Marion Marlowe Entrapped, or, The Victim of Professional Jealousy — page 25: what you’re looking at

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help you gladly. I am so glad you sent for me, dear.” . Instead of answering, the poor chorus girl _ began weeping more bitterly than ever. Her = frail form was racked with sobs that were heart-rending. The more earnestly Marion Sg endeavored to comfort her the more hyster- : _ ical she became, until at last Fe brave girl ae was fairly bewildered. 7 3 . tell me your trouble : >” she asked, in despera- tion, at the same time laying her hand softly 4 on Miss Lindsay 's- shoulder. _ before her. Aseshe lifted her streaming eyes to Marion’s face she seemed suddenly to have -grown a dozen years older. “Oh, signorita, forgive me!” she cried, in - agony. “Forgive me for wronging you. I did not mean it! Oh, I am a guilty, vile woman to do as I have done, but I love him. gc ~ Oh, I love him, and I could not help it!” For just one second Marion Marlowe was pie ~ dazed, then, like a flash, it came to her com- rehension what the weeping girl meant. he had once more been Ied into some wicked = a“; ia mediate danger. F “What is it? Quick! You must tell me !” : _ she cried, seizing the girl by both shoulders. Pt. forgive you freely for your part in the ‘ hatter, only tell me what it is, that I may protect myself. A moment more and it may be too late. Hurry, I implore you!” _ There was a heavy step on the stair and Marion had heard it. The girl heard it also, and it seemed to paralyze her senses. “Too late! Too late!” she whispered, wild- dy. Then, with a bound, she sprang to her dilapidated bureau and opened it. _ “Here, take this! she whispered, thrust- ing a revolver into Marion’s hand. “And, oh, P hoccive me for letting them make a tool of _ me, Miss Marlowe! I would save you now if I could!) Oh, what a guilty creature I _ She sank down, cowering at her visitor’s feet, just as Marion dropped the weapon Carefully into her pocket. _ There was another footstep heard in the hall and some one touched the door. _ Marion turned and faced the emergency MY QUEEN. ~ not loaded,” “How can | help you, dear, if you do not Ina second the girl dropped on her knees trap. Either her life or her virtue was in-im- ~ ‘revolver in her pocket. 23 calmly, but with flashing eyes, and at that moment Miss Lindsay raised her head and whispered, hoarsely : “Be careful! It is loaded! sake don’t shoot him !”’ Marion did not move her eyes from the door, neither did she heed the last.words. “It would not be much uSe to me if it were she said, very coolly. Then, as a beautiful statue, she stood, silently, calmly, and—waited ! For God's CHAPTER XII. | MARION IS MADE A PRISONER. As the low door was thrown rudely and violently open the brave girl instantly rec- ognized the intruder. It was Jack Green, the property man from the theatre, inade- quately disguised with a wig and a false mus- tache.. Behind him came another man whom Marion did not know. As soon as they had entered they closed the door behind them. “Well, Mr. Green, you have laid your plans well,” said Marion, as she fingered the “You have lured me hereon an errand of mercy. Now, what, may I ask, is the next act on the pro- gramme?” “So-she told you, did she?’ sneered the man, with a glance at Miss Lindsay. “The little cry baby turned, traitor, did she, and yet only last night she swore that she loved me.” “Oh, I do! I do, Jack!” sobbed the poor, weak girl, hysterically, “but I could not do it, Jack; it was too awfully wicked! I had to tell her even though you killed me.” “Well, [Il deal with you later,” said the fellow, brutally. “A man’s wife is his prop- erty and he can do what he likes with her.” “Is it possible that she is your wife?” cried Marion, in horror; “you wretch! you monster! ‘To havea wife and abuse her!” “Shut up your pretty mouth, if you please,” said Jack Green, sullenly; “and if youll come with us quietly, why well and good ; if you won’t, why then, we’1]—__” “Yow ll what?” asked Marion, calmly, as she clenched the pistol tighter. COMUCIOOKS.CO