Murdock. Thornton, you have a princely way of doing things, and the luck of the evil one himself.

Thornton. Shrewdness, old fellow. I'm an old hand at this sort of business, and glitter and dash go a long way in sharpening the appetites of one's customers.

Murdock. There's something more than glitter about this wine.

Thornton. The wine is good, and costly too. Of course, I do not set this before everybody, or the profits would hardly come up to my expectation. I never throw pearls before swine. Home-made wares pay the best profit.

Murdock. Ah! you do a little in the way of doctoring?

Thornton. A great deal, Murdock. I have a very good dispensary close at hand, and Maynard has made himself decidedly useful in that branch.

Murdock. Maynard? is that miserable sot of any use to you now?

Thornton. Oh, yes! I alone can control him. Poor devil! he's breaking up fast. It's a pity such a likely young fellow could not let rum alone; but he would drink, and will until the end comes. 'Twill not be long.

Murdock. Where do you keep him? I've not seen him about to-night.

Thornton. Close by, but out of sight. Some of his friends, a few months ago, made a demonstration towards his rescue from the pit into which he had fallen. I believe they are now searching high and low for him.

Murdock. An idle task, while he is in your clutches.

Thornton. You're right, Murdock: he stood between me and the dearest wish of my life. Meddling fools thwarted me in that; and now, from sheer revenge, I'll hold him from them all.

Murdock. I'd rather have you for a friend than an enemy. (Rising.) Good-night. I must look after my own humble quarters. Ah! if I could only have your dash!

Thornton. There's money in it, Murdock. (Rises.)

Murdock. I believe you: good-night.

Thornton. Good-night: drop in again. (Murdock goes up and off r., up steps.) Daley, who's that on the lounge?

Daley (comes from behind bar). I don't know him: he dropped in an hour ago, took a drink, and rolled on to the lounge.

Thornton. Well, rouse him up, and get him out: that don't look respectable. (Goes behind bar, and looks about.)

Daley (goes to Tom, and shakes him). Come, friend, rouse up. (Another shake.) Do you hear? rouse up!

Tom (slowly rises and looks at him). Rouse up? wha's that (hic)? No, le's fill up; that's besser (hic).

Daley (shaking him). Well, get up; you're in the way.

Tom (sitting up, and looking at him). Say, wha's (hic) yer name?

Daley. My name's Daley.

Tom. Daily (hic) what? Times? Oh, I know: you're a (hic) newsboy (hic), you are. Don't want no papers. (Attempts to lie down again.)

Daley. Come, come, this won't do. Get up, I say!

Tom. I always take (hic) my breakfast in bed.

Daley. You'll take yourself out of this! (Gets him on to his feet.)

Tom. Wh- (hic) what you say, Mister Times? Say (hic), le's drink!

Daley. No: it's time you were home.

Tom. Home (hic)? wha's that? Fools a (hic) to this? (Staggers across, and clutches bar.) I'm goin' t'stay (hic) here forever and always (hic), forever.

Thornton. Oh, get him out, Daley!

Tom. Yes, get me out, Daily, for (hic) exercise. Take the air (hic). Air's good; le's have some sugar (hic) in mine. (Gets down, r.; aside, sobered.) So he's here,—Maynard is here. I've run the fox to earth at last. (As before.) Fetch on the drinks, D-Daily (hic) and a little oftener.

Daley. Here's your hat; come. This way, this way. (Leads him up to steps, r.)

Tom (at steps, turns round). Hole on a minute, D-Dai- (hic) ly; give us your hand, D-Daily. I'll be back soon (hic), an' we'll never (hic), never (hic) part any more (hic). Good mornin', D-D-aily (hic), good-morn. (Exit up steps. Thornton comes down to table, l.; Daley takes bottles and glasses from table and goes behind bar. Two gentlemen enter, r., drink, and go off.)

Thornton (sits at table). The luck of the evil one! Murdock is but half right. The loss of that girl is a stroke of ill-fortune that imbitters all my prosperity. Get your supper, Daley; I'll look after the bar. (Daley exits, r., up steps.) But for the interference of Charity Goodall, she would have been mine. They have not found the missing Maynard yet. I have him safe: he cannot escape me. (Soft music. The mirrored door, between entrances in flats, slowly opens, and Harry Maynard, shrinking and trembling, with feeble steps, comes down, closing the door behind him. He creeps down to Thornton's chair.)

Harry. Thornton, Thornton!

Thornton (turns with a start). You here?

Harry (trembling). Yes, yes; don't be fierce, don't. It is so dark and dismal up there! and the rats—oh, such rats!—glare at me from their holes. I couldn't stay. Don't send me back: I'll be very quiet. I'm sober too. Not a drop for two days: not a drop.

Thornton. What's the matter with you now?

Harry. Oh! nothing, nothing: only I wanted to be sociable (tries to smile),—as sociable as you and I were in the old times.

Thornton. Sociable! you and I! Bah! you're shaking like an aspen. What friendship can there be between me and a miserable sot like you?

Harry. Yes, I know I'm not the man I used to be: I know it. Oh, the thought of that other life I lived once, tortures me almost to madness!

Thornton. Well, why don't you go back to it?

Harry. Back? back to that old home among the hills from which I came, full of lusty manhood? Back to the old man who looked upon me with all a father's pride? the dear mother whose darling I was? the fair, young girl whose heart I broke? Back there, with tottering steps, a pitiful wreck, to die upon the threshold of the dear old home? No, no: not that, not that!

Thornton. Then be quiet. You have brought ruin upon yourself: you can't complain of me.

Harry. No, I don't complain. It was a fair picture of fame and fortune you laid before me; and when I found the honorable mercantile business, in which you had amassed wealth, was work like this, I should have turned back.

Thornton. I told you to keep a clear head and a steady hand; to sell, not poison yourself with my liquid wares.

Harry. Yet you placed pleasures before me that turned my head, and—

Thornton. They never turned mine. You were a fool, and fell.

Harry. Ay, a fool! Yes, your fool, Robert Thornton. I quaffed the ruby wine, I flung myself into every indulgence, because you led me. I must keep a cool head and a steady hand, with fire in my veins! I feel I am condemned. Of my own free will, I flung away a life. I do not complain; but, when we stand before the last tribunal, Heaven be the judge if your hands are unstained with my life-blood, Robert Thornton.

Thornton. Enough of this: back to your den.

Harry. No, no, Thornton, not there! I will be quiet, silent; but do not, in mercy, do not drive me back there!

Thornton. Poor devil! Well, stay here: look after the bar until Daley returns. (Aside, going l.) He can't resist: he'll make a dive for the brandy, and forget. Two days without it: I should not have allowed that. (Exit l., i.e.)

Harry. Stay here! No, no, he has given me a chance for freedom. The doors are open: a dash, and I am free. Free for what? To die in the gutter. I could drag myself no farther; and who would look with compassion on such a ragged, bloated wretch as I? No, no: I have sold myself, body and soul, to this accursed life. (Staggers to bar.) Let me get at the brandy; that, at least, will bring freedom,—freedom from this maddening thirst, these horrible fears that drive me mad. (Staggers behind bar.) Ah, here, here! (Seizes decanter.) The balm for bitter memories. Stop, stop! That vision in the night,—Jessie, with her warning finger: and the old melody I loved so well rang in my ears. I vowed I'd drink no more, though I should die of madness. (Buries his face in his arms upon the bar. Enter r., down steps, Capt. Bragg.)

Capt. Found a new place. (Looking about.) Superb—gorgeous—dazzling! Here's juiciness! Just my idea of a palace. The man who figured this place no doubt believes his plan original. Absurd! I planned it years ago. Bragg's plan stolen! Fact, by jingo! (Raps on bar.) Come, young man, business, business. (Harry raises his head: Bragg staggers back.) Harry Maynard, or I'm no Bragg! (Comes to bar, and offers his hand.) Harry, young fellow, how are you? (Harry falls back, and glares at him.) Don't know me, hey? Why, I'm Bragg, Capt. Bragg, your distinguished townsman; Bragg of the Rangers; every man a sharpshooter, and their commander—well, modesty forbids my mentioning him in fitting panegyrics. Why, how you stare! You don't look well.

Harry. I don't know you.

Capt. Won't do, my boy, won't do. You may be able to bluff common folks, but I'm Bragg; Bragg of the judicial brow, Bragg of the penetrating eye: it's a keen one, and, when I fixed that detective's orb upon you, I said, There's my man! Why, they've fitted out an exploring party for the purpose of hunting you up,—Mrs. Charity Goodall, Jessie, Tom Larcom, and that black imp Stub. They've scoured the city in vain. They didn't ask my help, and I am the keen-eyed volunteer that never misses his mark. I have found you. Oh, here's glory, for Bragg's outwitted 'em all! I knew I should: Bragg never fails, never; and now I've got you, you can't escape me. Come, come, don't glare like a madman. What will I have? Brandy, of course! (Harry sets decanter and glass before him.) They made a mistake: when there's any detective business to be done, call a Bragg. He can see farther and run faster than the sharpest of 'em. Fact, by jingo. (Pours liquor into glass.) Ah, that's my style! (Raises glass.) Here's to the glorious Rangers, Bragg's own!

Harry (excitedly). Stop! don't drink that. See, there's a snake twisting and turning about in the glass. Stop, or you are a dead man!

Capt. (sets down glass, and staggers back). Jersey lightning!

Harry (glaring). See, it's raising its head,—it will strike deep and sure: and there's another, and another. Look, they are crawling about the decanter: now they drop upon the bar: they are upon you: tear them off, tear them off! They strike and kill, strike and kill!

Capt. He's raving mad. I wish I was well out of this.

Harry. Thicker and thicker, faster and faster, they come upon the bar. See them glare at me! Back, back! (Dashes his hands upon bar.) Ah, they coil about my arms. Away, away! (Attempts to tear them off.) They crawl about me: they are at my throat. Help, help, help! (Runs into c., and falls upon floor.)

Capt. He's got 'em bad. (Runs to entrance, r.) Fight 'em, young man, fight 'em: it's your only chance. I guess I won't drink: can't stop. (Runs up and off, r.)

Harry (raises his head). Gone, gone at last with him. I've driven them off again; but they will come again. What's that? (Glares into corner, l.) Rats again: fierce and big! how they look at me! Away! Gleaming teeth and eyes of fire! Away, I say! I cannot drive them back. They swarm about me: they're at my legs. (Tears them off.) Devils, I'll fight you all! Closer and closer! (Gets to his feet.) They're making for my throat: away, I say! (Tears them from his breast.) I cannot, cannot. Now they're at my throat! (Hands at his throat.) Off, devils; off, I say! Help, help! oh, help! (Falls quivering upon the stage. Enter Thornton, l.)

Thornton. What's this, Maynard? Maynard, I say! (Drags him to his feet.)

Harry (clinging to Thornton). Don't let them get at me: there's a thousand of them thirsting for my life. Save me from them!

Thornton. Oh, you've been dreaming! you're all right now. Come, get to bed: you'll sleep it off. Up above you're safe enough. (Drags him up stage.)

Harry. Not there, not there, Thornton. Don't thrust me into that hole to-night. They're up there, lurking in corners, waiting to eat me. Don't, Thornton, don't!

Thornton (struggling with him). Fool, do as I bid you! (Throws open mirrored door. Stub comes down steps, l., and watches them.)

Harry. Not to-night, Thornton, not to-night! (Thornton pushes him in, closes door, and locks it. Stub comes down softly, and sits l. of table.)

Thornton. He's safe there. I shouldn't wonder if this night rid me of him.

Stub (aside). Shouldn't wonder a bit. (Raps on table.) Here, bar-keeper, innholder, porter, bootblack, somebody or anybody, am a genblem gwine to wait all night? am he, say, somebody?

Thornton. Hallo! who are you?

Stub. Hallo, yourself: a genblem widout extinction ob color. Hop beer and peppermint for one. Be libely, be libely!

Thornton. We don't serve niggers here.

Stub. Wh-wh-what dat? Wha's yer ignorance? wha's yer ignorance? Take, keer, take keer: five hundred dollars fine! Cibil rights bill: dat's me. You can't fool dis yer citizen widout extinction ob color: no, sir. (Raps on table.) Ginger ale and sassaparilla for one. Be libely!

Thornton. Take yourself off: you cannot be served here.

Stub. Take keer, take keer; don't elebate my choler: don't rouse de slumbrin' African lion; ef yer does, down goes de whole hippodrome. Don't cibil rights bill say, don't he, ebery citizen, widout extinction ob color, am entitled to all de privileges ob trabel,—de smokeolotive, steamboat, and—and horse cars: an' to be taken in to all de inns, an' giben all de freedom,—free lunch, free drinks, an' five hundred dollars out ob de pocket ob any man dat says, Dry up? Dat's de law, mind yer eye. (Raps on table.) Soda and sassafras. Be libely, be libely!

Thornton (takes a revolver from his pocket). Will you have my pocket flask?

Stub. O Lor! (Slides under table.) Dat ain't de kind: put 'im up, put 'im up! Ain't dry: guess I won't drink.

Thornton. Out of this, or you'll get a taste of civil rights that will teach you better manners.

Stub. I's gwine: don't want no manners. (Creeps out, and goes up stage. Enter Charity Goodall, r., down steps, enveloped in a waterproof cloak: she comes down c.)

Thornton. What want you here? Who are you?

Charity (extending her hand). Charity.

Thornton (turning to table, and laying down pistol). Away: you'll get nothing here!

Charity (throws off cloak). Don't be too sure of that, Robert Thornton.

Thornton (turns quickly). Charity Goodall! (Stub comes down softly, takes pistol, goes up, crosses stage, and hides behind bar.) I beg your pardon, Mrs. Goodall. This is indeed a surprise!

Charity. And yet you have been expecting me; dreading the hour when you and I should meet face to face.

Thornton. This is hardly the place for a woman who would guard her good name from scandal.

Charity. You forget I am a woman above suspicion: that I have won a good name, by daring to enter such dens as yours, on errands of mercy.

Thornton. Ah! indeed! what errand of mercy brings the saintly Charity Goodall into my humble saloon?

Charity. Ah, you confess ownership! The spider of the gilded web! You, who, under the guise of a gentleman, lured my husband from an honorable life: you, who, with flattering promises of honorable wealth, tricked a brave lad to his ruin. Your humble saloon! You sneer, and yet you tremble. Confess all: confess you are a villain and a cheat!

Thornton. I will not listen to you. Be warned in time: at any moment, a rude throng may burst upon you. You are liable to insult from which I could not protect you.

Charity. Fear not for me: my mission is my protection. Alone, I have walked into the worst dens, without fear, without insult. With the most abandoned, no hand is raised against one who comes to rescue and deliver. Robert Thornton, listen to me: day and night I have sought, with ready helpers, Harry Maynard. To-night I have tracked him here.

Thornton. Here?

Charity. Ay, here! You threw me from the scent with your story of his utter degradation. I never dreamed the silly fly was ensnared in the gilded web. Give him back to the friends who mourn for him, and, spite my wrongs, all shall be forgotten.

Thornton. You ask too much: you see he is not here. You have been misinformed: for once the shrewd angel of mercy has been deceived.

Charity. Indeed! Perhaps another may be more successful—Jessie! (Enter from r., hurriedly, Jessie.)

Jessie. Have you found him? Speak! in mercy, speak!

Charity (putting her arm about Jessie). Be calm, my child: there is the man who holds him in his power,—Robert Thornton.

Jessie. Mr. Thornton? No, no, it cannot be! (Falls on her knees to him.) If you know where he is, if you can give him back to his father, to me, I will bless you.

Thornton. You are mistaken, Jessie; I cannot give him back. You know how much I loved him. Think you, if it were in my power, I would refuse the request of the only woman I truly loved?

Jessie. Oh, this is mockery! (Rises, and goes to Charity, who folds her in her arms.)

Charity. Poor child, your prayers are vain: that man is pitiless!

Thornton. I told you you had been deceived. Was I not right? You tracked him here, and yet you cannot find him. See how your well-laid plan has failed!

Charity. No; for I have one resource left, one taught me by the noble women of the West. You fear for my good name: do you fear for those who come to my aid with the song he loved? Pray heaven it reach the prisoner's ear! (Raises her hand. Chorus outside:—

Enter, singing, from r. and l. down steps, filling the steps, a chorus of women, well dressed, in light costumes; they stop upon the steps.)

Harry (above when the song ceases.) Help, help! save, oh, save me!

Jessie. His voice, Harry's voice! (Kneels to Thornton.) Man, now, if you have a spark of pity, lead me to him!

Charity. Robert Thornton, be merciful!

Thornton. You plead in vain: he is beyond your reach.

Stub (rising, behind bar). Dat's a lie, dat's a lie! (Runs up to door, c., and throws it open.) Quick, Miss Jessie: he's up dar. Go fur him, go fur him! (Steps l.)

Jessie. O Harry, Harry! (Runs up steps, and exits through door.)

Thornton. Curse that fool: you must not enter there! (Goes towards door. Charity runs up, closes door, and stands with back to it.)

Charity. Back! you shall not enter here.

Thornton. Woman, stand back: who shall prevent me? (Stub steps before Charity, and presents pistol to Thornton.)

Stub. Cibil rights bill: dat's me. (Tom runs in from r. steps, and seizes Thornton's arms, binding them back.)

Tom. Ha, ha! shrewdness, old fellow!

Jessie. Harry, my own Harry, found at last!

Harry. Jessie, Jessie, thank Heaven for this! (Chorus:

Repeated. Slow curtain.)