Marion Marlowe in St. Paul, or, The Company's Mascot in a Double Deal — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

ae MY QUEEN. member. Tell her you are the champion in your line, and she’ll raise the ante. Now, what else can you do? Are you anything of a slugger ?” $ The boy straightened himself up lhkea flash and glanced up and down the block. There were a dozen or so pedestrians a little dis- tance away, and another street urchin, about twice his size, was leaning against a hydrant on the nearest corner. “Am Ter slugger! Well, I should snicker! W’y, Fitz an’ Jim ain’t in it wid dis scrapper ! li yer don’ believe it, boss, jes watch me er minit! Ill punch dat galoot on der corner in der soler—what yer calls it—in erbout two plunks. Hol’ on ter me poips, an’ see me do it !” He darted away to accomplish his pur- pose, but the boy on the corner did not wait for the onslaught. He took to his-heels and disappeared like magic. “Oh, you'll do! No need to demonstrate aiter that, kiddy!” cried Bert, who was in paroxysms of laughter. “Your berth is secure. Just come along to the theatre! I'll guarantee you'll be fea- tured on the very next bill. But, by the way, who was that swell duffer. that you were talking to just now? The one in the plug hat and noisy trousers!” The expression on the boy’s face changed like magic as he was speaking, and Bert was astonished to see the look of cunning that crept over his features. “Wot ver want ter know fer?” was the sage question that came from: his lips. Bert stared a minute before he answered: “Oh, nothing, kiddy! I just thought he tnight be the Mayor, you know, he said, in- differently, “You see, I’m a stranger in town, $0 you must excuse my curiosity. Well, are you ready to come around and eall on Miss Marlowe?” The bov’s eyes shone with a mischievous twinkle, and he straightened up with an air that showed clever powers of mimicry. “Tink. if ver don’ mind, boss, I'll change me togs ‘fore callin’ on er loidy,” he Said, loftily. “Ill be aroun’ in ten minutes, if dat’ll do. ’Spose I’m ter come ter the stoige door an’ ask fer Miss Marler?’ I'll sen up me card. De ace of spoides is me card; but yer kin tell her aforehand dat me. name is ‘Jackets.’ ” “All right, ‘Jackets,’” said Bert, as he turned away. The kid bounded across the street and dis- appeared around the corner, and the next in- stant Bert changed his mind and followed after him. "Til see where he lives, if I can,” he thought, laughing. The next minute he jumped back with a look of astonishment. The well-dressed man had evidently been waiting for the child, for, once more, the two were together, and in earnest conversation. That's funny,” thought Bert, as he started back toward the theatre. ~ There was a crowd around the door wait- ing for the ticket office to open, and as Bert made his way through them some one pressed hard against him. He turned quickly, and saw a common-looking man apparently try- ing to regain his balance. “Beg pardon! They’re jammin’ me from behind,” said the fellow, half angrily; the next minute he shpped from the line, and Bert went into the lobby. “How long before rehearsal, Jackson?” called out Orrin Olcott, the ‘‘villain’’ of the company, from the window of the ticket cffhee. Bert put his hand to his vest pocket and then uttered an exclamation of dismay. His watch was gone—some one had picked his pocket. He dashed back toward the crowd, but there was nothing to be gained. The one tace he remembered had vanished from sight, and not one of the group about the door had noticed anything. CHAPTER IV. A MASHER. It lacked ten minutes of two, and the re- hearsal did not begin until two; so Marion and her friend, Miss Allyn, seated themselves on the stage to wait for the others. “It’s a good, big stage, and the scenery is fine,’ began Miss Allyn, as she glanced criti- cally around; “but, do you know, Marion, dear, | am getting a little tired of this life.” Really, | sometimes wish L was back on the CONMICOOO<S OM