Marion Marlowe's Cleverness, or, Exposing a Bold Fraud — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

= MY QUEEN. command all the wealth and sympathy of the nation !” “Thanks, old fellow, but fortunately I don’t need either,” said Arden, smiling; “in fact, the scrape is an old one. I could let it drep if I would, but there are two people in the world who deserve to be garroted, and it’s a duty that I owe to humanity to garrote them.” There was a seriousness in his voice that belied his manner, but as the rain was com- ing down in torrents, Everett asked no more questions. An empty cab was passing, and the critic hailed it. ‘My house or yours?” he asked, with one hand on the door. “ Neither—let’s. go to the club,” said the musician, quickly. He gave the driver the address and both -entered the cab. ‘To go on with my story,” began the pro- fessor as they started, “these two people that I speak of are in New York City, but what their errand is no one knows; it is safe to sav it is mischief, however. When I saw them last they were in Paris, and one of them, the man, gave me cause to remember him. | was in love at the time—a perfect little beauty she was. She jilted me for him, and for some reason or other I never forgave her. Now, T hear that she has been deserted by her scamp of a husband—she is absolutely penni- less—perhaps starving—while he and I have enough and to spare. There’s the scrape in a nutshell; now advise me, old fellow.” ‘But I don’t see the scrapé!” said thé critic, slowly. “It seems to be plain sailing, as far as you are concerned. You say the girl mar- ried him; well, let her take the consequences.” ‘But the dog doesn’t support her!” cried thie professor, angrily; “and, yes, I'll admit it Everett, I’m as much in love with her as ever!” “Ah! that’s different!” said his companion with a sigh of relief. “Now we have got our bearings and can proceed to business!” fdmund Arden leaned back in the eab and lowered his coat collar a bit. [Everett caught a glimpse of his face—it was of the hue of ashes. ! plan a little. In an instant he reached forward and seized his friend’s hand. “Great Heavens, man! Don’t take it so hard!” he satd, quickly. “Tell me who she is—who he is—who they all are, and if there is anything I can do, you have only to com- mand me !” “Thanks! I knew you'd help me!” said the professor, slowly. “I knew you'd sympa- thize rf I told you the truth; but, hang it, Everett, I don’t see, after all, how you can help me! Don’t you see, old fellow, that I have got to kill him!” Howard Everett started in genuine alarm. It had not occurred to him before that the case was so desperate. The man beside him had suddenly developed a feverish intensity, and his whole frame trembled with violent emotion. It was a time for coolness, above all else, and Howard Everett was just the man to rise equal to the occasion. He felt that a 7? little diplomatic deceit in his advice would be | profitable at this juncture; therefore he re- phed: “T don’t object to your killing the scoundrel if it can be done with safety to yourself and to the woman. The thing is to keep cool and What’s the use in getting ex- cited, old fellow ?” Ps Edmund Arden controlledgaffm self by a tre- mendous effort. “Were you ever in love?” he asked, turn- ing upon Everett, suddenly. A deep red flush mounted to the critic’s very brow, but he looked his friend steadily in the eyes as he answered slowly: “T am in love, desperately so, at this min- ute, old boy; so believe me, I can sympathize with you as well as help you.” Edmund Arden leaned toward him, his face softening, a little. “Is it she—the sweet singer whom you praised so not long ago? I heard some talk at the time—they said you were ‘dead gone’ on her.” “Perhaps I was,” his watch slowly from his pocket. “She is a little country girl, as sweet as the morning dew. Not only has her voice the power to charm me into an earthly paradise, but her pure, noble nature has infatuated my soul—lI have said it all when I say, ‘I love her.’ ” said Everett, as he drew — (E(0) Gomichbooks ~ em 1s