“Can’t do it, nurse! I’ve got orders and I have to obey them! It’s government biz. You can’t monkey with the government.”
“It shall never be buried in Potter’s Field,” said Marion, pointing to the coffin, “for I will not leave the boat until I have your promise, captain! You must not refuse me! The thing would be too awful!”
“I’ll put back, then,” said the captain, after a moment’s thought. “It won’t take a half hour, and I guess it won’t matter.”
As they neared the dock they could see a group of people waiting for them, among them was Dr. Brookes, waving and shouting frantically.
“You see they want us to come back!” cried Marion, triumphantly. “I told you it was a blunder, and they have discovered it!”
Then the brave, beautiful girl turned suddenly paler than ever before, for there on the dock, with his head bent in grief, stood her friend, Archie Ray, this dead woman’s husband.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE END OF THE TRAGEDY.
Marion had kept her promise to watch for Mr. Ray’s wretched young wife, and it was her grim determination alone that secured for the poor creature a Christian burial.
Never to her dying day would the brave girl forget the scene on that little dock when the “dead boat” drew alongside with her dreadful cargo.