PS 635 .29 D161 Copy 1 CARMELITA K FORCE AND FINESSE. A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS, BY HENRY J. W. DAM. SACRAMENTO : Lewis & Johnston, Printers, 410 J Street. CARMELITA FORCE AX I) FINESSE. A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS, R V HENRY JJ W. DAM. SACRAMENTO : Lewis & Johnston, Printers, 410 J Street. fl^ CARMELITA: Or, Force and Finesse. By HENRY .). W. DAM. DBA MA TIS PERSON J2. CAPTAIN KINGSBURY. DON RAMON VALDEZ. ALBERTO MOLINO. MANUELO. STRAINE. TIM REARDON. THOMAS. .JOSE. SHERIFF. MINISTER. CARMELITA. ISABELLA. MARIQUITA. MARIA. VAQUEROS, VILLAGERS, ETC. TWP92-009030 CARMELITA; OR, Force £i:clcL IB n ±33_esso. o — ACT I. SCENE. — Exterior at old San Diego. House of Jose/a, on platform with steps. (R. "2 E. and R. 3 E.) Tavern with raised veranda and. steps. (L. '2 E. and L. 3 E. ) Tables and chairs in front of tavern; rustic settees R. mid L. Four musicians, with harp, tiro guitars and mandolin, on veranda. Tomale man with bucket leaning against steps. Background: drop shewing public square vtnth trop- ical foliage, old church beyond, and ocean in distance. Curtain dis- covers close of dance. Dance finishes and dancers group about stage at tables, drmking. Tim and A'Iariquita in ad ranee. Tim. Hello, there! Chingaro muchacho Sacr-r-ramento. [Antonio enters from tavern.] Come here, ye cigar-box chromo. (limine a bottle o' woine. Damn the expinse whin loveliness is thirsty. Ant. (Aside to Tim.) A quart bottle, Senor? Tim. A tin-cint bottle, an' don't you forget it. D'ye think I'm a millionaire, ye blaggard ? (Exit Antonio in facer//.) Maria. (Enters R. 4 E. ) A pretty time for dancing and singing and carousing. All. Why 1 Tim. What's the matther, Maria 1 Mar. Why, old Josefa's not cold in her grave yet, and poor Lita is crying her pretty eyes out. Tim. Faix, av she don't cry 'em in agin it's mesilf 11 jine the blind asylum wid her. Mariq. Wat, wat you say 1 Tim. Oh, that's all right, Mariquita. It's you has the front seat in me affections. But ye wouldn't mould me likin Lita a little. Mar. No. Lita is a good girl ; too good for you. Poor 4- carmelita; thing. She's all alone in the world. She lost a good friend in Josel'a. Tim. She'll have to quit ramblin' the hills, I'm thinkin', and work for a livin', work for a livin'. Faix, it's a pity to have to work between meals. Mar. Lita work 1 ? She don't know any more about it than a child. Why, old Josef a never let her do a thing except run about and read story books. She's learned too much ; it's spoiled her. Mariq. That's so; she is spoiled. She never goes to the dances, she never does anything that we do. She's too proud; she'll have to come down, now that she's a beggar. Tim. Aisy there. She's a little lady, that's what she is. And well all be brothers and sisters to her, hey boys? All. You bet we will. Mar. ft's little good you can do her. Do you know who's after her .' All. Who? Mar. Don Ramon. All. (Indignantly.) Don Ramon? Tim. (Aside.) The ould divil. Goin' after the girl before the old woman's buried. Mar. Yes, Don Ramon is hunting for her already. The strange priest is with him and the priest is going to take her to a convent, the Don says. But I don't believe it; I believe it's a trick. Tim. Ye mean the priest that was with Josefa when she died? Mai;. Yes, the same one. Tim. Well, well; it's a shame, that's all. And hasn't she any folks to present him ? Mariq. She has a brother somewhere. Mak. He's no good to her. He's in prison. He was sent there for robbing a stage. You see, when Josefa adopted her nobody looked out for him and he grew up bad. Tim. 1 remember, now. Didn't he escape from prison ? Ma i!. I never heard of it. Tim. Well, he did. Molino is his name. I seen it in the papers. They've not caught him yet. Mai;. Well, he can't help her, or anybody else. The old Don is too rich. It's a shame, a shame; she's too good a girl. Tim. Well, well; an' what will the Captain say to that? Mak. The (Japtain will do nothing against Don Ramon. Mariq. I should say not. Not against his fader-in law. Tim. His fader-in-law! Ye think the Captain's goin' to marry Miss [sabel, don't ye? OR, FORCE AND KI.N KSSK. ■) Mak. Of course he is. Tim. An you know all about it; it's a great head ye have. Now, I'll bit twinty dollars {feeling in his pockets, and find- ing a /inker check). I'll bit twinty dollars the Captain thinks more o' the little orphan than of all the Spanish skirls, and all their money, in Califarny. Mariq. Nonsense; you don't know what you talk. Tim. An' don't I. Why do he go gallivantin' all over the hills wid her, an' say, "This way me choild;" "Be aisy wid yerharse there, Lita;" "Don't sprain yer ankle there, darlin'?" {Illustrating by affectionate gestures unth Mariquita.) Faix, av he ain't in love wid her I'll sell me eyes for oysters. Mar. But the Senorita Isabella is very rich. She will have all Don Ramon's property, and she is awfully in love with the Captain. She's just crazy after him. Tim. Is she now? Well, well. Begorra, when me new shute comes from New York, I'll have a thry at her mesilf. Wunther av the ould Don wouldn't like a descindant o' the Oirish Kings for a son-in-law? (All laugh derisively.) Tim. Oh, ye can laugh, ye blackbirds. Wait till I'm elected Superior Judge. I'll show ye. Mariq. Yes indeed. Senor Reardon will be a great law- yer some day. He told me so. Mar. He told you. (Laughter.) Tim. There's where yer right, darlin'. Six months more an' I'll own the office an' the ould man. Wait till I do be grabbin' land titles on me own account. Faix it's a great pro- fession, the law. Ould Sthraine there — [Enter Straine L. U. E. during speech.] Str. Old Straine, old Straine, old Straine ! Are you talk- ing of me, sir 1 Tim. O, not at all, sir. Divil a word, yer highness (lifting his right foot and inspecting it painfully). It's an ould strain I have from a harse, sir. The hot weather brings it on. Str. Where's Captain Kingsbury 1 ? Tim.' I don't know, sir. Str. Don't know. Don't know. What do I pay you for? Go to the postoffice and then go to the devil. Old Straine. Old Straine. Old Straine. (Goes offJi. 1 E. muttering.) Tim. I will, sir. I'll be back to you in a jiffy. (Starts for L. U. E.) Mar. Where are you going? Tim. I'm going to the postoffice and then to the devil. (Imitating Straine.) Mar. Well, I'm going to the bull light. Tim. hTe bull tight. Whoopa Toro!» Come on, I'll go wid you. 6 CARMELITA ; All. (Starting.) Whoopa Toro. (Exit all crying "whoopa toro" L. U. E.) [Enter Don and Manuelo, R. U. E.] Don. Ain't she a beauty 1 Diablo! Did you ever see any- thing so pretty, Manuelo? Man. (a little angry.) Don't call me Manuelo, Don Ra- mon. Do you want to give the whole business away? Don. Oh, there's nobody to hear. Man. Well, there might be. And its bad business this playing the bogus priest. I don't feel very comfortable in this toggery. I wasn't cut out for a priest yon know ; not until you made me one. Don. Well, I won't make any more breaks. Did you see her figure? That plump little bosom '. She's a little peach, J tell you, and she's dead ripe. Man. Yes, too good for you, you old wretch. You're old enough to be her father. Don. And young enough to be her lover. Carramba ! Wait till I dress her up in a silk wrapper (rubbing lih hands lustfully), flesh-colored stockings, French slippers, a little bot- tle of Roederer frappe. Manuelo, she's a queen, an angel. Man. There you go again. But say, about this property. I want to know where I come in. Don. The property is worth about twenty thousand in land and stock, near Mazatlan. My house there is handling it. It. belongs to the old woman, through her husband, but she never got wind of his death or heard of it. It goes to Lita as the old woman's heir. You have the will. Man. It's in the house there. Don. And you have your appointment as the girls guar- dian? Man. Yes, that's all right; I confessed the old woman and she entrusted the girl to me, I made affidavit in Court this morning and was appointed her guardian. I'm her legal guar- dian. Nothing can change that. Don. Well, now you want the old woman's marriage cer- tificate and her will. That'll complete the chain. And you ,can have all the property. Twenty thousand is pretty good pay for a little masquerading, hey Manuelo ! Man. But about the girl. I may have trouble. Don. Trouble, how? Man. She's not a Catholic. She may kick at the idea of the convent. Don. Let her kick. It won't do her any good. You have the law on your .side. But do it quickly; I don't want any OR, FORCE AND FINESSE. 7 .talk if I can help it. Come on, let's get the papers first, and then the girl.. (Exit info house.) [Enter Isabella and Captain, L. U. E. He leads the way down to settee, L. She seats herself fanning violently, as if out of temper.] Capt. Shall I get you a lemonade.' Isa. (Not looking at him.) No. Capt. Won't you take a shadier seat? Isa. This is shady enough. • Capt. May I light a cigarette? Isa. As you like. (He does not light.) [Silence.] Isa. Why did you not come for me to ride this morning? Capt. This morning? (Surprised.) Isa. Yes, this morning. I believe I did myself the honor to accept your invitation two days ago. Capt. By Jove, Isabel, you are right. I am heartily ashamed of my forgetfulness. At least accept my apologies. Isa. It must have been something very important to keep vou from an engagement you yourself made. Military duty, I suppose. Caet. No, it was not military duty. The fact is, old Jo- sefa died yesterday and left her foster-daughter, a valued friend of mine, all alone in the world. Isa. And who is this foster-daughter; a gawky working girl? Capt. She is not gawky, nor is she of the working class. Isa. Precisely. It is just what I supposed. An old peas- ant woman dies and leaves a very pretty girl to be tenderly looked after by somebody, and a chivalrous Captain of cavalry poses as the good Samaritan. Capt. I do not wish to have my motives questioned, Miss Valdez. I have already apologized for my failure to come for you. Is there anything further you desire ? Isa. I — nothing in the world. It is the merest trifle to me. Only it happens that this is not the first engagement broken, nor the second. Nor am I the only lady who does not think Captain Kingsbury's erratic conduct of late exactly ador- able. (Rising.) Captain Kingsbury, our friendship has been very pleasant. If it is to be continued it must be conducted in future in a manner somewhat more considerate of me. Af- ter what has taken place Capt. If you will pardon my stupidity, might I ask what has taken place? Isa. For three months, sir, you have chosen to spend most of your idle time at our house. For three months you have been my constant cavalier, in public and in private. Now, to o <;armelita; me all this is nothing. Thank Heaven I am heart whole, even under the withering rays of Captain Kingsbury's fascinations. If you should leave this country to-morrow, if the sea should swallow or the clouds enfold you, my heart would never ask itself whither you had gone or when you would return. Capt. I never did myself the honor to supj>ose otherwise. Isa. But it is not that. This is a little village and tin- people have long tongues. They have coupled your name with that of Don 'Ramon's daughter. They have said you were to marry her. That you did not marry her would matter little, but that you should, in the sight of the whole town, cast her aside for a beggarly orphan of the village, is not to be borne, sir. Ours is an old family and a proud name. I know well that I am violating all rules of etiquette and maidenly mod- esty in thus uttering my mind, but sir, Spanish blood speaks frankly and does not weigh its words, and the pride of the daughter of Don Ramon Valdez shall be insulted by no man. It is not love that speaks. Don't flatter yourself. It is the pride of a woman and of a family, and you shall make amends or you shall rue it. Capt. I understand you clearly, Miss Valdez. Do not fear. That I knew nothing of the gossip of which you speak attribute to two things, my ignorance of the popular language and the fact that never in my association with this young lady has one thought of love, one sentiment that was not of the most fraternal character, entered my mind or hers. Rest as- sured I will make any and every amend to you that lies in my power. As far as visiting your house is concerned, I shall ■certainly err no farther in that direction. Isa. But, Captain, it is not necessary that you entirely desert us. Capt. Do you desire that I still visit you? Isa. I have made no objection to that. Capt. It shall be as you desire. Good-clay, Senorita. Isa. Good-day, Captain. (Exit Captain L. U. E.) Isa. (Looking after him.) He's gone to find her. He loves her. I know it if he does not. Oh yes. He shall wed his low-born love, but he shall court her in a bed of nettles- Basta! I could murder her. [Enter Don and Priest from house. Priest does business oj examining and pocketing papers during dialogue.] Don. What is the matter, Isabella? Isa. Nothing. Don. And does nothing arrange your features in such an angelic expression? OB, FORCE A.\l) KIN ESS !•:. 9 ISA. No, it is not nothing. I am being insulted, played with, laughed at by the whole town. Don. What, what is this? Isa. Your Captain there has left me, to run after this or- phan. It is scoundrelly; I will not stand it. Don. What! The Captain in love with this girl! Isa. I only know what my maid has told me. The Captain and this girl have been rambling.about together for a month, and he is devoted to her. Don. This is important. (To Priest.) You must find her at once and take her before he hears of it. Come, come, Isa- bella. Bah! Don't worry over her. (Exit all R. U. E.) [Enter Lita L. U. E. | (Music. She comes down stage as if to seat herself L. Alberto thrust* head oat of door of cottage ami looks cautiously around. As she reaches settee ) Ber. Lita, hist Lita. Berto! (She looks all around in fear, lie also looks about : then (joes across to her, carrying bundle in news- paper. ) Lita. Why Berto, brother, what are -you doing here. Ber. (Sulkily.) Nothing to eat. Lita. But why did you come. It's so dangerous. Ber. I'd sooner get fat in prison than starve in a cave. Lita. Yes I know dear. But you might have had patience and not run this needless risk. Ber. Needless. You didn't come last night or the night before. I ain't had a mouthful since yesterday till I climbed in the kitchen window just now. I wasn't scared, as I knew •everybody would be at the bull tight, and I was hungry. . Lita. But you'll go right back now 1 ? Ber. Yes, I'm going. I've got some things to last me over to-morrow, but I depend on you to-morrow night. Don't you fail me. Good-bye. (Exit Berto R. 1 E.) Lita. I won't dear, never fear. (Steps up step of house looking after him.) Poor Berto, Poor Berto, (sigh). He's all I have in the world now. All I have in the whole world. (Exit into'house.) [Enter Straine and Captain L. U. E.] Capt. This is very serious, Straine, what does it mean. Str. Mean — mean — means the girl's got some property somewhere and that priest is after it. Capt. But Don Ramon doesn't care for property. Str. He, no. He's after the girl. Priest puts her in convent. Old Don snakes her out, and ruins hei\ Same old ijame. He'll get her. 10 < AKMEI.TT.V; Capt. He will, will he, the beast. Str. Tut, tut, your father-in-law you know, musn't talk like that. Capt. There's little prospect of that, now. We're in the midst of a hot quarrel. Str. Take care Kingsbury. This Spanish blood is bad blood when its up. Capt. WJiere's Lita? Str. You ain't going to fight the Don, are you? I believe you are in love with her. Capt. Nonsense. Straine, see here. I am a man of the world. I've been watching and studying this girl for three months, and I tell you she has the noblest, purest, most beau- tiful nature I ever saw. The old woman has reared her as delicately as a lily grown in the shadow, and I as a man will not stand by and see that old brute get hold of her. And you won't either, my friend. You're too much of a man for that. Str. Is she in love with you? (.'apt. Not a bit. She has never thought of such a thing. Str. Well, suit yourself. I'll stand by you. Capt. Thanks. I have been thinking of her ever since the old woman fell sick. I have a home for her with my mother, and I'm going to try and get her to go. (Captain crosses as he speaks and knocks tit <>>■ of house. Lita <>]>eu,s and stands in doorway.) Capt. Lita. Lita. Yes, Captain. Capt. Can I speak with you a moment: (She takes his hand innl crosses to settee, L. They sit.) Capt. Lita, friend, I want to talk with you a little. I know well that all your thoughts are out yonder with the foster-mother, but there are things which will not wait. Lita. (Drying her eyes.) What things, Captain? Capt. Lita, you are all alone in the world now. You have no one to look to for care, for protection, even for bread. And that is why I wanted to tell you that over beyond the snow mountains, away in the far land I have told you of so often, is another mother, a white-haired, tender, loving mother, who loves me as Josefa did you. There was a sister once, a girl like you, and ever since the sister went away and the mother buried half her heart along with her under the lilies of the spring time, there has been a deep shadow in her eyes and a great sorrow in her life. I wrote to her. about you yesterday, before Josefa died. I know she will want you to come. Lita, dear, will you come to her and make her happy? Tell me, my friend, will you come ? OK, FORCE AND FINESSE. 11 Lita. You arc very kind, Captain. Kind as you have al- ways been, J know she would be kind to me. I know I should love her as you do, but Capt. But what, Lita. Lita. I cannot leave this place. I cannot leave it now, and 1 may never be able to go away. Here I was born. This sun- shine sea, I have known ever since I was a wee child. The foster-mother whose affection and care have been all to me, has been laid away to sleep in the shadow of yonder cross. 1 should like to go, Captain, so much. I know it would be home, happiness, and love for me, but there are other reasons which you do not know. There are ties which no one knows. No, Captain. It makes me happy, even in my sorrow, that you are so thoughtful, so considerate, and so kind to me. Dear friend, you don't know how I thank you. Capt. But suppose 1 should go away 1 ? Lita. Oh, you are not going! You, too? Capt. I may have to go at any time. I have stayed already longer than I expected to, much longer. And it will be very hard for me to go away and leave my companion of so many happy hours at the mercy of the world. I have stayed be- cause your mountains and your fields and your blue ocean were more beautiful than I had ever known them when I looked at them through your eyes and ' by your side. It has been very sweet to me, Lita, this summerland, and I cannot go away without knowing what is to become of its princess. Lita. I cannot go away. I cannot go with you. Oh, Cap- tain, I am so unhappy. {Sobbing .) Capt. (Aside.) Dear little heart. If I could only take it to my own. Mar. (Enters L. U. E, and goes to house.) Lita! Lita! where is Lita? Capt. Here, Maria. Mar. The Don and a strange priest are looking for you. They are going to take you away. Lita. Take me away? Timothy. (Enters L. U. E. after Maria.) Yes, Miss. They have a paper wid a seal, an ilegant .gould seal. In all my legal experience Straine. Shut up, you idiot. What did you say? Mar. Don Ramon and a priest are going to take Lita. Lita. What does it mean? They wouldn't take me when I do not want to go. Str. They wouldn't, hey ? Like to see something they wouldn't take. Captain, this looks badly. Capt. They shall not take her. 12 carmelita; Str. What can you do? Capt. "Well, let's stand back and see what the} 7 do first. They're coming now. Don't be afraid Lita. They shall not harm a hair of your head. [Enter Don and Priest, L. U. E. followed by people. They come down to group, Manuelo leading.] Man. Are you the girl they call Lita, the foster-daughter of Josef a 1 ? Lita. (First looking up at Captain, who nods.) Yes, sir. Man. Do you not remember me, my child? Lita. No, sir. Man. Do you not remember how Josefa, when she was dying, put your hand in mine and told you I would take you to the convent where some good ladies would care for you and be mothers to you? Lita. No, I do not remember that. I do not remember anything after they told me she was going to die. Man. Well, that is what she said, and the Court has made me your guardian. I haA^e come for you, now. Lita. Oh, this is horrible. I am not a Catholic. I do not want to go. I cannot go. Maria will take care of me, won't you, Maria? Mar. That I will, and gladly. As long as I have a roof and a crust, it is hers. Man. Be silent woman. Do not interfere. (To Lita gently taking her arm.') You must come with me my child. Lita. I will not go. ■ . Man. You must. There is no other way. Lita. (Struggling.) You are going to take me. Oh, mercy, who will help me ! It is not right to take a girl against her will. Oh, Captain, tell him I do not want to go ! Capt. Let go. Man. {Still holding her.) Who are you? Capt. Let go, (taking one step. Manuelq lets go.) Capt. Lita go in the house. I will talk to these gentle- men. (Lita exits in house slowly and amid deep silence.) Capt. You say you have authority to take this young- lady. Man. I have. Capt. Where is it. Man. Here. (Hands paper to Captain who opens and reads, Straine looking over shoulder.) " Pedi'o Sepulveda is hereby appointed guardian of the said minor child." Str. The paper is all right, Captain. Capt. The paper may be all right. The means by which OB, FORCE AM> FINESSE. 13 it was obtained may not. (To Manuelo.) Is your name Pedro Sepulveda? Man. It is. Capt. How were you granted this paper. Man. By the Superior' Court, on my own affidavit with those of witnesses, at the request of the foster mother. That is enough for you. That paper is enough for anybody. Don. I endorse that. Capt. Well my friends you may be acting rightly in this matter but I don't believe it. This young lady is under my protection. Whatever you have to say to her you can say to me. Don. By what right do you obstruct the execution of this document. Capt. By my own right. By the right which every man has to protect the innocent from the machinations of the vile. Don. Take care, sir. You are doing a dangerous thing. One in which neither your uniform nor your influence shall protect you. Capt. Threaten if you like. I am able to take care of myself and of her. Don. Your chivalry is beautiful. Almost as beautiful as the young lady whom you so platonically protect. Capt. Spare your sarcasms. I am acting for her as if she were my sister, nothing more. Remember that, sir. One- more insult will cost you dear. Man. Excuse me gentlemen, one moment. I do not think the young lady will oppose the wishes of Josefa. Nor do I think the Captain desires to defy the law. Let us have the young lady here. Let her get over her surprise, which is natural and put the matter before her. Capt. Will you abide by her decision. \_Don Plucks Manuelo's sleeve and consults him. Shaking head. Priest also shakes head.] Man. Yes, I will abide by her decision. Capt. Maria, go and call her. [Maria goes in hoiose calling " Lita, Lita," inside. Retrns.] Mar. She's gone. Capt., Priest and Don. Gone ! Mar. Yes, she's not in the house. Don. Go and find her. Tim. Find her! Find a humming bird. Don. What do you mean? Tim. You won't get her. She has some hole in the hills where the devil couldn't find her. 14 OAKMELITA ; Don. Bah! Tim. Well, you may bah or moo. When old Josefa was sick it was two days before Lita turned up, and we hunted the whole country. Capt. (Aside to Stradne.) I think I can find her. Don. So, so, sir. This is a trick of yours. Where has she gone? Capt. It is no trick. I know no more than you. Don. Basta! Don't keep up this sickly pretense. Where is she 1 ? Capt. I have answered. Don. All right, sir. For love of a girl who is doubtless already your mistress you propose to defy the law and deceive these good people. Capt. Take care of your words, or by heaven I'll teach you. Don. Take care care of yourself, or a prison will do it for you. You are doing a rash thing, and the law will show you no mercy. Capt. And what are you doing ? Why are you on this girl's track 1 ? Why are you examining papers and lighting for her capture? Why are you backing up this priest'? You ques- tion my motives, you old scoundrel. Don. Take that back. (Step.) Capt. You know it is true. (Step. ) [They are about to fight, when Manuelo interposes.] Man. Peace, gentlemen, peace. Capt. There shall be no peace between us till you relin- quish your villain design. Good people, here, wil) you stand by and see this thing 1 Have you no wives to guard, no sis- ters to protect, no children to save from dishonor 1 ? Will you see a pure, beautiful girl, ensnared by a man old enough to be her father? Will you [During speech people close in around Don, murmuring men. aeingly. At last wQrd Priest makes a. sign. AH drop on knees save Captain, Manuelo and Don, with heads un- covered i (iitvitg men.] Capt. Well, kneel you slaves. Kneel and submit. But know one thing, Don Ramon: There is one white blossom you shall not blight; one jewel you shall not blemish, and if ever your vile hand does the shadow of a wrong to Carmelita, you shall pay for it with the last, drop of your black heart's blood. Curtain. ACT II. SCENE. — A cavern which has been used as an Aztec tomb. Squtm entrance C. F., disclosing Aztec ruin in the distance. Floor paved in Aztec mosaics. Ceiling arched and ceiled with triangular plates in Aztec patterns, joined m three-sided convex joints. Back and ivalls decorated with Aztec sun-burst and Aztec insignia am! symbols. Entrance has stone door with Aztec bas relief on interior. Passage R. 2 E. , partly concealed Inj image- Partly ruined images of Aztec woirhship about stage. At L. 2 E. a statue; between legs a fire. Sarcophagi vases, etc., about stage. Appearance of age and decay over all. Curtain discovers Albekto seated at stone table C, sitting on stone suit working at goat bide. Lita seated by fire, looking at fames. Ber. You are sure no one saw you come in? Lita. Not a soul. These are lonely hills, Berto, and no- body knows of this place. Ber. But they will, just the same. Those Sheriffs are hunting high and low. I know that; and sooner or later they'll find me, dead dertain. Lita. But if they find you here you can get away by the passage. Ber. And be caught inside of a mile; arrested the moment I stepped on the steamer'? Not much. I must get out of this rat-hole. I must get to Mexico unknown, unseen. I can't sleep. There's not a night that I lie clown that I don't wake up with a jump, with my blood freezing. I can't close my eyes in sleep but what I feel the chill of the thick, gray prison walls around me, and see the cold moonlight staring at me through the round holes in the iron door. I see the guard on the wall Avith his rifle on me. I hear the clang of the bolts ringing like devil's music along the corriders. I hear the clank of the chain and the crack of the whip and the gurgle and swish of the water torture, that is always turned on me and always leaps at me just as I jump from bed to dodge its horror. I can't stand it. I must get away. I've got to get away, I tell you. Do you know that 1 (Paces up and down. ) Lita. Dear brother, if I could only help you. Ber. Lita, why can't you go with the priest? Lita. Why do you keep saying that? Ber. You agree to go and I'll tell you. Lita. It is impossible. 16 carmelita; Ber. And why is it. You can save me that way. Lita. Brother, listen ; I know what it is to put myself in Don Ramon's power and you know as well as I. I have done everything for you that a sister could. I led you here in the night when it was dark and the stones cut my feet till there was blood on every foot-print. I cared for you when you were sick. I will take care of you, guard you and protect your secret as long as I have breath to breathe and life to live. You can have my life, my all, but I will never go with those men. Ber. Bah ! you're in love with the Captain. Lita. I in love with him ! I lift my hopes, my dreams even to such a man as he. ISTo Berto, even if he were in my thoughts I have banished him for you. I have only one desire, to see you safe and happy. Ber. Then why will you not go with the priest. Lita. Because, while I will sacrifice my life for you, for nothing under heaven will I sacrifice my honor. Ber. And I say you are wrong. A silly girl with her head full of story book notions. I say you shall go. Lita. Oh, Berto ! Berto ! you don't know what you say. You do not mean it. Tell me you do not mean it. My God, I shall go crazy ! Ber. Shh, that's all right. I didn't inean it. I was only joking. There, don't be a baby. Lita. Don't say such things, they frighten me. I will guard you, Berto, I will keep your secret from everyone and you will escape soon, I know you will. Ber. Hark! I hear a step. (Both listen intently.) Litv. It is. It's some one coming down the cliff. Hide Berto, hide! Mercy! who can it be? (Exit Berto R. H.) [Enter Captain C] Lita. You ! You here. Capt. Well, well, and this is my welcome, after all my seeking. Lita. But why did you seek? Why did you endeavor to find me? There is no one with you? Capt. No one. Lita. And nobody knows this place but you? Capt. Don't fear Lita, no one knows it. I would not have found it if you yourself had not told me of your hiding place and given me a hint as to where it was. Don't you remember? But what if anyone did know it. Am I not able to protect you? (Advances toward her She retreats.) Lita. You — you must not stay here, Captain. You must go away. OK, FORCE A.ND FINESSE. 17 Capt. Why, what has come over you? You used to be brave as a toreador. Now you are nervous and frightened as a hare. Poor little heart. Has hiding so unnerved you that you are even afraid of me? Lita. Oh, no ; it is not that. Believe me. But you must hot stay here. Come, you would not stay if I did not want you to. Come, see, (taking his hand) I will go with you. Capt. And leave this place? Lita. No, but I will walk with you a long ways, if you like. Come, Captain, come. You will come when Lita asks you. (She seizes: nubia anil hastily arranges it about face.) Capt. Well, .this is very strange. What can have come over her? Lita. Are you coming? (Taking his hand ami walking toward C.) I will walk ever so far, and you shall tell me all the news in town. ( Exit Lita and Captain, C.) [Enter Berto, R. H. Runs to door and watches them.] Bei;. So, he has found her, curse him, and found me, too, which is a damned sight more important. (Walks across and back.) The old Don is my man. He wants her and will pay a mighty sight bigger price for her than a pardon. A pardon, that's what I want. Carajo! If I could only see him to-night. To-morrow that spangled officer will have her, and the whole game will be up. Let me see. It will be dark in half an hour. I can truf t the night and a disguise. Where's that beard. (Hunting about the stage and finding it, pats it <>n.) Don Ramon, we will do business together. She'll be just as well oft* with you as the Captain. Better, I guess. Where's my hat? Hang it I can't find anything. (Hunts for it and (joes in passage, R. ) \ Enter Isabella, in riding habit, and Tim. They enter tim- id!;/, Isabella in advance.] Isa. You are sure he came this way? Tim. Yis, ma'am. I watched him up the canyon. He hunted around for awhile and then disappeared. He must have come in here. Isa. You have good eyes, Tim. I will double what I promised you, and give Mariquita a present besides. (Aside.) I knew the lover would find her, find her for me. I wonder if she is really here. Tim. Ugh! What's that? Isa. Only a bat. Don't be frightened. Didn't you ever see a bat before? Tim. Not exactly that kind, mum. What a devil of a place it is at all. 18 caemelita; Isa. Nothing remarkable. Only an old cave tomb. Tim. A tomb, is it. Howly mother. And thim? (Point ing to sarcophagi.) Isa. Simply respectable Aztecs, who were once dead. Tim. Be the bones o' Saint Pether, I want none o' this. (Inspecting vase.) Faix the Azchics gave their friends a t'oine sind off, annyhow. Isa. Why, it's gold. Tim. Gould, is it 1 ? Gould! Begorra I'll be married to- rn orrer. Isa. You wouldn't keep it? Tim. I wouldn't? Did ye iver know a lawyer let go av anything wanst he got his hand on it 1 ? Isa. It might be haunted. Tim. Ugh! 1 " (Dropping it.) Isa. You better keep it, Tim. Tim. Go long wid you. Would I lie haunted be some ould Aztec dressed up in tin pans and devilthry? Not be a O-o-o murther! [Berto runis in suddenly from R, confronts them, springs back with "Carramba !" and draws long knife. Isa- bella retreats a couple of steps a ml Tim jumps behind her, looking out from petticoats. They stare at each other.] i Isa. Put up your knife, sir. We mean no harm. Ber. (Putting up knife slowly and suspiciously.) Oh, ho! I see. You're old Ramon's daughter, ain't you? Isa. Yes. What then? Ber. Is he hunting for the girl who ran away? Isa. Yes. He is in the valley about half a mile from here. Ber. And you left him to track the Captain? Isa. Not at all. I merely took a ride by myself and found this place. Ber. That's all right. You'd like to see her found, I s'pose? Isa. Suppose that I did. Ber. Well, you go and tell the Don that you met a man who knows where she's hid. He can't get her without me, you understand? So you tell him to meet me at the white rock in Stone Valley, just as quick as he can. It's on the other side of this hill. Will you do that? Isa. I will. Ber. Then go now. How soon can he be there? Isa. In ten minutes. OR, FORCE AM) FINESSE. 19 Ber. And mind you, not a word of me or this place. ' If you betray me he'll never see her. Isa. I understand perfectly. (She nods and starts away to exit C. Tim bows low. Behto takes knife and Tim jumps out. Exit Isa and Tim C.) Ber. Carajo! this is lucky. The old Don can get me a pardon easy enough. And I shall be free to walk in the day- light and snap my lingers at the police. But the Don. He may have men with him. He may capture me. (Thinks.) He must come here. If he wants to talk business with me he must do it in my office. My office,' a coyote's den in the hills. It's rough on Lita. But no it ain't, either. She's dead gone on the Captain, and he'll only ruin her. And the Don '11 be a father to her. Yes, a father, damn him. (Rises and takes hat.) [Enter Lita, C] Lita. Where are you going, Berto? Ber. Out to get some air. I've been here all day. So that son of a gun has found us. Lita. He has found me. He knows nothing of you and never will. Ber. Bah! He'll be back again. Lita. He will not. He promised me. Ber. And you think he'll keep his promise 1 Lita. I know he will. I keep mine. You know that. Ber. Don't get watery. It's bad enough without tears. Well, I'm off. (Exit Berto R. Lita does not look up. She gazes into fire.) Lita. He loves me. I know he does; and I must not love him. I must deceive him; must let him doubt me, suspect me, and all for a brother who never brought me anything but unhappiness. Oh! why is life so hard 1 ? Why is fate so cruel? Poor Berto ! It is selfish of me to think this way when he is so deep in trouble. If he can only get away without being discovered. I wonder where the Captain is. I wonder if he is thinking of me. And he tried so hard to take me with him. Can he love me? Can he love me? Dear Captain! (Takes picture from bosom.) Oh! how grand, how noble you are! [Enter Berto R. hurriedly.] Ber. Lita, there are some horsemen on the plain. I think they are headed this way. Go up by the lone pine and watch them. Quick, will you 1 (She hastily seizes nubia.) Ber. Stay twenty minutes at least. I want to be certain. Lita. Yes, dear. (Exit Lita hastily C.) 20 CARMELITA ; Ber. (Watches Iter out, waits a moment, and then closes door carefully.) This way, gentlemen. [Enter Don and Manuelo R.] Ber. You'll excuse me a minute. I want to be sure that we are not followed. {Exit Berto R.) Man. What's the plan? Don. We must get her to-night, at all hazards. We can't lose any more time. The people are talking, and evidently understand the game; and if it gets beyond the little town and into the newspapers, it will make me trouble. Carramba! The more she eludes me the more I want her. Man. But suppose we get her. What then % Don. You start north by the first train, pretending that you are going to San Jose to the Convent. Then you leave her at San Luis, and take her to my ranch on the arroyo. You know the big hacienda? Man. Yes. Don. I will telegraph and have a carriage and driver at San Luis. Then I will remain at old San Diego to-morrow to avert suspicion, and come up to-morrow night. Man. All right. Here he is. Stay. Suppose he won't give her up? Don. Oh, there's no fear. I'll give him any price, no mat-' ter what. [Enter Berto R] Don. Well, sir, who are you ? Ber. Alberto Molino, senors. Don. What are you doing here? Ber. The fact is, my residence, when I'm home, is at San Quentin. I'm down here for my health. Don. An escaped convict? Ber. That's about the size of it. Don. Well, you sent word that you know where this girl is. Ber. I do. Don. And you'll find her for us? Ber. If I'm paid for it. Don. What do you want? Ber. Only a trifle. I want a pardon, and you can fix it. A pardon, Don Ramon. Don. A pardon? Well, what have I to do with pardons? Ber. You know the Governor well: you have big political influence; ten times more than is necessary. Don. (Thinks.) Why, even if I could get you one, it would take three days to send to Sacramento and back. Ber. Well, I'm in no particular hurry. OR, FORCE AND FINESSE. 21 Don. But I am. We want the girl to-night. I'll give you money — plenty of it. Ber. I have named my price. I get a pardon or you don't get the girl. You've got to get her quick, too, for you're not the only man who is close on her trail. Don. The Captain? Ber. I'm not saying who. D >n. I don't think I could get you a full pardon. I might get you a conditional one. Ber. What is thai I Don. One that depends upon your leaving the State imme- diately and never returning. Ber. Well, that will do. All I wank is to get out of this gloi-ious climate and not be troubled by the law after I do get out. I want to be free. Don. Well, show us the girl, and in three days you shall have it. Ber. Oh, no; don't be too rapid. Hand me the pardon and I hand you the girl. Don. What is the use of waiting 1 I will guarantee the pardon. Ber. And who will guarantee you 1 ? Don. Father Sepulveda. You can trust him 1 Ber. Trust nobody. I can't hold you to your agree- ment. You know that. Don. I'll give you any guarantee you like. Ber. Then write me something. Give me something in black and white. I'll give it back to you when I get the pardon. Will you do that 1 Don. Yes, I'll do that. {Takes note-book and writes.) " In three days I promise to deliver to Alberto Molino a con- ditional pardon from the Governor, depending upon his leaving the State. Failing, that I agree to help him to leave the State with safety. R. Valdez." There, {tearing it out), will that do ? Ber. {Looking at paper.) That'll do. Now you're a sort of accessory. Don. Oh, well, I shan't worry over that. Ber. Now, where do I meet you and get the document? Don. You know my ranch on the arroyo, thirty miles from here? Ber. Yes. Don. Well, you come there to-morrow night. Come after dark. Here is a card. Give it to the gate-keeper, and he will let you in. {Gives him card with something on it he has written. ) 22 < 'A K ME LITA ; Ber. {Reading.) "Pass bearer." All right. Now let us lose no more time. How many men have you got '? Don. Four, well armed. Ber. They will do, I think. If the Captain is with her he'll fight. Don % What, the Captain 1 ? Can we catch him, too 1 ? Ber. Maybe. Where are the men 1 Don. Down the valley about half a mile. Ber. We must hurry. The Captain may get her before we do. ♦ Don. Come on; there's no time to lose. [Exit Don and Manuelo R. Berto glances to see they are gone and opens door. .. lie looks oat and makes gesture of anger. ,] Ber. Demonio ! The Irishman ! What the devil is he after 1 ? I'll get rid of him mighty quick, the scarecrow. (Con- ceals himself behind status L.) [Enter Tim timidly C] Tim. (Looking care/idly about.) No wan home 1 ? (Advan- ces.) Wundher where Misther Nightmare has gone? Begorra, he's a nice, pleasant picture to meet on a dark night. (A< tran- ces to sarcophagus L. C.) Gould, ivery wan o' them; an' worth a hundred dollars. Timothy Reardon in his great act of col- lectin' a probate fee; administerin' on the estate of an Aztec. Begorra, it bates the Dutch ! (As, he reaches for vase Berto utters a hollow groan.) Tim. Ugh! (Retreating.) What's that? (Waits and reaches again for vase. Berto groans again.) Tim. Go 'way wit you. (To Statue.) Faix, they're no good to you, ould three-card Montezuma. (JIastily seizes three or four vases and pops them into sack which he draws from his coat. Berto groans load ami throws pinch of gun- powder into fire. Tim drops sack, yells with fright and rushes out C.) Ber. (Laughing.) He'll not stop this side of town. (Picks up vases and s.) Oh, no, you're wrong. Capt. Get out. I saw her at a window when I came. Jose. No girl: no girl at all here. (Capt. snatches flask from him.) Capt. You'll lie to me, will you. Jose. Oh, hold on. Don't be stingy. Yes, there is a girl here. Some picnic of Don Ramon's. Capt. (Losing control of himself.) What! where is her room 1 ? (Jose shakes head awl mar mars.) Capt. Oh, you sot. Here, wake up, I say. Tell me where she is. (Shakes him.) Jose. I won't tell you. Capt. Tell me. Jose. No, no, won't tell. Capt. (Closing hand on Jose's throat.) Tell me ! Tell me quick 1 Jose. Santa Maria ! Mercy ! You would not murder me ! Capt. Tell me her room. Jose. You are no tramp. What do you want 1 Help ! [Captain grabs him again and chokes him fill he is quiet, then lifts him and pours liquor down throat. Jose gulps it and. falls in stupor, insensible. Captain drags himinto dark corner R. U. E., first slashing keys from belt and covers him with straw.] Capt. Now for the last stroke ! Lita, my love, you are saved ! (Starts for C. F. Door opens and Lita appears. At sight of Captain, she screams, lie fcdls by fire asleep in old position. Lita is followed close by two torch bearers and Manuelo.) Man. What are you screaming at 1 i k. FORCE AND FINESSE. 31 Lita. I I ir was a bird; a great bird with big eye* Hew at me. Man. Pshaw! An owl ! [Enter Don, C. F.] Don. Was it an owl, though 1 ? (Takes torch and inspects courtyard, passing near Jose. Then goes to Captain and thrusts torch in his face. Returns to.group.) Where is Jose 1 ? M \x. He's in bed, long ago. {Group cross stage and exit, I,. [I. Door closes with click.) CaPT. (Rises.) Yes, you go, but I follow. (Hushes to /loor. Sj)rings back.) My God! it's locked. And the priest has the key. Oh, this is too much ! But wait. He must re- turn, and then — his life or the key. [Scene discovers room in hacienda containing single bed, fable and two chairs. Enter Manuelo left boxing. He places lighted candle on tabic ami tarns to door. Lita enters and walks to chair. Sits.] Man. Good night, Senorita. Don Ramon will be here in a few moments. (Exit Manuelo left boxing.) Lita. It was he. 1 knew it was he. And he has come to save me. Oh, if he had not. They will kill him; they are certain to. But let them. (Rises.) You do it, Don Ramon ; you do it, and you will find a girl's arm can avenge if it can- not save. (Breathes hard, checks herself suddenly, ami sits as door opens. DON enters.) Lita. ^o, Don Ramon, it is you who looks so tenderly after the ward of the church? Don. (Very tenderly ami courteously.) Yes, senorita, and it is I who am grieved to see the necessary efforts for a young- lady's welfare repulsed with such ill grace. Lita. (Bitterly.) Efforts for her welfare! Don. (Rows.) That is what I said. Lita. Don Ramon, it will be as well to speak frankly. Your diplomacies and courtesies are as detestable to me as they are meaningless to yourself. Y r ou have chosen, by an unlawful extension of the temporal power of the church, to outrage right and imprison me. Now what do you propose to do"? What do you wantl Don. Pardon me, my child. Lita. I am not your child. I am not of your family or your religion. I owe you and yours no reverence. I yield them nothing but contempt. Don. Even those who are most ungracious we still hope to reclaim. o2 , gabmelita; Lita. Come to the point, sir. Converts are not made now- adays with carbines, nor proselytes with pistols. I want to know why I am here. I want to know why an unoffending girl who never did any one harm, is watched, pursued, and arrested at the beck of a man she never saw, and in the name of a church to which she never swore allegiance., Tell me or open that door. I will know. Don. Will not is not said to me, senorita, Lita. But it will be said. If I may not say it men will. The days of chivalry may be dead, but the days of manhood are not, thank God. {He takes chair and sits hear Iter.) Don. Lita, have not the crystal mirrors of your own can- yons — have not the .flowers that bend to you as you walk abroad — have not the rough-handed, bashful lovers, of the vintage ever told youl Lita. Told me what. Don. That the sea swallow is less graceful, that anangel is less lovely than you. Lita. What do you mean'? [Nervously.) Don. I mean, Lita, that it is many days since i saw* you first. You were sitting on the sand, your eyes gazing seaward, dreaming with a maiden's idle fancy of the unknown future. You were very lovely, there, Lita. {Comes closer. Very Lovely, my child, and the picture {Reaches for her hand.) Lita. Stop, sir. This is no place nor time for lovers' tales. Were you a man instead of a scoundrel you would not insult a prisoner with such words. Don. Lita, 1 have wealth. 1 have power. A palace, such as few women see, shall be yours. The Looms of Europe shall clothe you ; the jewels of the south— Lita. Spai*e your tinsel bribes. I want no palace, no jew- els. I want my freedom. Don. Am I then so repulsive to you ! Other women have not found me so. Lita. I pity them, then. I pity any woman who was ever- tainted with the touch of your vile hand. Don. You use hard words, my lady. Lita. Yes, but not half hard enough. A snake has more lionor, a cur more manhood. Oh, how I despise you! Don. Very, well, then, my spitfire. Since you appear to enjoy it you shall despise me still more. Those pretty lips lash cuttingly. Let us see if they will taste as Vweetly. {As In- speaks In' advances. She recedes to wall. .1/ last word he seizes her arm.) Lita. Let me go. {She whips out dagger. He snatches it, tlro/is it, mil! seizes her.) Stop! Help! Oh, my God! mercy! OE, FORCE AND FJNES8E. 33 They strug ndeavoring to force her head on his shoul- der. The door is burst in and Captain enters L. Don re- /. uses Don. You ! Capt. Yes, I. (Springs at Don. They wrestle. Captain nets Don on floor with hands on Don's throat. Captain grabs : raises it to strike.) Lita. Wait. He is not worthy death. (She seizes Cap- tain's arm and tries to pull him off.) Come, the vaqueros will be here in a moment. Capt. You are right. It's death or freedom, now. Follow me. No. Here. (Lit fs Iter on left a rut. draws pistol with right, blows out candle and dashes out left boxing.) [Scene moves off disclosing Court-yard. First Vaquero dis- covered ringing bell sharply. Vaqueros in pants aud red shirts open at breast, with feet bare, rush otct from va- rious entrances. Sortie throw up windows and appear at upper doors on veranda running. All group about First Vaquero. AH armed with clubs, scythe blades, or knives.] All. What's the row 1 ? What's the row? What's the. matter? First Vaq. The devil is loose. Jose drunk. The Priest bound and gagged, and Don Ramon murdered. All. Who did it? Where is he? First Vaq. He's there. In there, I tell you. Quick, don't let him get away. (He waves his hand indicating L. 2 E. All rush in L. 2 E.) Jose. (Staggers out of corner with straw clinging to him.) Hie. Whash 'er row? First Vaq. Get out, you sot! (Pushes him over. Jose falls and does not stir or speak. First Vaquero runs to L. 2 E. and, meets vaqueros backing slowly out with yells. Cap- tain appears with Lita on arm and pistol leveled. Yells.) Capt. Back, you dogs. Get back. All. Carramba? Carajo! Kill him! Knock him down, there! Get behind him ! Kill him! (Those on outside of group endeavor to strike him over heads of others.) First Vaq. The gate. The gate is open. (He springs to ward gate. Captain fires and he falls. Captain fires twice, vaqueros fall back and he dashes through gate.) [Curtain.] ACT IV. SCENE — Parlors of Horton House, San Diego. Windows R. and L. at baek showing view of ocean. Doors L. 3 E., R. 4 E. and R. 2 E. Table C. with writing materials. Piano with gaudy cover between doors R. At R. large arm chair. At C. tete-a-tete. At L. sofa, light. parlor chairs, etc. Tall mirror between windows. Mariquita discovered dusting, back of stage. [Enter Tim, L. 3 E. Comes down stage and does not see her. She comes up behind him and. puts hands over eyes.~\ Mar. Who is it? Tim. Faix, from the size o' the hands I think it's the Ari- zona giantess. (She boxes his ears.) Tim. Is the Captain here yet? Mar. He'll be here in half an hour, with a lady. They have three elegant rooms. Tim. That's two more than we'll be wantin', Mrs. Mari- quita Reardon. Mar. Have you got the hundred dollars yet 1 ? You must get that before I marry you. Tim. Feast yer avaricious eyes on that, ye pawnbroker. (Holds up three twenties.) Mar. That's only sixty. Tim. Ye mercenary divil. I'll give ye my note for the balance. Mar. ISTo. (Shaking her head.) Tim. An' what do ye want wid so much 1 ? Is it a carriage and horses yer after? Mar. (Counting on fingers.) I want a silk dress, and some shoes, and a hat, and some diamond earrings, and a scarf, and a breastpin, and a watch and chain, and — what's the matter 1 ? Tim. Oh, go on. Don't moind me. Mar. And some candy and — where'll we live? Tim. Faix, I'm thinking we'll camp out, and hide the dia- monds in a squirrel hole wid a burglar alarm on it. Mar. You poke fun at me? Tim. Oh, not at all; not at all, darlin'. Only I'll have to be married in me old swally-tail, and me silk socks is worn out up to the ankles. But don't moind me. Only I'd just be askin' the favor that if ye want the earth at any time ye'll let me know the day before. Good-by, darlin'. (Through the half- FOBOE AND FJNE8SE. 35 closed door). Jist dhrop into the jeweler's an' tell him ye know me. (Exit Tim L. 3 E.) Mar. And a feather, a big yellow one, in the hat, and — I'll give a kettle-drum some time, like all the brides. {Taking piano cloth and putting it around her, en train, (nut walking before mirror.) [Enter Berto, L. 3. E. Mariquita dro])s cloth and dusts ■v iijorously. | Ber. I want to see the young lady, the lady with Captain Kingsbury. Mar. She's not here yet. She won't be here till 1 2 o'clock. You better come after she's married. Ber. Married ! Mar. Yes, they will be married this afternoon. Ber. I'd like to see her before that. Mar. Well, you better wait. (Exit Mariquita.) Ber. Well, I suppose it's better for her. It ain't my fault that the Captain got her. No, let 'em rip. To-morrow the steamer. To-day good-bye. [Eu.ter Isabella, I. 3 E..] Isa. You! again 1 ? Ber. You don't seem delighted to see me. Isa. On the contrary, you are the one man that ought to be seen just now. Do you know you are being tricked and fooled all around 1 ? Ber. Me tricked 1 ? Ain't my pardon all right 1 ? Isa. What! Did the priest get you a pardon? Ber. Yes. Isa. To get you out of the country. Wasn't that it? Ber. Yes, that's so. What do you mean? Isa. Simply this: The Captain and your lady love are going to be married to-day, and you are going to lose a foi^tune. Ber. A fortune. How ! Isa. Lita is rich; very rich. She inherits a fortune in Mexico from the old woman whose husband left it to her. The priest is after it, the Captain is after it, and the Captain will get it. Ber. Carramba! He shall not. He shall not marry her. Isa. Can you prevent this marriage? Ber. I will do it, somehow. Isa. She is in love with you, isn't she? Ber. Yes; why? Isa. I understand it ; I know she's going to marry the Captain on your account. Now you go to her; tell her you 36 CARMELITA ; don't want her to marry him ; tell her she will be a disgrace to him after her life with you; that his people would find it out and refuse to receive her. You understand ? Then get her to come with you, take the steamer to-morrow, and you can be rich and happy in Mexico. Ber. You're right; I'll do it. But wait; the Captain won't stand it. Isa. I'll fix the Captain. He will be glad to get rid of her ; you can rest assured of that. Now you write her a note, and send it to her as soon as she arrives, telling her you want to see her. Will you do it 1 ? Ber. I will; I'll do it now. Isa. She won't betray you 1 ? I can rely on that? Ber. You can; she'll never betray me. [Exit Isabella L. 3 E.) Ber. (Writes note, folds and addresses if.) So, that's the game. Playing me, are they 1 ? Good Cod! suppose the pardon is bogus. (Hastily takes pardon from pocket and inspects it.) The paper is not new; this is an old one; I have been tricked; they will jail me. My God! they may be on my track now. But, no ; the signature is here, the seal is here, my name is here. It's mighty strange. I must know! I must know! (Thinks) I can't go to the police; I must go to a lawyer. But who? Ah! the Irishman; he's the man. He'll know, and he dassent give me away. Lita first, and then the lawyer. (Exit Berto L. 3 E.) [Enter Mauiquita, Captain and Lita, R. 2 E.] Mar. You are to have the main parlor, Captain. The ladies' rooms are there; yours is here. Capt. Thanks. (Exit Mariquita R. 2 E.) My love! (Kisses Lita.) Lita. Why, Captain ! I have not even washed my hands. Capt. So your ablutions are more important than my hap- piness, you little Mohammedan.. Lita. What's a Mohammedan? Capt. (Seriously) A Mohammedan 1 ? Well, I'll tell you some time; but you must be sure and not tell anybody (laugh- ing). You little darling! Lita. I thought you had to see Mr. Straine, immediately, without a moment's delay. (Dram, burlesque.) Capt. So I have; and it's very important. We must be married without any delay. Lita. Without a trousseau? Capt. (Laughing.) Without a single pillow-sham or a lav- ender wrapper. It's rough on us poor things, isn't it? OR, FORCE AND FINESSE. 37 Lita. Dearie, I wish you would go and see him. I'm afraid those men will give us more trouble. Capt. I will. Good-bye, you darling! I'll be back in five minutes with the parson. {Snatches kiss and starts.) [Enter Mariqita L. 3 E.] Mar. A' letter for the lady, sir. Lita. A letter for me? Mar. Yes, Senorita. {Hands it to her; she starts slightly.) Capt. What is it, love ? Lita. Nothing; a letter from Marie. Capt. What does she want 1 ? Lita. I don't know, yet. Capt. Well, I must be going. Mariquita, shew this lady to her room and attend to her ; carefully, mind you. {Slyly slips her a gold piece.) Mar. Never fear. {Throwing a kiss to Jmn.) {Aside.) Ah, I must marry a military man. (Captain has made a hasty exit L. 3 E. Lita looks at letter long and then breaks seal; reads and makes gesture of despair, falling into arm-chair. Is silent.) Mar. Will the Senorita come to her room? Lita. Who gave you this? Mar. A man outside. Lita. Did he say there was an answer? Mar. He said he would wait. Lita. Tell him — {aside) oh, this is so unfortunate. {Aloud.) Tell him I will see him at 1 o'clock. Tell him to come to the side entrance. Mar. Where will the Senorita see him? Lita. Here. Mar. Very well, Senorita. {Opening door R. 2 E.) This is your room. {Exit both through door.) [Enter Isabella L. 3 E. Looks about.] Isa. They are not here. He is in her room, I suppose; in there; in that room with her. {Tmpidsively rushes to door; stops; puts her hand on her heart.) I am a fool; a school-girl. [Enter Mariquita R. 3 E.] Mar. The Captain will be back directly, madam. (Starts for door, L. 3 E.) Isa. Stay. Did you, did you see them together? Mar. Who? Isa. The Captain and the lady. Mar. {Cunningly.) Yes, ma'am. They are awful happy. 38 carmelita; He said he loved her more than any woman he had ever seen. Isa. He did, did he. (Rises impulsively, twisting hand- kerchief. ) Mar. Here is the Captain. (Ojyens door, L. 3. E. Enter Captain. Exit Mariquita.) Capt. Miss Valdez. Isa. Yes, Captain. You are glad to see me again, are you not? Capt. Most assuredly. But after our parting — (Sits.) Isa. (Laughing.) Yes, I know. I had a splitting head- ache that day, and would have quarreled with my own mother. But we were too good friends to be made enemies by such a trifle. Capt. We are still friends, I trust. (Aside.) What the devil is she'after? Isa. Certainly, and it is purely as a friend I come here. It is a little impulsive, I know, but I am a spoiled child. Cap- tain, do you still retain your chivalrous interest in that or- phan ? Capt. I must say I do. Isa. Well; that is why I came. I came to tell you she is not a proper person. Capt. (Springs to feet.) What! Isa. Why, Captain 1 ? Capt. Explain that phrase. Isa. Believe me, Captain, I did not know your interest went so far. Capt. You must explain your words. Isa. I shall not. You love this girl. You have her full confidence, of course. You cannot listen to anything against her. Capt. (Emotional struggle.) I must know what you would say. I yield no atom of my trust in her. Remember that. Now what have you to say against this lady? Isa. Against her, nothing. Against the woman who would foist herself upon a gentleman as his wife, much. Capt. Take care. Her insults are mine. Isa. I will take care. She received a letter this morning. Who was it from? Capt. From Marie. Isa. Who cannot write. Your sweetheart's correspondents are scarcely illiterate peasantry. Do you imagine you are the first man she ever loved? Capt. I know that no man or woman shall insult her name and go unpunished. Isa. Yes, you would stop me with force. Crush a bitter <>R, FORCE AND FINESSE. 39 pill because you cannot swallow it. Tell me this. Who was the man living with her in the cave? {Business of Captain.) You do not know? You should know. Go and ask the woman who is to be your wife. You cannot get her confi- dence You cannot make her confess. Capt. Confess what? Isa. That that man was her lover, as I can prove. Capt. (Seizing Iter shoulders.) Unsay those words or Isa. (Handling him stiietto.) Take it and kill me if I do not speak the truth. Capi\ If. Isa. Yes if. I am no slanderer weaving a calumny. I am no dealer in gossip or lies. I am telling you fact; hard, piti- less fact. You love this girl. You are blind, as men ever were. She loves this convict, this assassin, and she Avill marry you to save him. Go and ask her. If she prove guiltless and I a liar, then compensate yourself as you will. Capt. Iwill ask her. Not to prove her purity, but to prove your shame. [Captain stands erect, looking at her. She bows low in sign of assent and walks to door L. 3 E. Exits.~\ Capt. It cannot be ; it cannot be. I should have killed her before listening. And yet this mystery ; this awful, horri- ble mystery. Lita, Lita, my love ! Why are you not here to confront her and shame her with the light of your pure soul? (Opening doors.) Lita, where are you? (Seizes hat and goes rapidly to door, where he meets Tim with huge bouquet and dandified, smile.) Tim. Mahnin to ye, Captain. [Captain rushes by him, dashing down bouquet without seeing it. Exit Captain.] Tim. Faix, that's the way he threats me lady's posies, is it- (Picking up bouquet and trying to smooth flowers.) The petu- nias is all smashed and the pantoxydermidons is knocked out of time. Begorra, I can't make her a presint o' that smash- up. 1 11 go an' rob another conservatory, and the Captain'll pay for it, bejabers! (Exit L. 3 E.) [Enter Lita and Berto R. 2 E.] Lita. How am I the cause of your trouble, Berto? How can I save you? (They sit, Berto arm-chair, Lita tete a tete.) Ber. Lita, do you know you are very rich? Lita. I, rich ? Why, the idea ! Ber. It's true. Old Josefa's husband had property ; you 40 cakmelita; inherit it as her heir; it's in Mexico. Now, I want you to go there with me and get the property. I will have money enough to get a pardon. I shall be a free man, and we will both be happy. Lita. And leave him? Ber. Leave who 1 ? Lita. Captain Kingsbury, the man who saved me. Ber. And who saved you for what? To marry you for your property. Lita. You shall not speak of him so. Ber. All right; I see how it is. Well, good-bye, Lita. I am going to give myself up. There's no show for me. (^Jtises. ) Lita. No, Berto; forgive me. You shall noc do that; but be reasonable. Ber. Reasonable? How can II Put yourself in my place. It will be best for you — best for us both to go. Lita. And this was my happiest day ! This the day when hope and happiness and love were all within my grasp. Oh! Berto ! Berto ! You don't know what you ask. Say you don't. Do not ask me to do this for you. Berto, brother, please. Ber. And why should you not 1 ? Do you not see 1 ? You feel naturally that you owe much to the man who is striving tooth and nail for you because he knows the fortune behind you. What does Ke care for you 1 ? You will marry him sim- ply out of gratitude. .Lita. I will not. Ber. Then why ? Lita. I will marry him because I love him. Because he wishes me to. Because I owe him my life and he shall have it. You have gone too far. As long as you ask of me you shall have all in my power to grant. But when you go out of your way to insult the noblest of men, you strike him and me a cruel blow, and 1 will not stand it from you or any man. Ber. (Sneeritigly.) So you are going to marry him 1 Lita. I am. 1 swear it. As soon as he shall say the word I will be his wife. Ber. You, marry him! You, the sister of an assassin! He a Kingsbury of Virginia. You, the friend and companion of a murderer. He, an honored officer, of high social position. Do you think that because you love him and he is a fool, that he is not going to ruin himself just the same? Do you sup- pose, after the honeymoon wears off and he is a little moiv clear-sighted, that he isn't going to regret 1 ? Do you suppose he can take you home to his family without those proud women asking who and what you are? Do you think he is going to be proud of his convict's sister bride, and not lie . OR, FORCE AND FINESSE. 41 awake nights fearing the shame, the disgrace, of the exposure 1 ? You love him, do you'? Then why put a chain around his neck to drag him down 1 ? Lita. {Passing hand across brow* vacantly.) My God! I never — thought — of — that. Bee. And will you marry him 1 ? Lita. Oh, no. I must not marry him! It would be hor- rible — horrible — horrible. (She stares at vacancy.) Ber. What is the matter'? (She staggers. He catches her and places her in chair. Business of neck and glass of water. She recovers.) Ber. You see, Lita, he does not know I am your brother. He does not imagine anything low clings to you. And he needn't know. You can go away quietly. He will remember you as a dear friend, perhaps, who interested him. He never will know your disgrace. Lita. No. He must never know. He must never know my disgrace. Ber. Then come, quick ; I hear his footstep. (She tries to rise.) Quick. You don't want to see him. (She falls back in chair. He darts into room, R. 2 E.) [Miter Captain and Straine, L. 3 E. Lita's back is to the door. Captain is gloomy. ~\ Capt. (Coming over and kissing her on forehead. ) Ah, Lita, dear. I have been looking everywhere for you. What is the matter 1 ? Are you ill? ^Lita shakes hear head.) Capt. Wait a moment, clear, and then tell me all about it. I have some important business with Straine. You will ex- cuse me 1 (Lita nods her head. Capt. goes over to Straine. Both sit at table.) Capt. You say there's trouble ? Str. Yes, lots. Priest fellow ; legal guardian. Can't get around it. Capt. I can marry her. Str. Exactly — right off. Ring bells — no delay ! Capt. What can he do ? Str. Injunction — -legal guardian — claim her ! Get Sheriff to take her away. No time to loose. What are you waiting for? Capt. I want to have a talk with her. Str. Talk — bosh ! Talk her to death afterward. If you you don't, she'll talk you. Married man myself. Capt. (Thoughtfully.) You are right. You have the license ? 42 caemelita; Str. Yes, all right. Tie you tight as glue — too tight. (Shaking his head.) Tried 'it myself. Capt. Well, go and get a minister, and have him ready at a moment's notice at your office. Will you do that for me 1 Str. Keep him there if I have to tie him. Don't wail long. No cards — no cake — no wine — no nothing ! Goodbye. I'll get him. Good bye. {Exit Straixe, L. 3 E.) [Captain crosses over behind chair, and kisses %er tenderly on forehead. She shows no sign of feeling. He sits beside her and takes her hand.] Capt. Lita, before to-day's sun sets you will be my wife ; mine to honor, guard and protect forever. Whatever secrets stand between us now I am willing to leave as they are until your own true heart shall choose to reveal them. They have worried me, I admit. They are worrying you now ; that I see. I only wanted to tell you, that you need have no anxiety now or forever. I trust you wholly, implicitly, my love, my wife. {lie leans over to put his arm around her. She gently and sadly pats his hands away with hers.) Lita. Captain Kingsbury, I can never be your wife. Capt. What is this 1 Lita. This is our last meeting. This hour we part for- ever. Capt. Because you love some other man '\ Lita. Because I love you as no woman ever did ; as no woman ever will. Capt. But, Lita, this is maddening. You say one thing in words,, another in acts. For God's sake, explain ; for God's sake, say something. Lita. I can tell you nothing. Capt. Lita, I implore you : for the sake of our love, for the sake of our two lives. Oh, Lita, darling! do not be so mad, so cruel. It shall make no difference to me; it shall not change my love. Only tell me. and say you will not leave me now. Lita. It is impossible. Capt. Who is this man '[ {Seizing bell.) Quick! Mariquita will know. Lita. Oh, do not ring. {Endeavoring to grasp bell, which he holds from her.) Capt. He sent you a letter this morning I Lita. Yes, he did. Capt. Did you see him % Lita. Oh, my God ! what shall I do 1 What shall I say 1 Capt. Answer me. OK, FORCE AM) FINESSE. 48 Lita. I did. I told him to come here. He talked to me and went away. Capt. He did not ; he was with yon when I came. Lita. No, no; he was not. Capt. He was. He is here. Thank God ! he is here. {Starts for door R. 2 E.) Lita. Captain, pity me. For God's sake ! do not go there. (Seizing his knees.) Capt. Let go. Lita. You must not! My God, you must not! Capt. Let go, I say. {Endeavors to loosen her grasp.) Lita. Captain ! Captain ! do not. I will tell you all. Capt. {Breaking loose.) Who is this man? You tell me, or he shall Lita. He is — my brother ! Capt. Nonsense. You have gone too far for that. Lita. My, God ! you don't doubt that? Capt. And who is your brother, that he should ati'ect you thus? Lita. My brother is a convict; a murderer; a hunted dog. You have my secret now. I have degraded myself in your eyes, and I wanted to go away so that yot you never would know it. I wanted to close my eyes and die with the thought that you still loved me ; that you still respected me. (Hides face and sobs. Captain sits at fable in thought.) Capt. Poor little heart; faithful little heart. I see it all, now. {Goes to her.) Lita, I want to ask you something. {She .still sobs. He fakes her face, twists it around toward him.) Lita, did you think I wanted to marry the whole family 1 Lita. But — you marry his sister. Capt. I would marry you if twin devils stood on either side and claimed you as their child. Now, go, love, quickly, and prepare for the bridal. Come, there is no time to lose. And, Lita, ask my brother-in-law to step in here. [Exit Lita R. 2 E. Enter Berto R. 2 E. Captain has seated hintself at table, .] Capt. You are Alberto Molino, the escaped convict 1 Ber. You've called the turn. Capt. You want to get safely out of the State, don't you 1 ? Ber. Perhaps I do, and perhaps I don't. Capt. Well, there's a steamer leaves for Mexico to-morrow afternoon. You take it, or in ten minutes afterward you'll be behind the bars. Ber. Well, I ain't scared of you or your soldiers. You can't scare me {tapping his pocket). 44 CARMKLITA Capt. If you prefer, I will lock you up now. Ber. You can't do it, mister. But you needn't try, all the same. Ta, ta, Captain. {Exit L. 3 E.) Capt. The scoundrel ! Where have I met him % He's no kin to her; J '11 swear that, whatever she believes. And he says I can't lock him up 1 He must have a pardon. I must look into this. His hold over her makes him important. I must keep track of him. {Rings bell and writes. Enter Mariquita L. 3 E.) Take this telegram to the office. It is to the Governor of the State, and must go immediately. And, stay — if Mr. Straine is below tell him to come without delay. Mar. Yes, Senor. {Exit L. 3 E.) [Enter Lita in bridal vail R. 2 E.] Capt. Now, love, all is ready. [Enter Straine and Minister L. 3 E. Orchestra begins wed- ding march, pianissimo.] Str. There you are, parson. Tie 'em up; tie 'em up. No time to lose. | Captain and Lita stand in front of Minister, holding ha mis. ] Capt. You better bolt the door, Straine. (Straine holts door L. 3 E.) Min. Do you, William Atherton Kingsbury, take this woman to be your wedded wife, to love, honor and protect in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, through all your life? Capt. 1 do. [During these two speeches there has been a running and trampling without.] Sheriff. Open the door! Capt. Go on, sir; lose no time. Min. Do you, Carmelita, take this man Sher. Open, or we break in the door. . Capt. Go on, for God's sake, quickly ! Min. To be your wedded husband 1 ? Lita. I do. Min. Then, in the name [The door is burst in. The Sheriff, Don, Priest, Mariquita and Tim enter. The Sheriff runs to Minister ana places his hand over his mouth.] Sher. Stop, in the name of the law. Capt. What means this imterference % OR, FORCE AND FINESSE. 45 Sher. I am Sheriff of this county. Upon affidavit that the girl Carmelita was about to marry illegally, without the consent of her guardian, a writ has been issued directing me to take her into custody. Capt. Oh, you villains ! Don. Do your duty, Sheriff. Capt. What? You will not take her away? Don. You cannot refuse, Sheriff. (As he speaks he steps forward.) Capt. Stand back, scoundrel ! Stand back, or you drop in your tracks. Sher. Keep cool, gentlemen; no weapons, please. I am very sorry, Captain; vei*y sorry. But I must take this young lady from you. Capt. Sheriff, see here : You and I have been pretty good friends. Do me this favor: Give me custody of her for twenty- four hours. Sher. I'd like to oblige you, Captain; but I don't see how. Capt. Swear me as your deputy for that time. Sher. Will you have her here without marrying her 1 ? On honor 1 Capt. On my honor as a man. Don. You shall not. It is unlawful. It is an outrage. Sher. You dry up. I'm Sheriff of this county, and I know my business. Captain, take her. For twenty-four hours she is yours. [Curtain.] ACT V. SCENE— Law office o/Straine. Doors L. 3 E., R. D. F. and L. D. F. Windows R. 2 E. and R. 4 E. Z>e.s£ between doors at back. Table between windows. Book case, papers, writing materials, etc., on desk. Curtain discovers Tim reading law book, with his feet at painful angle on top of desk. Tim. (Reading.) Cedant anna togae, concedat laurea lin- guae. Cede Dominum. Wirra wirra ! My jaw's broke ! I'll nivir be a lawyer. Dominum. Dominum. Now what the divil's Dominum? It's damnin 'em I am. Why can't the Judges talk Irish. Faix every statesman and policeman 'ud know law thin; that is, av they could read. (Knock at door.) Come in. [Enter Alberto, L. 3 E.J Ber. Are you a lawyer 1 ? Tim. An' do I look like a horse jockey? Howly mother! It's you, is it? Ber. Sh-h — I don't want any talk. I'll pay you well. Tim. Divil a word. I'll bate the Spinx. Ber. I. have a pardon here. It belongs to a friend of mine. I want to know if it's good; that's all. (Shows. paper.) Tim. Hand it here. Ber. Not much. It don't go out of my hands. (Tim looks over his shoulder and reads.) Tim. So that's a pardon. Ber. Of course. Isn't it? Tim. Av coorse. That's what I said. (Aside.) An' I don't know a pardon from a bill poster. Ber. But is it a good one ? That's what I want to know. How long will it take you to find out? Tim. (Aside.) The ould man '11 be here in a jiffy. (Aloud.) Just give me the name thei'e, an' I'll go an' sarch the records. Ber. Molino — Alberto Molino. (Tim writes if.) Tim. Call in a quarter 'av an hour an'' I'll tell you. Ber. All right. Keep mum and you shally have this. (Holding up twenty dollar piece.) Tim. Nivir fear. (Exit Berto, L. 3 E.) Twinty dollars. Twinty an' sixty is ninety; that is, if I tache arithmetic to Mrs. Reardon, an' she takes a romantic view av it. FORCE AND FINESSE. 47 [Enter Captain and Straine R. D. F. Captain sits at table. Straine in chair.] Str. Seen Lita this morning 1 ? Capt. Yes. She has not closed her eyes, and is pale as a ghost. If this lasts much longer she'll go to pieces. Str. Poor child. Hard case, very. Capt. Can nothing be done at law 1 ? Str. Nothing. We can tight 'em — injunctions; writs; all that sort of thing. But they've got us — legal guardian, cus- tody of child. Capt. You mean we must give her up to them 1 ? (Straine nods.) Couldn't she be kept in charge by the Sheriff? Str. No; prior right; they have guardianship. Keep her till we prove title. Capt. Which we cannot do in law. Curse law. Curse its machinery and the scoundrels who profit by it. Str. Tut tut; law good thing, very. Wait till you want divorce. Capt. Then there is no hope*? Str. Don't see any. Do anything in the world, but use- less. They've got us. Capt. And the moment they lay hands on her she will kill herself. I know that. Oh, Straine, this is awful ! Awful ! {Covers face with hands. Straine turns face away.) [Enter messenger boy, L. 3 E., with telegram. Goes up to Tim, who glances at envelope^ Tim. It's for that gintleman. (Pointing to Captain. Boy goes to Captain and touches arm. Captain signs book and boy departs, exit L. 3 E. Captain opens and reads telegram, drops it on table idly and again covers face. Business of Captain: As if suddenly struck by idea, he picks up telegram again and reads it.) Capt. Straine, read that despatch. (Hands it.) Str. (Reads.) " No pardon granted Alberto Molino. This department will pay five hundred dollars reward for him, dead or alive. William Irwin, Governor." Well. Capt. (Has risen to feet, thinking intently..) My God! this may help us. Str. How 1 ? Capt. Do you know Alberto Molino 1 ? Str. No. Capt. He is the brother of Lita. He has been mixed up in this case all through. I tried to place him yesterday, when I telegraphed the Governor. Do you know where I saw him ? Str. Where? 48 CARMELITA ; Capt. At the Hacienda. The Don had a night interview with him and gave him a paper. Straine, I believe Don Ra- mon has given Alberto Molino a forged pardon. Str. (Springing to feet.) What! Tim. And I know he have. Capt. and Str. You ! Tim. Yis, me. Didn't I see it? Didn't he bring it here himself 1 ? Capt. and Str. When 1 ? How 1 ? Tim. This time not tin minutes. I'm an old friend o' his. I know'd him in the cave. Capt. But how did Ke happen to come? Tim. He's afraid of the pardon himself. Capt. And is it a pardon? Tim. Faix, I don't know. It has the Governor's signature an' a seal like a soup plate. He'll be back here. It's a'most time for him now. Capt. Straine, we must have that pardon. Tim, go to the barracks and place two men outside the door as soon as he enters. Tell them to' let no one pass either way. Tim. Aye, aye, sir. (Exit Tim, L. 3 E.) Str. What's your plan? Capt. Finesse first; force if necessary. You see, we not only need the pardon, but we need him too. (Knock at door.) There he is. Follow my cue. Above all don't let him think we are interested. (They seat themselves hurriedly, Captain's back to door. Knock repeated.) Str. Come in. (Enter Alberto, L. 3 E.) Ah, Mr. Ber. Gonzales is my name. (He is very slow, very suspi- cions. Casts furtive glances around room.) Str. Sit down, sir. What can I do for you? Ber. I want to see him. (Pointing to Tim's stool.) Str. Oh, my clerk. He's stepped out for a minute. Take a chair. Ber. Taking a step back and grasping knob of door.) , I think — I will — call again. Capt. (Lazily.) Hallo! Ber. How are you ! Capt. I'm glad I saw you. I was a little hasty yesterday. You won't mind that? (Berto says nothing. Looks at both men coolly yet doubtfidly.) I say, Straine, isn't this the party your clerk left a message for? Str. I don't know. Did you call about some document? Ber. Yes. What did he say? Str. Let me see. Hang this brief. What did he say, Captain ? OR, FORCE AND FINESSE. 4 ( J Capt. I wasn't paying attention. I think he said there was great doubt about it. Str. What is the document — a deed? Ber. (Thinks it over. Walks over to Captain.) Say, Cap- tain. Capt. What is it] Ber. You got anv grudge agin me] Capt. None in the world. Ber. If a —you marry Lita you'd like to see me out o' the country, wouldn't yer? Capt. Well, frankly, I should prefer it. Ber. A_nd neither of you will give me away in case I'm wrong] Capt. I will not. Str. I won't — secret — lawyer's business. Ber. (Slowly drawing paper from pocket.) Well, it's this way. I've got a pardon here. I want to know if it's all straight ] ;3tii. Let's see it (impulsively). Ber. You can look at it. I'll hold it. [Strains goes to left side of Berto and looks over shoulder; Captain goes to right side. Be'.ito unfolds if, and they read, silently.] Capt. How is that? The 25th of August] Ber. Yes. Capt. (Indifferently.) That's a good pardon. You're all right. Ber. (To Straine.) Do you say it's good ] Str. Straight as a string. Signed ; sealed ; Governor ; Secretary of State ; Eureka and the Bear ; perfectly good ; no question. Ber. Carramba! I'm glad! (Draws long breath.) I've been scared to death for half a day. Str. Ha! ha! Should think so. Heap o' difference. And you came to see Tim about it] Ha! ha! ha! Ber. (Joins laugh.) Ain't he a lawyer, though ] I thought from his talk he was the whole firm. Capt. That's Tim all over. (All laugh.) Well, you're safe. Are you going away] Ber. Yes; and I've got no time to lose (start ing for door). Come and have a drink with me. Ha! ha! ha! Capt. There's one thing, old boy: The signatures might be forged; but they couldn't forge the seal. You better compare it with a State seal, Straine. Str. Certainly. (Picks paper from desk with seal on if. 50 carmelita; Goes to Berto and fakes pardon from his hand. Goes to window R. 4 E. and holds both up to light, Berto watching him.) Capt. When do you go 1 Ber. (Turns to answer; Straine shifts papers.) This afternoon. {Turns again to Straine.) Str. They're identical. No trouble. (Stopping him on back.) You're fixed now, old hoy. (Hands him, folded paper.) Ber. Good day, Senors. (Starts for door L. 3 E., pocket- ing paper. Straine passes pardon to Captain. Berto opens door and is confronted by two soldiers. Springs back.) Ber. This is a trick. Capt. Keep quiet, now. Ber. (Pulls out and unfolds paper; draws knife and springs at Captain; Captain covers him with revolver.) Give me my pardon! Capt. Your pardon is bogus. I need it in my business. Men, take this man into that room. Shoot him, if he stirs. [Exit Berto between soldiers R. D. F.] Capt. Straine, we have them. He has altered a regular pardon. See: erasures in every line. What is the penalty for mutilating a public document 1 ? Str. Five to fourteen years in State's Prison. Hi, yah ! God Almighty! Hurrah! (Capers abotit.) \ Enter Tim L. 3 E.] Tim. Luk at him, disgracin' the dignity o' the firm. (Tim starts break-doion imitating.) Str. Go to the devil ! Capt. Where is Lita 1 ? She must know this instantly. Tim. She's on her way. She'll be here directly. (Goes to door L. 3 E. and ojiens.) [Enter Lita.] Capt. My love! My darling! We are saved. Saved from those scoundrels. Lita. Oh! Captain! Capt. It's true. Not a shadow of doubt. Lita. But, tell me. Capt. Not yet, darling. They will be here in a moment. In a little while you will know all. Stay here for a few min- utes; only a few. (Opens door; exit Lita L. D. F.) Tim. (At door.) Here they come; the Cheriff and the hull crowd, wid the Don leadin'. The blaggard! If I could hit his yaller nose wans't ; jist aisy. OR, FOBCE AND FINESSE. 51 \Enter Manuelo, Don, Sheriff, and Isabella. Straine and Captain rise and bow. Awkward si.hnce.l Sher. I've come for the young lady, Captain. Capt. [Sadly.) She is here. [Manuelo and Don exchange pleased glances. Isabella is seated apart, taking sullen sat- is/action in the proceedings.} Str. I am acting in this matter for Captain Kingsbury, gentlemen. 1 would request that during our preliminary con- versation the Sherift' kindly step into another room. Sher. Certainly, gentlemen. Don. {Arrogantly.) I see no necessity for that. There is nothing on our side I am not willing the Sheriff should know. Capt. (Dryly.) Don't be too sure of that. Str. In fact — we — don't care a rap — not a rap. But, bet- ter let him go. Man. (A little alarmed.) I see no harm in this. Don. Oh, very well. It makes no difference to me. Just step outside, Sheriff. You won't have to wait long. (Exit Sheriff, L. 3 E.) Str. Now, gentlemen, state your proposition. Don. There is no use wasting words. My friend, here, Father Pedro, demands, as the legal guardian of the young lady, that she be turned over to him. You can give her up or we will take her — take her, do you understand! (To Cap- tain. Capt. I understand. Don. Well, then. We demand the girl. Where is she? Capt. (Going to door.) Lita! (Enter Lita, L. D. F. Cap- tain takes her hand and leads her down near Manuelo, who rises and stretches out hand. Lita recoils toward Captain.) Capt. If you will pardon me a moment, gentlemen, there are a few words I would like to say before parting with this young lady. Under the circumstances 1 think you ought to grant it. Are you willing 1 ? (Manuelo bows. Don shifts chair nervously and assumes an air of contemptuous resignation. Straine chuckles aside and rubs his hands unseen by others. Tim, who evinces wild but quiet hilarity, sees old man and ptits on a dignified scowl.) Capt. In what I am going to say, gentlemen, it will be necessary to revert a week or so to certain scenes which have transpired not far from here. There are several characters in the story, and I think it will prove rather interesting. Don. (Impatiently.) Go on, sir. Capt. Very well. I see you are attentive. I wanted your attention particularly, Don Ramon. The story begins with a H9, carmelita; young lady who had a legal guardian, and the legal guardian had a friend. We -will call the friend Don Carlos. The young lady ran away; she concealed herself in a cave — a pretty cave. ' Possibly some of you may have seen a cave just like it, some time in your lives. Do you think you ever have, Don Ramon? [Don does not look at him or show siynJ\ Capt. There was a man also in the cave, to whom the young lady was bound by what, to her, were the strongest obligations of honor and fealty. The man looked at things differently. He had an object to gain. He bai-gained with Don Carlos to betray her for a bribe. It was a peculiar bribe; a very peculiar one. In fact, the bribe is the entire hero of this little story I am telling you. [Don and Manuelo exchange glances, and become deeply interested.] Capt. The scene changes to a hacienda. It is dark. Don Carlos and his friend and the betrayer are there. They talk it over, and Don Carlos gives the betrayer his bribe. It was a little rash of Don Carlos, but he gave him the bribe; gave it with his own hands. We are now coming to the bribe, gentle- men. Keep your seats. I am glad you are interested. [Don and Manuelo are leaning nearly out of their chairs. They settle back hastily, and assume indifference.] Capt. This bribe was a paper, and curiously enough it was a pardon from the Governor of the State. Now, it happened, strangely enough, that the Governor had not pardoned the be- trayer. The pardon was a beautiful pardon, but it was of Don Ramon's own construction. In fact, gentlemen, the par- don was Don. (Eises.) Enough, of your idle story. I will hear no more. It is a lie, from beginning to end. Capt. As the pardon proves. (Exhibiting pardon.) Don and Man. The pardon ! Don. It is a lie, a cooked up story. Capt. Yes; and a story that you will remember for five years in State's Prison, sir. Isa. My father — in prison ! Don. It is nonsense. Grant your foolish story true. You have not a single witness. Capt. (Making quiet sign to Straine.) I am one. Don. An interested party. Capt. Jose is another. Don. Jose saw nothing. ()K, FORCE AM) FINESSE. 53 Capt. And the third Don. Well, the third? Capt. The third is here. {Enter Behto, R. D. F., between soldiers. At sight of Berto, Don claps hand to head with "Amor de Dios!" and falls into chair. Isabella screams. Manuelo is stunned.) Is the story interesting, gentlemen? Str. Better let me call in the Sheriff. Tim. Begorra! I'll call him annyhow. Don and Man. No, no. Do not call him. Ber. Ha-ha-ha ! Hello ! Don Ramon. How are you, Isa- bel! Shake, old man. (To Don. Don recoils.) Oh, don't put on any frills. I'm onto the whole business. King of the combination. Whoopa, toro! We'll room together in prison, pardner, and I say, when there's any pie from home you'll divvy 1 Capt. Cease. Let us make our terms. You can make your own. Man. Captain, can I speak to you a moment? It is im- portant. (Captain fakes him down sfa