Marion Marlowe in Cleveland, or, The Mystery of the Red Rose — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

As My wHl insist upon our telling you of the con- tents,” Marion calmed herself instantly. “Oh, I am not so weak or so childish as all that,” she said, quickly; “I did feel al- most too happy for anything this morning; but go on and open it, Bert; it will not make any difference!” Dr. Brookes glanced at her keenly. He could guess the cause of her happiness. It gave him a dull sense of pain, but he tried to stifle it manfully. Archie Ray had been his rival in days gone by; he was wondering now if his suit would be successful, if Marion had learned to love him during his months of absence. The doctor studied the young girl’s face, but it told him nothing. As his eyes were bent upon her, she suddenly burst out laughing. “A bracelet! Who would have believed it? Oh,*1 aii: so glad, Mr. Temple! To think, after all our nervousness, that it is only a bracelet, a beauty, too. Do let me see it!” “Well, it’s been ‘in soak’ once, if no more!” said Bert, hilariously; “but it won’t hurt it a bit; the stones are diamonds!” Marion took the trinket and dried it with her handkerchief; then held it up so that they all could see it. It was a handsome bracelet and a costly one, too. There were several large stones, and the setting was unique and very taste- ful. As she was admiring it, Bert fished out a water-soaked note; but it fell to pieces as he touched it, so he could not decipher it. “Do you know, I believe this is the note . to the other parcel. It looks exactly like it,” said Mr. Temple, thoughtfully; “and if it is, then I have lost a valuable trinket.” “Which some one may have found,” said Miss Allyn, thoughtfully. “Well, I admit I feel relieved. I was sure it was an infernal machine, or something on that order.” “What shall I do with it,-Mr. Temple?” asked Marion. “Of course, I can’t give it back, as I don’t know the sender. Can you suggest any way of ridding me of it?” “Tl think I had better keep it and await developments,” said Mr. Temple, slowly. “If they catch the fellow that brought the other parcel, | may be able to discover the donor. . closer to Marion. QUEEN. And, anyway, I advise you all to keep silent about the contents of this package. Don’t tell even the other members o the company until I think it safe to do so.” “A good idea,” “We'll keep as mum as oysters, and, perhaps, we'll find the culprit.” “[T hope you are not nervous over your un- known admirer, Miss Marlowe,” manager, softly, as he put the bracelet in his pocket. “I feel sure that the fellow was not in the house last night, and he'll not be there to-night, if I can prevent it.” | “These fellows that bring these parcels must be his friends,” remarked Bert; “and pretty desperate fellows they are, or they would not be carrying pistols.” “T admit I am puzzled by the whole thing,” said the manager. “In my career in the theatrical business 1 have met all sorts of cranks, but this fellow has ways that are peculiarly his own. I am going to speak to the police to-day; I think it would be safer.” “Then I can put a hint of it in the paper,” broke in Miss Allyn, delightedly. “It’s high time we got the benefit of the ‘ad,’ Mr. Tem- ple! I can word it so that it will not scare the people away, but, on the contrary, make the public more eager to come and see Marion!” = “All right, Miss Allyn! You have my con- sent,”’ was the cnswer. “I am sure you know how to do it to make the best impression,” They were just leaving the office, and, as he spoke, Mr. Temple managed to move \ said the | said the doctor, quickly. — ¢ —_— a _ “Will you take luncheon with me_ this \J noon, Miss Marlowe?” he asked, softly. Marion’s cheeks flushed a little, but she looked up honestly. “Too late, Mr. Temple! I have already promised to lunch with Mr. Ray, an old friend, you know, who is just passing through Cleveland.” Mr. Temple bit his lips. “T seem to be always ‘too late,” he mur- mured: then as he looked away, his glance fell upon the doctor. Somehow, the sight of his leading man’s face made him ashamed of his temper. If the doctor could endure his disappointment so heroically, it behooved him also to act the part EOMicboo slcom