Marion Marlowe in Denver, or, The Tragedy of Pike's Peak — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

1. % standing before him with a look of inquiry -_—-written upon his features. “IT am the head clerk from the office of Waldo & Wilson,” he*began, bluntly. ‘We have just learned that the Marion Marlowe whom we are looking for is an actress in your company. No doubt she has seen the 4 notice in the morning paper. Now, would -_-you be so kind as to identify the lady?” Mr. Temple* turned and pointed toward Marion, who was standing in breathless si- lence listening to the message. a The young man drew a newspaper picture __ from his pocket and coolly proceeded to com- pare it with the young girl. After a mo- - ment’s scrutiny he returned it to his pocket. —_ -“T guess it’s all fight, but, of course, she can prove her identity later,’ he said, brusquely. ‘“‘We’ve had important news for her for nearly three days, but the old com- _ modore was so indefinite in the wording of his will that——” 4 There was a startled cry from Marion that _ thecked his words, and the cry was promptly _- echoed by every one in the office. _ “I beg your pardon; I supposed you knew that he was dead,” said the young man, in some surprise. “I came simply to ask her to call at our office,” he added. Then he raised his hat and turned to leave the office. “Of course you will call on us at once,” he added, as he went out. “We are anxious to settle the matter as soon as possible.” Mr. Temple bowed. He could not answer. The news of the ranchman’s death had shocked him terribly. For the next few min- utes they could think of nothing but their sorrow ; then Marion and her manager drove directly to the office of Waldo & Wilson. CHAPTER ITI. IN LOVE OR NOT? “One hundred thousand dollars! It doesn’t seem possible!” Marion gasped the words as she sat in Mr. Waldo’s private office, with Mr. Temple waiting for her on the other side of the thin partition, i The clever lawyer nodded his head 7 gravely, but there was a crafty look in his eyes as he studied the beautiful girl’s feat- - ures, MY QUEEN. & For days he had been wondering what Marion Marlowe was like. He had tried to picture her constantly ever since that will came into his possession. The firm of Waldo & Wilson had been the commodore’s attorneys in Denver for sev- eral years, and the lawyer had always looked enviously upon the ranchman’s money. Now the old fellow had died from the re- sult of his wound received while defending himself and Marion from highwaymen, who had attacked them when on a sleigh ride, and here was a hundred thousand dollars of his wealth going to this young girl, Marion Marlowe. , | As he talked blandly with the astonished “heiress, he was thinking deeply, and, with the skill and cleverness of his craft, he was studying her frank character. Word by word he led her to tell him of her- self, of the farm she had left, of the old par- ents and the two married sisters, and, lastly, of her plans and ambitions for the future. Marion was so saddened by the news of the commodore’s death, that the lawyer’s gentle words were wonderfully consoling. She looked into his handsome face and felt deeply grateful for his sympathy, and long before she left his presence, she felt strangely drawn toward him. As soon as she was out- side she whispered the good news to Mr. Temple, who was anxiously awaiting the out- come of the interview. “The dear, kind man! To think of his leaving so much money to me!” she sobbed, as she seated herself in the carriage to ride baek to the theatre. “He was good and kind, indeed,” was Mr. Temple’s sad reply. “The head clerk was telling me that there was nothing explicit about the will. He merely divided up his property among his numerous friends, and the sum which you mention was left’ to Mar- ion Marlowe. That is why they were so long in locating you. It seems they sent to Omaha before they even khew you were an actress.” _ “And I am an heiress now, or I will be, as soon as I get the money. That will be something, I suppose,” said Marion, wiping her eyes. “Oh, I shall never feel rieht about that money! Do you really think I have 9 right to take it?” 1S ere COMIC OOOKS.COmM