Marion Marlowe's Disappearance, or, Almost a Crime — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

14 are you going-—Princeton, Yale or Har- © vard?’’ “Give it up—I don’t know, you'll have to ask pop,” said Bert, grinning, “but to college I am going—that much is settled, and, after that, I’m to go in business under my new father’s name—you know he’s president of a lot of things—like railroads and corpora- tions.” | “But how can you go in such a business as that?” asked Marion, -staring. ‘What do you know of railroads or corporations?” Bert looked at her, solemnly, but there was a twinkle in his eye. “I know-how to beat a railroad out of a . fare,” he said, glibly; “and, when it comes to corporations, what is there to know about them—they are simply the pockets for hold- ing other people’s money.” “T don’t see what you are going to college for,” laughed Marion. derful education already, Mr. Jackson.” “Vou have a won- “Well, there are just one or two points that I have got to learn,” said Bert, meekly. “I must discover how to keep other kids from beating my railroad and learn the modus operandi of ‘doing’ other corporations. I fancy my education will be completed then and, really, it does seem a pity that I should have to go college to learn that, especially as I’m a dandy ‘half-back’ and a champion ' golfer.” “Oh, Bert, it is lucky that you don’t wear corset strings,” “you certainly would burst them with the knowl- ’ cried Marion, gayly, edge of your attainments,” “My clothes are pretty strong,” said Bert, giving himself a twist, “but, seriously, Mar- jon, do you think I am conceited ?” He turned on her so suddenly that the He had grown sober in a second and was staring down at her earnestly. “T think you are just the loveliest boy in young girl was a little startled. Miss Marion Marlowe?” he asked. My QUEEN. the world,” she said, impulsively. “You are not conceited a bit, but you are awiully funny.” | Bert still stared at her calmly for a mo- ment after she spoke, then he replied, with unusual deliberation: “Well, do you know what Ithink of you, “Well, L think you are the prettiest girl and the most beautiful actress that I have ever seen. I just sat in that theatre to-night, way back in the rear, where I was sure you would not see me, and I had to fairly pinch myself to be sure I was awake. It seemed like a dream to think that I was Bert Jackson and that mag- nificent actress little Marion Marlowe.” Bert’s voice had grown soft as he men- tioned her name, and as Marion looked up quickly she saw tears on his lashes. : “Oh, Bert,” she whispered, softly; it has seemed like a dream so offen. Is it really true that this is you and me, riding in New York City, in this beautiful carriage?” “And that the carriage is mine,” broke in Bert, eagerly. “Gee! I wonder what they would say up in that old slow town where we came from.” “They would say exactly as we do, that it doesn’t seem possible,” said Marion, smiling. “Still, here-we are, Bert, you and I and Dol- lie, yet scarcely a year ago we were only country children on a farm, and the strangest thing of all is, to think what may come to us in the future.” , “Nothing can happen but good, now,” said Bert, with a smile. “We are on fhe straight road to’ success, Marion—our troubles are over.” - “T am not so sure,” slowly. As she spoke her altars toyed softly with a cluster of flowers at her belt. They were the ones she had chosen from the offerings of her admirers. Eomichboo cS (Elo) 7 ‘ Fe responded the fair girl,