Marion Marlowe in St. Louis, or, A Forger's Bold Deed — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

She hurried down the stairs to the scene- room, passing Bert on the way, but there was no time for even a word; she heard her cue -as she passed him. The next minute she came face to face with ' Dr. Brookes, and, in spite of the fact that thousands of eyes were upon her, she could ‘not repress a start at his altered appearance. The doctor was calm and composed, and he was acting superbly, but his whole manner had changed—she could not only see, but feel When he took her hand, his touch was cold and indifferent. When he spoke words of en- dearment, they seemed lacking in tenderness, and every glance of his eyes filled her with uneasiness. ' , What had she done? The question rose to her lips as though ome one had spoken it. She seemed to know ‘intuitively that it was she who had caused his trouble, © _ When she left the stage after the first act, _ her heart was throbbing violently, and it was all that she could do to keep from crying. burst out as she reached the dressing-room. “He is changed, completely! Why, I hardly ‘know him! He is as courteous and kind as ever, but there is something lacking! It is * I had wronged him or grieved him, 4 ce _ “T noticed it at once,” was Miss Allyn’s puzzled answer, “but did you see how pleas- ant he was to Miss Maitland? Why, he warmed up in that scene with her in a won- derful manner! He has always been a little listless right there until this evening.” Miss Ellis came in before Marion could re- _ ply. She was greatly excited, and her brow was wrinkled with anger. _ “Well, of all things! Miss Maitland is down in the scene-room, positively gushing over the doctor! You ought to see them, Marion! It is simply disgusting !’’ _ Miss Allyn glanced at her friend, but the fair young girl said nothing. She was still dangerous y near the verge of an attack of hysterics. _ “Yes, she’s just loading him with taffy,” Went on Miss Ellis; “she is just begging him to stay with us and not go back to New York, and I heerd her tell him that it would break her heart to have him go! Really, I never Saw anything so forward and so immodest!” _ Miss Allyn shook her head in a puzzled manner. _ “The doctor must be laboring under an at- tack of temporary insanity,” she said, softly. 1 can’t understand it a little bit! It is ex- traordinar Be q Hello, girls! Can I come in?” called MY QUEEN. “Oh, Alma! What does it mean?” she 21 Bert, as he stopped at the door. He was doing his best to get a few minutes’ talk with Marion, “Oh, Bert! The rioting broke out again to-day ; did you know it?” cried Miss Ellis, Bert set his teeth together with a snap as he answered : “Ves, and it’s liable to break out again at any minute,” he said, viciously. “I’m on the war-path myself, and I’m just looking for trouble! Answer me a question, quick, Mar- ton. Have you lost anything lately?” “Oh, Bert! My letters!’ cried the young ‘girl, eagerly. There was a sound in Lou Leland’s dress- ing-room as if she had suddenly dropped something, then all was silent and Bert knew she was listening. “There they are! Count them!’ he said, just loud enough for Lou to hear. “If there’s one of them missing, | want to know imme- diately !”’ Marion glanced over her letters and counted them carefully. The orchestra stopped playing before she had finished. “They are all here,” she cried, delightedly, as she put them together. “‘Now tell me, quick, Bert! Where did you find them ?” There was a moment’s silence, and some one at the foot of the stairs called loudly for Marion. “T picked them up in the street,” was Bert’s very distinct answer. “Now, hurry, Marion! The stage is waiting!” CEEAF LER XI, BERT DOES SOME THINKING, Rioting had, indeed, broken out again, but as Bert’s father was now safely out of town, ke had lost interest entirely, The trouble in the company was taking up his whole time now, and the atmosphere at the theatre was anything but pleasant, The next day passed without any change in the attitude of Dr. Brookes. There were only two days left of their St. Louis engagement, and Mr. Temple had al- ready secured a leading man to join them in Chicago, and still Marion had not solved the mystery of the stolen letters. “Bert knows who took them, I am sure of it,’ she said to Miss Allyn. “TI can’t under- stand why he will not teil. It isn’t like him to keep me in suspense on such a matter.” “It couldn’t be possible that the doctor had them,” Said Miss Allyn, desperately. “It sounds dreadful to say such a thing, but he has changed so, Marion! Sometimes, when he looks at you, I can’t help being suspicious.” “Of what?” asked Marion, with a trace of indignation. “Why, Al i] 1. S eats Conmitcinaoles CO)