Marion Marlowe in St. Paul, or, The Company's Mascot in a Double Deal — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. He closed the door, and the two friends retired, but Marion could not sleep; she was thinking of Miss Watson. “Rehearsal at eleven!” Mr. Temple announced the fact as they met at their late breakfast, and then glanced over the table to “round up” his company. “Miss Watson has left us,’ said Mrs. Burnside, soberly. “She took French leave this morning, about daylight, [ fancy.” Marion looked up in surprise, but Mr. Temple answered, very coolly: | “That saves me the trouble of telling her — to go, but who in the world will I get tor to-night? Ill have to visit the theatrical bureaus at once and try and find a quick study.” | 4 “IT might double up,” said Miss Ellis, thoughtfully ; “still, ’'m too big for the part. Oh, Marion, if we could only find the mas- cot again! You know, the part really calls for a small person!” “Great Scott! And lose the props! I guess not!” laughed Bert. “The kid has got my watch and the masher’s diamond ring. That is quite Pons! for him to make out of one company.’ “Are you sure he stole your watch, Bert?” asked the doctor, soberly. “As sure as I can be,” was Bert’s answer. “IT found out where he lived through an- _ other kid on the street, and early this morn- - ing I called on his mother.” “Oh, Bert! What is she Riker” _ Marion, eagerly. _ “Did she have the watch, and was ‘Jackets’ _ there?” broke in Miss Ellis. ‘ “Are they awfully poor, as the letter says, _ and does the kid come honestly by his traits 2” - added Mr. Temple. . “Hold on! One at a time, please!’ said _ the comedian, latghing. “They are very poor; no doubt about that, and ‘Jaekets’ was not there; but that did not matter. His mother says that he is a thief, and his mother > isa lady?’ = “What!” Alma Allyn made the exclamation, x 4 _€very one present echoed it. Bert laughed again as he looked at their faces, asked but sé And she was an actress once; no doubt 19 about it,” he went on, excitedly. “Her name is Ida Inez, and she’s as pretty as a picture. Some rich man wrecked her life, and she has worked in the mills ever since! Poor thing! She loves ‘Jackets,’ and yet she knows that he is a thief! Oh, she broke down com- pletely when she told me about him! She says she has kept silent so long that it has almost killed her!” “But the watch? Had she seen it?” asked the doctor, anxiously. “No. ‘Jackets’ never brings things that he steals, but the extraordinary child tells her all about them.” “And doesn’t she reason with him and teach him?” asked Marion, quickly. Bert shook his head. “The child is a ‘pervert,’ his mother says. She insists upon it that he hasn’t any con- science !”’ Marion shuddered with horror, and even Miss Allyn gasped. She had heard of in- fant wonders, but this boy was of a different order. “T should like to see that woman,” she said, decidedly, “and I would like to see more of that boy, if it is possible.”’ “We must see them! I shall feel dread- fully if we can’t,” cried Marion. “Oh, I am sure if I could have ‘Jackets’ for a while I could make him different. I will not believe he is beyond redemption !” “You could reform him, if any one could, fam sure,” said the doctor, gazing at the beautiful, flushed face; “but before we visit our mascot’s mother, we must help Mr. Tem- ple. fore the morning rehearsal.” “Oh, Mr. Temple! -I have a scheme! cried Marion, gayly. “If this woman is an actress, perhaps she*would do! Please try and remember if you ever heard of her!” For a moment no one answered Marion’s wild suggéstion; then Mr. Temple stroked his mustache in a thoughtful manner. “I never heard of ‘Ida Inez,” he began, when Bert ifterrupted. “She is little and pretty, and I’m sure she will do,” he said, slowly; “but I'll be jig- gered if I want that kid in the company! Why, he’d steal a fellow’s eye-teeth if his hed home the | Miss Watson’s place must be filled be- @ mouth was open?” CORMICIDOCKS.EO©