A Wonderful Secret, or Marion Marlowe's Discovery — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

10 MY QUEEN. ‘em, I'd er bin’ tarred an’ feathered. Why, don't you remember, Marthy, when Bert Jackson wuz born how ther jedge actoolly swore tew the lie thet Bert hadn’t no father, when every one in Hickorytown knew a dern sight better !” “Yes, an’ he rid high-handed over every- body!” was the quick answer, “‘an’ all in ther most mysterious manner. Bert’s mother was boardin’ tew Widder Grubb’s when Bert wuz born, an’ jest because Mrs. Jackson died afore she could explain matters, the jedge chucked Bert inter ther poor farm an’ hushed up ther hull matter!” “Well, the matter will not be hushed up much longer, I am thinking,’ said Alma Allyn, as she glanced out of the window, “for there comes the gentleman that is act- ing as Bert’s lawyer, and there’s something in his stride that looks decidedly victorious !” Mrs. Marlowe rose and went quickly to the window, where she could see the stranger picking his way through the mud as he came toward the farmhouse. “Oh, father, do look again for that card! It will seem so stupid, to have to ask him his name!” cried Marion. “ “Tt’s curus thet he takes sech an interes’ in Bert,” said Mrs. Marlowe, who had been told the story. ‘‘Mebbe he knows Bert iz rich, but, still, yew say he wouldn’t take his money.” “No, he is not looking for money; I am sure of that,’ said Miss Allyn, decidedly; “but I’m not quite sure what his motive is. It may be for fame or only a love of his call- ing, or it may be, as he says, that he has taken an interest in Bert. Anyway, whatever it is, I hope he may be victorious.” A startled cry from Marion made her fnish her sentence abruptly. Deacon Mar- lowe had succeeded in finding the card, and had handed it to his daughter. : “Qh, Alma! What in the world does 1 * mean?” gasped the young girl, in astonish- ment. “Of all the strange things that ever happened, this is the strangest! The gentle- man’s name is Alberto Hobart!” There was a moment’s silence before any one spoke; then Miss Allyn found her voice sufficiently to answer: “And Rert’s foster father was Dunlap Ho- bart! Well, by all the little fishes, that is peculiar !” ’ ‘There was a sharp rap upon the door be- fore either of the girls had recovered from their astonishment. The next minute Deacon Marlowe rose and. admitted the stranger by the side door to the little sitting- room. CHAPTER VI. ‘THE LAWYER'S EMOTION. Marion had just time to whisper a word of warning to her mother before Mr. Hobart entered. * “Don't say a word,” she continued, anx- iously. “It is for him to explain his interest» in Bert. We must not be rude enough to question.” Her mother nodded, and then they all greeted Mr. Hobart, who was not nearly so “victorious” in his appearance after the door closed behind him. “That old duffer, Judge Walters, is a sly one,’ he said, promptly. ‘““Why, he kept me for half an hour before he unearthed those papers, and, even then, they were only copies. He asserts that his clerk has mis- placed the originals.” ‘“Thet’s what I wuz tellin’ yew jest now,” broke in Deacon Marlowe, with a wink at Miss Allyn. . “Now, ef I’d er misplaced er batch of important papers like them of Bert’s I’d er been hooted out er Hickorytown, but then, I’m nothin’ but er poor old farmer, while * Jedge Walters is ther cock o’ ther roost, or what we Yanks would call ther big- gest toad in ther puddle!” “Well, I don’t know much about natural history, but there may be some kinds of toads that inhabit puddles and, if there are, he is one all right,” snapped Miss Allyn, vic- iously. “Why, I’m willing to wager that he knows a lot about Bert! It’s ten chances to one that he was paid for his silence! But, do go on, Mr. Hobart, and tell us all you have learned! I ought not to be so demon- strative, but my blood is fairly boiling!” “And so is mine!” said Mr. Hobart, rising suddenly, and beginning to pace the floor. “T am too indignant for words, and yet I am Gomicbooks com