Chapter IV: Part ONE: Characters

BETTY
LLOYD
“BUTCH” ADAMS
ELLY
SHERIFF
JOE }
PLANK } _deputies_
MISS MEREDITH
BUD BICKEL
THE DAVIS BOY
COUNTRY-SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS

BIG LAKE

THE WOODS

SCENE 1

(_The woods adjoining the Big Lake, near Verdigree Switch, Indian
Territory, 1906. It is Spring. Vines creep on the trees just
putting out their green. The ground is soft with dead leaves,
among which grow the earliest flowers. A fallen log lies in a
tangle of last year’s briars. It is the grayness of morning. Color
is beginning to show in the East, where the lake lies, and as
the light grows the lake shines through the leaves._ LLOYD _and_
BETTY _come from the left, softly over the matted earth. They are
very young._ LLOYD _is tall, dark; he has black hair; his face is
sensitive; he wears rough shoes, dark trousers, and a pale blue
shirt._ BETTY’S _hair is yellow. She has let it down. It frames her
white, delicate face. Her dress is a coarse dark slip._)

LLOYD

It’s been s’ gray.

BETTY

It’s gettin’ lighter.

LLOYD

It’s been s’ gray. But now it’s gettin’ lighter and lighter—even to clear back here in the woods.

BETTY (_softly_)

I c’n feel the dawn.

LLOYD

_I_ c’n feel the dawn. I c’n _see_ the dawn! Look! Through the trees! Whur the lake’s at! The Big Lake’s a-shinin’ like a tub full o’ soap-suds! I’m glad we come. Ain’t you, Betty?

BETTY

I’m glad we come early.

LLOYD

I’m glad we come. (_They stand a moment breathless at the beauty before them._) Le’s set down. (_They sit at left._) The horse is tied up. Grub’s safe in the buggy. Miss Meredith ’n’ the rest of ’em won’t be here fer a long time yit.

BETTY

They’ll be here, though.

LLOYD

Yeow, but it’ll be a long time. Won’t Miss Meredith be supprised to find us here ahead of everbody? It was _my_ idee. She’ll think we’re purty smart.

BETTY

How many’s comin’?

LLOYD

The whole class, I guess—’cept the Davis boy. It’ll be a nice day to picnic, won’t it? (_He rises and goes away from her and looks out toward the Lake. Softly, then more and more ecstatic, like a prayer_—) I alwys liked the Big Lake. I’ve come here many’s the time with Paw, when we’d went out to git some cattle. Miles and miles through the bilin’ heat, tongue clawin’ at yer mouth—a-eatin’ dust, mebbe we’d go. Dust bilin’ up and blindin’ you—a-gettin’ in yer mouth and eyes till you thought you couldn’t stand it. An’ then the dark woods here—briars a-clawin’ at yer legs and hands, rattlers a-hidin’ under the leaves mebbe, logs t’ make yer horses jump, and branches ye’d have t’ dodge. Then the lake—flowin’ wide out—plum over almost out o’ sight—a-settin’ thar in the sun like sump’n you never hoped t’ see! I’d alwys want t’ git off my horse and go down to the edge of it—and tech it—and look at it—a long time. But Paw ud alwys say, “Set thar a-gawkin’, you kid. We got to git back to the sawmill ’fore 2 o’clock,” or he’d say, “’Tother end o’ the Lake is dried up purty good, son. We could cross over thar ’stid o’ goin’ round by the section line.” (_After a moment._) I ain’t never seen it like this, though. It’s purtier’n I ever seen it. And we c’n look at it ’s long’s we want to. And we c’n go out on it—in a boat—if they is a boat—

BETTY (_timidly_)

Why don’t you come over here and set down by me?

LLOYD

Why don’t you come over here and look at the lake?

BETTY

I c’n see it good—from here.

LLOYD

Come on over the big log, and you c’n see it better.

BETTY

No. I like it here better.

LLOYD (_puzzled_)

You’re funny. Set over thar then. I like you thar jist as well. You look purty good no matter whur you’re a-settin’. You _set_ purty good. I like you settin’ thar with the vine leaves and the tree leaves behind you. You’ve got purtier and purtier, Betty.

BETTY

Have I? You’re sweet to say it.

LLOYD

Why wouldn’t I say it?

BETTY

No reason not to. I like to hear it.

LLOYD

Words git in the way some. I cain’t think t’ say much.

BETTY

They’s no need t’ say much—

LLOYD

They _is_ need to. Seems t’ me yore comin’ to Verdigree wuz like you’d come from some place besides down the river. It made me think of the Bible—sump’n about the angel that come down to roll away the stone—

BETTY

You wuzn’t dead.

LLOYD

I uz asleep, I wuz. I uz young-asleep. I uz boy-asleep. I’m awake now. I’m a man. I’ve come to life.

BETTY

You’d think I uz an angel—sproutin’ wings!

LLOYD

You’re better’n an angel—

BETTY

I ain’t!

LLOYD

You air, too, to me. Better’n an angel! I’ll put this flower in yer hair—

BETTY

No.

LLOYD

’S like a star.

BETTY

No, no. Whur’d you git it at?

LLOYD (_puzzled_)

Why, _here_.

BETTY (_strangely_)

Under the leaves. It growed up through the dead leaves. I don’t like it—

LLOYD

Why, Betty!

BETTY

I cain’t stand them kind of flowers.

LLOYD

’S jist a flower. Growin’ in the woods.

BETTY

In the dark woods. Lloyd—

LLOYD (_puzzled_)

Whut is it?

BETTY

Lloyd, le’s go away frum here—

LLOYD

Whur’d you want to go to?

BETTY

Out of here, out of these woods! (_Pleading for him to understand._) Oh, you think I ain’t right. I cain’t expect you to know how I feel. They’s sump’n—I don’t know what it is— Please! It’s like the woods wuz waitin’—

LLOYD

Like a animal.

BETTY

To git us. To git us! I’m afeard. They’s things growin’ here—an’ fightin’. They’s things crawlin’ on the ground, under the ground—in the trees—everwhur! I’m afeard!

LLOYD

_I’m_ afeard!

BETTY

Lloyd!

LLOYD

I’m afeard, too! Le’s go—

BETTY

Whur’ll we go to?

LLOYD

Out on the lake.

BETTY

They’s no boat.

LLOYD

Futher down—they’s a cabin, I know, and a boat—mebbe. Come on—le’s go to it. (_They start._ LLOYD _stops, shaking off his fear_.) Aw, listen. Whut’s the matter with us? Runnin’ like rabbits. They ain’t nuthin’ to be skeered of. We’re jist cold, that’s all. That’s it. Drivin’ so long ’fore it got light has jist got us chilled to the bone.

BETTY

I ain’t cold.

LLOYD

Y’air. Cold as ice. Ye’re tremblin’.

BETTY

I’m afeard!

LLOYD

We’ll go the cabin, then. It’s safe thar.

BETTY

And git the boat and go out on the lake?

LLOYD

We’ll git warm first.

BETTY

No! No! Le’s not go to the cabin. Le’s go on the lake.

LLOYD

Why, Betty! I never seen you like this!

BETTY

I never been like this. Come on, to the Lake—

LLOYD (_patiently_)

Now, Betty, to the cabin first. Why, you’re _cold_! They’ll be a fa’r a-burnin’ thar. I doan know who’s a-livin’ thar, but we’ll go up and knock, and ask t’ git warm. They’ll be up. Country folks git up early. And they’ll have a fa’r—a nice roarin’ warm fa’r in the fa’rplace fer us to git warm at. Won’t you like that?

BETTY

Mebbe—

LLOYD

It’s the funniest kind o’ cabin you ever see. It’s a log cabin. I been in it a long time ago with Paw. It’s a nice log cabin. An’ they’ll have a fa’r.

BETTY (_reluctantly_)

Well, I’ll go—if you think—

LLOYD

Frum the outside it looks jist like any log cabin. But when you open the door, and look in—whut do you see? Steps! Three steps a-goin’ down to the dirt floor. It’s part under the ground—

BETTY

Oh! Like it growed up out o’ the ground—?

LLOYD

Yes, jist like that! Like it growed out o’ the ground!

BETTY (_with conviction_)

It growed out o’ the ground. It growed out o’ the same ground the big woods growed out of! (_She shudders._)

LLOYD

Yeow.

BETTY

Le’s don’t go thar!

LLOYD

Jist long enough to git warm.

BETTY

No, not that long!

LLOYD

And to ask ’em fer the boat—if they got a boat.

BETTY (_desperately_)

Couldn’t we jist take the boat—’thout asking?

LLOYD

Betty! Course we couldn’t!

BETTY

I don’t see why, I don’t see!

LLOYD (_laughs_)

We ain’t thieves.

BETTY

_I’d_ be one.

LLOYD

No, you wouldn’t. Come on.

BETTY

To the Lake?

LLOYD

To the cabin first.

BETTY

Lake!

LLOYD (_firmly_)

No, Betty, cabin! (_They go out, right._)

_Curtain_

THE WOODS

SCENE 2

(_Interior of the cabin. At the back three steps descend from the
planked door to the dirt floor of the cabin. Windows, curtained,
are on either side of the door. They are so high up that only a
tall man can see out. A wide fireplace made of stone rises from
the floor at the right end of the room. In the left corner of the
cabin, a wide double-deck bunk juts out. Crazy quilts cover both
beds. A few chairs, a rough table (set for breakfast at right of
steps) and utensils for cooking at the fireplace—complete the
furnishings. A fire burns in the fireplace; coffee bubbles on a
little iron stand on the hearth. It is dark and gloomy; no direct
sunlight has ever reached this secret place._

ELLY, _a tall, dark woman of thirty-five, stands tensely by the
corner of the bunk. Her face, even in her excitement, is brooding
and restrained. Her thick black hair, parted in the middle, is
done up in a knob at the back of her head. She is wearing a faded,
predominantly purple, plaid dress—full-sleeved, full-skirted,
pulled in at the waist. After a moment she goes swiftly to the
fireplace, pokes the fire, then goes across to the window nearest
the bunk, and with extraordinary agility and grace steps upon a
chair under the window and looks out. She gets down, goes slowly
toward the fireplace. In the center of the room she halts, wheels
about and faces the door. It opens. A man comes in quickly, and
closes the door as if shutting something out. He turns, facing her
from the top of the steps. He is of medium height, brutal, crafty.
His clothes are nondescript and unclean. His hair slants into his
eyes._)

ELLY

Butch! Thank God! I didn’t see ya— (_She makes a step toward him._)

BUTCH (_quickly_)

Shet up!

ELLY

Butch, w’at is it?

BUTCH (_in a hoarse whisper_)

Shet up, I tell you! Squawkin’ like a hen. You wanta git me killed? (_In a low voice._) They follered me.

ELLY

Tell me—w’at is it—?

BUTCH

I’ll show ’em! They won’t git me. I’ve got away frum better men ’n they are. They won’t git me alive—the lousy bums! I’d like to see ’em! They follered me. I been at the Switch. An’ when I started back I seen three men a-follerin’. They’ll come here. (_He stops thoughtfully._) They ain’t got nuthin’ on me. They cain’t prove nuthin’— (_In a hard, matter-of-fact voice._) They don’t _know_ it’s me done it. They only got somebody’s word. They don’t know it, and they cain’t prove it. No one saw me—

ELLY (_with foreboding_)

Butch, I knowed this ud come. I knowed it. You’ll git sent up. And it ain’t right. You ain’t done nuthin’ wrong. It’s jist a law. W’at the hell’s a law? W’at’s it good fer? Why’n’t it agin the law everwhur else to sell whiskey? Them men whur they have their corner saloons all polished up—a-makin’ it criminal to sell a man a drink—w’at’s right about it? (_With scorn._) Oh, yes! I know. Pertectin’ the Indians! They don’t want the Indians to git all lit up like _they_ do all the time—ever day, ever night, regular. (_With disgust._) Hell! Indians! I ain’t saw two Indians since I come to Indian Territory. Now they’ll git you. I’ve knowed it. They’ll stick you fer sellin’ the stuff to the poor fools that’s too skeered, and too weak, and too damn big a cowards to go up to Kansas City or Joplin and bring in their own whiskey, like a man. They’ll send you to jail—the only man that’s got guts enough to do it. You’ll git ten year or more. W’at’ll I git? I’ll git off—that’s w’at I’ll git. I’ll git left here to rot!

BUTCH

Shet up! (_He goes up the steps and listens intently. Then he comes down._) Let up on yer jail stuff. You’ll have me skeered. And I got to keep my senses. Listen t’ me. I been follered before. The last bunch o’ guys laid in wait close to the Holler whur the whiskey’s at. Did that stop me frum gettin’ the whiskey and gettin’ out with it? Did that stop me frum sellin’ it regler to Joe Hurd’s Curio Store at Claremont? I been follered lots o’ times and you know it. I been follered lots o’ times ’count o’ selling whiskey. It ain’t nuthin’ new to me. But this time I’m follered and it ain’t on the ’count o’ whiskey! They’s sump’n else....

ELLY

Butch! You got to tell me! W’at is it, w’at’ve you done?

BUTCH

Easy, easy!

ELLY

You wuz skeered! I never see you like that before. You’ve done sump’n. Tell me w’at it is. W’at’ve you done?

BUTCH

Lay off, take it easy....

ELLY

Butch....

BUTCH

Christ’s sake! You’re a mad womern! Keep yer shirt on! Mebbe I ain’t done _nuthin’_. Mebbe I jist been foolin’ myself. Mebbe—for all I know, they ain’t nuthin’ to git excited about.

ELLY (_suddenly_)

Butch! You got blood on yer coat! (_She stands a moment, terrified._) You’re hurt! Why’n’t you tell me? Quick, lemme fix it—I didn’t know.

BUTCH

I ain’t hurt.

ELLY

You’re bleedin’.

BUTCH

It ain’t my blood. (ELLY _draws back, her hand at her face, confused_.) I killed a man.

ELLY (_sickened_)

Oh! (_With terrible conviction._) You’ll hang fer it, Butch Adams! Why’d you go and do it? Who wuz it?

BUTCH (_begins in a hard voice, but becomes more and more excited_.)

Jim Dory. He told on me fer sellin’ whiskey. He told the federal officers at Tulsy. I killed him. Stuck a knife in him and turned it around. That’s why I went out at midnight ... to lay fer him. I knowed he’d go to the play-party over t’ Binghams. I laid fer him in the big woods close to the sawmill here. He’d go that a-way home, I figgered. About three o’clock this mornin’ he come along in a buggy with one horse to it. I jumped out and grabbed the bridle. He lep’ out on me with a knife. I got a-hold of it. I stuck it through his ribs and turned it around. Then I got skeered. They might think I done it ... findin’ him so close t’ here. It wouldn’t do to find him so close. I picked him up and dumped him in the buggy and give the horse a crack with a stick. He started off in a run down the road. But not afore I’d saw Jim kinda raise up one of his hands to his face! He wuzn’t dead. I hadn’t made shore! He wuzn’t dead, and he’d tell on me! He’d tell some one ’fore he died, and I’d hang fer it! I thought mebbe I could ketch up and finish the job. But the horse run like mad, crashin’ through the bushes but keepin’ purty close to the road. I run and run after him—almost to the Switch. Then I seen some one come out of the store whur a light was burnin’, and grab the horse’s bridle. I seen him take Jim up and carry him in and shet the door. I run away then. I didn’t know if he wuz dead or not. If he wuzn’t, he’d tell on me! I wuz crazy—not knowin’ if he wuz dead or not. I come on to the woods. I couldn’t stand it not knowin’: I started back. When I got to the edge of the woods I seen three men comin’ up the road. I knowed one of ’em! It wuz the Shuruff. They musta wired to Claremont fer him. Jim ’d _told_ on me! Elly! Whut’ll I do? They’ll git me! (ELLY _goes over to the fireplace, in her absorbed way, without speaking, and pours some water in a pan_.) Elly! They’ll be here any minute! Fer God’s sake, say sump’n!

ELLY

Yer breakfast’s ready.

BUTCH

Elly!...

ELLY

Take off yer coat. (_He does, like one in a daze._) Throw it under the bunk. (_He does so._) Wash yer hands. (_He moves toward the pan slowly and begins to wash his hands. She has gone to the table with the coffee pot and poured some coffee. He finishes washing and dries his hands on a towel._) Set down. (_He moves toward the table._)

BUTCH

But, Elly....

ELLY (_imperiously_)

Set down! And eat yer breakfast,—Mister Murderer! (_He sits._ ELLY _leans over the table_.) Eat a plenty. Drink—here’s coffee. Salt pork, gravy, potaters—eat ’em! Enjoy yerself!

BUTCH (_half rising_)

Whut’re you meanin’! I hadn’t oughta done it? Whut’d you want me to do ... let him git away with it, let that dirty little coward sneak off to Tulsy and sick the officers onto me like bloodhounds ’n do nuthin’ about it? That ain’t my way! If some one does me dirt he gets his, you c’n count on it! I ain’t no Christian: I’m a man!

ELLY (_with infinite scorn_)

_You_—

BUTCH

I’m a man. Let up!

ELLY (_goes away from him. Bitterly._...)

You’re lower’n I thought you wuz. I never thought t’ be livin’ with a murderer. (_He comes toward her._) Oh, I ain’t so good. I know. You don’t have t’ tell me. But I never thought t’ come t’ this. I thought I knowed w’at I uz gettin’ into when I went away with you. I knowed you uz a bootlegger. I didn’t keer. It’s clean. It’s right. But killin’ ... I stop at killin’! Why’d you go and do it? Why _did_ you? Now they’ll come and take you. They’ll take you away from me!

BUTCH

Christ’s sake, shet up! They’d a-took me away fer bootleggin’.

ELLY

No, they wouldn’ta! They couldn’t ’a’ proved it. But now they’ll take you. They’ll hang you fer murder. (_She clings to him._) No, I won’t let ’em! They _cain’t_ take you! I love you—I cain’t help it. ’N I won’t let ’em take you away frum me! I won’t let em! I’ll find a way! I will! They ain’t proved you done it ... you said no one seen you....

BUTCH

They got Jim’s word, I tell you....

ELLY (_calmer_)

He’s dead. He cain’t talk now.

BUTCH

Sh—! I heerd sump’n! (_Excitedly—drawing his pistol._) They won’t git me!...

ELLY

Gimme that gun!

BUTCH

... Not’s long’s I’m alive!

ELLY

Butch! Give it t’ me! I’m all right now. I ain’t never advised you wrong. I’ll git you outa this! Listen t’ me: you ain’t been outa the house, y’hear—not since yistiddy. Eat yer breakfast! (_She goes to the window, steps on the chair, and looks out._) It’s only a man an’ womern....

BUTCH

It’s a _blind_!

ELLY

No, no! (_Coming down._) It’s jist a boy and girl—a couple o’ kids.

BUTCH

Keep ’em out!

ELLY

No! We’ll let ’em _in_! It’s Providence!

BUTCH

It’s a blind, I tell you....

ELLY

It’s luck! It’s our luck. Mebbe we c’n use ’em....

BUTCH

How?

ELLY

Some way. I doan know yit. Gimme the gun. (_He hands it to her, reluctantly._) Keep yer head. These two’ll come in. They’ll keep you frum hangin’, Butch Adams! (_She goes swiftly to the bunks, and hides the pistol under the quilts._ BUTCH _goes back to the table and sits. There is a moment of intense silence. Then a knock._) Come in!

(LLOYD _and_ BETTY _come in. They look very slight, very delicate,
in this somber place._)

LLOYD (_awkwardly_)

How’d do?

ELLY

Howdy.

LLOYD

You got a fa’r we could git warm at?

ELLY

Over thar.

LLOYD

If it ud bother you— If we’d be in yer way.

ELLY

It won’t bother me. Nuthin’ gits in my way. You’re welcome. Come in, an’ git warm if you want to. (_They come down the steps slowly._ ELLY _turns to the window_.) I’ll git you a cheer.

(LLOYD _and_ BETTY _turn, and are about to go to the fireplace
when_ BUTCH _rises from the table where he has been sitting. They
see him for the first time and stop in alarm._)

ELLY (_quickly_)

Butch, bring a cheer up. (_He picks up a chair and sets it in front of the fireplace._ LLOYD _and_ BETTY _watch him anxiously. He goes across to the bunks and sits down._ ELLY _crosses over with another chair._) Here’s another cheer. Set down. (_They go over slowly and sit._) The fa’r’s goin’ strong. Mebbe you’d like a cup of hot coffee?

LLOYD

Would you, Betty? (_She shakes her head._) No, ma’am. Thank you.

ELLY

I guess you’ve had yer breakfast.

LLOYD

No’m, we ain’t yit. We’re gonna have it ’s soon’s Miss Meredith comes.

ELLY

Who’s Miss Meredith?

LLOYD

Our teacher.

ELLY

Oh! Over t’ the Switch.

LLOYD

Yes’m. It’s a picnic breakfast here in the woods—fer the whole class.

ELLY

Oh! (_After a moment._) You’ve come awful early.

LLOYD

Nobody’s come yit—but us. We come early.

ELLY

How’d you happen to do that?

LLOYD (_hesitating_)

Why, we—we jist thought we’d come early. We drove over from the Switch. Horse and buggy’s up here a ways—not fur.

ELLY

Oh! (_She looks from one to the other. Then to_ BETTY.) Air you gittin’ warm, Miss?

BETTY (_gratefully_)

Yes’m. I wuz cold.

LLOYD

She wuz tremblin’.

ELLY

You’d oughta wear more clothes when you go out s’ early.

BETTY

Yes’m.

ELLY

Yer Maw ud oughta told you.

BETTY

Maw’s dead.

ELLY

Yer Paw ud oughta told you, then.

BETTY

He’s asleep. (_The three smile at this._ LLOYD _and_ BETTY _begin to feel more at ease_.) This is the first time I been out s’ early. I didn’t know it wuz cold. Now I know. ’Fore it gits sun-up it’s li’ble to be. Even after sun-up it’s apt to be cold here in the woods, ain’t it?

BUTCH (_suddenly_)

Elly! Ain’t you got a coat you could let her borry?

ELLY (_surprised_)

Why, yes, I got a coat. (_To_ BETTY.) I’ll lend you one.

BETTY

No’m, you mustn’t. I’m obliged to you, but I doan need it.

ELLY

You shore?

BETTY

Yes’m.

(BUTCH’S _interruption causes a constrained silence_. ELLY _goes
away toward the bunks thoughtfully_. BETTY, _uneasy, looks at_
LLOYD. _Then_ BUTCH _rises, crosses the room, takes the poker and
stirs the fire. He goes back to the little table and sits down._
LLOYD _rises, makes a step toward_ ELLY.)

Mebbe we better go now—

BUTCH (_loudly_)

Set down! (_He begins eating his breakfast._)

ELLY (_quickly_)

He ain’t had his breakfast. Don’t mind him.

LLOYD

We better go.

ELLY

He don’t mean nuthin’.

LLOYD (_uneasy_)

Well, we’ll stay a minute or two. (_He goes back and sits down._)

ELLY (_as if nothing had happened_)

Must be fun to come a-picnickin’ in the woods.

LLOYD

I doan know. I ain’t never been.

ELLY

I ain’t been since I uz yore age. _Why_ ain’t you been?

LLOYD

I’ve always worked, helped my Dad drive cattle—till now. I’m in school.

ELLY

And ain’t never been to school before?

LLOYD

No, ma’am.

ELLY

And ain’t never went on picnics?

LLOYD

Not till now.

ELLY

I used to go all the time when I uz yore age. In Kansas City. Woods wuzn’t fur away. Used to go—a whole crowd of us—ever Sunday. Set on the ground ... real ground, ’stid o’ pavement ... with grass a-growin’ out of it. First I’d ever saw. We thought it wuz fine. You’ve missed a lot.

LLOYD

Yes’m. I guess so. But I’ve had fun. I been out with Paw a lot—drivin’ cattle. He buys ’em up differnt places—Verdigree, Foyil, Sageeyah, even ’s fur away’s Pryor Crick. Nen we saddle up our horses’n go out ’n drive ’em in to ship to the market at St. Louis.

ELLY

W’at’s fun about drivin’ cattle? Sounds like work t’ me.

LLOYD

Well, it’s work. And it’s fun, too.

ELLY

In winter, looks like you’d freeze yer ears off....

LLOYD

We don’t drive ’em much in winter.

ELLY

Well, in the summer then, ’n the spring: I doan see w’at’s fun about the scorchin’ heat ’n the dust ’n the hot wind. I’d wanta be in out of it. I’d wanta be under a roof whur the sun didn’t hit me....

LLOYD

Sun’s bad. Dust’s bad, too. Wind ain’t so good. But they’s sump’n else....

ELLY

Yeow? W’at is it?

LLOYD (_going across to her_)

I doan know ... it’s kinda crazy....

ELLY

I had a crazy brother.

LLOYD (_smiling_)

Well, it ain’t as bad as that.

ELLY

My brother wuzn’t bad. Jist wuzn’t right. He used to run out in the woods here like he uz wild. He lived here with us. He done queer things.

LLOYD

This is queer too. You’ll laugh. You see, when Paw and me goes out t’ drive cattle, some time or other we pass by the Big Lake.

ELLY (_strangely_)

The Lake?

LLOYD

Yes’m. Sometimes it’s early ... when we first start out frum the Switch. Sometimes it’s the middle of the day—when we’ve got back frum Grand River. Sometimes it’s night. But we alwys pass by it—some time or other.

ELLY

I doan see w’at’s fun about it. I been livin’ here three year. I c’n see the Lake any time. They’s no fun to that.

LLOYD

I cain’t explain it very well. It’s nice—nice t’ see it. ’N no matter whur you’re at, whut time o’ day it is, it’s nice to know the Lake’s thar. ’N it’s nice to know ’at some time mebbe you’ll git a chance to go out on it. I ain’t never been. I alwys want to. (_Smiling._) Kinda crazy, ain’t it?

ELLY (_thoughtfully_)

Yes.

LLOYD

I told you it wuz.

ELLY (_slowly_)

You’re not the only one.

LLOYD

The only one whut?

ELLY

Crazy. They’s others. I’ve saw ’em. Do you ever read the newspapers?

LLOYD

Why, no’m—I—

ELLY

Cain’t read?

LLOYD

Well, not much. But I’m gonna learn better.

ELLY

How long you lived at the Switch?

LLOYD

Alwys lived thar.

ELLY

Then you musta heerd of people gettin’ drownded in the Lake?

LLOYD

Yes’m.

ELLY

Crazy. Why’d they go on it?

LLOYD

’Tain’t the Lake’s fault. It’s their’n.

ELLY

Yeow. Fer goin’ out on it.

LLOYD

No. Fer keerlessness. Some of ’em fall in. Some of ’em turn the boat over. Sometimes the boat leaks....

ELLY

Yeow. But if they didn’t try to go out on the Lake, the boat wouldn’t leak, the boat wouldn’t turn over, ’n they wouldn’t fall in. It’s their fault fer goin’!

LLOYD

But people will go out on it. People want to. It ain’t wrong.

ELLY

No. ’Tain’t wrong. ’N people will do it. That’s the trouble: they will do it. ’N do you know who it is does it? D’you know who it is that’s alwys gettin’ drownded in the Lake? People like you—young people—like yerselves—picnickin’! My brother—he got drownded out thar—a month back. We never did find him.

(BUTCH _has risen to put a log on the fire_. BETTY _shrinks away
from him as he goes near her_.)

BUTCH

Warm now?

BETTY

Yes, sir. (LLOYD _goes over quickly, anxiously_.) We better go, Lloyd. I’m warm. I’m plenty warm.

LLOYD

Well, we’ll go then. (_To_ BUTCH.) Thank you, Mister— Thank you fer the fa’r. (_He turns toward_ ELLY.) I wuz goin’ t’ ask you if we could borry yer boat. I doan know now if I want to....

BETTY (_quickly, nervously ... to_ ELLY)

You got a boat, ain’t you?

ELLY

Yes.

BETTY

Let us borry it ... awhile? Please! Let us borry it!

LLOYD (_to_ BETTY)

You still wanta go on the lake?

BETTY

Yes. I do. (_To_ ELLY.) Please. Cain’t we take it fer a while?

ELLY

I doan know—I ain’t so shore....

BUTCH (_suddenly_)

Borry it! Borry it all you want to! Here’s the key. (LLOYD _takes it_.) Bring it back when you git ready. Oars is over thar by the door.

LLOYD

Thank you. (_To_ ELLY.) Thanks fer the f’ar. (LLOYD _and_ BETTY _go toward the steps. He picks up the oars. They go up the steps._ LLOYD _turns to_ ELLY.) The oars seem to be good. The boat—don’t leak, does it?

ELLY

No, it don’t leak.

LLOYD (_smiling_)

Well. I’m keerful. Betty’s keerful. We’ll make out all right, I guess!

(_They go out._ ELLY _looks sharply at_ BUTCH. _He turns back to
the table and sits down. She follows him over._)

ELLY (_sharply_)

Why’d you do it?

BUTCH

Do whut?

ELLY

Give ’em the key. Give ’em the oars.

BUTCH

Why, to git rid of ’em. I didn’t want ’em here. It uz you wanted ’em.

ELLY

You’re lyin’. Why’d you do it?

BUTCH

I told you.

ELLY

That wuzn’t it. You got some reason.

BUTCH

You had a reason fer lettin’ ’em come in, too. You said you did, anyway. Well, what wuz it?

ELLY

I thought we could use ’em....

BUTCH

Use ’em! How could we use ’em?

ELLY

I guess we cain’t....

BUTCH (_scornfully_)

No, ’course not! You never had no idee of it. You wuz jist talkin’....

ELLY

I did have an idee. I thought—when I seen ’em outside ... they might be a way of throwin’ the blame onto that boy, someway....

BUTCH (_rising—excited_)

Elly! You thought of blamin’ him with....

ELLY

Yes. ’Fore I _seen_ him, I did. After he come in, I knowed we couldn’t.

BUTCH

Why not?

ELLY

I wouldn’t have the nerve—to try to throw it onto him. Mebbe it ud work all right, mebbe it could be done. They’s ways of makin’ fools outa the law.... Oh, I know, I’ve done it many’s the time ... an’ we could git suspicion on this boy someway. And he’d hang too—innocent and all! But I cain’t do it, I wouldn’t think of doin’ it....

BUTCH (_harshly_)

Well, why wouldn’t you?

ELLY (_frightened_)

Butch! Fergit I said it, fergit I ever thought of sich a thing.

BUTCH (_grimly_)

I’m glad you thought of it.

ELLY

W’at’d you mean?

BUTCH

I mean—it’s an idee.... I wouldn’t a-thought of it. I c’n see, I c’n see a way—you’re a smart womern, Elly.... Wait a minute, lemme think....

ELLY

No! You cain’t do it. W’at’re you thinkin’ of?

BUTCH

Why not? D’you want me to hang?

ELLY

No.

BUTCH

Shet up, then! The officers’ll come here. Whut’ll I tell ’em ... whut’ll I say—they’ll come in the door—this boy—he’ll be out on the lake by that time....

ELLY

Butch! Butch!

BUTCH

Shet up!

ELLY

You cain’t plan to do this! I won’t let you git that boy killed. He’s too young, he’s too sweet-lookin’....

BUTCH

Ha! Ain’t I young? Ain’t I sweet-lookin’? You’ve said so. ’D you mean it?

ELLY

I come here—and lived with you.

BUTCH

So’d Lilly. So’d Marge. ’N whut’d they do? Lilly on her death bed a-damnin’ me—I c’n hear her yit. Marge—she tried to give me up to the law. I fixed her. Hell! They both come here, ’n lived with me. That don’t prove nuthin’. You got to prove it some other way. You got to help me....

ELLY

I’ve helped you—bendin’ over yer f’ar, cookin’ yer victuals, washin’ yer clothes, makin’ the beds you’ve slep’ in. I’ve helped you ... livin’ in this damp cellar like a mole with no sunshine a-comin’ in and no moonlight ever. I’ve tended you when you uz sick, I’ve lied fer you, I’ve buried myself away frum all the decent folks I ever knowed—here in these dark woods fer three year. Why’d I do it? Why _did_ I? It’s proof you want, is it? Then look at me, Butch Adams! _I’m_ proof! Look at me! I uz young when I come here with you three year ago. I uz young—like that little girl that uz here jist now. I wuzn’t as purty as her, but I uz young like her. Look at me now!

BUTCH

You’re talkin’. You’re puttin’ words together. Whut good are they to me? They won’t save my neck frum hangin’. You got to help me. If you got to talk, tell me whut to do. The Shuruff’ll be comin’ here. Whut’ll I say to him? They ain’t nuthin’ to say to him, unless you help me. I got a plan—

ELLY

Not that boy!

BUTCH

You got to help me. They don’t keer who they hang in this country. One man’s as good as another fer hangin’. _They_ don’t keer. But _I_ do! I keer fer hangin’. It’s got to be some one else.

ELLY

Not that boy!

BUTCH

That _boy_! It’s got to be him! It’s got to be him killed Jim Dory—

ELLY

They’ll never b’lieve he done it.

BUTCH

They’ll believe it—

ELLY

Jim Dory must’a’ told ’em ’fore he died who done it—

BUTCH

That don’t prove it. My word’s as good as his. Jim might’a’ made a mistake; in the dark woods he couldn’t see so well ... not even if it ud been daylight. Mebbe—some one else done it—

ELLY

Not that boy!

BUTCH

That boy, I tell you!

ELLY

No, Butch, no!

BUTCH

Shet up!

ELLY

I cain’t let you. You doan know w’at you’re doin....

BUTCH

Doin’? I’m savin’ my neck, that’s whut I’m doin’!

ELLY

You’re losin’ it. If you git that boy hung, you’re hangin’ yerself!

BUTCH

You’d tell on me! Damn you, I’d oughta kill you!

ELLY

Kill me then! Coward! Don’t you know if I done w’at’s right, I’d tell on you now? I’d give you up to the law fer the brute you are, an’ let you hang as you’d oughta hang! Why don’t I? (_Bitterly._) Yes, why don’t I? ’Cause I’m a fool, that’s why! I’m like all the women in the world that’s ever lived: I ain’t good, I ain’t decent, I ain’t even honest except to one man! I hate you!

BUTCH

Oh, you do, eh? Well, whut is it you mean, then? If I get that boy hung, how’ll that be hangin’ myself?

ELLY

Wuzn’t you ever young?

BUTCH

Whut’s that got to do with it?

ELLY (_pleading_)

Wuzn’t you ever jist startin’ life? Wuzn’t you ever innocent and good, and wantin’ to go out into the world and expectin’ it to be kind to you?...

BUTCH

No!

ELLY (_softly_)

Then you won’t understand. This boy is that a-way. You cain’t kill a thing like that. If you killed him, you’d be killin’ w’at uz good in you once ... if they uz ever anything....

BUTCH

You’re preachin’. Let up! Whut’d you think this is? It’s got to be the way I say, Elly. If I wanna save my neck, I got to throw the blame on some one else....

ELLY (_triumphantly_)

Not that boy! I’ll tell you _another_ reason why! If you’d a-looked at him, you’d know the reason yerself! Anybody, even the Shuruff a-lookin’ at him would know that that boy couldn’t do nuthin’ wrong, he couldn’t kill a man....

BUTCH

Elly!

ELLY

He couldn’t even hurt any one’s feelin’s! And _besides_,—his story’s as good as yourn. They’d know w’at he said wuz the truth! You got to try some other plan, Butch. You got to try to get away. You got to sneak out in the woods an’ hide a day or two. I’ll take you grub t’ eat some way. Then when things blows over more we’ll light out fer Texas till they fergit all about us. You could hide close to the old sawmill some’er’s. They’d never think o’ lookin’ there fer you—so near—so near whur Jim—Hurry up, now! (_She crosses and gets his gun._) You ain’t got much time. Take yer gun. Don’t use it unless you have to—promise me! I want you to be safe. (_She offers him the gun._)

BUTCH (_thoughtfully_)

No. Put the gun back....

ELLY

Butch!

BUTCH

You tuck it away frum me once....

ELLY (_frightened_)

You’re not gonna give yerself up? Butch, no! You’ll be hung!

BUTCH

You said they’d never b’lieve that boy done it, eh?

ELLY

Yes. They won’t. They’ll know he couldn’t.

BUTCH

An’ they’ll b’lieve him, eh? His story’ll be better’n mine, eh?

ELLY

They’ll know it’s the truth.

BUTCH

I b’lieve you.

ELLY

Then why don’t you go—before the Shuruff comes?...

BUTCH

I ain’t goin’!

ELLY

You ain’t givin’ yerself up? Butch, you mustn’t! It’s wrong of me to say it. You’ve broke the laws, you’ve sold whiskey, you’ve killed a man—you’d oughta suffer fer it. But you mustn’t! You got to go—quick—they’s time! I’ll leave you grub ever’ day by the foot-log that’s been washed up by the Crick. I’ll keep a lookout. When it’s safe—

BUTCH

I ain’t goin’. I ain’t gonna give myself up, neither. I got a plan. (_Fiercely._) An’ if you try to bungle it, if you try t’ put yer nose in, or even open yer mouth, I’ll kill you, d’ you hear! You know I will, too!

ELLY

W’at’re you gonna do?

BUTCH

Put that gun back. Put it back, I say!

(_She crosses reluctantly, and is putting the gun back in the bunk.
The door is kicked open, viciously. Three men with pistols in their
hands eye them from the high threshold. It is the_ SHERIFF _and his
deputies_.)

SHERIFF (_nervously_)

Two of ’em. Keep yer eye on the womern, Plank. (_To_ BUTCH.) Put ’em up! (_The men come down into the room. The_ SHERIFF _is a florid-faced man, with a long mustache_.) Search him, Joe. (JOE _comes over, makes a quick search of_ BUTCH, _and finds nothing_.) No gun, eh? Make shore, Joe. We doan wanna take no chances.

JOE

They ain’t none, Shuruff.

SHERIFF

All right. Keep yer gun on him. (_To_ BUTCH.) Guess you know whut we want you fer, Adams. Yer name’s Adams, ain’t it?

JOE

_Butch_ Adams, Shuruff.

SHERIFF

You’ve killed a man.

BUTCH

I doan know whut you’re talkin’ about. Come bustin’ into my house this a-way. Whut right’ve you got?

SHERIFF

Dry up.

BUTCH

You got a warrant?

SHERIFF

Warrant, hell!

BUTCH

You got no right here. I oughta shoot you down.

SHERIFF (_laughs shortly_)

Shoot! Whut’ll you shoot with? Strikes me as funny you got no shootin’ iron on you an’ you jist murderin’ a man in cold blood—

BUTCH

I never! I doan know whut you’re talkin’ about—

SHERIFF

We won’t argy with you.

BUTCH

Show me yer warrant.

SHERIFF

They ain’t no warrant.

BUTCH

I’ll have the law on you.

SHERIFF

_I’m_ the law! Le’s go. ’S funny about you havin’ no gun—I doan understand it—

PLANK (_suddenly—to_ ELLY)

Stand whur you air. Git away from that bunk. Lemme see whut you’re a-doin’— (_He turns back the cover and finds the pistol._) So that’s whut you’re up to, eh?

SHERIFF

Whut is it, Plank?

PLANK

She uz reachin’ fer a gun. I thought they uz sump’n funny when we come in. She seemed t’ be a-bendin’ over like she uz huntin’ sump’n—

SHERIFF (_taking the pistol_)

So that’s it? (_To_ BUTCH.) Didn’t have time t’ git hold of it, did you? ’S lucky we kicked the door open—

ELLY

He didn’t do it.

BUTCH

I ain’t been outa the house—

ELLY

Don’t you take him! He ain’t done nuthin’!

BUTCH

I ain’t done nuthin’. (_Significantly._) If Jim Dory said my name—

SHERIFF

Jim Dory, eh? Who said anything about Jim Dory? I guess you’ve told on yerself!

BUTCH

I never!

SHERIFF

You’ve fixed yerself now! Look around, Joe. I’ll watch him. They oughta be evidence, too.

(JOE _begins his search of the room, over by the bunks. He crosses
to the fireplace._)

JOE

Don’t see nuthin’.

BUTCH

You won’t find nuthin’—

JOE

Here’s a pan! Bloody water, Shuruff!

SHERIFF

Le’s see it—

JOE (_bringing it over_)

He washed his hands.

SHERIFF

You got ’em bloody, did you—puttin’ Jim back in the buggy? Oh, he told. He had time to git out a word or two afore he died. Well, we got evidence. We got you now whur we want you—

BUTCH (_slowly_)

Shuruff—I’ll tell you—

SHERIFF

It’s time you told me.

BUTCH

I’ll tell you who done it. My brother—he done it.

ELLY

Butch!

BUTCH

He’s crazy. He runs wild here in the woods. He ain’t right—

SHERIFF (_sarcastically_)

Whut’s this?

BUTCH

He lives with us—my brother— You must’a’ heerd of him.

PLANK

I’ve heerd of a crazy boy here in the woods, Shuruff. But that don’t prove nuthin’. You hear funny stories about these woods here—

BUTCH

Ask Elly!

SHERIFF

’S this crazy boy live here with you?

ELLY (_after a moment_)

Yes.

SHERIFF

’N’ sleeps here?

ELLY

Yes. Sleeps thar. (_She points to the top bunk._)

SHERIFF (_to_ BUTCH)

He’s yer brother, eh?

BUTCH

Yes. Name’s Adams—too, like mine. I’ll tell you. I cain’t pertect him. I tried. He went out las’ night. I didn’t know why. He goes out—roams in the woods—all the time. Lately, he’s got to mumblin’ sump’n—like this: “Woods is too full—woods is too full. People.” I’ve heerd him, ask Elly.

ELLY

Oh, he did—he said that—“People. Too many people. They’s room in the lake—they’s room thar—they’s room in the lake. It’s big. It’s deep.” Oh— (_Buries her face in her hands._)

BUTCH

She liked him. He _uz my brother_. Las’ night he went out. He come in this mornin’ early. It uz him—it uz _him_ killed Jim Dory. He told me. Met him in the woods—stuck a knife in him. He washed his hands—they uz blood on ’em. He throwed his coat under the bunk—they uz blood on it. He went out again.

SHERIFF (_excitedly_)

Whur is he? Whur’d he go to?

BUTCH

Don’t ask me—

SHERIFF

Tell me—quick, whur is he?

ELLY (_in anguish_)

In the lake—that’s whur he’s at.

SHERIFF

In the lake?

ELLY

Drownded.

BUTCH

No—no! No, he ain’t, Shuruff. He’s _on_ the lake.

ELLY (_agonized_)

Butch!

BUTCH

In a boat.

SHERIFF

We’ll git him. He won’t git away!

BUTCH

You won’t git him—not alive, you won’t. You’ll have t’ be keerful if you even go near him—he’s got a gun!

SHERIFF

We’ll git him!

BUTCH

He’s crazy. He’ll shoot.

SHERIFF

We’ll shoot _first_!

ELLY

Shuruff! No, no! Don’t do it. Don’t listen t’ him.

BUTCH

Be keerful, Shuruff—

SHERIFF

I ain’t skeered of him—

BUTCH

They’s a girl with him—

SHERIFF

A girl—?

BUTCH

He run onto her som’er’s. Mebbe here in the woods. I doan know whur she come frum—_a young, purty girl_. (_Meaningly._) He’s got her with him—out on the lake.

SHERIFF

The bastard!

BUTCH

Be keerful. Don’t shoot _her_, Shuruff.

SHERIFF

Whur’s they a boat?

BUTCH

They ain’t but one. He’s in it—him and the girl.

SHERIFF

We’ll get him frum the bank, then. Joe, you stay here. Watch the cabin—outside. Don’t let these two get outa yer sight. Plank, you come with me.

(_The three men go up the steps._ JOE _and_ PLANK _go out_.)

ELLY

Shuruff, you mustn’t do it—they’s a reason—you mustn’t. I’ll tell you—

BUTCH (_quickly_)

He’s my brother, Shuruff. I don’t keer. He’s done wrong. Shoot him down.

SHERIFF

You’re damn right I will. Like a dog! (_He goes out._)

ELLY (_agonized_)

W’at made you?

BUTCH

You told me yerself—

ELLY

No—

BUTCH

That about yer brother—that put me wise. No one knows he’s been drownded.

ELLY

Why’d you do it? You could’ve said he got drownded this mornin’. They’d a-b’lieved it. Why’d you say he wuz on the lake?

BUTCH

I got reasons.

ELLY

W’at air they?

BUTCH (_evilly_)

You musta noticed, Elly—a girl wuz here with that boy. They’d come here together—

ELLY

W’at of it?

BUTCH

The horse and buggy’s up here a ways. She’s young, she’s purty— They drove here together. She’ll need some one to drive her home—through the woods—

ELLY

Ugh! You beast!

BUTCH

(_He goes toward the steps._) Mebbe I am one. Mebbe I am a beast. And this place we’re livin’ in—whut’s it? It’s the woods, Elly. It’s the dark woods. (_He goes up the steps._)

ELLY

Butch! (_She hurries after him._)

_Curtain_