Marion Marlowe's Escape, or, A Dangerous Mistake on the Road — page 28: what you’re looking at

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CHAPTER XII. RETRIBUTION. When the final curtain was rung down, every member of the company was on the stage, and only Marion knew that a tragedy had been almost enacted. Mr. Temple’s face was radiant with satis- faction, and, as he confronted his company, he smiled at them gratefully. ‘‘l owe you a lot of thanks for the way you have faced this ordeal to-night,’ he said, brokenly. “No company of trained profes- sionals could have acted better under such exciting circumstances.” “Oh, we are a corking combination,” laughed Bert Jackson, promptly; “warranted to meet all comers and be in two places at once! By jove! we came near doing that last this evening, Temple!” “That’s pretty. nearly right!’ remarked Dr. Brookes, with a glance at Marion. “Tt am sure we are on the straight road to feme,” said Mrs. Burnside. “The success of our first night certainly indicates it, Mr. Temple!” “Yes, and we'll go straight through without stopping, if Marion keeps on advertising us as. she has to-day,” broke in Bert. “Why, do you know, when I found her in that house where her rescuers had taken her, the first words she said were, ‘Bert, we mustn't keep the stage waiting! If there’s a train to Co- hoes to-night, I'm going to take it!” “Hurrah, for Miss Marlowe!” yelled one of the “supes.” “That was just like her!’ chimed in Miss Allyn. “Why, she’d think of others if she was being roasted alive, I guess!” “Oh, that is carrying it too far, Alma,” eaid Marion, laughingly; “but I must admit | was dreadfully anxious over the result of this tour! Why, will you believe it, I was planning something positively desperate in the way of an ‘ad’ when that awful thing hap- pened and saved me the trouble.” “When will Preston be tried?” Dr. Brookes asked the question abruptly. Mr. Temple glanced at Miss Lee instinct- ively as he answered: “T shall take Miss Marlowe to Albany in the morning to make her complaint. The rest of you can go on, and J will meet you at Schenectady.” “Qh, Miss Marlowe! What will you say? Will you accuse him of attempted murder F’ Miss Lee asked the question with an invol- untary gasp of horror. | “Tr she does it will be a good thing for Pearl Lee!” spoke up Dick Hinton, the “Haven't you had you, calcium man, excitedly. MY QUEEN. enough of his treachery, I’d like to know? Why, he’s done nothing but ill treat you, ever since you met him in Arizona!” Miss Lee turned in amazement. The mys- tery was solved now. She knew who had told Percy Preston’s secret. ‘Do you wish me to save him 2?” Marion asked the question curiously. Pearl Lee fixed her eyes upon Marion’s face. She was for the moment utterly ob- livious to the presence of others. “IT do! Oh, I do, Miss Marlowe!” she’ cried, brokenly. “He is a villain, I know, but I am weak and I love him!” “You poor, poor child!” As Marion spoke, she went over and put her arms about her. “Well, I am not weak, dear, and I thank, Heaven that I am not! For the wrong that he has done you, rather than the wrong he has done me, I swear right here that I shall not spare him; he shall have his deSerts at the hands of justice!” 7 But when Marion faced Percy Preston the next morning in the jail at Albany she was spared the unpleasantness of making her accusation. The actor had been delirious the entire night, and, at the first glimpse of her face, he burst out in a fury. | “Take her away!” he shouted, with his eyes glowing like fire. “Take her away! She is dead—drowned in the water—and I killed her!” There was no one to pacify him, and they led her away. Out of his own lips he stood | accused. He thought himself guilty of murder. The news of the tragedy had swept over the country now, and Marion’s reception at_ Schenectady rivaled the one at Cohoes. : Howard Everett’s duties as advance agent were over, and the whole company thanked him gratefully when they parted. After the doctor’s first night in the leading role, no one dreamed of suggesting a change of actors. He was so handsome and so talented that he made an excellent opposite for Marion, and his love scenes were so perfect that the audiences were astonished. No one but Marion's dearest friends knew how well this part suited the handsome doc- tor. and, if she blushed a little deeper at his ardent words than was absolutely necessary, the fact occasioned nothing but satisfactory comment, “Of course, he loves her; why shouldn't he?” Bert said to Mr. Temple, when the subject was broached, “Why, the man doesn't live who wouldn't love Marion!” “T guess that is right,” was the honest Eomichooksncom 3 —