A Lover's Quarrel, or Marion Marlowe's Deceitful Friend — page 27: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

24 he whirled her away among the crowd of dancers. | “QOuick—Marion! look!” whispered her lover, suddenly. “Do you see that young man in the doublet and hose? Watch him a minute, and then tell me if it isn’t Bert! That boy can’t deceive me! I am sure it is he, Marion!” — Marion peered through her veil and a sigh of happiness escaped her lips. “It is Bert,” she whispered, quickly. “Oh, take me to him, Reginald!” Dr. Brookes was about to comply when a thought struck him. “Let’s have a little fun out of it, darling,” he said, in a merry voice. “You know who he is, but he doesn’t know you. I'll get Mrs. Stetson to introduce you as Queen, Elizabeth —but do you think you can disguise your voice so that Bert will not know you?” “T’ll try,” laughed Marion, who was bub- bling over with fun, and, ten minutes later, Mrs. Stetson had obligingly made the intro- duction. Marion could hardly help laughing out loud at Bert’s manner when he greeted her. If she had really been Queen Elizabeth he would not have been more formal and dig- nified. In an instant she discovered that he, too, was disguising his voice, so she strained every nerve to deceive him as completely as possible. The moments passed, and still Bert stayed beside her. They danced, promenaded, and even sat together, and yet Bert did not un- bend from his formal manner. | The strain was beginning to tell on Mar- ion, for the young girl was eager to reveal her identity and ply Bert with questions about the things which were worrying her ; but just as she opened her lips to speak in her natural voice, she saw Bert raise his hand quickly and signal to some one, What could it mean? Marion caught her breath with a gasp. The next second Bert had offered his arm to her and was leading her toward the conserv- atory. “ft is quiet in there, and I am sure you need a moment’s rest, Your Majesty,” he said, in a peculiarly strained voice. Marion glanced over her shoulder, and her hewilderment increased. Two men in evening dress, with grotesque masks on their faces, were quietly follow- ing them toward the conservatory. Tust as she reached the entrance of the dimly-lighted room it flashed into her mind exactly what had happened. Pert knew nothing of her purple gown, but he had heard of the other, and the boy MY QUEEN. had naturally taken her for that woman— Miss Fredericks ! is A ripple of laughter burst involuntarily from her lips, and Bert stopped like one turned to stone and stared at her in amaze- ment. The conservatory was unoccupied except ‘by themselves, and, as Marion carefully raised her veil, the two men who were fol- lowing them removed their masks simul- taneously. “Well, I'll be blowed!” was the only senti- ment that Bert could express; “if I haven’t beeat doing my best to get you arrested, Mar- | ion! Another laugh bubbled from Marion’s lips, but her eyes filled with tears as she cried, al- most hysterically : “You thought I was Miss Fredericks, didn’t you, Bert? And all because she had the audacity to duplicate my costume!” Bert did not answer; he was too chagrined, and, just for a moment, the two detectives stared at each other. e rae “Then this isn’t the party?’ said one of them, finally, in a low tone to Bert. “The real one has tricked you—is that so, Jack- son?” | Bert nodded his head, but did not reply, and just at that second the crowd that was surging past the conservatory door became noisier and denser. Marion had turned when she entered and tvas facing the door, and, as the detective spoke, she leaned forward a little. Something that Mrs. Burnside had told her had flashed suddenly into her brain, and it took Marion but an instant to remember that the “something” referred to another costume which Miss Fredericks had selected, and which she had tried to hide from the eyes of every one. — '“Oh, Bert! How could she get in here if you did not bring her?” she breathed, sharp- ly. “Look, quick! Do you see that woman in black, with the gold butterflies all over her? Iam almost sure that she is Miss Fred- ericks !” Her -voice was low and suppressed, but it vibrated with eagerness, and the detectives turned at once and followed the direction of her glances. “Tt’s not the woman we are looking for,” said one of them, grimly. “She was lar and coarse, and had a bulky figure, This woman is a mere baby in comparison with the other.” ees “You mean the one who cashed the checks,” said Marion, impulsively. “Oh, but this is her accomplice! I am sure of it, gen- tlemen! See! she is moving on! Pray, don't let her escape you!” ‘ comicbooks.com or ss ai