A Wonderful Secret, or Marion Marlowe's Discovery — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ae 4 MY QUEEN. and I have made just such cases as yours a specialty. Now, if you will take my ad- vice, you will go right along with the con- stable, and leave the rest to your friends, Miss Marlowe and myself. We'll promise to set you free and square your account with Jenkins!’ : “Indeed we will!” cried Marion, glancing _at the stranger with shining eyes. “I have not. the pleasure of this gentleman’s ac- quaintance, but he says he is your friend and that is enough. A friend of Bert Jackson is a friend of Marion Marlowe’s!” Her handsome face flushed with pride as she spoke, and her ald neighbors, as well as the stranger, looked at her admiringly. “Go on, Bert!” she went On, more cheer- fully. “Get into the chaise with Mr. Perkins. It is is very kind of Matt not to make you walk; really, he is showing you a great deal of consideration !” ; She laughed scornfully as she spoke, and Bert moved toward the vehicle. “Don’t do anything rash when you get there, Jackson,” whispered the stranger, warningly. “As it is, I can get you out on a writ of heabeas corpus, but\if you cut up any didos, like smashing the old duffer’s face, for instance, you'll make it mightly hard for me to get you out of his clutches.” “Dll keep as cool as I can,” said Bert, putting one hand on the seat of the chaise and looking back over his shoulder; “but, see here, Mr. Lawyer, don’t you want a re- tainer? If you are going to vy ork for me, I want everything done ship-shape.” He put his hand in his pocket and drew out a roll of bills that made his old ac- quaintances almost turn green with envy. “Not a cent yet, Jackson,” said the gen- tleman, quickly. “I’m not afraid that you will not pay me, and, anyway, in this case, I’m not looking for money. There is another reason for my interest in you, but he | He stopped suddenly and bit his lips, while Marion stared at him anxiously, for, once more, his face seemed to remind her of some one, Old Judge Walters gave a peculiar cough just at that minute and his beady eyes were fixed greedily upon Bert’s roll of green- backs. “Ahem! Perhaps now—that is, I might look up them papers agin’, Bert. Ther mought be some clause in ‘em thet would give you a loophole. I drew up ther papers, but I’ve almost forgot ’em—so, if yew want me ter undertake ter clear yew, I’m sure I’d do it reasonable.” | , Bert turned on his heel and answered scornfully : ; “No, thank you, Judge Walters, I wish © none of your assistance,” he said, loftily. — “My lawyer, here, will take a look at those © papers, and, if there is any clause that you've — forgotten, he’ll remind you of it.” “Yes, and if there is any reason why you shouldn’t go back to the poor farm, Matt Jenkins will suffer!” said Marion, hotly. “Oh, I am so sorry we ever came back to Hickorytown! I’d never look at the old place again if it wasn’t for father and mother,”’ “And your mother is ®aiting for you, girlie,” said Bert, springing into the chaise. “So, go and see her, Marion, and give her my regards, and, see here, Marion, don’t you worry about me! I’m honestly glad that I am going back to the poor farm! It’s the beginning of the end of that brute, Matt Jenkins!” “Indeed it is,” said Marion. throwing a kiss to him. “Good-by, Bert, for an hour or two. I'll hear from your father by that time! Come on, Alma. Come, father! Let us hurry home! I’ve had quite enough of this Hickorytown landscape !” “And I will do myself the pleasure of call- — ing upon you in two hours, Miss Marlowe,” said the stranger. “Your father has my card, and he knows what brought me here. Just at present I have urgent business with your old neighbor, Judge Walters !” . CHAPTER VY. A DISCOVERY, Alma Allyn almost cried during the scene in the farmhouse kitchen when Martha Marlowe clasped Marion in her arms and poured out all the wealth of her motherly af- fection. After she had hugged Marion re- eatedly, she kissed Alma also, and then : Com chook Sicom ‘