Marion Marlowe in St. Louis, or, A Forger's Bold Deed — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. fair in love and war,’ you know, Lou, and so long as they are not married, the field is apen.”’ “T'll try it,” said Lou, suddenly, as she turned back from the window. “I’m an adept ai cutting other girls out, as you know, Mab; | guess I can do it again if I go about it properly.” “Well, as I’m a bit interested, I'll help vou,” said Mabel, dryly. “I’d give my boots to get a smile from Bert Jackson!” “Then here goes for a conspiracy,’ said Lou, very softly. ‘“‘We'll enter into a com- pact to break up a few of the existing affec- tions in the company, and bring about a new order of love-making, eh, Mabbie?” “How’ll we start in?” asked Mabel, with a thoughtful frown. “Remember, there's Miss Allyn, the star’s chum, and Miss Ellis, the imgénue, to be considered. They wor- ship Marion rlowe, and they’ll fight for Ker, you bet. We've got to act cautiously or we'll be ignominiously defeated.” “Pshaw! I’m a match for any of them, and so are you, Mab! Why, an old trick carefully manipulated will do the work. All we've got to do is to make the doctor and Gert think that Miss Marlowe has a lover on the quiet that she’s dead stuck on, and they’ll soon lose interest—that’s a man’s nature.” “And then they'll turn to us for consola- tion, if we are agreeable,” laughed Mabel. “And we'll be that, all right; just watch us!” smiled back Lou. “Oh, we are a hard pair to draw to, you and JI, Mab McPherson —oh, | beg your pardon! Miss Mabel Mait- land!” . “Where’s a peed and paper, Lou?” asked Mahel, anxiously ; ° ‘never mind about calling names. Lét’s get down to business.” “Oh, but it mustn’t be in our handwriting,” cried Lou, who understood perfectly what she meant; A greeny.” “What's the matter with blocking it out and getting it copied on a typewriter: that is what they were invented_for.” | “That isn’t a bad idea; still, a Tover wculdn’t write to Miss Marlowe on a type- writer, Mab. Why, his words would be burn- ing with love, you know. He’d never be able to click them out in cold lead. No, i | ' dryly. “that’s beautifully stupid—the act of 3 must be written in long-hand, and by a man; that is positive!” “And I know the very man to do it!’ cried Lou, quickly. “He’d do anything I told him if he hung for it the next minute. I'll tele- phone him at once! He’s right in the city.” “How wonderfully lucky,’ drawled Mabel, “It is convenient to have a mash in every town; now, isn’t it? Let’s see, we got here last night at eleven o’clock. Well, that is pretty quick work, even for a soubrette, Logit.” “Pshaw! Wasn’t I out shopping this morning?” asked Lou, laughing. “But I’m not going to explain any more about that; I’m going straight down-stairs to telephone to the booby!” “Keep your eye peeled, Lou! Don’t let any one see or hear you,” warned Mabel. “See here! Who are you talking to, Mab?” asked_Lou, sharply. “Why, I’ve got a record for this sort of thing! I’ve broken up more matches than you can shake a stick at! J haven’t been on the stage ten years tor nothing! Why, this game that we are up against is a perfect kindergarten. We can give ’em cards and spades and then beat them hands down——’” “Hush! Be careful; Lou! one coming!” Mabel put her finger to her-lips in a cau- tious manner just as’some one touched the knob of their door and rattled it violently. There’s some CHAPTER II. THE INGENUE’S NEWS. “Let me in a minute, girls!” It was Miss Ellis, the inzénue of the com- pany, who spoke. Mabel Maitland crossed cpened the door promptly. - Hello, Ellis! We were just talking about you!” she said, with great cordiality. “Lou and I were just envying you your handsome sweetheart; of course, you know who we medn—Mr. Albert Jackson!” Miss Ellis was not a girl of over- -quick perceptions, but she had seen sufficient of life behind the scenes to learn to be cautious ; besides, she had no. notion of letting thea: girls know anything about Bert, or any of the room and EOMIIGIOOKS (CO) am