Marion Marlowe's Cleverness, or, Exposing a Bold Fraud — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. _ 5 explain just what his intentions were in the express his admiration of Marion Marlowe. matter. To him she was “My Queen. “You see, she is absolutely alone here in Little did these two friends dream what New York,” he said, sadly, “and she is so was to follow their planning, or how import- young and beautiful that, naturally, she at- ant a part this fair girl was to play in the tracts a great deal of attention. You'd be ~ desperate game of entrapping a villain. surprised, Arden, to know what awful eee scrapes she has been in already! It was in CHAPTER TIT. the hopes of inducing her relatives to protect A DREADFUL DEED AT THE NORWOOD, her that I cultivated their acquaintance.” | _ “But do'they need any urging?” asked “Well, of all the strange things that ever Arden, in surprise. “Surely a beautiful girl happened, I do believe that this is the strang- like that needs no other recommendation!”’ est !”’ Everett shrugged his shoulders and a sneer “Dear me, Marion! What is the matter? crossed his features. Why, you are positively pale, and your eyes “The Stantons arewhat we call‘stuck up,’” are shining like diamonds!” he said, grimly, “and, as I said, poor Marion “Oh, Alma, .listert! It js a letter from has been in a number of adventures, yet she Mr. Everett. You know he lives at the Nor- was never to blame in the very least, and al- wood, where my mother’s sister, Aunt Susan, * ways came out triumphant and victorious. has lived ever since she was married to Mr. But you know what shoddy society people Frederic Stanton. Well, it seems he has cul- are,” he said, smiling. “Well, Frederic Stan- tivated their acquaintance of late, and for ton is so ‘shoddy’ that you can see straight some reason or other he has been telling through him.” them about me, and the strange thing is that “Must come of mighty poor stock—the they wish to see me!” nephew proves that!—a conglomeration of “Well, I don’t see anything so remarkable English and Italian!” said Arden, quickly. about that,” said Alma Allyn, smiling. “Any _ Just then the cbject of their remarks rose one who had a grain of sense would want from the table where he was sitting, and with to see you, Marion, and of course it is only a haughty nod here and there, passed out into natural that your relatives should have some the vestibule. - interest in your direction.” “Now I breathe easier,” said Arden, with “Oh, Alma you are such a flatterer!” cried a heavy sigh. “When I am in the presence Marion, laughing; “but do be serious and I of that man [I feel like a murderer!” will read you the letter.” “Tell me your plan, old fellow!” said The two friends were seated in Miss Mar- Everett, quickly. lowe’s room at the Hotel Rosedale, and both For the next half hour the two friends had, were laughing and chatting in gay good hu- their heads together; then as they rose from mor, when a bell boy brought the astonishing the table Edmund Arden said softly: letter. 3 “And you think she is clever enough to Marion Marlowe was far the more beauti- help us, Everett ?” ful of the two, but Miss Allyn made up in “Clever? Well I should say so!’ was the - style and brilliancy for what she lacked in decided reply “I shall write to Miss Mar- actual beauty. lowe to-morrow without fail and you shall Marion was only seventeen, while Miss Al- see for yourself how clever she is! Why, lyn was twenty-five, but the young cirl was there is no game too deep or too dangerous not only tall and large for her age, but she for that young girl once you let her see that had rare tact and judgment in all important it is for some noble purpose!” matters. “She must be a queen among women!” The two had been devoted friends ever said his friend, almost reverently. since they met, a few months before, and each Howard Everett smiled, but did not answer. shared her confidences freely with the other. There were no words in which he could fitly “Well, here it is,” said Marion, glancing ECOMICOXOOKS. CO