Marion Marlowe's Triumph, or, In Spite of Her Enemies — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

* ta Th dao! od before the inviting entrance from which ans ted sounds of merry laughter. If rio . Marlowe had dreamed of what ited her i in that house, no power on earth ld have dragged her within its portals, t pe veaaish girl’s smile hid the blackness er heart and her honeyed words com- : ely concealed her treacherous motive. to this point she had cleverly succeeded ner - plan. What now remained to be done as to induce Marion to enter the house and 9e seen there alone with Ned Hale by Ed ordon and Mr. Temple. Five minutes later they were seated in a sy dining-room on one of the upper floors. meee tment was so beautifully decorated | so lavishly furnished that the country S eyes diinted with astonishment, | CHAPTER XIV. THE CLIMAX OF THE PLOT. Almost before the supper was served eck ised herself for - minute, but Nona Nel- aan on talking so: pleasantly that Marion stra sted nothing. Sor Be wine had been brought in, but refused it politely, but her order for dn milk was delayed considerably. he era came back while she was drinking it nd gave a sly wink at Nona. A moment ater the supper was served, and the girls be- heir banquet i in the jolliest possible man- ot iddenty, without any warning, Marion Marlowe put her hand to her head. “Oh, girls, I feel so dizzy and so queer,” e said, stupidly. “It must be the air of the 9m; it is making me sleepy.” Nor Tone Nelson sprang up excitedly, and i: ed from the room just as Marion’s head ; down upon the table. In an instant ra Villette was at the drugged girl’s side. T re was a vindictive gleam in her eyes she watched her pass slowly to uncon- us ness. . Jarion’s eves closed at last, there was : step outside of the door, then the face Ned Hale protruded into the apartment. ’s all right! She has fainted! Couldn't be better,” muttered the Spanish girl, who too much shrewdness to even-admit to m he she had drugged the girl. She was = at Marion with her evil eyes and at moame time trying to smile sweetly upon | Be ccmnplice ra ‘Stick a knife in her heart this minute, = “A she thought, but out loud she ai fey your part, Ned. I must make lon't know you are in here. Nona MY QUEEN: 25 has gone for Gordon and ‘Temple, and they'll both be here in a minute.”’ She started to leave the room, but the burly fellow caught her. “Not so fast, Vera,” he said, in a low, vibrating voice. “If | do this for you, what is my reward, little tartar?” “Oh, don’t talk about it now! Another time, Ned! ‘Time is precious just now, and we mustn't waste it!” She tried to pull away from him, but he held her fast. There was a look in his eyes that showed that he understood her. “You must give me a kiss and a promise, Vera,” he muttered. “I take my oath | will not release you without it!” “You are a brute!” hissed the girl, be- tween her white teeth. ‘Do your work first, Ned, and claim your reward after.” The fellow threw his head back with a curious chuckle. “Try that with some one else, you little she-devil!” he whispered. ‘I know just how much reward | would get! You'd laugh at my efforts as you have at my love and my !"? -money ! “Nonsense! [ have given you my prom- se,’ whispered the Spanish girl, quickly. “Which amounts to that,” said the man, snapping his fingers. He had one arm around her waist and was holding her two wrists with one of his large, strong hands. Time was passing. Gordon and Tetiple might appear at any second. The Spanish girl bit her lips, but she was forced to yield-to him. “Take your kisses, then,” she whispered, +hoarsely, closing her eyes and throwing back her head, “and, as *for my promise, I will fulfill it before this time to-morrow !” The man pressed his lips to her in a fever- ish caress, then he released her and almost threw her away from him. The moment she was free Vera Hate from the room. This was what she wanted —to leave the unprincipled fellow alone with Marion. The moment she was gone, Ned Hale turned towards Marion. She was still half lying in her chair, her head resting heavily upon the table. . As gasily as though she were a baby the fellow raised her from the chair, and, carry- ing her across the floor, laid her carefully upon the sofa. . The beautiful face was as pale as death, and as Hale stared down at it he felt a thrill creep over his bodv. For an instant he thought that the girl was dead, and vet he felt sure that she had only been drugged by some powerful. nar- Comichooks (CO)