Marion Marlowe in Buffalo, or, Betrayed by a Rival Company — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

22 They had heard nothing of Marion since Mr. Temple received the telegram, except a rumor in the village that she had been seen since the tragedy. . “I have wired to every point up the river,” Mr. Temple was just saying, when he caught sight of the Alhambra. He had left it with closed doors—now it was open and lighted. “She’s safe! I know it!” Bert fairly yelled the words the moment he saw the building. Then there was a rush for the the- atre that made the passersby wonder. As they came directly in front of the en- trance all three of the gentlemen stopped short and stared. Some one, they could not. guess who, had effected a miracle. There was a crowd around the box office, and the lobby was filled with people, and, as they looked on, almost in bewilderment, the doctor suddenly made a discovery. | “Look! They’ve got out a bulletin-board!” he cried, as he pointed to an enormous Dlack- . board that had been rigged directly under the electric lights; and then he proceeded to read cfl what was written on it in big letters. “Marion Marlowe Is Here and Not at the Palace ! Tragedy of the Rapids!” “Great Scott! And here we’ve been think- ing it was she! Come on, quick, doc, to the stage door!” shouted Bert, hilariously. “I'll just have a look at the other theatre first,’ was the doctor’s answer. “I’m curi- ous to-know what effect this is having on them. I am sure now that Marion is safe! Thank God, the suspense is over!” He hurried away, while Mr. Temple rushed inside. His man smiled at him from the box- office window in a satisfied manner. Bob Hinton, the calcium-man, was just coming out as Mr. Temple entered the auditorium. There was a grin on his face, also, as he tipped his hat to the manager, “Cee! but Miss Marlowe is a corker!” he said, under his breath. ‘““Why, she came in here like a whirlwind ten minutes ago, and just by luck she found some of us in the lobby. Well, the way she gave orders would have made your hair stand on end, and—well, the theatre will tell you how well we obeyed her !”’ “Thank our star has a_ business heaven She Will Tell You To-night the MY QUEEN, head!” was the answer. “Why, I thought first that she had deserted us, and then that she was dead; and here she was all the time attending to my business!” “She’s been bossing me around, all right,” said the stage-manager, as he came up; “but everything is O. K. The orchestra can start in a minute.’ Mr. Temple rushed out again and gavé a few orders. The house was filling rapidly, so there was little for him to do. A minute later he had gone around to the stage door and_was in the scerte-room with the stage-carpenter and scene-shifters. “Oh, Mr. Temple! What do you think of my ability as a stage-manager?” called out a sweet voice from the head of the narrow stairs that led to the dressing-rooms. Mr. Temple could not answer for the space of a second, but he bounded up the stairs and caught Marion’s two hands in a grateful clasp. ; “Oh, Miss Marlowe! had deserted me!” As he spoke the words he pulled the tele- gram from his pocket and held it under a gas-jet, where she could read it. In an instant the fair girl’s face was crim- son with anger. She took the bit of yellow paper and glared at it furiously. “I'll pay him up for that ” she began, and then stopped suddenly. “Rose sent that message, Mr. Temple,’ she went on, more quietly ; “and, furthermore, the fellow sent it And I thought you - after I had scorned his offer. But he has been punished for his sin, the poor, unfortunate fellow !” | Mr. Temple looked at her inquiringly, and Marion whispered a few words of explana- tion: then, before he could reply, she was obliged to change the subject. There was something else that he must know at once—a detail of her “business man- aging” that would surprise him considerably. “T have hired their ‘Marion Marlowe,’ ” she whisperedy cautiously. “They really had one, you knéw, but she was only a mimic. I thought it was the best way to outwit them completely.” Mr. Temple looked at the radiant face im st- lent admiration. It was a clever move, and he appreciated it keenly. Eomicboo! CS ——E eS ee