Chapter III: Part 3

BOY--(_Picking cane up from counter, and hiding it behind him._) I don't know where she put it. You gotta wait, see?

KING--(_To Bart._) I'd like to jump that cop. Nice fix for us if Mason hadn't been there.

BOY--(_Stopping machine._) Say, didn't you do it? What did they let you come back for?

KING--Of course we didn't do it.

BART--(_To King._) And yet we _are_ guilty of murder.

KING--Luckily for us, the law won't see it that way.... I'll double my allowance to her mother.

BART--And I'll put flowers every week on my Selina's grave.

KING--We are bound together by ties of death. We must be brave, and face the world serenely.

BART--(_Clasping King's hand._) And no one must know.

SELINA--(_Peeping around screen._) George King and Bart! My gosh, what a pickle! (_She hurriedly enters the little room back of the screen. Bart and King just catch a glimpse of her as she disappears._)

KING--Sh!

BART--Great heavens, an apparition!

KING--She has come to haunt me.

BART--I shall throw myself at her ghostly feet, and crave pardon.

BART AND KING--(_With outstretched hands._) Selina!

KING--(_Tragically._) That was the spirit of the Selina whom my coldness killed.

BART--It was the spirit of my Selina, who drowned herself for love of me.

KING--How terrible is the vengeance of heaven! It makes the one woman haunt us both.

BART--I shall go mad now.

KING--Bart, I feel my reason tottering.

(_They sit at little table, heads on hands, backs to the entrance door. Gentleman enters, and goes behind screen._)

GENTLEMAN--It will take about ten minutes more--hello, where have you gone?

SELINA--(_Peeping from room off stage._) Sh!

GENTLEMAN--Why, what's the mystery?

SELINA--Did you see two men in there, as you came in?

GENTLEMAN--Didn't notice, but I'll take a look.

(_Bart and King hide behind counter when Gentleman appears._)

GENTLEMAN--Not a soul but the boy. (_Returns to Selina, who comes into the room, but remains behind screen. Bart and King stay behind counter, but listen intently to Selina and Gentleman._)

KING--Something queer about this.

SELINA--(_To Gentleman._) Flatterer!

GENTLEMAN--I remember the first time I saw you at the opera. By the way, who's that chap you always go with?

SELINA--(_Lightly._) Oh, that!

BART--Her voice!

GENTLEMAN--He interests me. Seems very sweet on you.

SELINA--Think so?

GENTLEMAN--I have eyes.

SELINA--He's just a boy.

GENTLEMAN--It's these young cubs who always run off with the prizes. Are you in love with him?

SELINA--I do not think you have any right to question me.

GENTLEMAN--I beg your pardon for seeming impertinent. I merely ask, so I may know where I stand.

SELINA--Do you think _he_ is the type of man I could love? Frankly, he bores me to death.

BART--Great fish!

GENTLEMAN--I don't think you bore him.

SELINA--(_Sadly._) Poor boy!

GENTLEMAN--He's gone on you, isn't he?

SELINA--(_Pleadingly._) Please don't think me a heartless coquette. He's alone here in the city. I was just nice and friendly to him, and the poor fellow's fallen desperately in love with me.

GENTLEMAN--(_Gallantly._) I don't blame him.

SELINA--That's quite sweet of you, but it's made me very unhappy. He was engaged to a girl up the state, and I'm afraid she will blame me. Women are so cruel in their judgments.

GENTLEMAN--(_Soothingly._) Well if you don't love him--

SELINA--How can I? Yet I'm worried sick, for he has threatened to kill himself if I don't marry him.

BART--(_Springing up hysterically._) Liar!

KING--(_With deep conviction._) She's no ghost.

SELINA--(_To Gentleman._) Do you wonder I am unhappy?

GENTLEMAN--You certainly couldn't throw yourself away on a young puppy like him.

BART--(_Clenching fists._) Oh!

KING--Sit down!

SELINA--He hasn't been at his office since I refused him. I'm afraid he's done something desperate.

GENTLEMAN--Don't worry about him. What you want is a man with position and wealth. Now, if _I_ should say I loved you, and wanted to marry you?

SELINA--(_Quietly._) But you have not.

GENTLEMAN--(_With an embarrassed laugh._) I'm trying to hard enough.

SELINA--Shall I say, "this is so sudden?"

GENTLEMAN--Heavens, no, not that stuff! Say "yes."

SELINA--But I'm not used to this sort of proposal.

GENTLEMAN--I don't mind being romantic, I'll get down on my knees, if you like.

SELINA--Don't don't, the floor's dirty.

GENTLEMAN--Well then, say "yes."

SELINA--But you've known me scarcely two weeks.

GENTLEMAN--And loved you the first time I saw you.

SELINA--I wish I'd known it.

BART--(_Heartily._) So do I.

GENTLEMAN--I'm telling you now, isn't that enough?

SELINA--I've no family, no money save a small allowance from my mother's estate. I'm really a very poor girl.

GENTLEMAN--Don't worry about that, I've money enough for two.

SELINA--The little income I get barely keeps me, but I've managed to live on it for eight years.

KING--(_Grimly._) You've got your last check from me, mother dear!

GENTLEMAN--Poor little woman, what a struggle you must have had to keep up appearances. (_Horn blows outside._) Come, there's Thompson. We can announce our engagement at the dinner.

(_The Gentleman helps Selina into her wraps, while Bart and King again hide behind counter. Miss Brown enters. She is in a fine rage._)

MISS BROWN--The way law's handed out in this town's a crime, a howlin' crime!

BOY--What's eatin' ye now?

MISS BROWN--Lieut. Mason let them murderers off. He's a fool, that's what he is, a soft pie-eyed fool!

BOY--Aw, forget it!

MISS BROWN--Don't tell me to forget it, or I'll slap your face for ye, ye rat.

(_Chases Boy behind counter, and bumps into King._) Holy cats!

KING--(_In a whisper of suppressed rage._) Woman, give me my cane.

MISS BROWN--(_Goes to door and shrieks._) Police, police!

(_Selina and Gentleman are about to leave, but Selina pulls Gentleman behind screen again._)

SELINA--(_To Gentleman._) Come back!

BART--What's she going to do now?

BOY--Better leave her be, she's got her dander up.

(_Enter Officer._)

OFFICER--What do ye want now, Miss Brown?

MISS BROWN--Call 'em innocent, if you like, but I got a hunch they're crooks, and I want you to clear them out of my cafe, see?

OFFICER--You got me in wrong once. I ain't huntin' trouble.

SELINA--(_To Gentleman, who urges her forward._) No, no, stay here till they go.

KING--I came back for my cane, and I'm not going to leave without it.

(_Horn blows again._)

GENTLEMAN--Hang it all, we'll be dreadfully late.

SELINA--(_In an ecstasy of fear._) No, no, stay here till they go. (_Leans against screen, which shakes, and almost falls over._)

MISS BROWN--What's back of that screen? I saw it move!

(_Goes toward screen. Bart and King make a bolt for the door, and Officer stops them._)

MISS BROWN--(_Discovering Selina and Gentleman._) Pipe these two dolls, will ye?

(_Selina draws scarf over face, and hurries toward door._)

OFFICER--(_Detaining her._) Not so fast please, I want to see you first.

GENTLEMAN--We're all right officer, just waiting here out of the cold, while my car was being--

OFFICER--(_With easy familiarity to Selina._) Hello kid, where did you hook the gown?

GENTLEMAN--Officer!

OFFICER--Easy, boy, easy.

SELINA--Let me pass, you have no right to detain me.

GENTLEMAN--This is an outrage. I'll report you.

OFFICER--(_To Selina._) Some style to you now, kid. Who you workin'? Must have money to rig you out like that!

SELINA--Let me pass, I tell you, let me pass!

OFFICER--You're a wonder, Lena. Your own mother wouldn't know you.

BART--My gosh!

GENTLEMAN--How dare you insult this lady?

OFFICER--Say, what are you buttin' in for? Who are you anyway? What's it matter to you?

GENTLEMAN--Everything. I'll not let you bulldoze a lady who's going to be my wife.

OFFICER--She's not going to be your wife while I'm alive, Clarence.

GENTLEMAN--What do you mean?

OFFICER--I don't believe in divorce, and--

SELINA--(_In suppressed rage._) Keep quiet, will you!

OFFICER--(_Coolly._) And she happens to be _my_ wife.

(_General consternation._)

GENTLEMAN--Good heavens!

BART--Great fish!

KING--I'll be darned!

MISS BROWN--They're all dotty. The whole fool ranch is dotty.

GENTLEMAN--(_Tensely, to Selina._) Is this true, tell me, is this true?

SELINA--(_Shrugging shoulders._) Oh, what's the use!

OFFICER--Sure, it ain't any use, Lena, but if you're havin' a good time, go to it. Gawd knows I don't want any more of ye.

(_Horn blows again._)

GENTLEMAN--I must be going.

SELINA--Would you mind dropping me at my apartments?

GENTLEMAN--(_Coldly._) Certainly not, if you wish.

(_Exeunt Selina and Gentleman. Bart, King and Officer bow to her with mock courtesy as she passes them._)

OFFICER--She's got her nerve, all right. Knew I picked a pippin' when I married her. She'll cook up some story to hoodwink him before they get to her apartments. (_Stands in doorway, meditatively._)

KING--Died in her mother's arms! And I've been keeping the fictitious old lady eight years.

BART--I'll put no flowers on her grave, the siren.

KING--She worked us all very nicely, didn't she?

BART--(_Suddenly._) King, our hands are bloodless. We have not murdered Selina!

(_King and Bart fall into one another's arms, overcome with emotion. Miss Brown watches them a moment in supreme disgust._)

MISS BROWN--(_To Boy._) Put on a fox trot, Jimmie, maybe it'll bring them to, the poor prunes!

(_Boy puts on record._)

(_CURTAIN_)

NOTES

THE HAND OF THE PROPHET was written February, 1913. It was first performed March 8, 1913, at Artsman's Hall, Rose Valley, Pennsylvania.

The three songs used are from "A LOVER IN DAMASCUS," words by Charles Hanson Towne, music by Amy Woodforde-Finden. In the order of their singing in the play, they are "Far Across the Desert Sands," "How Many a Lonely Caravan," and "If in the Great Bazaars." The songs are published by Boosey & Co.

The first dance is from Saint Saens' "Samson and Delilah." Melody is included in this volume. The second dance is the "Dance Arabe" from Tchaikovski's Casse-Noisette (Nut-cracker) Suite. The melody of the third dance is included in this volume.

CHILDREN OF GRANADA was written March, 1914. It was first performed May 2, 1914, at Artsman's Hall, Rose Valley, Pennsylvania.

Music of Muezzin's Call to Prayer included in this volume.

THE TURTLE DOVE was written February, 1915. It was first performed April 6, 1915, at the MASQUE OF PRIMITIVE PEOPLES, Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Music of the Chinese Song is included in this volume.

THIS YOUTH--GENTLEMEN! was written February, 1909. It was published in THE BUTTERFLY QUARTERLY, Winter 1908-1909.

THE STRIKER was written January, 1915. It was first performed March 5, 1915, at Artsman's Hall, Rose Valley, Pennsylvania.

MURDERING SELINA was written January, 1915. It was first performed March 5, 1915, at Artsman's Hall, Rose Valley, Pennsylvania.

[Music: Children of Granada

El Salamalek Sleakoum El Salam El Salam
Allah ouakbar
iales Salah la Allah ou Mohammed rassol Allah
Allah ouakbaria
les Salah

MUEZZIN'S CALL TO PRAYER]

[Music: The Hand of the Prophet

FIRST DANCE

THIRD DANCE]

[Music: The Turtle Dove

CHINESE MELODY

Bor lo un doy Bor lo un doy chin lo chin lo
Bor lo un doy.]

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:

Text in italics is surrounded with underscores: _italics_.

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

End of Project Gutenberg's Six One-Act Plays, by Margaret Scott Oliver