Marion Marlowe in Buffalo, or, Betrayed by a Rival Company — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

‘“T’'m off this minute,” cried Bert, as he started for the station; then he happened to think of something and turned back for a minute. “By the way, Mr. Temple, |] don't like that fellow, Jones! He's as two-faced as they make! I wish you would keep your eye On him, if you see him around the city.” Mr. Temple looked at him questioningly ; so Bert explained what Marion had told him about the two camera fiends and how reluct- ant Jones had been in coming to her assist- ance. “As like as not he’s in with the other cém- pany,” said Mr. Temple, quickly. “I know next to nothing about him, except that he is a very fair actor. The first good ‘supe’ I ever saw whose head ‘didn’t swell the minute he was given a part. I had been Pomerat genine: _ myself that Jones was a treasure.” - “Well, all treasures should be guarded, 4 said Bert, very sagely; “but now I’m off to hunt up Marion!” “There’s a train in ten minutes!” called Mr. Temple after him, but Bert was already so far away that he did not hear him. CHAPTER VII. A HIDEOUS MESSAGE. _ Mr. Temple was still standing near the box office of the Alhambra, wondering what he could do next to increase the advance sales, : q when a boy in messenger’s uniform came in and handed him an envelope. He tore it open with a look of indifference ; then an exclamation burst from his lips and _ he carefully re-read the message. _ “Have decided to accept offer made me by _ Mr. Rose to-day at Niagara.” | The telegram was signed simply, “Marion __ Marlowe.” oe = Mr. Temple gasped. It had come to him like a thunderbolt. So Ripple had been Tight; the three hundred had bribed her! In less than five minutes Mr. Temple had ordered the box office closed and, without esc so much as a word of explanation, started et to find the members of his com- ay. Nv the exception of the property man, penser and one “supe,” there was not ‘« _o 4 , —- % me a ¥ % a & p * oe | _ a! MY QUEEN. - one of them to be found in Buffalo. 15 The nearness of the famous waterfall had tempted them to Niagara. As he passed the Palace Theatre, the man- ager saw, with chagrin, that Rippel and Rose were still selling seats rapidly and, walking up to one of the theatre attaches, whom he saw standing on the pavement, he tried to say as indifferently as possible: “Can you tell me if the Rippel and Rose Company have ar- rived, afd at what hotel they are stopping?” The fellow looked up at him with a know- ing grin. “Yep; jest come % he said, good-naturedly ; “and they’ve got her, as sure as shooting. Deucedly pretty girl, too, that Miss Marion Marlowe!” Mr. Temple walked on. It did not seem possible. In a few minutes he began won- dering what Bert Jackson would say when he saw Marion's telegram. appointment to him to lose his star, particu- larly to such a third-class combination as that of his rivals. But, strangely enough, he did not doubt the genuineness of the telegram. In spite of all he knew of Marion, he did not understand her. She had gone over to the enemy: he believed that absolutely. There was nothing more now for him to do at the theatre. It was impossible to secure an actress to take Marion’s place at that hour, so he started for the telegraph office, in order to engage. one to join him as soon as possible. Of course, he could have substituted Miss Ellis, but his pride would not allow it. He had advertised Miss Marlowe as his principal attraction, and it seemed to him wiser to take his defeat squarely, rather than to stoop to subterfuge and apologies to the public. Just as he reached the telegraph office a dozen or more boys came tumbling out. In an instant he saw that something unusual had happened. Catching one of the blue-coated urchins by the shoulder, he stopped him quickly. : “What's the matter, sonny? on fire?” he asked, pleasantly. “Lemme go! Don’t see I’m in a hurry?” bawled the boy, excitedly; then he suddenly changed his mind and halted long Is the town you It was a bitter dis- enough to answer. GOnmiG 6)(0)(6) SS EO)