“Leslie Lawrence!” he whispered.
“Yes,” said the man, advancing insolently; “I am Leslie Lawrence.”
“What do you want?”
“I want an engagement in your new company. I have come here for it. Will you give it to me?”
Frank was astounded by the insolence of the fellow.
“I should say not!” he exclaimed. “What do you take me for? No, Leslie Lawrence, alias Lawton Kilgore, villain, deceiver of innocent girls, wretch who deserves hanging, I will not give you an engagement, unless it is with an outraged father. Go! If you wish to live, leave instantly. If Kent Carson finds you here, he will know you now, and your life will not be worth a cent!”
At this moment the door was flung open, and Ephraim Gallup came striding into the room, saying as he entered:
“Darned if I knowed there was a purty young gal in this haouse! Thought I’d come daown, Frank, an’ see if yeou was goin’ to stay up all night writin’ on that play of—— Waal, I be gosh-blamed!”
Ephraim saw Lawrence, and he was astounded.
“Didn’t know yeou hed visitors, Frank,” he said.