Marion Marlowe's Cleverness, or, Exposing a Bold Fraud — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. 3 As he spoke his manly face lighted up with a radiant smile. He touched the spring in his watch and held it out toward his companion. There was an exclamation of admiration as his friend bent forward and discovered a tiny miniature in the heavy gold case. It was the picture of a beautiful young girl, her face as sweet as an angel’s. “Beautiful !’’ murmured Arden, holding it close to his eyes. “And it has gone so far as that! She has given you her picture!” “No, indeed!” said Everett, promptly, with a little laugh. “She gave the picture to my sis- ter and I confiscated it, old fellow, on the ground that ‘all is fair in love and war, and because I knew if I didn’t get it that way I ~ never would in any other.” “What! your case is not hopeless?” cried Arden in dismay. “As much so as yours,I fear,” said Everett, sadly. “Miss Marlowe is my friend, but she does not love me.” | Edmund Arden repeated the name ab- sently. - ‘ “Her name is Marion Marlowe,” said Howard Everett, “and she is the sweetest, tru- est, bravest and noblest girl in creation!” It was Arden’s turn to reach for his hand. “Shake, old fellow,” he said, grimly, “TI see you know how it 1s! have a bite at the club, then I will tell you the plan that I have in mind whereby I mean to avenge the wrongs of my old-time sweet- heart.” “I am with you heart and soul,” said the critic, cordially, as he put the treasured pic- ture back in his pocket. “When a woman’s welfare is at stake you can always count on me. I love them all, bless them, but it is only because of Marion.”’ 3 _ There was no reply for the space of a min- ute, then the cab stopped at the address which the musician had given. CHAPTER ii. A STARTLING BIT OF INFORMATION. “T’ll omit my own feelings in the matter, cid fellow,” said Arden, as soon as they were seated in the club cafe, “and will just tell you the outline of the work I have in hand, for I have. sworn to avenge Adrienne, the girl I Now, come; we'll. love—I am going to rid society or the world of her miserable husband, and then try to sweeten her life a little in the future.” He raised a glass of wine to his lips and then set it down untasted. A glass of water was brought and he drained it feverishly. “Listen,” he went on. “Did you ever come in contact with a viper, Everett ?—a real, slip- pery, slimy creature of the gutter!—a filthy, uncanny mongrel that preys upon and under- mines society! Well, I have—that fellow that I speak of is one. He is a human mon- ster—and he comes naturally by it! IJ’ll not say much about the other, the woman. Neither of us is in the mood to discuss the lowest specimens of the most lovable sex. I'll just confine my remarks to this despicable specimen of humanity—this creature who robs and cheats on principle, and wrecks the lives of the innocent for amusement.” © There was another glass of watér drained, then Edmund Arden hurried a little with his Story. - “He was a gambler when I met him, but of course I did not know it. He tricked me at cards and I put a bullet into him. Then he used my name too freely in the London clubs, and I gave him a horsewhipping. He retaliated by circulating false stories about me in Paris, and by poisoning the mind of my adored one against me, and then marry- ing her—for what purpose ?—to torture me further by forcing me to stand by helplessly and watch him abuse her!’ The feverish light was shining in Arden’s eyes, and he seemed to be suffering excruci- ating agony. “Think!” he cried hoarsely. “How would you feel, Everett, if you were in my place? Suppose she, Miss Marlowe, this girl whom you adore, were to be put in such a position before you!” “It would drive me mad!” said Everett, al- most springing to his feet; “but do hurry and tell me where the scoundrel is! Who is he and how can I help you to punish him?” It was Arden’s turn to exercise self-con- trol now, for he had succeeded in filling his friend with the fiercest indignation. An ugly sneer crossed over his face. “He is here in the city—has been seen at some of the so-called ‘social functions.’ Of COMICHOOKS.€O©