Under Lock and Key; or, Marion Marlowe's Last Role — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

ne ig It told him exactly what he already knew, that Marion’s whereabouts had been traced and that he must proceed with the utmost raution. : - Well, there was nothing more for him to do, for both the girl and the reward had escaped him completely. Now all that was left was to throw the blame upon others and go on as he had gone -before—until another opportunity offered. - “He would have answered Steve’s telegram, ‘but he did not dare. It was of no avail now, and, besides, he wanted nothing upon paper even though it was written in a clever cipher. Suddenly it occurred to him that he had forgotten Miss Thompson. 7% his accusation. _ Mrs. Mason answered his call and listened to his order, then, just for once, her voice betrayed emotion as she answered. “Miss Thompsen went at daylight,” she said, in a frightened tone. “I should have reported it before, but I did not know it.” _ Dr. Fenn sprang to his feet and glared at her an instant, then he dismissed her with _ a gesture and went back to his musings. _ Another interruption a moment later star- _tled him considerably. There was a tap ~ upon the door and Miss Thompson in street | attire, stood calmly before him. S “That is the man! That is Dr. Fenn!” she said, distinctly, to some one behind her; then, as she stood pointing at him deliber- ately, two well-dressed men stepped into the office. | | Dr. Fenn did not attempt to rise, but sim- ‘ply stared at them weakly. _ He had been expecting something all day and now it was coming. ~ _ “JT accuse him of complicity in the crime of stealing Marion Marlowe, and incarcer- -ating her in this lunatic asylum,” went on the attendant, firmly; ‘moreover, I accuse him of the second crime of stealing her again and hiding her in the hope of getting _ the reward when he saw that his first plan - was in danger of being frustrated !” rs Dr. Fenn leaned forward, his eyes fairly __ bulging; then, as one of the men touched him _ on the shoulder, he cried out, hoarsely: a3 “Upon what grounds do you make such . assertions, miss? How dare you accuse me of such vile transactions ?”’ “Upon your own word,” said Miss Thomp- son, triumphantly holding up a letter. _ “Upon the statements made by yourself. in _ this letter to Stephen Blakely, which you _ dropped near Marion Marlowe’s room!” __ There was a hoarse snarl of rage, and Dr. _ Fenn sprang forward, but the detective at his side seized and held him firmly. | wail Te decided to see her at once and make: MY QUEEN. ‘ 21 “You must come with me, Dr. Fenn,” said the detective, “and, when we are ready, we will see your superior officer also, although we understand that he is entirely innocent.’ The assistant groaned and his lip twitched convulsively. Dr. Lee had escaped, as usual, scot free, while he must suffer the penalty of his mis- demeanor. In the horror of the moment, he forgot everything but his own’chagrin, and no one -saw fit to enlighten him as to what had be- come of Marion. They did give him a piece of information, however concerning Richard Carson, that caused him to wince. The treacherous lawyer had died.that very morning from the stroke of apoplexy. “@nfortunately,” concluded the detective, “his speech was not restored to him before he died, so we could get no further evidence against him and against you.”’ This!maddened Dr. Fenn almost beyond endurance. To think that he alone had been the cause of his own downfall! CHAPTER XII. THE INVESTIGATION. Dr. Fenn’s last glimpse of Marion had been when he laid her down in the damp, isolated cottage at the asylum, intending to have her removed secretly, and then found by Steve Blakely, in order that the two might divide the reward that had been offered. When he saw her again, she was leaning upon her lover’s arm, the most beautiful crea- ture he had ever seen, her great eyes fixed upon him with a glance of horror. They were in a crowded courtroom, but Marion was surrounded by friends, while Dr. Fenn stood alone—he had not even his “pal,” Steve Blakely, to keep him company. “We'll wing him, too, some day,” Bert ex- claimed, as soon as the case was over and they were all leaving the scene together. “Oh, I am so glad we did not know any- thing about it until it was all over!” cried Lena Ellis, his gay young sweetheart. “So am I,” cried another voice, as Mrs. Burnside stepped forward and put her arm around Marion. “We had just returned from Boston when the letter from Miss Thompson reached Cap- tain Canfield, and then your note came so soon after that we did not have time to _ worry.” | “Dear, faithful Miss Thompson!” ex- claimed Marion, as she held out her hand to the attendant, who was walking near her. “What would I have done, if it Ha Soe een COMMICWVOOKS.6C€@