A Wonderful Secret, or Marion Marlowe's Discovery — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

fit ter nab yer, Bert, I'll be obleeged ter git out ther papers!” “And that is exactly what he is going to do, Bert,” called Bill Bennett, sharply. “There he comes this minute in old Dr. Greening’s chaise, and I'll eat my shirt if ther constable ain’t with him!” . CHAPTER IV. A FRIEND IN NEED. Bert did not move or flinch as the chaise came’ up to him, but the brave young fellow was doing some rapid thinking. It would not be very pleasant to go back to the poor farm, even for a day, for he knew exactly what kind of treatment he would receive from Jenkins. | The brutal overseer was an absolute mon- arch in his sway, and there were those under his rule who would obey his slightest or- der, so that any resistance upon Bert's part would be as good as useless. The ugly voice of the overseer made him almost furious, but he controlled himself after a quick glance at Marion. “Whar he is, constable; thar’s ther sassy upstart! Take him right along in the chaise and land him in the poor farm. Yew’r word is law there until I gits thar!” He stepped out of the low vehicle as he spoke, and strode up to Bert, but this time he did not raise his cane nor threaten any violence. “You'll regret this, Matt Jenkins,” said Bert, in a furious voice. “You'll lose your position in the poor farm if you insist upon : _taking me back, for I won't leave a stone unturned until that victory is accomplished.” “As if I wuz afeared of your fine words, Bert Jackson!” sneered Jenkins. “What are yew, yew brat! Nothin’ but er poor-house pauper! A boy with no name an’ no nothin’, a likely pup to be afeared of!” ; He laughed coarsely as he spoke, but Bert’s face turned as pale as ashes. The al- lusion to his name had awakened all the re- sentment in his nature. He was about to speak when Marion put her hand on his shoulder and turned her blazing eyes full on the face of Matt Jenkins. “You may have the right to do this, and Walters, solemnly. you may not, Matt Jenkins!” she said, in her ringing voice, “but let me tell you right here, if you do it you will regret it, for I will spend every penny of my fortune in get- ting you punished!” The overseer’s brutal jaw dropped a lit- tle as he listened and for a moment he looked decidedly uncomfortable. 7 “Law is law, Matt Jenkins!” said Judge “Ef he’d orter go back it’s your duty tew take him!” “Vou old brute!” cried Alma Allyn, in- dignantly, as she confronted the judge. “So you are the biggest man in Hickorytown, are you? Well, then, the others must be mighty little!” | The red face of the august magistrate grew visibly redder, but Alma turned on her heel and ignored him completely. “He run away an’ it’s right he should go back,” spoke up another lanky farmer, by the name of Stebbins. “I ain’t got nothin’ agin’ Bert Jackson in pertickilar, but he played truant, jest ther same as others has done, and, now thet Matt hez got him, thar ain’t nothin’ ter dew but hold him.” “He'd have/a lovely time holding me, if I didn’t choose to be held,” said Bert, loftily, as he glanced around. “Why, I could double him up like a jack-knife with my little finger, but I am going to leave the whole thing to Marion Marlowe. What do you say, Ma- \ rion? Shall I go back peaceably or kick up a rumpus?” ' Marion thought a moment, and then her voice rang out decidedly : “It is perfectly disgusting, Bert, but I think you had better go peaceably. As soon as I get back to the station I will wire your father, and then I shall start right in to get you out. There must be some one who knows the law a good deal better than Judge ‘Walters!’ She glared at the old judge scornfully as she spoke, and, just at that minute two men crossed the muddy road and stood beside her. One was the station master and the other was the stranger who had given his card to her father. “T think, perhaps, I can help you out of this hole, Mr. Jackson,” said the stranger very pleasantly. “‘l happen to be a latener GoOmicoooks,Gom