Marion Marlowe's Peril, or, A Mystery Unveiled — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

2.83 "Just now our duty is to find that poor girl— if the artist’s mother is sufficiently cowed, she will no doubt lead us to her.” St. Clair was still chattering foolishly and becoming more harmless every minute, so they left him securely bound while they fol- lowed the now thoroughly frightened woman. In a small, prison-like room they discov- ered Leonie St. Clair. She was as white as a corpse from her long incarceration. Marion entered first, the tears streaming down her face; but at the first whisper of freedom, poor, weak Leonie fainted. | “It is more merciful,” whispered Dr. Brookes, as he bent anxiously over her. “When she wakes it shall be in a brighter room. Lead the way!’ he cried to the woman as he raised the fair girl tenderly. An hour later the Townsend mansion was the scene of joyous excitement. Leonie had been found and Marion Marlowe had found her, “I knew it! I knew it!’ cried the poor mother as her darling was brought in and laid in her arms. “J knew she was not dead! My heart would not believe it!” | Marion Marlowe only waited to see what was to be done with the mad artist and his mother, then she hurried down to the Star office to write her story. In another hour it must be in type. She wrote with all her might, throwing her whole soul into the tragedy. | An “Extra” of the Star told it all in glowing terms. It was a genuine “beat’’ of all the papers, besides being an unusually thrilling story. At last the mystery of*Leonie’s disappear- ance,was solved and the true character of the artist was made public in all its repulsive- ness. He had been insane at intervals for a num- her of vears, but through her love for him his mother had remained silent until from the horror of it all she, too, became demented. The cunning of his insanity had turned to his art. His ambition to be great had be- come an absolute mania. He had poisoned Leonie exactly as Marion euessed, but the drug was not of sufficient power. After suffering horribly she had ral- lied, Afte® committing so dastardly a deed he was forced to protect himself, and with the eunnine “method of madness” he planned the whole ‘story of the disappearance, even to ne the name of Oliver Dayton into the dracv: man was absolutely affair, when that young innocent. ye Vr. Villard apologized to Marion for the anonymous letter, which he claimed to have MY QUEEN. written under intense excitement. He proved his sister’s right to be buried as the wife of St. Clair, and Leonie was the first to uphold him when she heard the story. | Her sufferings and wrongs kept her ill for tany months, but by the time she was again ber beautiful self her mad husband was in kis grave, where he could never harm her. a The mother recovered and was sent back to England. She was amply provided for, but did not live long after. The whole fearful story shocked no one more than it did Alice Everett. It seemed to transform her almost instantly into a sober, thoughtful woman. x ‘ Tom Villard’s sufferings touched her heart at last, and only a few weeks later Marion was invited to their wedding. As for Howard Everett and the doctor, they worked on manfully, both loving the beautiful girl who had proven herself so no- ble and brave, but never wounding her by a whisper of undesired affection. “Now, what will I do next?” asked Mar- ion of Miss Allyn that night. She was still pale with the horror of her day’s adventure. “Whatever you do, you do well,” was the serious, but smiling answer. “Why, Marion, that story was magnificently written, and to” think you had the coolness to write it up_ after such a brain-turning adventure!” “T seem to be fated to have such experi- ences,” was the beautiful girl's reply; “but, oh, I don’t mind the danger to myself! I am so overjoyed at the rescue of Leonie!” “T believe you would go through fire and | water to help another,” cried Miss Allyn, proudly. “Oh, how glad I am that you are my friend, Marion.” There was another surprise for Marion the: next day, for she learned through Mr. Town- send himself that the reward was to be di- | vided, Dr. Brookes, Mr. Villard and herself were to be the recipients, but the police were well paid for their time and trouble, | Thus Marion's work as a reporter was doubly rewarded, for besides being paid handsomely for Hej thrilling story, she re- ceived five thousand dollars, which was to her a small fortune. Marion, having in her possession such a laree sum of money, our readers will un= doubtedly be interested in knowing to what use she put it. This will be told in No. 7 of Vy Ouren, “Marion Marlowe's Money; or, Rrave Work in the Slums.” | = [TM END. | GOMIUE V,OO! <S= EO ce) — Se