Marion Marlowe in Buffalo, or, Betrayed by a Rival Company — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

- “Gee whiz! You make me weary, Tem- ple! Is it possible that you are doubtful, too? Don’t. you know Marion well enough yet to know that she couldn’t do anything so mean as that? Why, Temple, she’d stay with her own company if she wasn’t making a cent—if you don’t believe it, ask Miss Allyn —there she is coming this minute!” They were close by the hotel, and, as Bert spoke, he nodded toward a stylishly- -dressed young woman, who had just tripped down the steps and was coming toward them. Miss Allyn was Marion Marlowe’s most intimate friend, so the manager hastened his, steps and was soon confronting her. “Lost nay curling iron in the shuffle and am on the war path for another,” called out Miss Allyn, as she came up, and then the look on their faces made her stop short and stare at them. “Great Czsar’s ghost! pened? Has the property man forgotten the cradle, or has the calcium refused to shine? Speak quick! You look like a couple of scared-to-deaths !” “What in the world does this mean, Miss Allyn?” asked the manager, as he held out the paper; “I just noticed it a minute ago and it’s driving me gray-headed.”’ “And there’s a big poster down at the depot that says the same thing,” broke in Bert. “It says distinctly that Marion will appear at the Palace.” Miss Allyn took the paper and glanced at it, curiously. As she read the words her at- tractive features were a perfect study. She scowled first and then burst into a merry laugh, and there was a twinkle in her eye as she handed back the*paper. “So that is what he has been writing to her about,” she said, coolly. “I knew she was having some correspondence with Rose. I suppose he has discovered, like the rest of us, that there is only one Marion Marlowe!” “But has she really gone over to the ene- my?” asked Mr. Temple, anxiously. “TI have tun the risk of being annihilated by Bert, here, for even thinking such a thing, but what else can any one make out of that notice, Miss Allyn?” 4 “It certainly sounds suspicious,” Allyn, soberly. said Miss “It doesn’t seem like Marion What has hap- ~ oe MY QUEEN. 3 to play us such a trick, but money is an awiul temptation, you know, especially to a poor, struggling actréss, and, no doubt, they have offered her a handscme salary !” She spoke so indifferently that both men stared at her, Bert almost Yasping for breath at her extraordinary statements. “Do you think that Marion, our Marion, would accept a bribe?” he managed to ask, hotly. “Why, the thing 1s preposterous ! ‘m astonished at you, Alma!” - “You'll be more so before our engagement in Buffalo is over, my boy,” remarked Miss Allyn, calmly. “I’m as full of surprises as “an egg is full of meat, and, as for Marion— ~ well, you know her resources. It isn’t any wonder that our rivals want her!” With a nod of her head, the young lady started on, leaving Mr. Temple and.Bert star- ing at each other. “That settles it! Marion has.left us!” said Mr. Temple, sourly. ‘It’s just like a woman to be bribed that way! If she wanted more money, why didn't she say so?” Bert Jackson recovered his wits and his tongue at the same time. “See here, Temple,” he said, with a presi look on his boyish face; ‘I have known Ma- rion Marlowe since the day she was born, and the man does not live who can doubt her in my presence. If you speak disrespectful- ly of her again [’ll chuck you over the Falls! There she is on the piazza—now you can go and ask her!” Manager Temple looked ahead with a de- © cidedly sheepish expression on his face. A beautiful young girl was standing in the street door of the hotel. Her cheeks were glowing with health and her eyes were shin- ing. As she saw them mounting the steps, she put her finger on her lips and then, with a mysterious nod of her Read, signaled for them to follow her into the parlor. ‘CHAPTER II. A SNAP SHOT. “Hush! Speak softly! An enemy is at the door!’ whispered Marion, tragic ally, as she led Bert and the manager-into the middle of the large parlor. CONMMICLMOOKS».CO