Marion Marlowe's Escape, or, A Dangerous Mistake on the Road — page 12: what you’re looking at

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10 know anything about the dressing-rooms at the Oneida? Bill, here, says that the star’s accommodations are about the size of a dry- goods box, and I was just wondering how Miss Marlowe would be apt to take it!” “Miss Marlowe differs from some stars in I that particular,’ was the manager’s answer. “She'll adapt herself to circumstances while That’s the beauty of having a star without a ‘swelled head.’ ladies in this company, Palmer!” she’s on the road, like the rest of us. There'll be no scrapping among the “That lets me out,” answered the stage- manager, laughing. “I can stand almost any- thing but those dressing-room rows! Why, the girls in my last road company nearly !>? drove me crazy Mr. Temple rose from his seat and went to his still smoking and staring out of the window. stage-manager, leaving “Preston If he could have guessed his leading man’s thoughts he would have been amazed, but there was nothing in the gloomy face that save him an inkling of them. But Percy Preston was turning over in his mind what the manager had said. He was as deeply and desperately in love with Miss Marlowe as it was possible for a man of his nature to be, and he had not hesitated to demonstrate that fact during the week of rehearsing. Thiis far in his life he had allowed nothing to thwart his wishes, particularly if those wishes were directed toward the favor of a woman, and just now, although he ‘was fac- ing a dangerous experiment, he did not in- tend that his plans should be frustrated. How much the manager knew, or whether he knew anything at all, he could not de- cide; but one thing was certain, Bert Jackson was on his track—his words had proved that fact conclusively. Now the question was, how much had he discovered ? The more he brooded over it the uglier MY QUEEN. and more determined he grew. His nature was one that could not brook defeat, and long before his cigar was finished he was fairly beside himself with fury. Whatever Bert knew, he was sure to tell it. He must be silenced at once—even if it lad to be done by desperate measures. CHAPTER IV. THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE. While Bert was waiting for their supper, he put on his hat and strolled out on the rear piatform. ~~ He was a great admirer of scenery, and it was his first trip up the Hudson. Although the day had been mild, the sky | was almost lead-colored. The sun, however, was beginning to peep through, near the Lorizon. en As he stood enjoying the sunset he was joined by the calcium man, Dick Hinton, who had come into the parlor car in search of the manager. “See here, Jackson, you are not going to get me into trouble by repeating that yarn that I told you in New York, are you?” he began the moment he saw him. “T was two- ‘thirds ‘jagged,’ or I wouldn't have told it. Preston wouldn't do a thing to me if he thought I ever knew it!” “But it is true, you said,” replied Bert, with a sharp glance, “If it is true, why do | you care what Preston thinks about it?” “He'll queer me with the manager if he finds out that I know him,” said Hinton, sul- lenly, “The story was true, all right. I don’t lie, even when I’m in liquor. Preston is the man I knew as Frank Percy way out in Ari- yona. He was a tough and a crook, as well as an actor, and now he’s got the nerve to be sweetening on Miss Marlowe!” “He can’t help that, and it won't hurt her,” said Bert, quickly. “Miss Marlowe can take care of herself, all right, or, if she can’t, Boulogne ad