Marion Marlowe Entrapped, or, The Victim of Professional Jealousy — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. 7 bed,” ‘said Carlotta, with another laugh. “You'll have a glass of wine, won’t you, dear, and a cigarette, to help digest your welsh rarebit ?” Her guest’s great eyes darkened as she S. stared at her for the space of a second. | = “Oh, no, thanks,” she said, finally. “I neither drink nor smoke. You know, I am a - ie country girl,” she added, laughing. x “Oh, well, if you won’t, you won't,” — the woman's answer, and just at that moment Was the outer door opened unceremoniously. There a Marion looked up in astonishment. were two well-dressed men, both glittering with diamonds, standing in the doorway, gaz- 4 bia 4 at her admiringly. MARION DEFENDS HERSELF FROM INSULT. ~~ “Now, Mr. Clayton Graham, I’ll spoil your mut- cad _ white dove for you a trifle, I fancy,” tered Carlotta under her breath, as she half closed her eyes and looked scornfully at Mar- ion. | Aloud she merely said: “Some friends of ; o mine, Ila.- Don’t disturb yourself, — you will find them very agreeable.” It was fully a minute before Marion could . control her anger sufficiently to rise and con- pg a -. < dear ; . front her hostess with any degree of calm- : ness, and_ even when -she aid, her cheeks £ E glowed like carnations, and her wide, gray _ eyes had grown black as midnight. ; _ She had come to this woman’s home on an 2 coal eurand of sympathy, and now, at midnight, as - she was sitting in almost bed-room attire, she was suddenly forced to receive the company of two men whom it was plainly to be seen were both under the influence of liquor. “Mademoiselle, this is outrageous!” were her first indignant words. “How could you allow them to come in here now. Have you _ no shame, no atom of decency about you?” The base woman almost screamed with laughter, as the young girl spoke. She was fairly gloating over her discomfiture, and the two men joined heartily in her merriment. “Don’t be frightened, birdie!” said one of the men familiarly, as they both stepped in- “We wont hurt such a pretty creature-as you,are. side and closed the door behind them. No, indeed, wwe’ve only dropped in to admire your beauty.” “Ves and to help eat Carlotta’s welsh > rarebit,” said the other, going straight to the woman and kissing her. “So glad you in- vited us, old girl, make as big a one as you can, for we are both hungry and thirsty.” “I’m hungry for a bite of those red lips,” "said the other fellow, lurching over and put- ting his hand on Marion’s bare shoulder. In an instant the young girl sprang back and put the width of the room between them. “Tf you dare to touch me I will kill you,” she cried sharply, at the same time snatching a small ivory handled revolver from Car- lotta’s dressing table. “T believe you would,” said the man, star- ing at her admiringly. “By gad! but you are a beauty! How I would like to tame you!” “What does ail you, Hap’ said Carlotta, walking toward Marion and speaking very coldly. “Put up that thing, dear, and come and sit down. ‘These gentlemen are my friends—they will not harm you.” “If you expected them here you had no right to invite me,’ hotly. “You have inveigled me. here for some evil purpose, Carlotta!” ‘said the magnificent girl, She did not move from her position ‘nor lay down her weapon, and there was a flash in her eyes that warned the woman to be careful. ae, I invited them here to meet you,” Car- “They have admired your beauty and wanted to make your ac- quaintance, and I must say you are treating lotta said, very Suavely. them in a very Bee onary ta ner.” (L boo ee (EO) OKSa(EO©