As he controlled himself and raised her hand to his lips, he murmured softly:
“Till death, Miss Marlowe, you can count upon my friendship, for although I have not known you an hour yet——”
He stopped abruptly. An eloquent glance from his dark eyes left no doubt of his sentiments.
Marion’s hand trembled in his grasp and her face was suffused with blushes. For a moment she was so confused that she did not know how to answer.
“You are very, very kind,” she stammered at last, “and I appreciate your—your friendship, I assure you, Mr. Ray. It comes like a burst of sunshine in this awful hour of misery. If you will only help me to save my sister! Every hour, every moment must be fraught with agony to poor Dollie.”
“Let us hurry to Police Headquarters,” said the young man, quickly, “and you must tell them all—every word of your story.”
There was no hesitation in Marion’s manner now, although she inwardly prayed that her words would not bring Miss Gray into any trouble.
“She was a true friend to me,” she said, very sadly. “Poor girl! I pity her with my whole heart and soul. If I could only find a way to punish that old monster.”
“I fancy he’s a bad egg,” said the young fellow, thoughtfully. “There are lots of his sort in the city, unfortunately, and no woman is wholly safe who falls into their clutches.”