THE BALLANYGAR BROGUE MAKER. An Irish Drama, IN FOUR ACTS. By MICHAEL J. FLANAGAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO. 4 CINCINNATI : PRESS OF GEORGE P. HOUSTON, 105 LONGWORTH ST. 1885. THE BALLANYGAR BROGUE MAKER. An Irish Drama, IN FOUR ACTS. S By MICHAEL J. FLANAGAN, HIO. IS-- OF CINCINNATI. OHIO. CINCINNATI : PRESS OF GEORGE P. HOUSTON, 105 LONGWORTH ST. 1885. h J> Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 18S4, By Michael J. Flanagan, [n the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, L>. C. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. T MP 92-009 323 CAST OK CHARACTERS. Owen McGuire, an Irish brogue maker. Colonel Abraham, the Landlord. Sir John Bramble, a Young Lord. Edward O'Connor, an old man, the Colonel's servant. John Kinney, the Process Server. Jim O'Brien, the Tinker. Jack Clancy, the Pig Jobber. Dennis Reiley. Tim Callahan. Jerry Fahey. First Policeman, Sergeant. Second Policeman. Nell McCullen, the Fortune Teller. Kate Dugan, Owen's Aunt. Widow Roholey, who keeps a Country Tavern. Miss Annie Gillmore, an heiress. I Maggie Malone. Nellie Sullivan. Bridget Kennedy. Nancy O'Shaughnesy. (3) COSTUIVLKS. Owen McGuire. — 1st. Cordurory knee breeches, blue hose, low- out shoes, vest, long double breast; white shirt with large collar, large black tie, blue apron, brown wig, smooth face. 2nd. Same as first except apron, blue double breasted Clawham- mer coat with brass buttons, grey over-coat with cape, small round -top hat. Colonel. — English walking suit, black greyish side whiskers. Sir John. — Young lord, english dress suit, rather dudish. O'Connor — Old man, grey hair, small grey side whiskers, long black pants, black Clawhammer vest, long; carries cane. Kinney. — Process Server. Full brown beard, black knee breeches, long black hose, short sack coat, soft hat. O'Brien. — The Tinker. Red hair, (shabby) red throat whiskers, red complexion, long sack coat, long shabby pants and vest, old white stiff hat, carries pack on back marked "Marching Machinery," contains sheets of tin and soldering irons, um- brellas under arm. Jack Clancy. — The Pig Jobber. Large heavy man, greyish throat whiskers and hair, low plug hat, long sack coat, grey ; long buff vest, brown knee breeches, with leggins over hose. First Policeman, Sergeant.) Uniform of Irish Policemen. Second Policeman. J Nell. — Long cloak, with hood over head. Kate Dugan. — Old brown dress, long checked apron, white cap- frills on front, with black ribbon -band on it tied under chin, hair grey. Widow. — White cap with red ribbon run around frill and tied under chin, brown dress, long checked apron. Annie.— 1st. Travelling suit. 2nd. Silk dress, with train. Dennis. Callahan, Jerry. Maggie. \. l r i s h Peasant Dress. Nellie. Bridget. Nancy. ) (4) THE BALLANYGAR BROGUE MAKER. Act I. Scene 1. Interior of an Irish home— Cupboard, dishes, &c, — chairs — table — Teapot near fire-place , a pot hanging on the crane in fire-place, Spinning-wheel — Kate sitting at wheel taking a pinch of snuff— Owen sitting on ivork- bench sewing brogues, and singing an Irish Melody as curtain raises. Kate. Owen darlin', that's a beautiful song, it makes ray poor old heart rise. But faix, Owen, how can we pay that ten pound rint ? I'm afraid that we will be put out acushlin mecria. Owen. Well, Aunt, sure an' we have three nice Pigs, an' faix the Goodman will help us to pay the rint, an' I will kape on mendin' Brogues; faix, dear Aunt, I never let meself get dis- couraged, an' the Colonel may not be so hard onus ; but faix, he is a surly ould customer at times. Dennis, (knocks at door and enters) Good evenin' to ye's. Owen. Good evenin', Dennis, I hope yer well. Dennis. Owen, have ye those Brogues done yet? Owen. Mussha, faix, I'm just workin' upon thim now. Dennis. Don't disappoint me, now, Owen, because I must have thim brogues to-night, for it is holloween night, and sure and faith we must have some fun. Owen. All right, Dennis; sit down Dennis aviquo, and you shall have the brogues to-night. Kate. Sure Dennis agrawgel I'm awful dow^n-hearted, be- case the Colonel is getting divilishexactin' with us, an' sure I'm afraid that he will put us out of our little home. Dennis. Ah! niver mind auvorneen, you will be all right some day. Owen. Ah! niver moind botherin' your head with that (5) 6 THE BALLANYGAR BROGUE MAKER. Aunt of mine, agrawgel, because sure she's always borrowin' trouble. It's time enough, faix, to bid the divil good mornin' when yo u mate him. Kate. Yerra wussha, yes Dennis, but sure you know that kind of talk won't do the Colonel when he comes here. Owen. Well, Aunt Kate, sure-en-faix we can't die all to- gether ; we'll live as long as we can, and if he don't give us toime to get that little bit of money, I shall quit mendin' brogues, and I tell you, faix, I will become desperate. Kate. What do you mane to be talkin' to me loike that? Owen. I mean that they must not crush me in the dirt, or by all that's good and bad (rises) Owen McGuire won't be no small peraties to deal with. But never moind talkin' now, Aunt Kate, sure, but get us a bite of supper, and may-be Dennis will take a bite with us. Dennis. Never moind, faix, I must be lavin' ye's. Kate. Yerra sit down with us man, and have a bite or two. Dennis. No, I must be goin' home, becase my supper will be waitin' for me. Owen. All right Dennis (tying up the brogues.) Dennis. Good-bye to ye's all, but don't forget Owen, to come to the widow Roholey's Sheebine house at the Cross road to- night, becase, faix, we will have a Snap-apple and all kinds of jokes. Be sure and come, Owen, agrawgil. (Owen winks and points to Kate) I want you to shake your foot to-night (Exit.) Kate, (setting table) Owen, dear boy, I don't like to have you lave the house to-night, becase I have been having terrible dreams, an' you would have to cross Gabbit's Glinn, becase you always makes a short cut home that way. Owen. Yerra wussha, Aunt Kate, sure there ain't a man in the whole Parish would bother poor old McGuire, becase he never does wrong to anybody. ( Knock at door. Kate opens door. Enter Colonel and process server. ) Colonel. Owen McGuire, T want you to leave this house within two weeks from to-day. Owen. What! do you mane to put me and my poor aunt out of our home ? Colonel. Yes, within two weeks you must leave this place. Owen. Begar, you are gettin' divilish kind, but Owen McGuire won't get out as easy as you think he will. THE BALLANYGAR BROGUE MAKER. / Colonel. (To process server.) Give him that notice. process Server, (about to read paper when Owen steps to cup- board and gets a short gun or blunderbuss.) Owen. Hold on, me good man, put your paper in your pocket, an' if ye's don't lave thishouse, the both of ye in a jiffy, I'll blow yer brains out. Get outside the trachil of me door. Colonel. You shall suffer for this insult, Owen McGuire, I shall have 3 T ou put in irons, if you don't come to-morrow and beg my pardon. Owen. Leave, now, or I'll make you beg my pardon (Exit Colonel and Process Server). Kate, let us be looking to see which way they go. (Exit Owen and Kale.) Act I. Scene 2. Wood Scene. (Dennis enters from E; Nell from L.) Dennis. Ah, Nell, where are you going? Nell. Oh! I'm only going as far as the cross-road to the widow Roholey's. Dennis. I suppose you'll be there to-night, Nell, becase faix, all the boys and girls will be there, and I think we'll have good time. Nell. Faix an' I'll be there, don't ye's forget it. Ah, here comes the Colonel down the road and another man with him. I wonder what they'r up to? Dennis-. Oh! Sure an' its nothing good, Nell, becase that Colonel is a bad customer anyhow — Well, good day to ye, Nell. (Exit B.) (Nell hides behind a tree.) (Enter Colonel and Process Server.) Colonel. John, I must get that fellow out of that place. P. S. Well, Colonel, I would let him alone until the two weeks are up. Col. Never mind, then, John, I have a job for you to-night, which requires nerve, and firm determination, you will also need an assistant in whom you can place the greatest confi- dence. Can I depend upon you? P. S. You can depend upon me, Colonel. I will also have a man in whom you can depend. Col. Good, then, come to Ballanygar to-night, and we will talk the matter over. Be sure, John, that your man can keep a secret, and there is a hundred pounds each for you. » THE BALLANYGAR BROGUE MAKER. P. S. Is it a very dangerous job, Colonel ? Col. Well, John, I'll tell you that you must not be cowardly about it. The job must be done to-night. And I shall depend upon you to do it. So don't fail to come to Ballanygar to-night. P. S. {Aside) Ah! I'm afraid that it's some terrible deed that he wants me to do. Col. Promise me faithfully, John, that you will do the job for me, and remember there is a hundred pounds each for you P. S. Well, by jingo, here goes (shaking the CoVs hand). It's a bargain, Colonel, but you must stand by me if I get in trouble. Col. All right. I will stand by you till the last. Now don't fail to come to Ballanygar to-night. (Exit R. & L.) Nell. (Enters from behind tree, cautiously) I wish that I had been closer to them so I could hear what they were sayin'; but never moind, the time will come when Colonel Abraham will know who Old Nell the fortune teller, as they call me. is, and then I will have my rights, Ah! who comes here? An- other traveler I suppose. O'Connor. (Enter R. with grip sack.) Good evenin' Ma'm, would you please show me the way to Ballanygar? Nell. Indade an I can, Sir; do you see that cross road be- yond? Its just a mile and a half from there to Ballanygar. O'Connor. I'm glad of it, for indeed, ma'm, I've came a long journey, and I am very tired. Nell. Did you come far, Sir? O'Connor. Well, my good woman, I came from Carey, to get employment at a man's residence in Ballanygar; his name is Abraham. He wants a man to do odd jobs about his house. Nell. Faith, an' I'll tell you, my good man, you're goin to sarve a cross old master. O'Connor. Do' you tell me so? Nell. Yes indeed, Sir, I tell you he has no heart. He has put many poor families out in the cold. O'Connor. Tell me, my good woman, is there any other man by the name of Abraham around this part of the country? Nell. I don't think there is. O'Connor. How long has this Colonel lived in Ballanygar? Nell. He has lived here, Sir, for a good many years. O'Connor. What is your name, my good woman? If it's no harm to ask you. THE BALLAXVGAR BROGUE MAKER. 9 Nell. Not a bit sir, they call me Nell the fortune teller, hut my real name, I have not revealed to anyone. I am huntin' people who have wronged me, and deprived me of my happi- ness. This is why I take the name of Nell McCullen, the for- tune teller, and some day the just Man will give me my rights. O'Connor. You speak 1113' good woman as if there Mas some mystery in your life. Nell. Well indade, Sir, I've had my share. O'Connor. Well, my good woman, will you trust me with your secret. I may he of service to you some day. Nell. Do you mane what you say, my good man? Can I trust you with my secret? O'Connor. Yes, my poor woman. Nell. ( Kneeling — pointing upward) Do you promise me by all that is above? 0' 'Connor. Yes. Nell. lam the wife of Captain McGuire who was lost on the ship "Star of the West." This Colonel Abraham was a mate under my husband. He has got all of my husbands papers I think, and I am penniless, but Oh! if the dead could speak — Colonel Abraham's villany would soon come to light. That is why, my good man, that I am going under the name of "Nell McCullen, the fortune teller," thinking that I may some day get possession of my husbands papers. O'Connor. They are very valuable papers, my good woman. You are on the same business that I am. Twenty years ago I was a coast-guard in the county of Carey. I discovered a lost ship at the heads of Carey and picked up a man, he told me that he had been on board that ship and that they were bound for Calcutta and he thought that all the rest had perished. I took him to my home and gave him dry clothes, and after he had recovered, he took a package of papers from the inside pocket of his wet jacket. He opened the package before the fire-place and began to dry them, and asked me if I could read writing. Thinking there was something mysterious in his question, I said, "No." He told me that they were papers be- longing to the Captain, and he had been the last one from the Cabin, and when he returned, the vessel was almost down, there was not a man to be seen on the deck, and he got on to a piece of a Spar, and was floating on it when I picked him up. 10 THE BALLANTGAR BROGUE MAKER. He told me his name was Abraham, and that he was a mate. Nell, (kneeling before O'Connor) Thank God! Thank God! My good man, that I have met 3^011 this evening. That Cap- tain was my husband, and the scoundrel who has my property is Colonel Abraham— my blessin' on ye a thousand times, sir, for this information; tell me again, sir, what is your name? O'Connor. My name is Edward O'Connor. Nell, (fainting, and is caught by O'Connor — then recovers) Oh! Sir, I have a son who is livin' with my sister, a widow woman, an' they suppose me dead. I speak to him an' he does not know me. O'Connor. Well, my good woman, I shall go to Ballanygar Mansion, and if Colonel Abraham is the man who has your papers, I promise you that I shall secure them for you, so good-bye, my good woman, until I see you again, and may God bless you. Nell. Oh! thanks to you Sir; but keep my secret. O'Connor. Yes I will, and I will get those papers if it costs me my life. (Exit R. & L.) O'Brien. (Enter R — Pack on back marked "marching machinery" old umbrellas under his arm, enters awkwardly — whistling) I've been travlin' all day to see if I could'nt buy a Donkey, faix an' I dunno if there is any in this part of the country or not. Sure an' faix I'll try a while longer onnyhow, but they are a set of devilish droll people around here. They look at a tinker as if he was a thief, but niver moind, that's my line of business, to travel the country over and buy a donkey, an' snap him when I can make a few shilling in the bargain. Well, sure an' I must be on the road. (Exit L.) Act. II. Scene 1. (The Colonel's Library.) Colonel. — Sitting at table reading — Hat and cane on table — ) O'Connor. — (Knocks at door — ) Colonel. — (Opens door.) O'Connor. — (Out side) Good evening, your honor (taking off hat) . I've been informed that you want an old man as a servant who has no family. I have called, sir, for the purpose of securing the place. Colonel. — Walk in, Sir. Take a seat. THE BALLANYGAR BROGUE MAKER. 11 O'Connor. — (Enters) Thank you. (Takes scat near table.) Colonel. — (Seated) Do you reside in this vicinity? O'Connor. — No Sir, I live in the city of Cork. Colonel. — What has been your occupation? Have you ever been a servant? O'Connor. — Well, no, your honor, I have not. I have been a sailor in my younger daj T s, but I shall do my best to serve you, Sir, if you will employ me. Colonel. — Well, my good man, I shall give you a trial, as you are an old man with no family. Step into this room please. (leads O'Connor into room and closes the door after him, then returns to chair and sits in a deep study) . Well, niy goodness, that old man takes my mind back to when I was a mate on "The Star of the West." (Studies) Well, I am wealthy enough now, and its no matter how I got it, I could not give up those papers and live as a poor man. It will never be revealed, the dead never speak, and that five thousand pounds that I have of Annie Gillmore's I shall have also. I am her guardian and not one can take it from me. I have it in my possession and it must be mine! She is coming home to-night and she must be dis- posed of. This is holloween night and the glen is clear. She has to cross the bridge. That is where they must finish her. It must be done to-night — (Knock at door — Colonel opens.) P. S. (John Kinney) ) Enter hats in hand.) O'Brien. (Tinker) f P. S. Well, Colonel, I have come to talk with you in regard to the job you wanted me to do to-night. Colonel. (Looking at Tinker in astonishment). John, who is this man that you have with you ? P. S. This is Jim O'Brien, Colonel. Col. Have you known him long? P. S. No, Colonel, I have just met him on the way to Bal- lanygar this evenin' and he told me his name was Jim O'Brien. Col. (To Tinker) Well, Sir, where did you come from? J JBrien. Where do I live at, do you mane, Sir? Col. Yes Sir, that is what I mean. O'Brien. Well, faix an' I came from Sleighgo. Col. Well Sir, what is your occupation? O'Brien. What do I do for a livin'. Is that what ye mane? Col. Yes, Sir. 12 THE BALLANYGAR BROGUE MAKER. O'Brien. Sure an' I'm what they call a tinker. (Slirvgging shoulders.) Col. John, do you think we can depend on this man? P. S. Yes, Colonel, I am satisfied that we can depend on him. Col. (To O'Brien) Well, my good man, would you like to make one hundred pounds to-night? O'Brien. Yerra, Sir, are ye jokin' wild me; sure that's more mony than I'd ever make in my loif. Col. Well, Sir, you can make that amount to-night, if you will promise me that you will do as I desire, and keep it a secret. O'Brien. Mussha faith, Sir, I'd do anything for that much money — be whatever it is. Col. But you must never mention it to a living being. O'Brien. You can depend on me, Sir. P. S. I am satisfied that he is all right, Colonel. Col. Very well, John, you and this man will do that little job to-night. P. S. All right, Sir, please tell us what is to be done. Col. Well, Sir, to-night at 11 o'clock Miss Annie Gillmore with her intended husband, Sir John Bramble, will arrive here from Dublin. I am her guardian, and I have in my pos- session some valuable papers belonging to this lady who is now an orphan. John, she must be put out of the way to-night. What say you now? P. S. (In astonishment) Is it murder the young lady you want us to do, Colonel ? Col. You understand me, John, she must be put out of the way to-night. Her and Sir John Bramble will have to walk to Ballanygar to-night, and that is the time to do your work. Seize her as they cross the bridge, and frighten Sir John away — remember do not harm him. But bind the girl hand and foot and throw her over the bridge. Don't be cowardly, John. I will protect you to the last, and you know one word from me would clear you, if you got in trouble, and you will get your hundred pounds each to-morrow morning. Be on the bridge at twelve o'clock ; it will take them until that time to reach the bridge, and be very careful that she does not raise the alarm. THE BALLAXYGAR BROGUE MAKER. 13 P. S. All right, Colonel, we will be on our way now. Come ahead, Jim. (Exit John and Jim R.) Col. (T