CHAPTER IX.
MARION MEETS A MISSIONARY.
Marion made her way down to the dock, feeling almost dazed at what she had seen. She was endeavoring to decide what was her duty in the matter.
She heard the clang of the bell as the ambulance dashed into Bellevue Hospital yard, but she was too late to see more, for the great gate closed as she reached it.
She took her permit from her pocket and glanced at it eagerly. It was dated, so she knew she must use it that day, and, furthermore, it was now five minutes of eleven, so there was no time to be spent in helping Sallie.
“They’ll take good care of her, I am sure,” she whispered to herself, “and, anyway, I can write to Silas as soon as I get up there. He can’t be so bad but what he’ll come and get her.”
In less than five minutes she was on the dock, and here for a moment Marion almost forgot poor Sallie. There were several policemen standing around, as if waiting for something, and on the deck of the Thomas Brennan, the ferryboat that was to convey her to Blackwell’s Island, and which was moored to the dock, she could see several more men in blue uniforms waiting.
As soon as Marion passed the dock entrance an officer came up to her. Marion handed him her permit and he turned and nodded to the captain.
“Go right on deck, miss. The prisoners will stay down below,” he said, kindly, as he led Marion over and helped her down the gangplank.
Marion glanced around the boat, which looked anything but attractive, and was soon on the deck as the officer had directed her.