In another minute she was on the steps of the building. Her heart was beating so hard that she could almost hear it, but she was determined not to falter in her search for Dollie.
“I’ll tell all!” she whispered, “everything that has happened except”—here she paused and blushed a little deeper—“except that I have met a young man whom I think is just the most charming gentleman that I have ever met.”
CHAPTER X.
MARION FINDS HER UNCLE AT LAST.
A visit to the chief of police was naturally an embarrassment to a young and inexperienced girl like Marion, but his kindly manner put her at her ease.
He was unusually interested in the astonishing story which this beautiful country girl told him. If he doubted her words he did not betray it, so Marion talked on rapidly, feeling sure of his sympathy. The only item of information which Marion kept back was the fact that Bert Jackson had run away from the Poor Farm, and it did not occur to the great detective to question her on that point. Every word that she uttered was carefully taken down, and before she left the building an investigation was in progress.
She told him of Bert’s adventure with the hypnotist, and the chief sent an order for his immediate release.
“Now, what are you going to do next, miss?” the chief asked her kindly. “You seem to have a mind of your own, and I would like to hear what you will do personally toward finding your sister.”
Marion looked at him fearlessly, as she answered promptly:
“I shall go to that theatre to-night, sir, accompanied by Bert, and see this Professor Dabroski. If he is our former boarder, Mr. Lawson, I shall know him instantly. He may be disguised, but I am sure I shall know him!”