Marion Marlowe's Escape, or, A Dangerous Mistake on the Road — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

8 MY QUEEN. was only joking! You don’t understand him yet! Bert would never dream of hurting any one’s feelings!’ “IT am not so sure,’ said the soubrette, quickly. “He made Preston as mad as a hor- net, and he'll live to regret it! Percy has an ugly temper when any one arouses it.” pretty well, I should judge,” remarked Miss Ellis, slyly. “Oh, fairly well! I couldn’t be six months in the company with him and not know some- thing about him, could I?” asked Miss Lee, promptly. “You know him “But it’s a mystery to me what He looked straight at me, so I am sure he meant something.” Mr. Jackson meant. “T guess not,” said Miss Ellis, vaguely, and then she stopped talking. She was just honest enough herself to look for honesty in others, but she had looked in vain for this trait in her companion. The very tones of Pearl Lee’s voice told plainly that she was lying. “Off again!” cried Bert, coming back into the car; “and supper is on the way, so don’t despair, Marion.” | Percy Preston and Mr. Temple were right behind him. passed on through the forward cars to the The actor did not sit down, but smoker. “Come and have a cigar, Jackson!” called the manager, pleasantly. “Thanks, I don’t smoke!” said Bert, as he dropped into the chair facing Marion, “I’m possessor of almost every other vice you might mention, but smoking is the limit— it’s a heathenish practice; gives me the hypo and jim-jams every time I think of it!” The manager laughed and went on without him. He was just a little puzzled by this new acquisition to his company. “Oneer sort of chap,” he said to Preston, when he joined him, “They tell me he is an orphan, brought up on a ‘poor farm, and only lately adopted by a very wealthy gen- tieman.” “They might better have left him on the poor farm,” said Preston, hotly. ‘“He’s an impudent puppy and bound to make trouble, Lemple Manager Temple gave his leading man a sharp glance from under his brows. He was considerably disturbed by the recent unpleas- antness. “Pshaw! What trouble can he make?” he asked, indifferently. “He’s not favored by Miss Marlowe, and she’s the bright particu- lar star in your horizon, Preston; so what does it matter what he says about the others?” “Oh, it doesn’t matter, only it’s annoying,” said the actor, with a shrug of his shoulders. “Of course, I know that he is not my worst — enemy. Dr. Brookes is in love with Miss Marlowe, and he’s rich and a gentleman. Not much hope for a poor actor on a salary, eh, Temple?” He glanced keenly at the manager as he spoke, but Mr. Temple evaded him. He had turned his head and was looking out of the window. “Marion Marlowe is not a moth to ‘be caught by glare,’”’ he said, slowly. as true as steel to the noble impulses of her nature. When she honors a man with her love it will not be because he is rich. She is the bravest, the sweetest and the noblest girl I know of!” The squarely now. actor turned and looked at him “So I have another competitor in the field, [ see!” he said, quickly. “Oh, well, ‘misery loves company’! I don’t mind you, Temple t Furthermore, I don’t seem to object to the doctor; but that whipper-snapper from the poor farm—well, I'd like to annihilate him at once, and completely!” “Well, that is easily done,” said the man- “She is com GDOOKS (E(0) a ee tlle