Augustin Daly

“ There's a many temptations for young gals, and sometimes the old man has to put on the brakes a bit, for some young men are wicked enough to persuade the gals to steal out of their father's house in the dead of night, and go to shame and misery. So tell me this—it ain't the old man, and the old man's home you've left, young lady?
Laura. No; you good, honest fellow—no—I have no father.
Signal. Then, by Jerusalem! I'll do for you what I can. Anything but run away from them that have not their interest but yours at heart. Come, you may stay there, but I'll have to lock you in. ”

“ I declare I'd give it up if I didn't want to make everything look smart, before Miss Nina comes in. Miss Nina is the only friend I ever had, since I ran away from Mother Judas. I wonder where old Judas is now? I know she's drunk; she always was; perhaps that's why she never tried to find out what became of me. If she did she could not take me away. Miss Nina begged me off a policeman. I belong to her. I wonder why she ain't got any other friends? She's awful mysterious. Tells me never to let any strangers see her. She's afraid of somebody, I know. ”

“ Money! That's handy. (He puts all in a bag, and hands them over balcony.) Now for the drawers, there's where the treasure must be. Locked? (Tries them with bunch of keys) Patent lock, of course! It amuses me to see people buying patent locks, when there's one key will fit 'em all. (Produces small crowbar, and just as he is about to force the drawer, a shout is heard, and noise of wagon.) What's that? (Jumps, catching at bureau, which falls over.) Damnation!
Pearl. (Starting up.) Who's there? What's that?
Byke. Silence, or I'll kill you!
Pearl. Help! Help!
Byke. ”

“ Laura. Is he with you?
Peach. No, Miss, but we are great friends. He wants me to keep house for him some day. I said to him—"I want to find out where Miss Nina's gone," and so he went to Mr. Trafford's and found he was come to Long Branch, but never a word could we hear of you.
Laura. And the others—those dreadful people?
Peach. Byke and old Judas? Clean gone! They hasn't been seen since they was took up for throwing you into the water, and let off because no one came to Court agin 'em. Bermudas says he's seen 'em in Barnum's wax-work show, but Bermudas is such a liar. ”

“ Who're you living with-you ain't a-keeping house, are you? Peach. I'm living with MISS NlNA. Judas. NINA, what's she, concert-saloon girl ? Peach. No, she's a lady. Judas. A lady-and have such baggage as you about. Where's my shoe, I'll make you speak the truth. Peach. I don't know what she is. She met me when the police was taking me up for loafin' down Hudson Street, and she begged me off. Judas. Has she any money ? Peach. No, she's poor. Judas. Any nice clothes ? Peach. O, she's got good clothes. Judas. Where are they ? Peach. Locked up, and she's got the key. Judas. ”

“ Laura. Lock me in safely.
Signal. Ah! be sure I will. There! (Tries door.) Safe as a jail. (Pulls out watch, and then looking at track with lantern.) Ten minutes and down she comes. It's all safe this way, my noisy beauty, and you may come as soon as you like. Good night, Miss!
Laura. (At window.) Good night.
Signal. Running away from young man, Ha! ha! ha!
(He goes to track, then looks down R.—lights his pipe and is trudging off R., when enter Snorkey from L. U. E.
Snorkey. Ten minutes before the train comes. I'll wait here for it. (To Signal man who re-enters.) ”

“ Pearl. Good night. (Coming forward.) O, dear! now they're gone, and the holiday's gone with them. (Goes to window.) There they go. (Laughter without.) Ray, do come and look at the Van Dam's new sleigh. How they have come out.
Ray. Yes, it's the gayest thing in the Park!
Pearl. (Still at window C.) I wonder where they got the money! I thought you said Van Dam had failed!
Ray. Well, yes. He failed to pay, but he continues to spend.
Pearl. (As if to those outside) . Good night! (Response from without as sleigh bells jingle—"Good night.") ”

“ There's MISS NlNA (as if curtseying to some one behind JUDAS.) Good morning, miss. Judas. (Changing her tone) Ah ! my pretty dear ! What a good lady to take you in and give you a home. ( Turns and discovers the deception-in a rage.) You hussy, (PEACH retreats) wait till I get you in my clutches again, my lady ; and it won't be long. MISS NINA takes care of you, does she. Who will take care of her ? Let her look to it. (LAURA enters D. F. plainly dressed, at back.) Beg pardon, Miss, I just called to see if you had any old clothes you'd like to exchange. Laura. ”

“ Ray. Yes, it is night! It is night always for me. (Moving towards door L.)
Laura. (Placing one hand on his shoulder, taking his hand.) But there is a to-morrow. You see it cannot be dark forever.
Pearl. Hope for to-morrow, Ray.
Laura. We shall have cause to bless it, for it will bring the long sought sunlight of our lives.
Curtain.
R. Snorkey. Laura. Ray. Pearl. Peachblossom. L. H.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. ”

“ You stand a poor chance, Rich! Take him away. (Bowling consults with other Justice, as the boy is taken off E. R. H.)
Splinter. (To Rafferdi, who has his monkey and organ.) So you want to get out, eh? How much money have you got?
Raff. Be jabers! half a dollar in cents is all the money I'm worth in the world.
Splin. Give it to me. I thought you organ fellows were Italians.
Raff. Devil doubt it! Aint I got a monkey? ”

“ Business enterprise and Bermudas' pony express worked the oracle this time.
Ber. The way we galloped! Sa-ay, my pony must have thought the extras was full of lively intelligence.
Pearl. Darling Laura, you shall never leave us again.
Ray. No! never.
Snorkey. Beg pardon, Cap'n, what are we to do with this here game we've brought down ?
Ray. The Magistrates will settle with him.
Snorkey. Come, old fellow!
Byke. One word, I beg. My conduct, I know, has been highly reprehensible. 1 have acted injudiciously, and have been the occasion of more or less inconvenience to every one here. ”

“ So, if you please, I'll first tumble 'em in. (Puts goods in house, Laura sitting on platform R. H. looking at him. When all in, he comes towards her, taking up cheese-box to put it in Station.) I say, Miss, I ain't curious—but, of course, it's a young man you're a going to?
Laura. So far from that, it's a young man I'm running away from.
Signal. (Dropping box.) Running away from a young man! Let me shake hands with you. (Shakes her hand.) Lord, it does my heart good! At your age, too! (Seriously.) I wish you'd come and live down in my neighborhood a while, among my gals. ”

“ Ray. (L. n.) So it seems.
Laura, (c.) (PEARL takes bouquet.} Poor fellow! (To servant.) MARTIN, be sure and give him a glass of wine before he goes.
Snorksy. (L. c.) I m much obliged, Miss but I don t think it would be good for me on an empty stomach after fasting all day.
Laura. Well, MARTIN shall find you some supper, too.
Snorkey. Is this MARTIN ? What a nice young man. Mayn t, lie have a drop of something, too ? lie must have caught cold let ting me in, he has got such a dreadful stiffness in the back of his neck. ”

“ Van Dam, Sue Earlie, and other ladies in summer costume, Demilt and Windel with them.
Pearl. And so the distinguished foreigner is in love with me? I thought he looked excessively solemn at the hop last night. Do you know, I can't imagine a more serious spectacle than a Frenchman or an Italian in love. One always imagines them to be sick. (To Mrs. V. D.) Do fasten my glove—there's a dear.
Mrs. D. Where's Ray? ”

“ Laura Cortland, [the Belle of Society] Miss Rose Eytinge.
Pearl Cortland, [pretty, but no heart] Miss Blanche Grey.
Peachblossom, [a girl who was never "brought up," with the doleful ditty of "the Knight, the dame, and the Murderous Rival."] Mrs. Skerrett. ”

“ Laura. It is some folly of our late visitors
Snorkey. I m one of the Soldier Messengers, Miss. We take to it very well, considering we had so little running in Uncle Sam s service.
Ray. (As SNOR. i-s going L.) Stop a moment, my man. Wera you not one of the Twenty-second s recruits ?
Snorkey. Yes, Captain; I remember you joined us in New York, and left us at Washington. Real fighting wasn't funny, you thought, and I began to think so too at Fredericksburg.
Hay. Poor devil.
Snorkey. There was a South Carolina gentleman took such a fancy to me at Fredericksburg! ”

“ Moonbeams fall on Byke, who appears above the balcony. He gets over the rail and enters.
Byke. Safely down! I've made no mistake—no, this is her room. What a figure I am for a lady's chamber. (Goes to table, picks up delicate lace handkerchief, and wipes his face.) Phew! Hot! ”

“ Old Judas [the right hand of Byke] Mrs. Wright.
Mrs. Van Dam [one of the voices of Society] Miss Lizzie Davey.
Sue Earlie [one of the echoes of the voice] Miss Mahon.
Lizzie Liston [another echo] Miss Macy.
Reproduced December 4, 1867.
Ray Trafford [one of the New York "bloods"] Mr. G. H. Clarke.
Snorkey [a returned Veteran, established as a Soldier Messenger, but open to anything else] Mr. J. K. Mortimer.
Byke [one of the men whom the law is always reaching for and never touches] Mr. Welsh Edwards.
Ed. Demilt [one of the rising Wall street generation] Mr. Neal. ”