Marion Marlowe in Cleveland, or, The Mystery of the Red Rose — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

—— the audience who sports a red rose. It is the safest way, apparently, to save the roof of the theatre.” Mrs. Burnside was still scanning the letter attentively, and, as Miss Ellis spoke, she drew an envelope from her pocket. ’ “Tt’s the same writing, exactly,” she said, as she handed the two letters to Miss Allyn; “only my anonymous friend signs himself a _*Saver of the Innocent.’ ”’ Miss Allyn opened Mrs. Burnside’s letter, and read the contents aloud. “Be WARNED! KEEP LITTLE RuBY AWAY FROM THE ARCANUM’ THE THIRD NIGHT. Tr RED ROSE FAILS, ALL WILL BE DESOLA- TION!” The words were in capitals and under- scored, There was no mistaking the fact that they were both by the same writer. Even Miss Ellis looked concerned at this double warning, but Marion recovered herself promptly, as she thrust both letters into her pocket. “I'll keep them a while, if you don’t mind, Mrs. Burnside,” she said. “I can’t say that I have any premonition of evil, but I am free to confess that those letters sound omi- nous.” | “Oh, Marion! I have an inspiration,” cried Miss Allyn, suddenly. the newspaper business for nothing. Let me take those letters and have them published ! It will be a splendid ‘ad,’ and, perhaps, will boom business !”’ “As if any one would come—especially on the ‘third night,” Ellis. “Surely, no one would care to go to heaven by such rapid transit.” “T haven’t been in laughed Miss “We'll leave it to Bert Jackson!” cried Miss Allyn, as she heard a familiar knock on the door. “Let Bert in, Miss Ellis, and we’ll put the matter before him. The question is: Shall we annihilate the crank who wrote the —- MY QUEEN. 3 mash note, or shall we use his effusions to , ’ enhance the halo of Marion’s glory ?” Before any one could answer, a young man entered. He had a handsome, manly face, and was carrying in his hand a bunch of . roses for Marion. “Gee whiz! What’s up? Is this a star chamber session?’ he began, as he laid the roses on the desk in front of the beautiful young giil. “Yes, that’s what it is, Bert, and we need your advice badly,” retorted Miss Ellis. “There’s a loon in this town who has gone daft over Marion———’”’ “He’s no loon, then! That’s sure proof of his sanity!’ broke in Bert, good-naturedly. ‘“‘But he says he will be at the theatre every night with a red rose in his buttonhole, and, if she doesn’t smile at him, he’s going to wreck the theatre!” - “Great Czesar’s ghost! He’s got it bad! Sorry for the poor devil!’ remarked Bert, with great gravity. “But you don’t seem to understand that he “Why, lis- ten, Bert, he has even warned Mrs. Burnside. She is not to take Ruby to the theatre the is serious,’ went on Miss Allyn. night upon which he wreaks his vengeance upon Marion and her coldness.” A look of bewilderment passed over the young man’s features. “Is that straight, Miss Allyn?’ he asked. in an altered voice; “for, if it is, I believe we are up against a tragedy—a thing that I de- voutly hoped we would escape in this city.”’ “Oh, Bert! What do you know ?” gasped Marion, breathlessly. “I see in your face that you have heard something of this mat- ter! Do hurry and tell us?” Bert was thoroughly serious now, and his manner was convincing, he went over and picked up the bunch of roses. After a moment’s searching in the foj] Without a word,’ GOMIGIOOKSEEO >