search of Dollie, I called on them and asked them to help me.” “And they were mean enough to refuse? asked Bert, indignantly. « “Were they!” cried Marion, her eyes snap- ping angrily. ‘Why, they were so shocked at my suggestion that they came near dying on the spot of sheer mortification.” “A couple of empty-headed pugs,” said Bert, disgustedly, “but anyhow, you didn’t need ’em. You found Dollie all right, Marion.” ; “Here’s a. dreadful thing’ exclaimed Marion, after a minute. “A boy of sixteen run over by a cable car. He was killed al- most instantly, and they have taken him to the morgue. Unless some one claims him he’il be buried in Potter’s Field.” “Poor chap,” said Dollie, with tears in her eyes. “He may have been a country boy who was not familiar with the city.” “The cars are awful,” said Marion, with a sigh. “I always hold my breath when I start Over a crossing.” There was a tap on the door and the maid announced a caller. Marion looked at the card, and then handed it to Dollie. “Ralph Moore,” read Dollie, with the blood mantling her pretty face. ‘Shall we ask him to come upstairs? There is no other place to see him.” a Marion stopped a moment and glanced at the table, where the remnants of their frugal supper were still standing. “Yes, tell him to come up,” she said, very firmly. “He may as well see ‘us as we are, then there will be no misunderstanding.” At ten o’clock promptly the two young men left, with Dollie and Mr. Moore more in love than ever, “I think he is quite the nicest young man l ever saw,” said Dollie, candidly. ‘Don’t you think so, yourself? Now be honest, Marion.” “He is very nice’ said Marion, quietly, “but [’m almost afraid he is a little wild, not a bit like Mr. Ray who is so steady and set- tled.”’ ; “Pooh,” said Dollie, laughing. “I’m glad he is a little gay. I'd awfully hate to have a pokey man around. I’d rather they’d be wild so long as they are not wicked.” — “Well, we won’t quarrel abuut them,” said Marion, smiling. “We have something else to do besides worrying about lovers.” “But we will both have lovers some day 1 hope,” said Dollie, sighing. “This world would be a dreadfully dull old place if it wasn't for the sweetness of love and lovers.” “You have Silas Johnson,” she said. a lit. sy TK ’ ECORNICLOOO© (C SS (C (0)