Marion Marlowe in Chicago, or, Trapped by a Lunatic — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. 5 cium man, whoscame into the car just then; “and that’s that fellow Bill Jones.” “Temple’s old ‘supe,’ the fellow who tried to ‘queer’ us at Buffalo?’ inquired Dr. Brookes. “What put him into your head just now, Hinton?” “Well, I thought I saw him through a window in the smoking-car of the train Mr. Temple took. You know I saw him on board, and the idea has bothered me ever since. I wish I had made sure that-it was Jones; I’d have warned Mr. Temple.” . I don’t be-- “I guess you were mistaken. lieve that Jones would have any reason to come West; probably it was some one who resembled him,” said the doctor. “Temple can take care of himself, anyway.” ~ “Just the same, I wish I’d made sure,” muttered Hinton. “What is Chicago like, Mr. Jackson?” in- quired Miss Watson; “I’ve never been there.” bs “Chicago,” said Bert, impressively, “is the metropolis of the West and the future Ronie It is situated on both sides of the Chicago River, which is never wet except when it rains. At such times they are able to move the current of the river with der- of America. ricks and steam engines. Chicago is also celebrated for its remarkable women, who are known by the size of their feet.” “Why, Bert!” exclaimed Marion; “you told me only yesterday that you'd never been to Chicago!” “I never have,” replied Bert: “that is why ! know so much about it. TI learned that fact about the Chicago girls’ feet in my geography when I went to school. We used to study maps of them.” “Nonsense,” exclaimed Miss Ellis, “I used to know a girl from Chicago, and her foot wasn’t any larger than mine.” “And that is the prettiest little foot on the stage,” said Bert, gallantly. Miss Ellis blushed with pleasure at this unexpected compliment, but Miss Watson turned and gazed out of the window. She was plainly nettled at the fact that Bert was willing to pay any courtesy to another woman. | “Don’t get mad,” said Bert to her, quietly ; “I dare say you’ve got feet, too.” | “I think you’re horrid,” retorted the girl, “and you seemed like a nice fellow at first.” “That’s just what’s the matter with me,” said Bert, cheerfully; “I seem like such an awful nice fellow at first that I can’t keep it up. I sort of fall behind my own record— get way back in the rear ranks of my own Procession, instead of sticking by the band wagon. It’s'a positive detriment to a chap to have such winning ways that the girls all overvalue at first sight. If I could only keep my climaxes for the fourth act instead of springing them right off in the very first scene, I'd be a glittering success with the ladies. As it is I Hello!” claimed, suddenly, “we must be getting near Chicago. There are the stock-yards!” Miss Ellis took a look out of the window and then glanced at Marion. he ex- “Do you know I never come to a town that I don’t ask myself a question, Marion?” she said, anxiously. “I always wonder what is coming next! We’ve had something in. the shape of a tragedy in nearly’ every city we have played in!” Marion smiled very faintly; she had been thinking of that, too. The career of the Temple Theatrical Company seemed paved with tragedies, CHAPTER III. A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE, “Just look at those cattle!” exclaimed Miss Watson, the new member of the company ; “why, there must be thousands of them, Mr. Jackson !” “Yes, I should say there were thousands,” COnniclOokKkSseo