Marion Marlowe's Triumph, or, In Spite of Her Enemies — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

ers. hte Bane ec head and then looked at I 3 quiringly, fs Il fix it some way, muttered Vera, an- _ “L won't be baffled! I'll settle it this ie ie. at nall' had sommded, just as the girls “gn They had dressed and made up nding swiftness, | you come down to the WINgS, Miss ” asked Vera, sweetly, “or would prefer er sit here, where you will be more | et? ‘Miss Ellis, or aaete of the girls, will » ne in a id talk to you.” aA “ © she asked the question she was scrib- ylir ; something on a bit of paper. It was hasty note, addressed to one of the actors. T think I'll just. sit here through the first 11 don’ t mind, ” said Marion, sweetly. 4 little headache, but it will pass esently.” 7 't be better,” whispered igeea to Nona « _as they went out; then she called a boy an nd handed him the note, instructing him to deli ver it immediately. Nm 3 » = \: arlon ve way Pr tte : ™ O 1 d ‘9 eg hat’s the second move in the game,” said Ver ‘Vera again, as she and Nona hurried acre Oss the scene room to the left of the stage. _ “Ned Hale hates Gordon, and he’s in love mi me. He'll go into the dressing-room and lock the door, and I have planned to have take Mr. Temple up there. It’s cky there is time before either of them has ar chance to come on, for it gives me a chance tart the ball a-rolling.” ) 3ut she may not let Hale into the dress- ir oom at all,” said Nona, softly. “She’d' “at him j in a minute if he made any ad- = ie é “ £eS; “Ta ie fool if I hadn’t fixed all that,” s the reply, and just then Vera heard her S ue e and darted out before the footlights. _ Meanwhile Marion had seated herself on the only chair in the little dressing-room, and ae vith her head on her hand, she was busily ing. She could not quite understand | for cordiality, but she was wil- ; Zig yeto accept her friendship so long as it ‘seemed honest. ees _ She was aroused from oe reverie by some a “4 ne opening the door. She looked up quick- a y, and saw 5G age man of about Me } - a a Py * - ee we, — me a a 7] ordon spt luck: 13 thirty years of age standing in the doorway. © There was nothing about him that looked like an actor, for Ned Hale had not put any “make-up” on his face, and it happened that his costume for the first act was that of a workman. quickly. “I | was told to but, of “l beg pardon,” he began, thought the room was empty. come in and look at the gas pipes, course *. : He hesitated and looked at her, and Ma- rion spoke up promptly. “Don't let me interfere with your work in any way, sir. If 1am in your way I can go down to the wings or “No, indeed; you'll not bother me at all,” said the man, quickly. “I'll just step in and look at them; it won’t take a minute.” He stepped through the door, closing it chair a little nearer to the wall he snapped the spring lock so gently that she did not hear him. f 5 » The next moment he went over and made believe examine the pipes. There was not a sound in the room as he stood looking at them intently. Suddenly some one tapped gently on the door. Then a hand was laid on the ‘knob to open it. Marion caught her breath as she saw that the door was locked. It was an unpleasant situation, even if the fellow were a work- man. “The door is locked! 3s ly,” “Oh, sir, you were very thoughtless to lock it after you.” “Spring lock,” muttered Hale, as he moved to the door. Unfasten it quick- she said, softly. “What the deuce is the matter?” asked Gordon from outside. ‘Vera certainly told me that Miss Marlowe was here, but she did not mention that she was keeping her a pris- oner,”’ Marion Marlowe had managed at last to open the door, and as she did so Ed Gordon ~ and Mr. Temple confronted her in the door- way, and both stood staring at her with strange expressions on their faces. -soitly behind him, and as Marion moved her | GoOmiGsoo <SriG@