Marion Marlowe on the Prairie, or, A Thrilling Ride Across Kansas — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

5 z _ - | 4 * = MY QUEEN. 5. “TY did not like to express my opinion then, because Marion was so blue, but [ can’t wait any longer. I want to know your opinion of that future.” | Miss Allyn was just “making up” her face, and she gazed in the glass reflectively before replying. _“T think it is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard,” she said, very soberly, “and the strangest thing of all is that the old dame said it could not be averted. It is bound to come, no matter what we do! Now, what in the world is the good of a prophecy like that? Forewarned is evidently not forearmed on - this occasion.” “She said it would be an accident,” went on Miss Ellis, more soberly, “and it is to happen at the most unexpected minute. Marion is to escape with her life—well, that is a blessing! A woman could hardly say anything worse and expect a dollar for say- ing it.” Miss Allyn laid aside her “make-up” box and began putting on her costume, and, just then, Marion and Mrs. Burnside, the “first old lady” of the company, came into the ‘dressing-room. “Did you enjoy your drive?” _ she began, pleasantly. “I’ve been told there’s nothing to see on the Kansas side, and yet you were gone three whole hours, if you were a minute, and how that baby of mine did miss you! Really, Marion, I believe both Jackets and little Ruby look upon you as a second mother! Ida and myself are just a little bit jealous, and yet I’m not so sure that I blame the darlings!” “We might have taken them, only the horses did look so lean and miserable,” ‘laughed Marion; “we dreaded to add another pound to their burden. You see, Bert en- gaged the team on the Kansas side. I am sure he would have done better right here in Missouri.” “Well, they carried us safely, and that was all we expected of them,” said Miss Allyn, as} she helped Marion arrange her beautiful hair as deftly as a hairdresser ; “but, do you know, that ‘Kansas galoot,’ as Bert called him, in- terested me greatly. He did look green, and yet there was something shrewd in his feat- ures. I wonder if [ would know him again if | should see him.” Miss Ellis burst out into a hearty laugh. “Ever since you have been engaged to a de- tective you have been growing suspicious, Alma! You must be desperately in love— that’s all I’ve got to say about it!” “Well, who said I wasn’t?” asked Miss Allyn, honestly, “and, between you and me, while I despise the profession, I can’t help thinking that I have a little of the sleuth in- stinct.”’ “Marion has lots of it,” broke in Mrs. Burnside, quickly. “I’ve heard no end of things about her cleverness !”’ , “All exaggerated, probably,” was Marion’s smiling answer. _ “My friends are always so ready to credit me with cleverneés.”’ “They don’t call you one bit smarter or prettier than you are, dearie,” said her friend, Miss Allyn, “so you have a right to be con- ceited, if you wish!” “I hope I would never be that! I abomi- nate conceit,” said the young girl, flushing. “Some news for -you, young ladies,” called out a pleasant voice, and Ida Inez came into the dressing-room, holding out a newspaper. “Now, what has happened?” cried Miss Allyn, a little anxiously, Miss Ellis sprang upon a trunk to make more room for the others in the little cubby- hole, and just then %he heard a familiar step in the hallway. “Come in, Dr. Brookes!” she called out, merrily. “We are about to have some news! Don’t you wish to share it 22’ Miss Allyn had completed her Ase SO _She opened the door and admitted the hand- some leading-man of the company. cComicboookxs. com