Marion Marlowe in Omaha, or, Held up by Accident — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

12 beheld him in St. Paul he was anything but kissable. “Now, -go over and kiss your mother,” she said, coaxingly ; “and make her the promise, too, just because she loves you, too, ‘Jack- ets. | The boy went. obediently and kissed his mother’s cheek, then he-turned like a flash and darted out of the apartment. “Stop him! Stop him, quick, Miss Mar- lowe!” cried the poor mother, sharply. “He'll go straight and steal something, you see if he ~ don’t! lowe; so please don’t blame me! I know him so well! He is as treacherous as his father!” Marion half rose from her chair and then sat down again. “T shall trust him,” she said, quietly. “I don’t believe he will steal. I am sure he ran away because he thought of something !” The eager voice of “Jackets” fell upon their ears almost before she finished. He was talking in his shrill voice to some one out in the corridor. “Yep! She’s in dere, boss!” they heard him say, distinctly. ‘Miss Marler is in dat room, a visitin’ my mudder! If yer wants ter see her, boss, I'll go in an’ git her.” Marion strained her ears to catch the re- ply. turesque ranchman. “Go in and trot her out, boy,” he said, in his jovial’way. “No, you needn't to, neither! I'll jest chase myself down ter ther office. It’s a dern-fired noosance ter send up yer name, but it’s ther proper caper in these hyar newfangled hostelries, an’ ef 1 am er ranch- man, I ain’t no hayseed !” Marion needed nothing more. out into the hall. She dashed ” tut she was a moment too late. “Jackets stood alone, grinning, while the top of*the ranchman’s sombrero was just disappearing down the elevator. I can’t help saying so, Miss Mar- | It came in the bluff bellow of the pic- MY QUEEN. _ CHAPTER VI. AN AUDIENCE OF ONE. Marion hurried from room to room, telling the good news to the company. The ranch-— man was safe, and they were all delighted. Then she ran back to her own room to be ready for the card, or whatever message the — bluff old fellow sent up to her. Would he really ask her to be his wife? The question was beginning to distress her a little. =~. — He was so brave, so noble! She could not | help admiring him. Then she just longed to see a ranch—such a one as this man was the owner of. “T expect it is big and roomy and whole- some and complete, just like himself,” she — “How I would like to see it, but not as his wife! Nb, no! I must not think of that! It would be ridiculous!” ‘Marion, dear, may I corfte in?” whispered to herself. It was Bert who asked the question. In an instant, the young girl had admitted him, and they were chatting about?the ranchman. “He is a grand fellow,” said Bert, enthus- iastically. “I just saw him in the office. He was just coming up when somebody spoke to — him—one of the richest men in Omaha, I be- ) lieve—and they are now talking ‘horses.’ ” “Then he is not likely to call just yet,” said Marion, laughing; “for I would imagine | the horse question would absorb him com- pletely.” ! “Oh, I guess he'll come all right,” began Bert, when Mr. Temple stood at the door. He had found it necessary to call a rehearsal. “We'll have it right hege in your room,” he added, as he walked away. “Then all our — injured ones can be moved in easily; and, if it is possible, we'll give a performance to- morrow evening.” Marion nodded her head, She felt sure that it could be done, comicboo ‘suico a ’ .