Marion Marlowe Entrapped, or, The Victim of Professional Jealousy — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

At - MY QUEEN. 9 - Clayton Graham looked at her scornfully, ‘but did not deign to reply. Then his glance swept the full length and breadth of her now thoroughly sobered companions. : “T knew you were blackguards and loafers before,” he said, coolly, “but I wouldn't have believed that drunk or sober you Carlotta must have you in good training, you infa- wouldn’t respect an innocent girl. ~ mous puppies!” He offered his arm to Marion and led her out of the apartment. “Thank goodness I was in time,” he said as they reached the curb, “still, I guess you would have looked out for yourself all right. I wouldn’t want you to come for me armed with even a toy revolver.” He chuckled good-naturedly as he put Marion into a cab. | “Don’t fail to be on hand to-morrow night,” he said, earnestly. “Your song is the hit of the evening, and the public can’t spare you. Don’t mind about Carlotta. Vl watch her in future. She’s a tigress all right, but I & know her nature.” Marion thanked him and was soon alight ing at her own door. It was nearly two o’clock, and the block where she lived was almost in darkness; as she ran up the steps she felt a trifle nervous. While she was searching for her latchkey she heard a step behind her. She turned around quickly and confronted a stranger, a small, swarthy man, his face badly scarred and hideous. “What do you want?” asked Marion with . a frightened gasp. “You,” muttered the fellow instantly, as he laid a long yellow hand on the fair girl's shoulder. Marion gave a _ shriek that awoke the echoes. In an instant the man turned and fled down the street; he was out of sight before any one responded. CHAPTER V. A CHINESE GIRL STEALER. When Ralph Moore, Marion’s brother-in- law, opened the door he was astonished to find her trembling with terror. “Why, sister, I thought you were not com- ing home to-night,” he began, but the girl stopped him with a quick explanation. “Carlotta trapped me,”’ she said, hotly, “but Tescaped from her safely! Now, who do you suppose that fellow was, the dreadful creature that just grabbed my arm right here on the steps. ' My shriek must have frightened you awfully, brother,” Ralph Moore looked up and down the street, but there was no one in sight, so in another minute they went up to his apart- ment. | ; Dollie Marlowe, or Dollie Moore, as she was now, had been married only three weeks, but her little flat already had a homelike look, and both she and her husband were radiantly happy. | As Marion had said, Dollie’s face was the prettier of the two, but it was a babyish pret- tiness that meant weakness and uncertainty, while Marion’s was the glorious beauty of decision. | As Marion told them of her evening’s ex- perience Dollie’s rosy cheeks paled, while Ralph Moore ran his fingers through his black curls in excitement. “What a bad, wicked woman,” cried the little bride, indignantly. ‘To think of her Why, she is a disgrace to her sex, isn’t she, darling?” “She is indeed,” was her husband’s fond answer as he stopped in his excited pacing to and fro, to kiss his wife’s soft, dimpled shoulder. subjecting you to such an insult. ‘sande gf . It is a shame that our dear sister should have to come in contact with such a creature, and to think that Marion was trying to do her a kindness.” COMIC OOO SS (GO