Marion Marlowe in Washington, or, Meeting the President — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. 5 and, of course, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack to hunt for him now. Pop gave me a letter of introduction to him, you know. They were together in the war, and that’s the last he ever heard of him.” “Tt’s too bad,” began his beautiful com- panion, when something interrupted her. “Bob” Hinckley had suddenly stepped for- ward, and the next instant he was tapping the youth upon the shoulder. “Pardon me, but I am Colonel Appleby,” he said, in the most courteous tone. “You mentioned my name just now. Did you wish to see me?” The young man turned instantly, with an exclamation of joy. “You bet I want to see you!” he said, with agrin. “I am Alberte Jackson, and I’ve got a letter of introduction from my adopted father, Captain Hobart Canfield, President of the O., I. and C. Railroad. He told me to look you up and present his regards, and— well, of course, he expected you’d do the handsome and introduce me to the Presi- dent.” The colonel laughed at the youth’s frank manner, and at the same time he shook hands with the greatest cordiality. “Delighted, I’ta sure,” he began, but the young man rattled on. He was anxious to introduce his father’s friend to his two com- panions. - “Pop’s told me all about you,” he said, with great satisfaction, “but he’ll be sur- prised to hear that you are not as gray as he is, but I say, ain’t this a jam? TI am almost as flat as a flounder! Nearly everybody in the world must be in Washington to-day, sir!” “Not quite all,” was the reply, but it was uttered a bit vacantly, for the colonel] was al- most staring at the beautiful “field daisy.” “Oh, I forgot to tell you that my present vocation is that of a fake actor,” went on the young man, affably. “I’m playing comedy parts with the Temple Theatrical Company, the greatest combination on earth. and now, if you'll allow me, I’ll present you to our star, Miss Marlowe, and to Miss Allyn, our ‘leading heavy.’ ” This time the colonel’s smile was wide- awake and pointed, and he greeted the ladies in a courtly manner, his eyes hardly moving from the beautiful face of the star actress. “The rest of our company is stranded somewhere in the crowd,’ continued the young man, “but we won't bother to look for them—they'll take care of themselves, and we'll meet them at the New Willard after the inaugural ceremonies.”’ Colonel Hinckley had been doing a bit of rapid thinking in the minute that had passed and he was already congratulating himself on the success of the heroic measures that he had adopted. As his rival had said, a little jealousy was sometimes effective. The thought had barely flashed through his mind before he was of- fering his arm to Marion. ‘Permit me, please,” he said, in his softest tones. “My carriage will join me at the Congressional Library, and as the street be- fore the Capitol will be kept fairly clear, we may be able to drive past and so catch a glimpse of the Presidential party on the porch of the building.” “Oh, how perfectly delightful!’ cried Mar- ion, happily. “But are we not imposing upon your hospitality, Colonel Appleby?” she added, quickly. A glance of ardent admiration accom- panied the gentleman’s low answer: then the man who was masquerading under the name of another, led them into B and around to the library. street, Not once did Marion or Bert dream that they were being deceived, even though they found no carriage waiting at the library. “Just run in and take a look at the build- ing,” their escort said to them, jovially. “You'll find it worth looking at, and you can join me when you are ready. No doubt the crowds in the street have delayed the car- riage.”’ | As soon as they were gone, the colonel acted quickly, and ten minutes later there was a handsome carriage at the foot of the broad stone steps, in which the pseudo Col- onel Appleby was calmly sitting. EOMIIGIOOKS (CO)