Marion Marlowe in Cleveland, or, The Mystery of the Red Rose — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

24 toppling over, then the dust and smoke and darkness obscured the stage completely. Suddenly a beautiful voice rang out of the darkness before them. Marion Marlowe was still upon the stage, and had little Ruby in her arms; and, as they looked, a glow from the calcium outlined her face and form distinctly. In an instant the house was quiet, and Marion’s glorious voice rolled out in a song. It was all that was needed to quiet her au- dience. Throwing her head back bravely and hold- ing little Ruby close to her breast, the heroic girl finished the pathetic scene grandly. She had chosen “Home, Sweet Home,” as the best possible song; and, as the last note died away the people sank into their seats, quieted. The stage was not lighted again for fear that what might be disclosed would alarm the people; but the spot upon which Marion stood was as bright as day, and as she fin- ished she smiled and kissed her hand to them. A roar of applause shook the monstrous building. That some dreadful deed had been done was plain to them all, but by her coolness the brave girl had helped to evade a panic; and, as the audience filed out quietly, there were many cheers for the beautiful heroine. CHAPTER XII. THE MYSTERY. “Well, of all the scenes of desolation that I ever beheld!” Bert Jackson spoke solemnly as he uttered the exclamation. The drop-curtain, or what was left of it, had been safely lowered, and with every light turned on, the Temple Theatrical Company was investigating the extent of the damage. “Tt might have been worse! Thank God no one was killed!” said Mr. Temple, grate- fully. “But, oh, what a narrow escape for Miss Marlowe and little Ruby! Why, the stage is literally wrecked, and the scenery 1s in atoms!” “The worst damage 18 out by the stage door, Mr. Temple,” said an officer, coming “We've that the door was up. decided MY QUEEN. opened and the cartridge thrown in. We have found the fragments of the shell and fuse behind a pile of old timber.” “Yes, and the stage door is in splinters,” cried Bob Hinton, excitedly; “there isn’t a | pane of glass left in any rear window of the building.”’ “But I don’t understand John not being at his post,” said Mr. Temple, looking around for the doorkeeper. “It was the singing, Mr. Temple! I heard Miss Marlowe singing and left the door for a minute! [I ought not to have done it, but it was a great temptation!” “T don’t blame you much, if that was it,” said Mr. Temple, glancing at Marion, who was standing with Dr. Brookes at a little distance. There was a commotion in the street, and Bert darted outside. In a minute he was back with some welcome information. “They’ve got him! They’ve got him!” he shouted. ‘Come, quick, Mr. Temple! They want you to have a look at him!” “Oh, I want to see him, too!” cried Mar- ion, starting after then® “TI want to be very sure that they have caught the right one!” In an instant the whole company were grouped around two stalwart officers, who were standing just outside of the stage door with their prisoner between them. “That’s the fellow that brought the bou- quet of roses !—the one who came in on your pass, Mr. Temple!” said Hinton, the mo- ment he saw him. “He’s the fellow that threw the bomb, all right,” said one of the officers. “We caught him a block away, just after the explosion.” “Hold on, gentlemen! Take a look at this chap, please!” called a voice in the darkness. Archie Ray was coming toward them with his hand on a man’s shoulder, and a score or more of small boys following at his heels and shouting derisively. “T am sure that is the one,” said Marion, to the doctor; “oh, don’t let him escape! | am positive he is guilty!" ’ “But he was in the theatre at the time I saw him,” said Bert, who had overheard her. a I s—I saw him, too! I know he was oii Gites = Never- ee ee ee com