Under Lock and Key; or, Marion Marlowe's Last Role — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

20 or thought they knew something of the young ladys whereabouts ?” “Some one who thought they knew! He was a crank!” was Bert’s answer. “He agreed to send me straight to Marion if I would give ten thousand? dollars,” “Perhaps, after all, it would have been well to have heeded him,” said the assistant, slowly. “Miss Marlowe, if that is our pa- tient’s name, escaped in the night. It is bare- ly possible she escaped from us only to find worse quarters.”’ “Great Scott! I did not think of that!” cried Bert, excitedly, “but, of course, I didn’t know then that she had flew your coop! « The doctor had only just shown me the letter an hour before, so I was dead sure that we would find her here when we came.” “We must begin our search at once,” said Dr. Brookes, sternly, ‘“‘so, if you please, we will take a look over your sanitarium.” ‘In the superintendent’s absence, you have only to command me,” said Dr. Fenn, suavely, then he rose with the utmost dignity and took a key from his pocket. r “You shall search the building, gentlemen, from garfet to cellar,” he said, quietly, ‘and if you find our patient you will be doing us a favor, for we are more than distressed over her disappearance. She was a sweet girl and it would give us great joy to restore her to “her loved ones.” Dr. Brookes and Bert glanced sharply at each other; then, as the sanitarium physician led the way toward the wards, Bert bent over and whispered in his companion’s ear, “He may be all right, but I think he is lying! Say, but won’t I make hash of him if I find he’s ill-treated Marion!” ; CHAPTER XI. THE ACCUSATION. The “Home Rest Sanitarium” was in “ap- ple-pie order” as the two young men were ushered through its wards, and, although they both peered about sharply, they could see nothing with which to find fault. After every room had been looked into, Dr. Brookes turned to his guide. “Now we will have a look at your yards, if you please,” he said, quietly. Dr. Fenn bit his lips. It was exactly what he had feared. Once out upon the grounds they would spy the cottage and he could see by their faces that they meant the search to be thorough. “Sure! We’re going to do the whole bloom- ing ranch!” chimed in Bert Jackson, prompt- ly. ‘Why, I’m even going upon the roof to look down the chimneys! Gee whiz! Just MY QUEEN. fancy our Marion in such a wonder to me she kept her senses! I’d have — off my trolley in about ten min- utes !”’ ol “God help the ‘rascals who lured her here!” muttered Dr. Brookes again, in a grim voice, “and I have my suspicions, Bert, but I am. trying to keep them quiet! Come, let’s hurry our search and get back to the hotel! Mar-. sin Ay be there! We must not lose a min-. ute! “You will look over the basement next, I presume,” suggested Dr. Fenn, suavely. Bert gave him a quick look and. then winked at his companion. . ‘No, we'll do the yards!” he said, decid- edly. “I’m hankering to get a glimpse be- hind some of those fences.” | Dr. Fenn bit his lips, but he was obltged to yield, but his steps lagged a little as they left the building. | | There were only two yards and they were quickly passed, then Eert suddenly caught a glimpse of the little cottage. “Come, Doc! We may as well take a look into that cubbyhole!’ he said, indifferently. . “Of course, she couldn’t get in there, un-— less she had keys, but, anyhow, we may as well look—it won’t take a minute.”’ | The assistant’s face was as pale as death, and for a moment his limbs trembled so that he could hardly move. : Twenty-four hours lonSer and the reward would have been his. Steve Blakely was working at this very minute, and before an- other dawn they could have shared the ten | thousand dollars between them. But the two visitors were already mak- | ing straight for the cottage, and summoning all his nerve he followed slowly. A moment later a cry almost escaped his lips. ci he door of the cottage was standing wide - open. Bert and the doctor entered, but he did not follow. He needed that minute of free- . dom to get back his color, His bird had flown; he could hardly be- lieve it. Then a rush of color dyed his face as the thought flashed into his mind—had he | been suspected ? him after that remained only a vague dream in his memory, but he got rid of them at last — and went back to his office. : He was still seated at his desk, his head bowed upon his hands when another tele- gram from Steve Blakely was handed to him. He jumped to his feet—he had forgotten Steve. He should have notified him at once, and now two hours had been wasted. A bitter smile crossed his face as he de- | - ciphered the message. GEomicbooks place! It’s a What his guests said to.