Marion Marlowe in St. Louis, or, A Forger's Bold Deed — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

ly did two-steps. If you don’t believe it, just listen to this—I deliberately signed a contract with the Temple Company to play boys’ parts for only twenty dollars per, and expenses! Just think of it, Mab! Me play- ing for a paltry twenty! Me, the greatest thing that ever happened in auburn wigs and short trousers! Oh, I must~have been rat- tled—acttially chattering—when I did it!’ There was another long sigh as she leaned forward and twisted a bit of blue ribbon to her flame-colored ringlets. “Biggest salary you ever had, isn’t. it?” asked her friend, dryly. “Mabel Maitland, how dare you? Why, you are positively insulting! As if I didn’t sign a contract once for thirty per and ex- penses, and is “And the company went to pieces before you started! The sight of the payroll drove the manager to drink, and the ‘angel’ of the company went to the lunatic asylum, if I re- member correctly,” broke in Miss Maitland. “Mabel, you’re the limit!” cried her com- panion, laughing. “I'd cut your acquaint- ance this minute if I could, but I can’t, thanks to*our manager—he of the winning ways! He’s got us boxed in together from the very start, and I can’t stop speaking to you; it would break my heart! I’ve got to talk or die, so I’m obliged to stand it.” “TI guess it’s as easy for you as it is for me,” laughed Mabel. “You ain’t the sweet- est creature in the world when a body is caged in a dressing-room with you; but there’s one consolation—I’ve seen worse in my travels; so come On, finish your prinking, and let’s get some breakfast.” “Always thinking of grub,” sighed Lou, impatiently. “Why, Mabel Maitland, I have feasted already. I ath full to overflowing. of those magnificent eyes—not Mr. Temple's, nor Bert Jackson’s, but those of our leading man, the doctor! How can I look upon sordid food after such a diet? And, oh, how I have drunk in the music of that boy’s laugh —-not the doctor’s, Mab, but the comedian’s, Bert Jackson's! Truly, my soul seems vorged with what it has devoured! I am like one drunken upon the beauty of mankind! Talk not to me of fleshly viands when | crave only the sustenance of a magnetic presence ‘s a MY QUEEN. The ecstatic rhapsody was brought to an untimely end, and Lou was obliged to dodge a pair of curling-irons and a few other mis- cellaneous articles which her companion hurled at her head in earnest protestation. “Let up! For goodness sake, let up, Lou!” she entreated. ‘‘Do you want the people in this hotel to think you’ve gone crazy? Here, come and hold this towel, so I can filter the water. I'm not stuck on mud baths, although I believe they are considered healthy.” “It’s a great town,” remarked Lou, de- scending suddenly from her flight of oratory. ‘They tell me that they’ve got some of the handsomest men in creation in St. Louis, only the smoke is so thick you never can find them! Just think how exciting it must be on a clear day, Mab! The girls can catch — one fleeting glimpse of the manly beauty of the town; when, presto! they are lost in oblivion again and a game of blind man’s a“ ‘buff is promptly in order. Oh, it would never do for me to live in this town! I'd die if -J had to be forever searching and washing ( the smudge from manly faces for purposes of identification !” “Pshaw! It isn’t half so bad as that,”’ said Mabel, as she deluged her face. “There are parts of St. Louis where the atmosphere is ali right, and the residential portion is posi- tively beautiful! As for the men, well, I've heard that most of them went the pace for fair—rapid transit isn’t in it with the St. Louis boys—and they’re as big-hearted as they are speedy. I hope we'll meet a few dozen of ther.” Se “Well, I’m satisfied with those we have in the company,” said Lou, promptly. “If I only had half a chance to captivate the doc- tor ;—but, pshaw! Miss Marlowe has got him bound hand and foot in the fetters of love. — He just worships our star; have you noticed it, Mabel?” - “Sure! It’s as clear as daylight,” said Ma- bel, promptly. “Tt’s lots clearer than St. Louis daylight,” retorted Lou, glancing out of the window. “Now, I wonder if there is amy way to cut her out? I'd try it in a minute if I thought | I could do it.” , : “There’s no hapym in trying,” said Mabel, — who was growing interested now, “ ‘All isu EONMIE NNO KS =