Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: In Mizzoura

SCENE. VERNON'S _blacksmith shop, adjoining his living-room. Forge. Door to living-room above forge. Bellows down stage below forge. Bench with vise at left. Big double doors. Trusses. Tub of water back of anvil._

Discovered. JOE _and_ CAL _beating weld of tire;_ ESROM, _a half-witted negro, absently playing jew's-harp on trusses._

Joe. [_Wearing boots and leather apron._] Hand me the traveller. [HELPER _hands it, and drops tire horizontally on anvil, while_ JOE _runs traveller around it inside._] Jes' the same size--give it another heat an' we'll beat her out a quarter inch. [_Crosses to left centre._ HELPER _puts tire into fire and works bellows._] Esrom!

Esrom. Yes, sah.

Joe. I'm purty busy now, an' that tune--can't you let up till I'm through?

Esrom. Yes, sah.

Joe. An' while you're resting you might bring another bucket o' water an' dump it in this tub.

Esrom. [_Going._] Yes, sah--don't you really want to buy any mo' coke?

Joe. Not this morning, Esrom. [_Exit_ ESROM _with jew's-harp, playing._] Ready? [_Takes tire from fire and hammers weld out--when pounding is done, traveller runs over it as before. Enter_ MRS. VERNON.

Mrs. Vernon. Joe, can't you leave that now?

Joe. Course I can't, ma--it's Louisiana time now.

Mrs. Vernon. Well, the breakfast's spilin'. [_Exit._

Joe. [_Calling._] Well, it's Dave an' his durned alarm-clock--if I'd let Kate set it--I guess she's all right now, Cal. [HELPER _puts tire in fire--last heating._ JOE _goes to trusses and lays wheel square. Enter_ SARBER. SARBER _wears linen duster and boots, and carries a whip._] Hello, Bill.

Sarber. [_Down_] Hello, Joe--mighty nigh time. [_Looking at watch._

Joe. Won't be a minute longer--soon as we stretch her a little and drop her over this bunch of bones--

Sarber. [_Examining wheel._] Hello, Cal? [HELPER _nods._] Fellers ain't hurt?

Joe. Nothin' ain't hurt. [_Enter_ ESROM _with water._] This wheel's got as purty a dish as I ever see.

Sarber. Don't know why the durned weld broke.

Joe. Them steel tires are hard to make fast sometimes--

Esrom. Right heah, Joe.

Joe. Let her go.

ESROM _pours water into tub._

Esrom. [_Coaxingly._] No coke dis mawnin'?

Joe. No. [ESROM _exits._ _To_ SARBER, _pointing to dog under bench._] Ever see that chap before?

Sarber. The dog?

Joe. Yes.

Sarber. Is that the same one I dropped the rail on?

Joe. [_Nods._] Me an' Jim put his leg in splinters last night.

Sarber. [_Shaking head and smiling._] Jim!

Joe. [_Pointing to coach._] Looks like you been in the real estate business, Bill.

Sarber. Wall, yes--we took a turn or two at it.

_Enter_ BOLLINGER.

Bollinger. Hello, Sarber, when's your ingine start?

Sarber. Joe's fixin' one of her drivers.

Joe. [_Looking towards forge._] Won't be a minute, Tom.

Bollinger. Everybody waiting at the drug-store--we want to go 'fore it gets too hot,--folks says you're hanging back so Clark kin sell out his sody water.

Sarber. [_Looking at watch._] Shake her up, Joe.

Joe. I guess we're ready. [_Two_ NEGROES _of a quartette enter and stand idly about. Takes tire with_ HELPER.] Get out of the way. [_Drops tire on wheel and adjusts it. Drives pin through one hole._ KELLY _enters, looks at coach, and nervously about._

Joe. What's new, Tom, about Sam Fowler?

Bollinger. [_Looking at work._] Papers say the company has let him go.

Joe. Scott free?

Bollinger. Yes.

Joe. Then he'll have to pay his own board now.

Bollinger. I reckon.

JOE _and_ HELPER _carry wheel to tub and chill the tire._

Sarber. Think she'll stay now?

Joe. As soon as we get the bolts in her. [_Two other_ NEGROES _enter, completing the male quartette. Enter_ TRAVERS.] Look out.

_They lift wheel to trusses and silently adjust bolts. As this takes time, the_ NEGROES _fill in with songs._

Travers. [_Coming down with_ KELLY.] Well, what's up?

Kelly. I'm goin' to skip on this stage.

Travers. Why?

Kelly. Too hot,--see papers?

Travers. No.

Kelly. Well, young Sam Fowler will know you the minute he sees you--and he's comin' back to-day.

Travers. He can't get here till to-night, on account of the wash-outs--I'm going to risk it.

Kelly. Well, I quit you.

Travers. I risk more than you.

Kelly. All right, but you don't risk me. You went in the car, like a blamed fool, without a thing on your face--

VILLAGERS _at door_.

Travers. Be careful.

Kelly. Careful? I skip.

_They turn up right. Enter_ JIM.

Bollinger. Hello, Jim--Louisiana?

Jim. No. [_Kneels by dog-box._

Sarber. Hello, Jim?

Jim. Ain't you late?

Sarber. Joe's keeping me.

Jim. [_Pointing to door_.] Big load this mornin'?

Sarber. Yes, if they all go. [_Returns to wheel_. JIM _goes in house_.

Kelly. [_Coming down with_ TRAVERS.] You'd risk your neck for that girl?

Travers. I'm all right, Kelly. I'll get out to-night, but I've got to see her first.

_They go up and exeunt._

Bollinger. Joe.

Joe. Yes.

Bollinger. [_Looking off carefully_.] I see Jim last night after we left here. He says he's out of the race for Legislature.

Joe. That's what he says.

Bollinger. Why?

Joe. Well, what did _he_ say?

Bollinger. _Personal_ reasons.

Joe. Well, that goes--all right, Cal,--put her on now, an' let 'em get out.

_Wheel is done._ CAL _takes it up to coach_.

Bollinger. Well, you're jes' as good as elected then, Joe.

Joe. Think so?

Bollinger. Sure. See here. [_Aside_.] Folks down in Louisiana thinks Jim will be the nominee. I'm goin' down to-day to bet fifteen or twenty dollars he won't, 'fore they hear of it.

Joe. No promises.

Bollinger. No, sir-ee--put up, or shut up--I've got twenty-two and a half in my pocket--some of it's Clark's, but blamed little.

_Re-enter_ JIM _with pan of milk--kneels by dog and feeds it_.

Sarber. Now stand out of the way there.

Bollinger. Goin', Bill?

Sarber. Soon as we hitch.

_They take wagon out._ BOLLINGER, KELLY, TRAVERS _and_ SARBER _go out with wagon_.

Joe. Come Cal--[CAL _turns_.] Hash! [CAL _exits_.] Breakfast, Jim.

Jim. Had it.

Joe. Come, set with us. [_Exit, followed by_ JIM.

_Enter_ TRAVERS.

Travers. Kelly is right. I should go on that coach--but--I must see Kate--they're at breakfast--if I only--yes, just a minute. [_Beckons_ KATE.] I wish that fellow wasn't here.

_Enter_ KATE.

Kate. Mr. Travers.

Travers. I should leave on that coach.

Kate. Do I keep you?

Travers. Yes.

Kate. Why?

Travers. Because when I leave Bowling Green now, I shall never come back.

Kate. You--you are jesting.

Travers. In dead earnest. [_Slight clatter of dishes_--KATE _looks off_.] Do you care for that man?

Kate. [_Coming down_.] I admire him. I think he is a good and a noble character.

Travers. Better than I am.

Kate. He may be,--but--I don't love him--

Travers. Do you love me?

Sarber. [_Off_.] All ready; get in.

Kate. The stage is going. [_She turns_.

Travers. Do you love me?

Sarber. Get in.

Travers. Do you?

Kate. [_Pause_.] Yes.

Travers. Then let them leave--[SARBER _calling_ "git ap"--_and a whip cracks. We hear stage--voices go_.] Will you go with me--to-night?

Kate. How--go with you?

Travers. As my wife.

Kate. But why such haste? Why go as if we feared anything?

Travers. I must go to-night. Great interests depend upon it. I know your people don't like me, but I haven't time to humour them. Will you go?

Kate. Let me think till then.

Travers. Yes,--good-bye till to-night. [_Holds her hand--she turns as if to leave_.] Kate! Kate! Good-bye. [_Impulsive turn and embrace_.] Till to-night.

_Enter_ DAVE, _from breakfast_.

Dave. Huh! [_Shortly; more a chuck than an exclamation. The lovers start_.] Oh! Seminary!

TRAVERS _exits_.

Dave. [_Embarrassed--nodding off_.] Breakfast.

Kate. Thank you. [_Exits_.

Dave. [_Going to bench and beginning work on shaft with draw knife_.] Well--Lizbeth don't know so blamed much about books--[_Shakes head_.] But--huh--[_Shakes head again_.] I tell you--[_Works hard--enter_ LIZBETH _with pan, which she puts on forge_.

Dave. [_Commanding_.] Come here, Lizbeth.

Lizbeth. [_Crosses to_ DAVE. _Pause_.] What? [_Falling inflection_.

Dave. [_Cautiously, approving her_.] Why, dog gone it--[_Shakes head_.] Huh! [_Swaggers_.] I tell you--[_Works_.

Lizbeth. [_Wonderingly_.] What's the matter?

Dave. [_Threatening_.] If you was to say seminary to me--[_Swaggers_.] Huh! [_Works_.

Lizbeth. [_After pause_.] What?

Dave. [_Ominously_.] Why, Lizbeth, the sooner we git married an' git out o' this, the better.

Lizbeth. [_Hopelessly_.] Well, what kin I do?

Dave. [_Working_.] Dog gone it--if I had a stidy job!

Lizbeth. [_Understandingly_.] I know that, Dave. [_Goes back to pan_.

Dave. [_Bragging_.] An' you bet your _father_ knows it.

Lizbeth. [_Portentously_.] Well, I told _ma_--

Dave. An' that's what he said. If I had a stidy job--

_Enter_ EM'LY.

Em'Ly. Hello--

Dave. Why, how de do?

Lizbeth. Can't you come in?

Em'Ly. Who's there? [_Indicates kitchen_.

Lizbeth. Only the folks and Jim.

Em'Ly. I want Jim--say--Sam's there. [_Off_.

Lizbeth. Sam Fowler!--Oh, ma--[_Exits_.

Dave. Sam--why, see here. Sam! [_Goes up_.

SAM _enters. Wears express blue and a cap_.

Em'Ly. [_Beckoning_.] Sam!

DAVE _brings_ SAM _down. Enter_ JOE, _followed by_ MRS. VERNON, LIZBETH _and_ KATE.

Joe. [_Heartily_.] Sam, Sam, how are you?

Sam. [_Shaking hands_.] I didn't know how you'd feel about it.

Mrs. Vernon. [_Shaking_.] Why, Lor', Sam--I'm glad--I'll bet Em'ly kissed him.

KATE _and_ LIZBETH _shake hands with_ SAM. _Enter_ JIM--EM'LY _runs to him_.

Em'Ly. Jim!

JIM _puts his left arm around_ EM'LY _and sits on anvil_.

Sam. [_Approaching and taking_ JIM'S _hand, smiling.] You_ didn't think I done it, did you, Jim?

Jim. [_Nods at_ EM'LY.] No, not while _she's_ keepin' house for me--ha, ha!

Em'Ly. He's _always_ stood up for you, Sam.

Joe. Well, tell us 'bout it, Sam. Did the papers have it right?

_They are a semi-circle about SAM._

Sam. Yes, purty near.

Joe. _Did_ you help the feller into your car?

Sam. Yes, we were just pulling out of the depot when he came a-runnin' up to my side door with an order from the superintendent for me to carry him as fur as Vinita. He ran alongside and put his hand up, so of course I pulled him into the car.

Em'Ly. Wasn't you scared, Sam?

Sam. Why, no--I thought he belonged to the company, and he went to work with me, sorting and fixing my express stuff.

Joe. Well, I'm durned!

Sam. [_Intensely serious._] I joked with him--just like I'm joking with you--he was one of the nicest fellows I ever saw.

Joe. [_Wide-eyed with gossip._] Don't that beat everything?

Sam. When we were eighteen or twenty miles out, an' I was stoopin' this way over a box--I felt him on my back, and grabbing at my arms--why, why--even then I thought he was jokin', and I looked around laughin', and here was his gun pokin' right into my face.

Mrs. Vernon. [_Haunted._] Just think of it!

Joe. Then he tied you.

Sam. What could I do? There was his gun--and I wasn't even on my feet--anybody could tie a fellow that way--I could tie you, couldn't I? [_To_ JIM.

Jim. If you had the gun?

Sam. Yes.

Jim. Well, rather.

Sam. [_Indignantly._] The ropes cut clean through here at my wrists, and there was a mark over one eye where I fell against the safe--and then the company said I was an accomplice.

Joe. Then I s'pose he jis' deliberately packed his little valise full of green-backs and--[_Pantomimes._]--got out!

Sam. A hundred and twenty thousand--

Joe. Jump off?

Sam. No--got off at a water-tank.

Jim. I s'pose you'd know him agin?

Sam. Anywhere.

Lizbeth. [_With nursery alarm._] He must a looked terrible.

Sam. [_Commonplace._] Well, he didn't--nice a lookin' feller as you want to see. Black mustache--kind a curly hair--looked a little bit, you know, like a race-horse man.

Em'Ly. The company said Sam wrote the superintendent's order himself.

Sam. Oh, yes--got an expert to swear it looked like my writing.

Em'Ly. Tain't a bit--like it.

Jim. [_To_ EMILY.] Did you see it?

Sam. No, but I showed her part of the letter he wrote to the newspaper, saying I was innocent. [_Feels in pocket._] Ain't that strange? Seems to be a kind-hearted fellow.

Mrs. Vernon. Jes' drove to it I s'pose by drink.

Sam. Here it is. [_Hands paper to_ JIM.

Jim. Hello! [_Looks at_ KATE.

Joe. What is it?

JIM _hands paper to_ KATE.

Kate. [_After slight start--haughtily._] What do you mean?

Jim. Oh, not you, Kate. [_Smiling, to_ SAM.] 'Twasn't Kate dressed up like a man--no! [_General laugh._] Oh, I didn't think that. [KATE _vexed, goes up-stage._ JIM _in whisper to others._] Mad? [_JOE shakes his head;_ JIM _nods interrogatively to_ MRS. VERNON.

Mrs. Vernon. [_Looking after_ KATE.] Well, I can't see why.

_Exit_ KATE.

Jim. [_After another look after KATE--to_ SAM.] Well, I suppose you know you're watched.

Sam. [_Indifferently._] How's that?

Jim. There's a Pinkerton here--come last night--had a letter to me from the Chief--sayin' they knew of me, an' hoped I'd co-operate with this fellow in watchin' you--and they'd pay well for it.

Sam. [_Smiling._] What did you say?

JIM _shakes head--goes up centre._

Em'Ly. Why, Jim kicked him off--of our stoop.

_General laugh._--LIZBETH _crosses to forge and gets pan._ ESROM _enters playing jew's-harp._

Esrom. What about the coke, Mistah Vernon?

Joe. [_At forge._] Don't want none. [_Suddenly._] See here; look at this clinker.

Esrom. Can't understand that--shouldn't ought to be no clinker in dat coke.

Joe. Well, there it is--hard as flint.

Esrom. [_Examines clinker._] Funny clinker.

Joe. Well, there it is.

Jim. Hold on, Joe. I shouldn't wonder if that was that gumbo.

Joe. What gumbo?

Jim. The poultice. I throwed it among that coke.

Joe. Yes, here's some only half-burned.

Esrom. [_Going._] I knowed they shouldn't ought to be no clinker.

Joe. But look at this red piece--as hard as a rock.

Jim. [_Half-startled._] Why, Joe--[_Looks at him._

Joe. What?

Jim. Well, nothing--

Mrs. Vernon. Well, what about breakfast, everybody?

Joe. Let's finish it--come Sam--

Sam. I've had mine.

Joe. Well, come talk to us.

Sam. [_Going._] All right--got heaps to tell you.

Lizbeth. How do you like the Southern Hotel?

_Exeunt all but_ DAVE _and_ JIM. JIM _takes clinker and turns it carefully over in his hand. Then looks through forge--goes to bench near dog, and gets on hands and knees, looking under it._

Dave. What you lost?

Jim. Here it is--[_Rises._] Some more of that gumbo. [_Crosses to forge._

Dave. What you goin' to do?

Jim. Burn it. [_Looks about as if hunting help._] Here--come pump this.

DAVE _crosses and takes bellows._

Dave. What do you want to burn it for?

Jim. [_Ignoring question._] Say, Dave--

Dave. [_Working bellows._] Well?

Jim. You know them old coal mines down by Jonesburg?

Dave. Yes.

Jim. What do they sell that slack for?

Dave. They don't _sell_ it--they _give_ it to anyone that'll haul it away.

Jim. I wonder if they wouldn't deliver it if you took a good deal.

Dave. Don't know.

JIM _whistles cheerily a moment and examines gumbo burning._

Jim. [_Pause. Sitting on anvil._] You seem under the weather, Dave.

Dave. [_Moodily._] Oh, I'd be all right, if I had a stidy job.

Jim. [_Laughing._] A steady job!--why, you've been workin' nights ever since I knew you.

Dave. I know--but Joe says--I--I ought to have a stidy job.

Jim. What's Joe got to do with it?

Dave. Well--Lizbeth--

Jim. [_Amused._] Oh!

Dave. An' I think I could get one, only he don't gimme no time off to look fur it.

Jim. Wait a minute. [_Takes gumbo from fire._] Yes, sir--she's gettin' hot. [_Puts it back and whistles a tune._

Dave. I've almost made a set o' furniture myself.

Jim. Have, eh?

Dave. Dug it out with that little draw-knife. I tell you--you can make anything that's made out of wood--with a draw-knife.

Jim. [_On anvil again._] Well, it seems to me, Dave, that you're going at it the wrong way.

Dave. How's that?

Jim. The old man won't give his consent till you git a steady job.

Dave. That's it--

Jim. And you want a steady job so's you can marry Lizbeth?

Dave. Exactly.

Jim. Well, you marry--marry Lizbeth, and you'll have a steady job. [_Gets down._ DAVE, _absorbed with the idea, pumps vigorously._] Hold on! [DAVE _stops;_ JIM _takes gumbo from fire with tongs, and plunges it in the water._] Yes, sir, there it is--hard as a rock--and ain't it a purty color?

Dave. What you goin' to do with it?

Jim. I don't know but if the Wabash could get enough of it to ballast that track that washes out every spring, I think they'd take it.

Dave. [_In admiration._] Well, I'm durned. The raw gumbo is all along their track. Wouldn't cost you nothin', would it?

Jim. Not if I kin get that Jonesburg slack--ha, ha!

Dave. Why, that's great!

Jim. [_Drawing watch._] It's a half hour before train time. I'll jump to St. Louis with the scheme. [_Stands thinking._

Dave. [_Going._] I got to get the leather put on this shaft--but that's great. [_Exit._

KATE _appears in outside door._

Kate. [_Coming toward_ JIM, _who is turning gumbo thoughtfully in his hands._] Jim!

Jim. Why, Kate--[_Gumbo._] See here--how's this for an idea?

Kate. What did you mean--by this? [_She extends letter._

Jim. Why, just that. I thought it looked like his writin',--same backhand, and no shadin' to it.

Kate. How could Mr. Travers have written it?

Jim. Why, no use gettin' mad, Kate. It kin look _like_ his writin', can't it?

Kate. [_Going to anvil and leaning on back of it._] You don't like him, Jim, do you?

Jim. [_Picks up old horse-shoe._] Well--[_Mechanically pounds gumbo with horse-shoe._

Kate. [_Pause._] Not much--

Jim. No--not a great deal, Kate.

Kate. [_Displaying the letter._] Do you think he's a bad enough man to have done this?

Jim. Well, a fellow who takes a risk like that--to clear another man who's been arrested in his place, ain't so bad.

Kate. A train robber!

Jim. Why, I don't _say_ he done it.

Kate. But you think so.

Jim. [_Laughing._] Oh, no, I don't--there's a ten thousand dollar reward for the right man.

Kate. Then why hand this letter to me? Why imply it?

Jim. Why, Kate, I'm a friend of--your pa's--I've known you ever since you was eight or ten years old. I don't know this man Travers--_you_ don't know him. He comes to your house.

Kate. Well.

Jim. Comes to see you, don't he?

Kate. [_Getting in front of anvil._] He does--what of it?

Jim. Why--I don't think I'd like a preacher of the Gospel if he was to do that. [_Pause._] I--I never meant to say anything--but when men--other men--I mean anybody gets to payin' you attention, why, I'm afraid to keep still any longer--

Kate. [_Turns away._] To keep still--

Jim. [_Advances._] Yes, I've been sheriff here, an' whenever I've had anything to do, I've said to myself, now don't--do anything--ugly--'cause Kate--[KATE _turns toward him; he qualifies tone._] some day, you know--Kate might think more of me if I hadn't done it. You know yourself that I quit drinkin' a year before the local option--on account of that essay you read, examination day--why, Kate, I care more for how you feel about anything than I do for anybody in the State of Mizzoura--that's just how it is. [_Pause._ KATE _is silent._] You kin remember yourself when you was a little girl an' I used to take a horse-shoe an' tie it on the anvil an' make a side-saddle for you--an' I reckon I was the first fellow in Bowling Green that ever called you. Miss Kate when you come back from school.

Kate. [_Rather tenderly._] I didn't want you to call me Miss Kate, Jim.

Jim. Jes' fun, you know--an' now, Kate, when you're a woman, an' it's only nature for men to like you,--I've got to ask you myself.

Kate. [_Pause._] I'm awful sorry you did it, Jim.

Jim. Sorry!

Kate. Yes, because I like you well enough, Jim--but--[_Pause. Enter_ JOE. KATE _stops._

Joe. Say, Jim--

Jim. [_Motioning_ JOE _to silence._] Go on, Kate--I ain't ashamed of it--before Joe.

Kate. That's all there is to it--I just like you.

Jim. Well, I didn't know--you used to let me kiss you--

Kate. Yes, when I was coming home from school--I did. I thought I was going to love you then. But there was the school. [_Pauses_] If I hadn't gone to Lindenwood I might have thought so still. But we could never be happy together, Jim--you haven't had proper advantages, I know, and it isn't your fault. My _education_ has put the barrier between us. Those four years at the Seminary--

Joe. [_Indignantly._] Why, Kate Vernon--everything you know, Jim Radburn--

Jim. [_Imperatively._] Hold on--[_Pause._] You've heard her say no, and--that lets you out. As far as I'm concerned--why, Kate's nearly right. I don't know any more'n the law allows--but--that's for Kate to say--

JIM _extends his hand in appeal to_ KATE. KATE _turns her back to audience--leans on anvil, firmly shakes her head "No,"_ JIM _motions silence to_ JOE; _makes a struggle, and pulls himself together--turns and kneels by dog, caressing it._

CURTAIN.