Marion Marlowe's Escape, or, A Dangerous Mistake on the Road — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

Seat. hd s - « hma~ ' i? *. 2) ot « MY QUEEN. 5 awaited her in the future—something that would in all probability surpass all her pre- vious adventures. CHAPTER II. BERTS PLAIN STATEMENT. Bert Jackson was the first to recover from the spell cast over them by Marion’s words. Bert was irrepressible ; nothing could dampen his spirits for more than a minute. “There will not be any tragedies in this trip, unless we make them ourselves,’ he said, laughing, “and, as things stand now, there is no danger of that. Why, Dr. Brookes is the ‘villain,’ and we all know he 1s harm- less; and, so far, there is nobody even jeal- ous, although of course that’s because we haven’t got acquainted yet! Why, I expect to be the object of a dozen affections soon. Then it’s very probable that the atmosphere will be a trifle squally !” There was a general laugh at Bert’s con- ceit, but he was so frank in his admission that no one dreamed of taking him seriously. “T expect to be your first victim,” said Miss Ellis, mischievously. She was a pleasant-looking girl and a very jolly member of the company, as well as a clever, all-around little actress. “Preston isn’t saying a word,’ remarked Bert, turning to the “leading man” of the company. “He's been sitting there ever since the train started, with his gaze fixed on Miss Marlowe’s face, as though he wanted to eat her. Havea sandwich, old man, and perhaps it will take the edge off! As the chaperone and general custodian of the company, I must protect the members!” “Oh, Bert! How can you shocked tone from Marion. {?? came in a Percy Preston scowled and looked out of the window, but Alma Allyn came to the res- cue in her usual breezy manner. “Mr. Preston likes peaches and cream as well as you do, Bert,” she said, promptly ; “and being a man of taste, he naturally likes to look at Marion. Oh, I’ll wager we'll have tragedies enough if you don’t curb that tongue of yours, young man! Why, don't you know that it doesn’t always do to be too observing ?” “Beg pardon for living!’ remarked Bert, cbligingly. “Sorry I mistook Preston’s ad- miration for hunger, but, between you and me, Marion is out of sight, isn’t she? Why, everybody in the car is staring at her!” “Then they ought to have a lesson in man- ners,’ said Miss Allyn, promptly, as she taised the little girl in her lap so that she could look out of the window. “How wiggley the car goes,” observed the “It makes my head bob around awful funny, Miss Allyn. Oh, child, very sedately. mamma, do look at that big fat man wiv the wiskers !”’ “Hush, Ruby!’ whispered her mother. But she had spoken too late; every person in the car had heard her and was laughing. The “big fat man with the whiskers” joined in the laugh, and the next moment he was beckoning to Ruby to come and sit with him. The child gave a quick look at her mother and then slid down from Miss Allyn’s lap. “There! I told you so!” cried Bert. ‘‘The tragedies are beginning! The ‘big fat man _with the whiskers’ has won Ruby’s young affections, no doubt with one eye upon Ruby’s mother. That means that I had bet- ter get on my war-paint and feathers at once, and get after that old fellow’s scalp—I mean his whiskers.” “Be careful, Jackson! That may be the Mayor of Cohoes!’’ whispered Mr. Temple, softly. “Don’t rile him up, my boy, or he might queer our show. Remember, we play a one-night stand in nearly every village in creation, so it won’t do to be taking chances with the natives.” GOMIIGIOOKSEEOn