Marion Marlowe in Cleveland, or, The Mystery of the Red Rose — page 23: what you’re looking at

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the rest, there would not have been any trouble.” “What do you want with Miss Marlowe?” asked Mr. Temple, curiously. “State your message at once, or it will be the worse for 33 you. The fellow mumbled something in an un- intelligible language, but finally succeeded in extracting a note from his pocket. Mr. Temple read it, and gave a whistle of surprise. “Jerusalem! The fellow says he has been here two evenings, but, because he knew he was being watched, he did not wear the red rose. He trusted to Miss Marlowe’s heart to pick him out among the audience.” “Then this is not the fellow?” said the detective; ‘this is only another of his dupes, like the one we captured!” “T give it up! You had better take him along, anyway, to be on the safe side,” said Mr. Temple. “I'll make a complaint against him for disorderly conduct.” He handed the note to the detective, for him to study the handwriting, and, in a few minutes, the fellow was led away and the theatre was in darkness. Mr. Temple went to his hotel, feeling greatly disturbed. It was evident to him that the masher had not given up his project, and, just now, when the city was so filled with the blood-thirsty . element, it was more than possible that he would carry out his intentions. He glanced over the papers the next morn- ing, to see if any fresh horrors had been committed, and found that there had been rioting all night, and that many people had been injured. “We must be extra vigilant to-night,” he said, as Dr. Brookes called upon him. nA | am thankful it is our last night, and I mean that nothing shall happen. We've had good business so far, in spite of the disturbances in the city.” “We'll have a said the doctor, as he opened his “Miss Allyn’s pen has done some good work, Shes a daisy, [ tell you, at writing catchy advertisements.” He folded the paper as he spoke, and point- ed to a half column, with a scare-head above good house to-night, all right,” morning paper. QUEEN. it, that would have done credit to any printer. “She’s let it be known that Miss Mar- lowe’s life has been threatened, but she hasn’t lisped a wogd of any danger to the theatre!” “And the people will all flock to see the beautiful girl whose fate rests in the hands of ‘loon mashers,’” laughed Mr. Temple. ‘They are sufficiently morbid to wish to gaze upon her face, knowing that there is a bare possibility of her being blown to atoms to-morrow !”’ The doctor shuddered at his companion’s words, although he understood perfectly the spirit in which they were spoken. “It is a clever ‘ad.,’ but it gives me cold shivers,” he said, honestly. “Miss Marlowe has been through so many hairbreadth es- capes! God forbid that there is so much as a possibility of her going through another!’ ‘Amen to that!” murmured Mr. Temple, growing serious in a minute. “If there is anything dreadful to happen to Miss Mar- lowe, I hope that I may not live to see it.” Both men turned involuntarily, and a warm handclasp followed. They were united, heart and soul, in their regard for Marion. CHAPTER X. A CON‘FESSION. When the actors assembled behind the scenes on the third night of their stay in Cleveland, there was not one of their number who was not a little nervous. Extra detect- ives had been hired, and every attaché was on his guard; yet there was a feeling among them all that something still might happen, “Why, all that fellow has to do is change his clothes every night and omit the rose,” said Miss Ellis, excitedly. “‘There’s no one in the house that could pick him out. Oh, it gives me chills just to think about it.” “Well, I’m glad John is back on the door,” broke in Miss Leslie. ‘‘He’s on the warpath for those fellows now, and Mr. Temple tells me that one of the other men is to stay with him.” “Yes: his arm is not well yet,” said Marion, softly. ‘‘Poor John, it will be a week or more before that wound stops paining him” Eomicbooks : Eom _ 4