Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

+ MY QUEEN. couldn't talk, and talk always makes trouble.” “I guess you are right,’ said Marion, as she snapped the catch of the little hair trunk which the police had rescued for her from the apartment in “The Norwood.” It was all the girls had in the way of baggage, but it held their scanty wardrobe nicely. Another loud rap on the door clearly indi- cated that the landlady had returned. Miss Allyn winked at Marion and then opened the door herself, confronting Mrs. Garvin in the most unconcerned manner. “What, you in here, Miss Allyn!” said the landlady, sneeringly. ‘Well, if I was you I'd be a little more choice in my associates.” “Would you now?” said Miss Allyn, who was chewing gum vigorously. a Ese would,” snapped the woman, “but perhaps you don’t know who these two inno- cent-looking creatures are. They're them Marlowe girls that’s been made notorious of late in the papers.” “You don’t say!” said Miss Allyn, still chewing vigorously. Her extraordinary manner made her audience stare a little. . “T didn’t know it ’til to-day that I was har- borin’ such critters, but out they go to-night. I won’t keep ’em a day longer. My house is respectable. I dont want no “Hold on Mrs. Garvin!” said Miss Allyn with a sudden ring in her voice, “you are ‘barking up the wrong tree’ this time, old lady! I’m better acquainted with your boarders than you think, perhaps. Do you want me to tell you the class of people you are harboring?” Mrs. Garvin's red face grew paler as she listened, but she was too thoroughly angry to think of being prudent. “There’s no one in my house but honest people,” she began, but Miss Allyn stopped her with an imperious gesture. “There’s one detective, one rogue and one “hesides an ac- she said quietly, red-headed sneak thief,” and a tor, two actresses orTass widow. -Not that. I blame her hair, Mrs. Carvin. Id turn pale, too, if I was in such ; . ” close company to the widow. Mrs. Garvin’s eyes nearly popped out of She had not dreamed of any one “dead wood” on her boarders, her head. having such for if there was anything wrong about any of them she had been paid not to know it. “Now if these poor girls could have given you an extra ten now and then you wouldn't have taken such a dislike to them,’ went on Miss Allyn, quietly, “but as they happen to be poor and you happen to know it you are going to kick them out of your house’ this evening.” ‘And with a week’s board in advance in her pocket, too!” broke in Marion, “but is it really true, Miss Allyn, about the other boarders ?” ‘ “As true as gospel,’ said Miss calmly, “but don’t you wish to know who the sneak thief is, Mrs. Garvin?” The landlady reddened to the roots of her hair. ‘“What’s .your business, Soy ?” she snapped, turning upon Miss Allyn, furiously. “My business 1s i other people’s,’ said Miss Allyn, smiling; “or, in other words I am a newspapef reporter.” “Oh! oh!” gasped Mrs. shaking in her shoes. ing on my boarders while you lived in oR house! Oh, it’s a nice business, that! Garvin, almost — sneaking, prying occupation !” “Tt pays,” said Miss Allyn, with a shrug of her shoulders, “but come on, old lady, pony ~ up that eight dollars. You don’t want me ling up my paper with what I know about you, do you?” “You don’t dare!” Mrs. Garvin made frighten her boarder, glance was Miss Allyn’s only answer. “We will not go one step until we get eat said Marion, calmly. “So you can take your choice, Mrs. Garvin, it is a week’s board or — our money back.” “Well, from her pocket and flung them at Marion. Miss Allyn picked them up and counted — them carefully. “We will go together,” she said a minute later, when Mrs. door and gone off fuming with anger. “What, you will leave this house because of her ill treatment of us! Allyn, | “So you've been spy- ° her last effort to but a contemptuous take it and get out!” cried the | woman furiously, as she drew some. bills — Garvin had slammed the | Oh, Miss Allyn, — comicbooks.com ms P A