Under Lock and Key; or, Marion Marlowe's Last Role — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

F ant, finally. 1s as my friends were all scattered, so I hired a nurse, and she inveigled me here. That is all [ know of my present position, but that is gospel truth—you have only to write to Dr. Brookes or any of my friends to prove it, Miss Thompson.” : The attendant shook her head and drew a long sigh. “Those things: do happen—I know that all right, but whoever did it must be almighty daring! Why, it means State’s prison for some one—I don’t know who—Miss Mar- lowe.” | “Nor do I,” said Marion, with a grateful smile, as she heard her own name. “I did not know that I had an enemy in the world, but this is the work of fiends, and they must be punished.” “Tl tell you what I’ll do!” said the attend- “Tl mail any letter that you may write to your friends, Miss Marlowe. It is foolish, perhaps, and it is against the rules of the institution, but, pshaw! What do I care! Ill risk that much for you!” “Then I will go back and wait,” said Mar- ion, gratefully, “but, oh, please, dear Miss Thompson, don’t let them give me any more chloral !” Miss Thompson smiled as she took her charge by the arm, then something happened in the gloomy yard that thrilled. Marion’s heart with joy, for the attendant suddenly stooped and kissed her tenderly. “Poor child! Poor little girl! I wish I knew the truth about you,” she said, softly. “We women grow hard and heartless in this business, but it would vanish mighty quick in my case, I tell you, if I was sure that you were a victim of treachery !” “Tt is either treachery or a blunder,” said Marion, quickly. “I am as sane as you or Dr. Lee! I cannot understand why I was brought to this building, unfess it is that I am the prey of conspirators—fiends, who are eager to prevent my marriage.” They had reached, the door of a ward now, and, as she put her key in the lock, Miss Thompson’s manner changed instantly. As she escorted Marion into the presence of a group of her companions, she exhibited her victoriously. “She hid in the clothes-room all day, and I found her,” she said, quickly. “Ill report to the office through the tube, I guess, and now, whoever left that key in the clothes- room door had better do penance immedi- ately. It means ‘get out, quick,’ you know, if the superintendent hears of it!” She went over to the speaking-tube as she finished, to report that her patient was safe, hut did not mention the keys, or where she had found her. ’ MY QUEEN. s : * “Timé enough to give details when I am ~ asked,’”’ she said, grimly. “It’s little they cole anyway, so long as they haven’t lost ler, | One of the girls stepped forward and held out her hand for the keys, and although Mar- ion felt that she was relinquishing her liberty, ‘she passed them to her instantly, “There they are,” she said, very sweetly. “You left them in the clothes-room door, when the fire broke out. I tried to*run away with them, but Miss Thompson found me.” Her words were so natural that the attend- ants stared at her, then they looked at Miss Thompson, and then at each other. Miss Thompson bit her lips, and there was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she glanced back at her friends, but she man- aged, after a second, to speak indifferently. “Dear me, how you stare! Any one would fancy that you thought the girl was sane! Why, she’s as ‘mad as a March hare!’ How can you be so stupid!” Marion’s big eyes opened wider, but she was beginning to understand Miss Thomp- son now, and, a moment later, she followed her to her room as meekly as a kitten. “T’ll bring you a pencil and paper after the night watch has made her first round,” whis- pered the attendant, as she left her, “and then I’ll sneak out and mail it so your lover will get it to-morrow.”’ nie Marion tried to thank her, but her voice failed as she spoke, for at last she was see- ing a first sign of sympathy. . When she finally closed her eyes, it was to fall into an exhausted slumber, but there was a smile on her white lips and a ray of hope in lter heart, for her hastily-scribbled mes- sage was on its way to her lover. : Miss Thompson kept her word and mailed the letter; then one light after another went out, and the big building became silent, save for an occasional cry from a wakeful inmate. CHAPTER IX. A’ WORSE FAS. Despite the apparent stillness, there was a conference going on in another part of the building. Dr. Lee was seated in his private office, talking to Dr. Fenn. “T took the papers to Carson,” Dr, Lee was saying, “and what do you think, the man is dumb! He is at home, in his bed, suffering from a stroke of apoplexy!” Dr. Fenn almost sprang from his chair, and his face turned ashen, then he controlled himself by a tremendous effort. . “Then I tried to find the physicians who ae OKO