CHAPTER VIII.

THE FIRST NEWS OF DOLLIE.

As soon as Marion had recovered from her surprise at discovering the familiar jewels in such an unexpected manner in this little shop, she determined to make some inquiries.

“Will you please tell me where you got those?” she asked of the big nosed Israelite behind the counter, at the same time pointing to the topazes in the window.

“I comes honestly by doze, is dat vat you vant to know?” said the shopkeeper, shrewdly. He was on his guard instantly, and had no notion of parting with the jewels. From the nature of the place and its surroundings Marion easily guessed that it was one of those establishments where the possessor of jewelry is not too closely questioned as to where it was obtained, so long as he is willing to sell it at a low price. In other words a place where stolen goods are bought and sold.

“I don’t want them,” said Marion quickly, as she guessed what he meant, “I just want to get the address of the person that left them here. She is a friend of mine, the woman who owned them, and I want to find her if she is in the city.”

The man looked at her sharply and saw that he had nothing to fear.

“I tells nottings,” he said, crossly, “except dat I bought them vrom a man vot I nefer saw before.”

“Then it was not a lady who left them,” said the country girl, quickly.

“I tells nottings more,” repeated the man.

Marion left the shop, being unable to elicit further information. She was satisfied now that Mr. Lawson was in the city—or was it Bert who had pawned them? It lay between them.

“I am sure it was Lawson,” she whispered firmly: “I will not allow myself to think ill of Bert. Poor boy, I pity him, alone in this big city.”

She hailed a car and was soon riding down the Bowery just as the officer had told her, but she was so upset over her discovery that she hardly glanced out of the window.

Twice the conductor had to ask her for her fare, and when the stylish, handsome girl asked him how much the ride would cost he stared at her in earnest, and so did the passengers.

But Marion was learning very rapidly, now. Excitement was clearing her brain and sharpening her wits. It would not be very long before she would rid herself of her timidity at the great city’s bewilderments.

When she reached the lodging-house she found a pleasant faced man at the desk, who spoke to her kindly when she stated her errand.

“There’s been a boy here for two weeks by the name of Bert Jackson,” he said at once, “but he went away yesterday because he had no money. He’ll show up again, I presume, so you can leave a note for him if you wish.”

“Poor Bert!” cried Marion impulsively, “but what will he do without any money?”

“You can trust that kid for getting along,” said the gentleman laughing. “He’s the oldest sixteen year old I ever saw. Why he’s as bright as a New York boy already, yet he tells me he has always lived in the country.”

A half dozen ragged boys came in just then and stood eyeing Marion in great astonishment. The young girl soon caught some whispered remarks, which she knew were intended to express admiration.

“She’s de swellest t’ing wots come down de pike! Bert Jackson must belong ter de high-mucker-mucks ter have loidies in togs like dose a comin’ ter see him!”

“She’s er Jim Dandy fer fair! Oh, why ain’t I got one coming wid me? Dat’s my bloomin’ luck!” was the whispered answer.

The gentleman at the desk was just handing Marion a pencil when a commotion in the street made them both turn and look out of the window.

“It’s Bert Jackson! De cops got ’im!” yelled one of the boys, and in a second the whole group of them were out on the sidewalk.

“Oh, it is Bert,” cried Marion, as she caught sight of her friend, standing up very straight with a policeman’s hand on his shoulder.

“He’s got into some scrape. I’ll go and see what it’s about,” said the gentleman, and as he started for the door Marion followed him promptly.

The sidewalk was fairly blocked with boys when they finally got out, and there seemed to be scores of them coming from all directions.

“He knocked a gentleman down,” said the officer, as he recognized the superintendent of the lodging-house.

“He wasn’t a gentleman, he was an abductor!” cried Bert Jackson stoutly, and just at that moment he caught sight of Marion.

For a second the stylish garments puzzled him a little, then he threw up his hat and gave a whoop that made even the officer jump in astonishment.

“She’s here! Dollie is here! I just saw her!” he shouted. “She was with that fellow Lawson, and, I tell you, I hit him a good one!”

“Which way did they go?” cried Marion, trying to push her way to his side.

“I couldn’t see!” said Bert bitterly, “for the cops had collared me, but I hit him once, anyway! Some day he’ll get another!”

”What does he mean?” asked the superintendent, who hated to see Bert taken to the station-house. “Perhaps if you can explain it the officer will let him go.”

“Oh, do let him go, sir,” cried Marion instantly. “The poor boy is trying to help me find my sister Dollie, who was abducted three weeks ago from our home in the country!”

“Oh, come off!” said the officer, turning to scowl at the boy. “Dat’s all very foine, but it don’t go wid Moike O’Flarrity.”

“It’s truth just the same, and if it hadn’t been for you I’d have knocked him silly,” said Bert, scowling back at his captor. “I was trying to speak to Dollie and he stepped between us. I intended to knock him down and then run away with her.”

“Sure, dat’s just wot I t’ought,” said the officer promptly; “attempting to kidnap a gurrul in broad daylight and right in me beat, the impudent shpalpeen!”

“Well, I guess you can let him go, can’t you, officer?” asked the superintendent coaxingly.

“Not on yer loife!” was the reply. “Wot ’ud the capting say to me? Faith, an’ it’s to the station-house I’ll tak’ him, and let the s’argent dale wid him!”

“And you let that villain escape while you arrested a boy!” cried Marion, half crying. “Oh, my poor little sister! Will I ever find her?”

“Why don’t you ask them at headquarters to send out a general alarm, miss?” asked the superintendent as the officer strode on, half dragging Bert along with him.

Marion’s eyes flew open in unbounded surprise.

“Why, I never thought of that,” she said delightedly, “I came here all alone to look for my sister!”

“Well, you’ve got lots of courage,” remarked the superintendent, staring at her.

“Poor Bert! I am so sorry for him!” cried Marion in distress. “To think he should have been on the very verge of rescuing Dollie when he got arrested!”

“They’ll help you at headquarters,” said the superintendent kindly, as he wrote some directions on a piece of paper.

“Will you keep this address and give it to Bert when he comes back?” asked Marion, as she scribbled the name of the hotel where she had spent the night.

“Certainly, miss, and I’ll do more,” said the gentleman smiling; “I’ll go around to the station-house at once and try to get him out. I think I know a way to outwit that brutal officer.”

Marion thanked him warmly and then started uptown, but before she could make her visit to headquarters conscientiously she felt that she ought to do a little thinking.

“I beg your pardon, miss, but I think there is a pickpocket following you!”

A gentlemanly voice spoke almost in Marion’s ear as she walked along, with her eyes bent on the sidewalk.

The young girl looked up quickly and saw a gentleman at her side. He had spoken so quietly that his sudden news did not alarm her.

Marion turned and saw a slouching figure skulking swiftly around the corner, and then she also noticed that she had lost her way, she was no longer on the Bowery.

“I have nothing that he could steal, but I thank you just the same,” she said politely, as she glanced up at the aristocratic looking stranger who was gazing at her admiringly.

“It is a bad neighborhood for well-dressed people, particularly ladies,” said the young man, smiling. “These thugs would knock you down and steal your pocket-book in a jiffy.”

“How dreadful!” said Marion, clutching Miss Gray’s beautiful purse a bit tighter; “but I am afraid I have lost my way, I am going to Police Headquarters.”

The young man looked surprised, but he answered very pleasantly:

“You have, indeed, but I can soon set you right. I am bound for that neighborhood myself, and will be glad to escort you if you will allow me.”

Marion looked up at him shyly before she answered. As their eyes met she blushed deeply with a delicious sensation of pleasure. He was smiling down at her so sweetly and with such honest admiration that her heart went out to him instantly—she knew that she could trust him.