Marion Marlowe's Skill, or, A Week as a Private Detective — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

2S Marion kept her eyes on her continuously, hardly glanemg at the man, who now cried like a baby, as he heard the footsteps ap- preaching. “Ouick! Help! only answer to his prayers. “Break down the Help!’ was Marion's door and, oh, hurry, hurry!” There were more steps in the dingy hall, and then a heavy hand was laid on the door. “What's the the !’ cried a voice that Marion knew at once matter here? Open door belonged to an officr. “I can’t open it! i ama prisoner!” cried Marion, clearly. “Break it in, sir, quick! I can’t hold out much longer!” There was a creaking of hinges and an awful crash. Then, not only one policeman, but three of the blue-coated giants, entered. Liz now, and the picture was one that could not ©O’Connell’s nerve had deserted her help exciting admiration. There stood the beautiful young girl, with her pistol cocked and ready, while both the man and woman were on their knees before her. Marion started to explain, but one of the officers stopped her. “The kid has told us,” he said, pointing to the cripple, who was right behind them. ‘Te's a curious critter, that cripple is. He's give them dead away, after makin’ believe to help ’em!” Marion was glad to be relieved of her heavy weapon, and as one of the officers put it in his pocket she pointed to her bank-book. “They tried to make me give them every penny I possess, she said, bitterly, ‘“‘and to think that I came here on an errand of mercy!” “That’s the part the kid did not know,” said the officer, staring. “He said they had j got you here to get some small’sum out of you.” MY QUEEN. “A small sum, indeed! It is two thousand dollars,” said Marion, hotly. “They would have robbed me of every cent and then left me here a prisoner if I hadn’t been quick enough to grab the pistol!” The other officers were attending to their prisoners, but as they all went out together they glanced at Marion admiringly. “Why did you do it, Danny?” asked Mar- ion of the cripple, as he hobbled close beside her through the narrow hallway. “f hated ’em, miss,” he said, with a erin. ‘“They’ve beat me often and ’twas my chance ter git square wid ’em!” “And did you call the officers?” she asked him, curiously. | The strange child nodded and his eyes snapped brightly. } “T lis’ened ’til you hollered’ an’ then J run ter ther station house,” he said, promptly. “Oh, I kin go like a good un when there's any one in danger!” “You are a good boy. What is your name?’ asked the young girl, sweetly. “Danny Day,” was the quick response. “I live with my sister. She’s a saleslady in Howard & Howard's,” he added, proudly. Marion almost gasped, but there was no time to say more, for one of the officers was telling her that he should need her in court the next morning. “T’ll be there,” safd the girl as she watched her prisoners disappearing in the direction ot the station house. “I'll send them to jail for years if [ can. I’m not hard-hearted, but I do love justice.” “And they deserve it all right,” said the ofiicer, smiling at her, “for they are as big a pair of rogues as there are in the city.” When Marion reached home she was al- most prostrated, but she knew it was her duty to see the Mertons immediately, “Oh, Miss Marlowe, they have caught her!” cried Miss Merton, the minute she saw Eomichbooks.¢o