She knew the motive of his taking her,
as he had been quite frank in the few minutes' talk near the stage door of
the theatre when the engagement was made. As they ate, they talked of the
plays at the Chicago theatres, and Sam told her a story of an amateur
performance that had once taken place in the hall over Geiger's drug store
in Caxton when he was boy. In the performance Sam had taken the role of a
drummer boy killed on the field of battle by a swaggering villain in a
grey uniform, and John Telfer, in the role of villain, had become so in
earnest that, a pistol not exploding at a critical moment, he had chased
Sam about the stage trying to hit him with the butt of the weapon while
the audience roared with delight at the realism of Telfer's rage and at
the frightened boy begging for mercy.
Luella London laughed heartily at Sam's story and then, the coffee being
served, she fingered the handle of the cup and a shrewd look came into her
eyes.
"And now you are a big business man and have come to see me about Colonel
Rainey," she said.
Sam lighted a cigar.
"Just how much are you counting on this marriage between yourself and the
colonel?" he asked bluntly.
The actress laughed and poured cream into her coffee.
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