Marion Marlowe's Skill, or, A Week as a Private Detective — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

if large dry goods stores, and as his sister had a said, he was a “big, splendid fellow.” _ Marion was charmed with the kindness which this good man possessed, and in his turn he became almost rapturously interested in the fair country girl’s welfare. The work that his sister had suggested was | outlined to her in full, and Mr. Merton was ¥ delighted that he had found a person so well 4 fitted to fill the proffered position. For the office of “Private Shopper” was applicants, but few women were just and generous enough to their sex to fill the re- & ae. ut 2 quirements which Thomas Merton exacted. > » For besides being a buyer, he was at the head of this department, which looked out for the honesty and competency of the employees of _ the store at the same time that it guaranteed - civility and attention to customers. Marion's position at the store was to remain — a secret. Nota human soul besides Mr. Mer- ton end his sister was to know that the firm of Howard & Howard were paying for her services. She was to come and go—look, listen and question—but through it all she was to preserve. her identity as an outsider, and merely report her observations to Mr. Merton in the evening. It was a position which no limited brain could fill, and one which no prejudiced or un- just mind should be allowed to fill under any When Marion went to bed that night her soul was fired with ambition. She would silently, gently, but with all the de- terrhination of her spirit, be a friend indeed condition. to the many unwise clerks as well as a loyal helper to her employers. Little did she dream what a duty was hers er how her kindly services would be received by some whose welfare, perhaps, she was jealously guarding. She expected petty faults and the many > shortcomings of ignorance, but that she was MY QUEEN. 11 soon to be involved in nefarious schemes or the victim of plots against her own safety and honor did not once enter her fair head as she lay upon her pillow. She was up early in the morning and over at the studio. Madame Leopold’s room was across the hall from her own at the hotel, but the studio was Jocated upon Fifth Avenue, a few blocks away. As she hurried along she mailed a note to “Crippled Danny,” and iy it, according to her She fully intended visiting him before the day was promise, she had placed another dollar. done, but fate once more baffled her inten- tions. Only one cloud dimmed the horizon of her otherwise ‘perfect day. Miss Ross came in just as Marion finished her lesson, and Madame Leopold began a conversation in which both her pupils Marion smiled politely. She could not be were addressed. rude to anyone; but Miss Merton’s words still rang in her ears, and made her feel faint as she greeted and talked with this treacherous oirl. There was no scowl of jealousy on the young woman’s face now, for, like Marion, she was endeavoring to be polite and to hide her evil thoughts and feelings, if she harbored any, in her bosom. She was only about eigh- teen, and her face was almost as fair as Marion’s. It was marred only by a sallow skin and an expression of malice and cun- ning. She sang a little, a mediocre contralto, which was quite eclipsed by Marion’s marvel- ous voice, which encompassed all ranges in the most surprising manner. As the madame chatted on, she suddenly made what seemed to Marion a very unwise remark. The young girl had not learned that it was her teacher’s way to thus wound the feelings of her least satisfactory pupils. ic ’ bd Miss Marlowe will be ready for light opera in a year,” she said, proudly, “and in MIClOOKS (CO)