A Wonderful Secret, or Marion Marlowe's Discovery — page 15: what you’re looking at

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12 when Mrs. Marlowe came back with a look of excitement upon her kindly face. | “They're a comin’! Jedge Walters an’ Matt Jenkins! They’re a’most tew ther gate! Now, what dew you suppose they are comin’ here arter?” Marion sprang to the window and took a sharp glance toward the gate, and, in that _ instant, the lawyer recovered himself com- pletely. ‘I know what they are coming here for,” he said, in a sharp voice. “They are coming to “dicker,’ as they call it, with Miss Mar- lowe. They are going to offer to sell her Bert Jackson’s release. It’s just a barefaced attempt to get some of her money.” “Well, they can have my last penny, if it is necessary to release Bert,’ said Marion, with flashing eyes; “but I'll match my wits with theirs before they get it, Lawyer Ho- bart! They will not find me an easy dupe to their miserable efforts!” “That is right, Miss Marlowe!” said the lawyer, admiringly; then he turned and glanced cautiously about the little sitting- room. “See here,” he said, after a minute’s thought. “Those fellows don’t know I am here, .and it is just as well that they shouldn’t. I'll just step out into the entry while you talk to them, Miss Marlowe. | can hear all they say, and I may be able to catch a pointer. I am sure that you and Miss Allyn will know exactly what to say. Lead them on and make them commit themselves, if possible.” “Oh, we'll ‘string’ them all right, if that is what you mean,” said Alma, glibly. “We'll dangle Marion’s money before their noses, and, if they nibble a little bit, we will land them for you.” There was a loud rap upon the kitchen door, exactly as she finished. “T’'ll trust to you to do it right,” said the lawyer, laughing. “You are both as smart as steel traps, my dear young ladies.” He darted into the entry as he spoke, and closed the door behind him, and, the next minute, Matt Jenkins and Judge Walters huffled noisily across the kitchen, MY QUEEN. CHAPTER VII. me THE “‘DICKER.”~ . “Now, Marion Marlowe, we've come tew hev a leetle talk with yew,” began the old judge, as he leered firyat Marion and then at Miss Allyn. “Tt’s er-leetle onusual, I must admit, fer a man in my station tew be a callin’ on his clients instid of them bein’ a cringin’ before him, but, bein’ as how you ain’t got no legal interest in this air case, an’ as yew hey only a philanthropic interest so tew speak, we hev come, Matt an’ me, tew make yew an offer, thet is, ef we understan’ yew right thet yew air willin’ tew buy Bert Jackson’s re- — lease from ther county of Dexter, an’ ther overseer of ther poor farm.” As he made this speech he dropped his bulky form into the largest chair in the room and then, pulling out his big red bandana, proceeded to wipe his forehead vigorously. Marion’s face was scintillating with scorn, but she controlled herself wonderfully, while Miss Allyn looked as composed as though such a proposition was an everyday occur- rence. Deacon Marlowe seated himself by the entry door with a grim expression upon his lanky features, while his wife slipped into a rocker and rolled the corner of her apron nervously, as she listened, almost in awe at her daughter’s cleverness. “Ts it really a fact that Bert’s re-incarcer- ‘ ation is legal?” Marion began, sharplys “Are you sure you have a perfect right to do as you have done, Matt Jenkins?” She flashed a glance at the brutal over- seer that made his lean face flush for an in- stant, but he only nodded his head, and glanced at his companion, * “Matt don’t know none of ther legal p’ints, — Marion Marlowe, so he’s a leavin’ all thet tew me,” said the judge, pompously. “As ther chief magistrate of Hickorytown, I an- swer all questions, an’ I say yes tew both of them thet yew hev jest asked. Matt hez ther law on his side in all his transactions.” Marion glanced at Miss Allyn and a sly wink rewarded her. She knew by her friend’s face that she was approving of her tactics, Eomicbooks.com 7 —