“Why not?”
“She is awfully delicate; it is all she can do to keep her contracts.”
He knows that, Ruggles thought. “Let’s ask her and see.” He went over to the table and drew out the paper. “Come on and write and ask her to go out with us to supper.”
“See here, Rug, what’s this for?”
“What’s strange in it? She is from our state, and if you don’t hustle and ask her I am going to ask her all alone.”
Dan was puzzled as he sat down to the table, reflecting that it was perfectly possible that old Ruggles had fallen a prey to the charms of an actress. She wouldn’t come, of course. He wrote a formal invitation without thinking very much of what he said or how, folded and addressed his note.
“What did you say?” Ruggles asked eagerly.
“Why, that two boys from home wanted to give her a supper.”
“Well,” said Ruggles, “if the answer comes while you are at the club I’ll open it and give the orders. Think she’ll come?”
“I do not,” responded Dan rather brutally. “She’s got others to take her out to supper, you bet your life.”