Marion Marlowe in Cleveland, or, The Mystery of the Red Rose — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

— Es sl a é- % ” ae ae —— J ~ +> . p ~ ® aa! _ Chester,” said Mr. Temple, sternly. ‘And as you are new to the company, I may as well warn you to be careful.” “Oh, there’s no danger of my disgracing myself,” retorted the young girl, snappishly ; “but I wouldn’t be so prim that I made every one uncomfortable !” ; She looked at Marion as she spoke, but the star answered, sweetly: “I hope I am not that, I am sure, Miss Chester. Perhaps, when you know me better, you will not think oe SO. “Tt doesn’t matter what she thinks! all know vou are just as good as you can be,” spoke up the soubrette, quickly. ERE per- son who dislikes you, Miss Marlowe, is my sworn enemy !”’ She glared at Miss Chester as she spoke, and the blonde returned the look with inter- est. It was evident that in future there would be anything but friendship between them. “Go put on the gloves, you two, and have it “We've got something to think of that is very out,” advised Bert, good-naturedly. important. The question on the docket now is, how to dispose of his joblots—he of the red, red rose and the unrequited affection.” “T have thought of a scheme,” said Dr. ‘Brookes, the leading man, smiling. ‘As soon as we identify him, we will put a detective on his track. He can come to the theatre every night, if he chooses, but our detective must see that there are no bombs in his pocket.” “T can’t make anything out of this note,” said the manager, as he held out a bit of paper.. “You say, Bert, that it was hidden in a bouquet of red roses that were sent to Miss Marlowe. Now, what I want to know is, how were they sent? Did a messenger boy bring them?” Bert glanced around the room before he answered. He was looking for some one who We MY QUEEN. \ 5 was not in the dressing-room, and, not find- ing him, he stepped to the door and peered cautiously into the space between the dress- ing rooms that was half filled with baggage and piles of scenery. “The chap has gone,” he said, coming back from the tour of investigation. “He was here when I came in, talking to Olcott, the new ‘villain.’ He must have vamoosed when we called our consultation.” “Was he a tall, slim fellow, with blue eyes and a sandy beard?” asked Miss Ellis, quick- ly. “If he was, he is the chap that I saw at the station. " ] noticed him because he was watching us in such a curious manner.” “That’s the chap,’ remarked Bert. “He He handed me the flowers as I was standing in the lobby ; looked as if he was hungry. then he went straight out on the sidewalk and bought a bag of peanuts, and I took the flowers over to Marion.” “Eating peanuts is not a very compro- ¥et; strange as it seems, the roses were from the masher, and the note is marked ‘Number One,’ and is too affectionate for anything.”’ mising act,’ said Marion, laughing. “Oh, he evidently intends to give you every opportunity to love him,” said Miss Allyn. “He’s going to spoon for two nights, but on the third things will be different. It’s a case of one lover not taking ‘No’ for an answer.” “I guess we can manage the affair with- out the aid of the police,’ said Mr. Temple, smiling. “I'll have the ushers look out for him, as well as the man in the box office. They can find some way to detain any sus- picious-looking fellow, and there’s always an officer or two hanging around the lobby.” “T don’t feel nervous at all! | mind me,” said Marion, calmly. “Of course, it isn’t pleasant to be made love to that way. but as the poor fellow is probably a lunatic Please don’t I really can’t blame him.” (CO) mn HOOKS .EO mn