Marion Marlowe Entrapped, or, The Victim of Professional Jealousy — page 20: what you’re looking at

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18 make up for lost time and tell each other everything.” “TI haven’t saeh to tell, * was Marion’s quick answer; “only Carlotta hates me and is trying to make tfouble for me, and I can't help feeling that she is going to be successful,” “She’s a bad woman, from all accounts,” said Miss Allyn, shortly; “for, besides being divorced from her husband, she is Clayton Graham’s mistress—and not a very faithful cne, either, according to rumor.” “How perfectly awful,” said Marion, gasp- “and to think that I, went home with her one night in the hope of making a mg, friend of her.” Miss Allyn looked at her with an inquir- quiring glance, and Marion made haste to tell her all about it. “You were lucky to get out so®easily,” she said, when fhe story was finished. “I wouldn’t trust that woman the length of my nose. Why I believe she’d knife a person if she got very angry.” “Well, now tell me your news,” said Mar- ion, quickly. ant taste out of my mind as soon as pos- sible.” “My news will make your heart go pit- a-pat, Marion,” said Miss Allyn, laughing, “for I saw your devoted admirer, Dr. Regi- nald Brookes, to-day, and he fairly loaded me down with tender messages for you.” “Why didn’t he bring them himself?” asked Marion, slyay. “Couldn't,” said Miss Allyn. his ears in business. You know he only down from the Prison Hospital yes- and to-day he was around looking “Te’s up to came terday, up an office.” “T suppose he'll be up to-morrow, then?” “T shall be gald to said Marion, dreamily. see him, for he will bring all the news from the Island.” MY QUEEN. "on one corner only to bump into it on an- “T want to get that unpleas- mischief at Miss Allyn’s suggestion, but she #2 » “It is like getting a message from Hades, isn't it, Marion?” asked Miss Allyn, shiv- ering. “Some way I always had a horror — of Blackwell’s Island!” : “Well, there,” quite concentrated up “but » there is an advantage in that which we don’t have here in the city.” | - % “No, that’s so,” said Miss Allyn, promptly ; “it is badly scattered here. vice 1S F 4 ° aae said her companion, smiling, You dcdge it Oh, the crooks and the’ criminals . are: not all on the Island by any means! But don’t you wish to hear any of the doc- S There’s one that I'm sure will be very pleasant.” “What is it?” asked Marion, striving hard not to show her eagerness. 3 ; other. tor’s messages, Marion? ’ “T have a great notion not to tell you, . said Miss Allyn. “But here it is: Dr. Brookes is taking music les- sons. He thinks he will study for. the op- eratic stage, and has an ome syste all of | Miss Indifference,” a sudden for comic opera.” Marion burst out laughing as Mie Alon finished. 4 “You are surely joking, Alma,” sae se 7 claimed, her cheeks glowing. ‘‘What do you mean by telling such stories?” “Tt’s the Gospel truth,” said Miss Allyn, “A few months ago he was des- chuckling. perately interested in the sick people on Blackwell’s Island; now he is possessed with — an insane desire to go into comic opera. Why, Marion, I’ll bet a quarter that if you | started a dressmaking establishment, Dr. Rear Brookes would learn to do fine sewing.” The flush on Marion’s cheek had deep- ened steadily and her eyes sparkled with could hardly believe that the doctor was quite so badly smitten as her friend’s re- marks would indicate, and she was greatly surprised at his neweve;sh¥o oyovo) Seo in)