Marion Marlowe's Escape, or, A Dangerous Mistake on the Road — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

q ly. “Your moustache is a great improve- ment. He didn’t have any.” | “H’m! <A rather doubtful compliment,” murmured Miss Allyn, under her breath, and, just then, a heavy gust.of wind awoke Ruby, and she turned and bent over her. “Goodness, what a storm!” cried Miss Lee, nervously. “Why, it’s’as dark as mid- night, and it’s hardly past sundown!” “Come out in the vestibule a minute—I want to speak to you.” It was Miss Lee who spoke, and only Pres- ton heard her. _A moment later they met in the vestibule of the car, and, as they faced each other, Miss Lee began talking excitedly. “T tell you, it’s all up with you> Frank,” she began. “That fellow Jackson is ‘onto you with both feet,’ as they say. Now, where in creation did he get his informa- P*tien?” “Exactly eohat I am trying to find out,” muttered Preston, angrily. “If I thought you had told him, I’d——” _ The woman shrugged her shoulders and interrupted him, angrily. “Ridiculous! As if I would do that until _ you forced me to, Frank!” “Well, the little upstart knows permet iiaey- went on the actor, hardly heeding her; “and there’s only one person in the company be- sides yourself who could tell him.” “And that’s Temple?” said the girl, with a questioning glance. “Mrs. Burnside can’t have told. She is too vague in her recollec- tions.”’ “A lucky thing for me,” growled Preston, scowling. “I may be mistaken, but I think Jackson knows. Still, what would be Tem- ple’s object in giving me away? He’s no _ Sstickler for anything that does not put dol- lars in his pocket.” They both stared a moment, but neither _ could answer the question. Then Miss Lee’s inky eyes seemed to soften wonderfully. _ “Won’t you do what I ask you to, dear?” She urged, softly. “Oh, Frank! This is — cruel! Don’t you know you are killing me?” _ Her lips had grown white as she asked the _ question, but her words seemed to have , awakened a demon in the fellow. _ That’s enough of that!” he thundered, fu- MY QUEEN. 17 “Don’t you dare to begin that pleading again! I’ve told you once and for all that I love Marion Marlowe. If you im- terfere with me, it will go hard with you! I’ve never been thwarted yet, and you'd bet- riously. ter not try to thwart me!” His face was livid and his brow was as dark as the sky outside. “You'll drive me too far, some day, Frank Percy !” The girl’s voice trembled, and the tears sprang to her eyes, but ‘the words came so swiftly that she could not check them. The actor clinched one hand and raised it threateningly. “What will you do, you hussy?’” he ques- tioned, furiously. “You had better be care- ful how you threaten, Pearl Lee! Remem- ber, it will go hard with you if you se much as breathe my secret!” He was shaking with anger, but the girl faced him unflinchingly. “You can bully me, Frank, but that sort of thing won’t go with this company! Once Jet me tell what I know, and where will you be? Walking back on the rails, with your reputation ruined forever!” “You don’t dare to tell!” Preston hissed the words like a maniac. “l’m not afraid of your tongue, for I know how to curb it! One word from your lips, and it shall be the last! Remember that, Pearl. Remember I have warned you!” The man was terrible in his anger, so ter- rible that the girl almost forgot her danger as she studied his features. No madman’s face could have been more distorted, and no fiend could have shown a more diabolical nature. There was a gust of wind as the door of the car flew open. “Hello, Preston! What’s the matter 2’ Manager Temple had stepped in suddenly, and caught a glimpse of the two faces. In an instant a smile overspread the fea- tures of Miss Lee. She was by far the quicker of the two to answer his question. ~Oh, like busy bees, we are imptoving each shining hour,” she said, lightly. “Preston and I were just rehearsing the scrap that we have in the fourth act, and, I ive you my COMMUC NOOKS a(CO)