Marion Marlowe in St. Louis, or, A Forger's Bold Deed — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

is eyed fairy should ever speak what she thinks the voicanoes of her scorn would blow me to blazes !” Mr. Temple stared at him. He did not un- derstand in the least, but Bert had gone off into a spasm of chuckling. “Well, I see I can’t help you out,” said the manager, after a minute. “I have exhausted the names of all the available ladies of the company.” “Another thing, old man!” cried Bert, re- covering his breath; “I wouldn’t dream of paying my distresses to Miss Maitland! Why, haven’t I seen you throwing a few smiles in that direction ?”’ “For a purpose, Bert,” said the manager, gravely. “I have reasons for doing it. I want to study her. If she’s the girl I think she is, I don’t. want her in the company.” “But,.ain’t it a kind of mean way te go about it?’ asked Bert, laughingly. “Is it just fair to make her think you are sweet on her, and get her to commit herself and then turn her down, Mr. Temple?” The manager flushed a little, but he replied with equal candor. “Vou don’t know that class of girls, Bert. I hope you’ll never know them! Wait until you have been in this business as many years as I have, and you'll find you have to do a good many things that are not’ quite fair in order to get ahead of the designing creat- ures.” “Oh, you know your business, | suppose,” said Bert. “I only meant that I couldn't understand it.” | “Well, there’s something. else that I can't understand,” said the manager. “I saw.Miss Leland on the street as we were coming home last night, The rest of you did not see her, so I didn’t say a word; but the girl was in bad company and she had evidently been drinking.” Bert’s-eyes opened wide, but he did not answer, and Mr. Temple continued: “Tm afraid I made a mistake, when I hired those two girls; but we needed coubrettes for the new piece we are putting on. and they were the best that the theatrical bureaus out here had to offer.” They are not bad actresses,” thoughtfully. lackson, said Bert, MY QUEEN. “No, but that isn’t all that is required in this company,” was the answer. “I promised Miss Marlowe to keep the atmosphere of the company as pure as possible, and I’m afraid these two girls are going to make trouble.” “I hope not. We’ve had trouble enough,” was Bert’s emphatic reply. They had been standing in the lobby of the theatre as they talked, watching the people come in; but, as Bert made his last remark, he sauntered out on the sidewalk. “Been down street this morning, Jackson ?”’ asked Dr, Brookes, coming up. “It looks quite military, I can tell you; but it’s as serene as a grave-yard.” “T guess the strike will be settled before night,’ was Bert’s answer, “and I’m glad of it, for all of these things affect business a little, and we want a good week while we are here, if the thing is possible.” “T’ll be glad to see some mail,” said the doc- tor, anxiously. “I correspond with several of my patients while I am on my vacation, and it’s been nearly a week now since I heard from any of them.” a ad ee a ee ee ee a eo | “Here comes Marion,” cried Bert, as he _ saw a coupé coming down the street. The next moment Marion and Miss Allyn were standing beside them. “What's the matter, Marion?” asked Bert the minute he saw her. “You look dis- tressed over something! Do tell me what has happened!” : Marion bit her lips, and her cheeks flushed a little. She hated to speak of the loss of Archie Ray’s letters before Dr. Brookes for fear of paining him by mentioning the name of his rival. “Marion has a touch of the blues,’ Miss Allyn, quickly. gone on that ride last night! She’s seen mis- ery and trouble enough without gazing at those poor, unfortunate strikers, It was a I shouldn’t have allowed it.” ’ said great mistake ! Marion did not reply; she was hurrying | into the theatre with Dr. Brookes at her side, looking decidedly anxious, “T should have thought of that, Marion,” — he said, softly, as they walked along. “You have indeed seen sorrow enough! TI wish it GComicbooks “She ought not to have com. * * ?