Marion Marlowe in St. Louis, or, A Forger's Bold Deed — page 16: what you’re looking at

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14 MY been out of work until he was almost crazy! He leaves a wife and one child; who are on the verge of starvation !” 2 “They won’t starve, you bet!” said Bert, emphatically. “When dad comes I shall strike him for a few hundred in cash, and [ll see how much good I can do with it among those poor devils!” ) Miss Maitland opened her eyes, and Miss Ellis choked a little. The secret was out; she could not prevent it. | As she glanced across the table at the sou- brette she saw the girl glaring at her angrily, but the angry expression only made her more hysterical. : “She'll make a dead set for him, now that shesknows for sure he’s rich,” she said, under her beath to Miss Allyn, who was sitting next to her. Miss Allyn looked across the table and un- derstood instantly. “So that’s the way the wind blows, is it?” she asked, softly. “I was beginning to think she was angling for the manager.” “Have some chicken, Miss Allyn,” called out Mr. Temple, and a waiter hired for the occasion appeared promptly at her elbow. “Your supper is lovely, Mr., Temple, and I am enjoying it hugely,’ was Miss Allyn’s answer. “I doubt if ever a theatrical com- pany had such a manager before!" “And I am sure no manager ever had such a company!” retorted Mr. Temple, promptly. “Oh, we are the only pebbles on the beach! No doubt about it!” broke in Bert, promptly. “Take us all together, we are the greatest combination on record! But it is twelve o'clock, Mr. Temple, and I beg that you will excuse me! I really must go to the train and meet the governor! There’s to bea midnight meeting of the railroad directors.” “We'll all go!” spoke up Mr. Temple, quickly, “Well get three or four carriages and have a look over the town, just to com- pare it with Chicago, you know,” he finished, laughing. “Better not say that where any of the St. Louis folks can hear you,” said Olcott, quick- ly: “they’d mob the carriages if they thought we recognized the existence of Chicago.” Well, substitute New York,” then well QUEEN. was the manager’s answer; “that, surely, is too far away to admit of jealousy!” They all rose from the table, and after thanking Mr. Temple again for his little sur- prise there was a rush for the dressing-rooms for hats and gloves, and then the entire com- pany grouped themselves in the scene-room to wait for the carriages. “Tt must be lovely to be rich,” sighed Miss Maitland in Bert’s ear as they all stood wait- ing. “‘Is-your father a railroad president, Mr. Jackson?” ‘“He’s lots of things,” said Bert, proudly. ‘“He’s a railroad president, a bank president, a director in a dozent different things, and — trustee for about a hundred; and the best thing of all, -he’s a glorious old governor! Just the kind of a dad that ought to have a dozen boys, and not be forced to lavish all his wealth and affection on one good-for-nothing like me!” ‘“T guess you are anything but a ‘good-for- nothing,’ ”’ said Miss Maitland, sweetly. “I guess you are a very fine young man—and a very handsome one, too,’ she murmured, softly. Bert took off his hat with great effusive- ness, “Things seem to be coming my way to- day—bouquets, I mean! Thanks, awfully, Miss Maitland! I’m glad you think so!” “Miss Ellis thinks so, too,” whispered the soubrette, cautiously. Bert was chewing a bit of a splinter that he had just pulled from a scrap of pine board in the scene-room, but, although he glanced quickly at the girl, he did not an- swer. “Do you like her very much—the imgénue, IT mean?” went on Mabel, eagerly. “I saw you looking at her so—so tenderly, you know. Is there anything between you? I[ am just dying to know, Mr. Jackson,” “Why don’t you ask her?” Bert asked the question politely. “She wouldn't tell! Girls never do; andy oh. I want to know so badly! Cant you guess why I want to know, you, lovely fel- al od ’ >Y) low?” Bert dropped his splinter and stared at her a minute. “T'll be blowed if I can!” he admitted, hon-_ Gomichbooks ad com | — -p- =e Sy a