"Oh!"
She was glad now that she had come over to Elfie's table. Decidedly this man would be very useful. It is always a good thing to know journalists. It suggested favorable paragraphs and good notices in the papers. She remembered what a philosophical chorus girl once told her: "Rather a good press agent than great talent." Forthwith Laura exerted herself to be very amiable. She laughed and chatted and when Madison, in his turn, ordered a bottle of wine, she graciously allowed him to drink to her success.
"But you must help me!" she said coquettishly.
"Sure!" he answered gayly, half in jest.
She inquired about Denver, the life there, the theatres, and their audiences. She asked his advice as to the best hotel for her to stop at, questioned him about his own life and work, and sought to flatter him by appearing to take interest in everything he said.
The small hours of the morning still found them there. When at last they parted, she said in that arch, captivating way, which none better than she knew how to employ:
"We will be good friends, won't we?"
"You bet we will!" was his laconic, careless rejoinder.
CHAPTER III.