PS 635 
 
 ^ W2764 
 I 1893 
 ^ Copy 1 
 
 ">-*«'^ Guide Book. Wigs and Bearda— in fact anything you 
 y AMES' PUBLISHING CO., Clyde, Ohio- 
 
 AMES' SERIES OF 
 
 DARD AND MINOR DRAMA. 
 
 No. 310. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 Claim Ninety-Six. 
 
 Z 9 W 2:n 
 
 {BORDER DRAMA.) 
 
 WITH CAST OF CHAEACTERS. gNTRAKCtS, AKD KXITS, BBLATIV* PO8ITI0N8 Or 
 
 THE PHKFOEMEES ON THE STAGB. DEgCEIPTION OF COSTUMK8 A5D 
 
 THK WHOLE OF THE 8TAQK bUSINKSS, CAEBFULLY 
 
 UARKXO PBOM THE MOST APPROVED 
 
 aOTUJO COPT. 
 
 PRICE 25 CENTS. 
 
 CLYDE. OHIO : 
 AMES' PUBLISHING CO, 
 
 M 
 
 |- NdgoodssentC. 0, D. Money MUST accompany all orders. 
 
H ALPHABETICAL LIST OP ^ 
 
 iimes^ Editinn af Flays. 
 
 FIFTEEN CENTS EACH UNLESS OTKF.S.WISE MAF.KED. 
 
 DH.AMAS. 
 
 '.^'.'4 Arthur Eustace, 2)0... 10 4 
 
 2 A l>e.-<i)ftr.ate (t;iuio A 2 
 
 164 After Ten Years 7 5 
 
 39 A Lifi^'s Revenge ..J 5 
 
 415 Arrah do Baugh V 5 
 
 KK) Aurora Flo5'i ~ 2 
 
 125 A uld Robin Gray 2.H! VA 8 
 
 m Beauty of Lyous 11 2 
 
 113 Bill Detrick T 3 
 
 22fi Brae, the Poor House Girl.... 4 4 
 
 14 Briffjinds of Calabria 1 
 
 272 Beyond Pardon 7' r, 
 
 IfiH Conn; or. Love's Victory 11 3 
 
 ■2<)8 Clciring tho Alists •"> ■"• 
 
 IGl Dorii .". •'■> i 
 
 fill Drivento the Wall... Id 3 
 
 152 Driven from Iloiue 7 4 
 
 27ii Dutch .Take 4 ■) 
 
 173 East Lyime 8 7 
 
 113 Kuiifrrajit's Daughter S 3 
 
 102 Fielding Manor S 6 
 
 2">5 Gertie's Vindicftion 3 3 
 
 a!)0 (4r:indinotlier lIilllebrand'^^ 
 
 L'gaev, ■>-»■ r, 4 
 
 2^13 llauntod bv 11 Sliadow >< 2 
 
 117 Hal Hazard, 2^ic lo 3 
 
 r>'2 llenrv tiranilcn 11 8 
 
 7C. Mow He Did U 3 2 
 
 141 Hidden Treasures 4 2 
 
 2(5 Hunter of the Alps..... 9 4 
 
 191 Hidden Hand li 7 
 
 194 Lights and Shadows u.t the 
 
 (ireat Kebelhon, 2oc V> T) 
 
 3 Liidy of Lyons 12 5 
 
 9 Lady Audley's Secret <5 4 
 
 2(51 Lost in Loudon (5 4 
 
 4(5 Man and Wife 12 7 
 
 227 Maud's Ponl ?> 3 
 
 211 Midnight Mii«take H 2 
 
 2;'>1 Millie, the Quadroon ■> f> 
 
 163 Miriam's Crime ') 2 
 
 91 .Michiiei Erie 8 :'> 
 
 lifi Miller of Derwent AVater 5 2" 
 
 34 Mistletoe Bough 7 3 
 
 229 Mountebanks (The) 6 2 
 
 29.S New York Book A^ent 7 3 
 
 223 Old Honesty o 2 
 
 81 Old Phil's Birthday 5 3 
 
 85 Outcast's Wife 12 3 
 
 '83 Out on the Wo Id 5 4 
 
 196 Oath Bound 6 2 
 
 29 Painter of Ghent 5 3 
 
 2'8 Peun Haogo d lt» 3 
 
 301 Peleg and Peter. 2;'>e 4 2 
 
 18 PoMchcr's Doom 8" 3 
 
 280 Phi.'c'iiu O'Uookes' Curse S .i 
 
 5 Phvllis, the Beggar Girl 6 3 
 
 110 ReversQa. 12 (5 
 
 Rock Aflen " 
 
 ^ 
 
 NO. ' M. K. 
 
 79 8py of Atlanta, 2.^0 U 3 
 
 27."i Mniple Si:a< (l 3 
 
 2(16 .Sweetbrier 11 5 
 
 144 Thekla 9 4 
 
 284 The Commcreiiil l)ruiumor.... 6 2 
 
 212 The Dutch R'eniit 2'c 14 3 
 
 (i7 The False Friend 6 1 
 
 97 The Fatfil IJlow 7 1 
 
 119 The Forty-Niners 10 4 
 
 304 The (•t^nerul iManaxer 'it 5 
 
 93 The (ient!em:in in Black 9 4 
 
 112 The New Magdalen 8 3 
 
 71 The Reward of Crime 5 3 
 
 3'I6 The J hree llrfts 4 3 
 
 105 'J'hrough Snow and Sunshine 6 4 
 
 .201 Ticket of Leave Man 9 :<. 
 
 2'..'3 Tom Blossom 9 4 
 
 19:-. ToodWs 7 2 
 
 277 Thc3LisiC'il x'uptain 15 :.: 
 
 !'(K) Uncle Tom's Cabin i"^ 7 
 
 2'0 Wild Mab .5 
 
 121 WilI-o'-t,he-Wisp, 9 
 
 41 Won at Last 7 
 
 192 Zion... 7 1 
 
 TEMPERANCE PX.AYS. 
 
 73 At Last 7 1 
 
 75 Adrift ."> 41 
 
 187' Aunt Dinah's Pled-ie li 3J 
 
 Iiv4 Dot: the Miner's Daughter... 9 
 
 '202 Drunkard [The] 13 
 
 185 Druiikar's Warning '" 
 
 18i) Drunkard's. Doom... 1' 
 
 181 Fifte< n Years of a Drunk- 
 ard's Life ].■; (| 
 
 183 Fruits of tho Wine Cup C 
 
 104 Lost !*. 
 
 14(5 Our Awful AunI 4 
 
 53 Out in the Streets 6 
 
 51 Rescued 5 
 
 59 Saved .^ 5 
 
 102 Turn of the Ti^le 7 
 
 63 Three (llassfes n T)ay 4 
 
 62 Ten Nights in a Bar-Rooni — 7 
 
 58 Wr/;ck<'d 9 
 
 COMEDIES. 
 
 168 A Ple-»snr(< Trip 
 
 136 A Lf (-ai Holiday 
 
 124 An .^ffliet(!d Family 
 
 f'aught in the .■Vet -,. ' § (A 
 
 248 Captured (J i y* 
 
 178 Caste •') ■*• 
 
 176 Factory Girl 6 | H 
 
 Heroic Dutchman of '76 ; 8 I .J 
 
 199 Homo 4 |{ 
 
 174 Love's Labor Not Lost ,■3" 
 
 Mr. Hudson's Tiger Hunt,..., 1 ■ »^ 
 
 149 New Years in N. Y..: 7 99 
 
 .37 Not So Bad After All '- I?' 
 
 u 
 3f 
 
^ Claim Ninety-Six.4^ 
 
 A BORDER DRAMA 
 
 IN FIVE ACTS, 
 
 ur 
 
 L 
 
 Len "Ware.' 
 
 si OS 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDKD 
 
 A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUMES— CAST OF THE CHARACTERS- 
 ENTRANCES AND EXITS— RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE 
 PERFORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE 
 1 OF THE STAGE BUSINESS. 
 
 X- 
 
 Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1S93, hy 
 
 AMES' PVBLLSHINO CO., 
 
 in the offlce of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, 
 
 ik-jl^ 
 
 It 
 
 -CLYDE, OHIO:- 
 
 i — AMES' PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 - No 
 

 "-b s 
 CLAIM NINETT-SIT. 
 
 CAST OF CHARACTERS. 
 
 Jerry Mack A taloon l-eepet 
 
 Guy Lester Mack's partneT 
 
 Charley Grey Owner of Claim 96 
 
 Arthur Brandon '. ^ banker 
 
 Major Dolittle A specn/utor 
 
 Peterson A Yankee 
 
 Sacramento Jok A relic of by gone dayn 
 
 Ebony A colored boot black 
 
 Nell, (the Little Nugget) All pure gold 
 
 Bell Mack's irife 
 
 Mrs. Brandon ; Brandon's wife 
 
 Jennie Lester Guy's sister 
 
 Bessie Grey Charley' sicife 
 
 Officers 
 
 SYNOPSI SlQF EVENTS^ 
 ACT I.-The Land of Gold. 
 
 Scene /— Toomstone, a mining town iu California. Jerr.v Mack's saloon. Guy 
 Lester, king of counterfeitors. Nell. Tlie toast. Claim Ninety-Six. The meanest 
 man. A r'an to steal Charley Grey's dust. Arrival of Major l)olittle, from Ken- 
 tuck. Nell and the Major. A love scene, which ends in "gin and peppermint." 
 
 Scene II. — Charley Grey and Mack. Ebony, the boot black. Ebony's advice. Guy 
 Lester, the octoroon. Toomstone quiet. "Slaves, runaway niggers." Ebony keeps 
 his eyes open. 
 
 Scene III. — Sacramento Joe and Nell. Nell's history. The little black book. 
 Nell locks Sacramento Joe in the cellar. Bell and Mack. Guy discovers Mack's 
 secret. "Nigger whipper, slave driver." The quarrel. Sacramento Joe. "Don't pull 
 boys, I've got the drop on ve, and I don't give a cuss." 
 
 ACT II.-Home of Bell Mack. 
 Scene /.—Nells advice. Ebony tells iSell of the raid to be made on Charley Grey's 
 oabin. "Nell will be on deck to-night." "I golly, dis chile 'vill be dar' too." 
 
 Scene II. — Mack's bad luck. A coiupftct of crime sealed. Nell on the war-path. 
 Ehony's fright, "Now T— I— lay me down." 
 
 Scene III. — Charley Grey's cabin. Mack and Guy searching for the gold dust. 
 Timely arrival of Nell and Ebony. "Throw up your hands or you are dead men." 
 Escape of the robbers. Sacramento .Toe, "I don't care a cuss."' 
 
 ACT III.— Arthur Brandon's Horns. 
 Scene I. — The lost child. A living trouble. Bessie Grey deposits the gold dust in 
 Mr. Brandon's safe. Guy Lester interviews Mr. Brandon in regards to the Grey's 
 gold. 
 
 Sceve II. — Peterson, the apple sass man from Vermont, in search of a meal. Ebony 
 ami Peterson. Snuhbed by Bessie. "Sipiashed, tetotally squashed." 
 
 Scene III. — Mack and <Tuy congratulate themselves on their escaping Nell's bullet. 
 "Charley (irey's wife will ran Toomstone." Peterson and his fourbarrels of apple sass, 
 "Polly Ann Si)riggins." Peterson proposes to Nell. The game of curds, Bessie Gr"y 
 interrupts the game. The way to Vermont. The wife beater. Mack faces Nell's rifle 
 the second time. 
 
 Scene /"F.— Peterson, "a thin pair of pants and a light heart." Murder of Sacr.i- 
 mento Joe. Nell on the war-path. 
 
 Scene V. — The safe robbery and murder of Mrs. Brandon. Nell arrives on the 
 scene. 
 
 ACT IV .-Gold Dust Saloon. 
 /S'c<'n<' /.—Ebony and Nell. Arrest of Nell for the murder of Mrs. Brandon. "I'm 
 not guilty." 
 
 Scene //.—Major Dolittle and Ebony. .Jennie, the octoroon, a runaway slave, 
 meets her former master. The slave brand. "[ could kill you." 
 
 &ene ///.—Bell's grief at the arrest of Nell; Ebony's attempt to comfort her. "I 
 gojly, dis chile's eyes am loakin'." 
 
 ACT V.-Street. 
 Scene /.—Mack and Guy break open the jail and escape with Nell, the prisoner, 
 to the mountain. Major Dolittle and Ebony arrange a plan to rescue Nell. (Juy's 
 secret discovered. 
 
 &f)ie //.—Jennie tolls Guy of her meeting Major Holittle, "that cursed m-irk." 
 Jennie and Nell in the cave. The (luarrel, Jennie's murderous attempt to kill Xell, 
 Mack interferes. The secret of the octoroons disclosed. Jennie stabs Mack, (fuv 
 and Jennie escnpe. Ebony and Major Dolittle rescue Nell. Mack reveals to Nell 
 ■who her parents are. , ,, . -r^ ,. , r^ 
 
 Scene ///—Return of Nell, Ebony and Major Dolittle, to Toomstone. News of 
 Mack's death. Charley Grey regains his stolen gold. Nell to return East with her 
 
 father. Ebony ca n't l-e left behind to he hoo-dooed. 
 
 KTA (IE DIHEi TIONS. 
 R., means Risht; l.. Loft; r. n.. Right ILind; r.. n., Left TT-inl; c, Cautre; ^. e. 
 2d e.,] Second K'ltranoe; D. k., IJiiner Entrance; M. d., Mildh Dojr; p., tll3 FUt : 
 {). F., Door in Flat; r. c, Right of Ceatre; L. C. Left of Centre. 
 
 &. R. C. 0, li. 0. L, 
 
 Ai? Ibe fearer il siippQ3e4 \ % 08 tMK>» tM ataac faoioff weau^ionofc 
 TWO QO—nn 7*i^3 
 
Claim Ninety-Six. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE I. — ]\rACK's saloon at Toomstoue, California. Table and chaii 
 R. c. ; bar extending from c. to R. ; Mack leaning on end of bar c. ; 
 Guy leaning over bar r. c. smoking \ as curtain rises Mack strikes 
 bar viciously icith open ha)id. 
 
 Mack. I tell you, old man, If we can do that, and make as good 
 success of it as we have of the two''^ and five's, in less than a year our 
 foitune will run wr.y over the ntillion line, tliey will be colossial I 
 tidl you, but it is risicy, I fear we'll never do it, if we can — 
 
 Gufj. If we can — ball! I know we can I Didn't learn ihe title of 
 "Kint>- of Counterfeiters" while I was in the East? Do you think I 
 have 1' St: any of my skill since comino- out here? No sir! lean 
 en^ave as good a plate to-day as f could ten years ago; j'ou haven't 
 lie:;rd !\ny complaint from the two's and five's yet, have you? 
 
 Mack. Thunder! no, they wou!d pass with the cashierof any bank. 
 
 Gny. And if I don't engrave plates for ten's and twenty's that 
 will do the same, IT — I'll — well I'll a'iree to drink all the old rotten 
 shotgun wiiiskey you've got in tiiis — this — (looks around) this palace 
 of yours, Mack, [lauthinn) There! you couldn't ask a man to do 
 anything more desp 'rate than that, could you? 
 
 Mack, (goes behind bar) There old man, that's all right — {sets out 
 ^o^</e) lei's imbibe, that's reliable; tiie common run of cow-boy's 
 don't get to s.e tliat bottle — take something. 
 
 Gu!j. No! a man in the bu>ine-s 1 am, needs a clear and level 
 head, an 1 he can't have tliat and drink your whiskey, Mack; but 
 about, the pla'es for the twenty's — you have never seen any of Jennie's 
 work, have you ? Well here, [takes out b'll and throws it on bar) look 
 at that. (Mack examines bill closelt/) Well, what do you think of 
 that, pretty good, eli ? Think th t would pass? 
 
 Mack. Tti under! ves, I would take it myself, if you hadn't said it 
 was queer. You don't mean to .say that your s'ster engraved that 
 plate, do you ? 
 
 Gnif. That's exactly what I do say; she not only engraved it, but 
 she printed it too. 
 
 Mack. The devil ! [examines bill) Say, old man, is the M^holo 
 family counterfeiters? If they are, your father must have been 
 somrthing extraurdinary. Say, where did he work? 
 
 Guy. That's none of your darned business, Mr. Jerry Mack. I've 
 told you several times that you didn't need to know anything about; 
 my antecedents. Our busiftess relatwa is J^LSitbis ^^ uo mora— I 
 
« CLAIM NiyETY-SIX. 
 
 print the money and you pass it off, that is just as far as we i;'o, do 
 yon understand? 
 
 3Iack. Oh! That's all right, liere take something and we won't 
 say anything more about it, the twenty's will be a success, 1 am 
 sure of that. 
 
 Guy. Well then, just oncf^, {raises b dLle) here's success to the 
 ten's and twenty's, and hoping tiuit we will make a million. 
 
 Enter, J^ell, l., 1 b. 
 
 Nell. Hold on there, Guy, I want to join you in that. (Nell 
 ^oes behind corinter, takes glass) Now then, here, let me add a little 
 to that toast — here's hoping that we all will make a million a piece 
 and I shall o'ain a husband before the year is out. {touch glasses and 
 dri7ik) Well ! 
 
 Mack. Well, whnt? 
 
 Nell. Well, that's the best speculation that's been made in Toom- 
 itone since I've known anything about the camp. 
 
 Mack. Speculation? 
 
 Nell. Yes, spec — u — lation, that's what I suid. 
 
 Gmj. Whos' bten making a speculation ? Tell us all about it, 
 Nell. 
 
 Nell, {to Mack) How much did you sell "Claim 96" for? 
 
 Mack. That was about the best speculation that's been made for 
 gome time. I got $500 out of old "96." 
 
 Nell. And you thought it tvasn't worth fifty cents. 
 
 Muck. 'J'hought? I know it. I wouldn't give Guy twenty-five 
 cents for it to-day. Guy can tell you tlie worth of "9()." 
 
 Nell. Just the same, Charley Grev has struck it rich! 
 
 Mack. What? 
 
 Owj. Ah ! a pocket, Nell, it won't (lan out anything. 
 
 Ne I. No sir! A strong, heavy veil , I tell you, free from quartz, 
 and the assayer says it will go to seventy percent, and maybe eighty. 
 
 Mack. What a fool I was for ever seeling old ''96," Guy. (;" 
 Nell) Who told j-ou about it, Nell? 
 
 Nell. Nobody ! I seen it with my own eyes. I went with Chnrh^y 
 'lown to the a^^sayers ofiice; you ought to have seen that old clerk's 
 eyes bulge out when Charley showed him a pan full of the dirt. Say, 
 Guy, I'll sliake you the box for the di inks. {picks up dice box 
 
 Guy. What's he going to do with his claim ? 
 
 Nell. Charley says he is going to work old "96" for all she is 
 (vorth. Old Brandon, the banker, ottered him fifty tiiousand for 
 the mine, but Charley refused, and then Brandon oflered him thirty 
 thousand for a half interest. 
 
 Mack. Thunderation ! 
 
 Nell. Lord ! You ought to see Charley's cabin, he's got gold 
 piled up on the floor a foot deep. 
 
 Guy. Nell, you are giving us a breeze now. Has Grey really 
 Btruck it rich at last? 
 
 Nell. You bet he has I He has got lots of gold down in his cabin, 
 not a foot deep, though. Mack, you old schemer, that's one of youi 
 speculations that didn't pan out well. (starts r. 
 
 Mack, Hold on ! Where are you going? 
 
 Nell. Charley bet me an ounce of dust a while ago, that he could 
 
CLAIM NIXErr-SIX. 6 
 
 beat me shooting with a rifle, and I jii;t want to show him tliat he 
 can't slioot a little bit. (exit, R., 1 e. 
 
 Mack. Well, don't be jrone long, I want you to 'tend bar awhile. 
 I .-im goin^ down to se*i Cri-ej'. {to Gvy) Old man, let's sit dovvn, 
 that news lias made meshakey; {seated r. C) and that fool of a 
 tenderfoot Grey has struck it rich at last. 
 
 G'w?/. {seated r. c.) Seems that way. 
 
 Mack. Guy, we've been partier.-; lor about a year in the green 
 goods business, havn't we? 
 
 Guy. About a year 1 think, an 1 in that year you have tried, at 
 least seven hundred tlirferent ^Jclienies to chisel me out of money, 
 havn't you Mack? You are the most miserly man I ever done busi- 
 ness with. Honestly Mack, you are the meanest man I ever saw, 
 you'd pasture a gout on your mother's grave. 
 
 .liuc/i-. (lavykuu/) Oh ! well, if a fellow don't look out for himself 
 these days, wno will look out for him? I am in the West for what 
 money there is in it, and not for my health. IJut about this partner- 
 ship bu~iness— how would you like to go in deeper— that is, if there 
 is any money in it, and 1 think there is. 
 
 Gat/. Well. 1 don't know, explain yourself. Mack. 
 
 Jlack. Well, Charley Grey has struck it rich. 
 
 Guy. Yes, tiiat's a dead sure thing, Cuarley Grey has struck it 
 rich— Well ! 
 
 Mack. And he keeps his gold in his cabin. 
 
 Guy. Not so sure of tluit'Miick — Well ! . 
 
 Mack. O! drop that infernal well of yours, Guy, it grows 
 monotonous. Listen — sup[)0se you and 1 go down to Grey's cabin 
 tu-niglit, wliile he is away, and take whit gold he has. I know 
 where he keeps it, we can get it and no one be the wiser, and then 
 we can get him in liere — get him to drink some — 
 
 Guy. Yes, if we get iiim to drink any of this "stomach corosive" 
 you keep, Mack, j^ou can 9,et him to do an}^thing. 
 
 Mack. We'll get him to drink and then get him in a game of cards 
 and cheat him out of what gold he has left.' 
 
 Guy. Well, of all the low down, mean, two faced, thieving, cool- 
 headed rasi'ally men 1 ever knew, you take the banner, Mack, you 
 lake the whole culinary departnrent for cussedness. 
 
 Mack. Don't get so personal, G'.r. ; vvhatdo you siy? Will you 
 help? 
 
 Guy. Well, 1 never done ;iny of tliat kind of work before — but 
 here's mjr hand on it, and you may rely on nm. ( they shake hands 
 
 Maj. {out L. ) Hello I iliere, [say;liouse! house! Landlord! bar- 
 tender! anybody! send a nigger 04it here, or come out yourself and 
 lake my horse — Gad, do 3'ou want a I'ellah to starve? Hello! housel 
 house I 
 
 Guij. What the deuee is that? {looks i..) Ho! Mack, another 
 iniioi ent for you to fleece, and I'll wager tiiat you'll do ic too! 
 
 M ck. (■jnes L., 1 E.) Hitch yer horse and come in stranger. 
 {to Gii j 'i'liundi'iation ! Guy, here come's Stonewall Jackson. 
 Gay. Well, I'll see you again in an hour or so. {exit, R., 1 E. 
 
 Mack. All right! (goes l., 1 e. ) Come in stranger, come in 
 don't stand on ceremony here, come in. 
 
 Enter, Major Dolittle, l., 1 e. 
 
 Maj. Begad! sah, I can't say that I like your hospitality — {hold 
 ina nose) Faugh ! is this a saloon or a glue factory ? 
 
CLAI2I NINETT-SIX. 
 
 Mack. ThunclevI what do you mean? This is a saloon, of course. 
 iVliat Jid 3'ou take it for? A tan 3-ard? 
 
 jyjaj. You better go and — whew — (whistles) where does that dia- 
 bolical odor come from? 
 
 Mack. O! that's limbei-ger cheese. {retires behind bar 
 
 Maj. Well, begad sah^ you'd better lead it out. {goea u c.) 
 Give me some gin and peppermint. I suppose you could furnish — 
 [stops and stare^i at Mack) well, by gad ! 
 
 Mack. Weil, what in tiiunder is the matter with you? Didn't 
 you ever see a stranger before? 
 
 Maj. Weil, begad sah, I never saw a stranger before that looks 
 rO much like .my old slave driver, Jolin Sands. 
 
 Mack, (goes I., c, star lied — aside) Tiuinderation ? 
 Maj. I suppose sah, that yon don't know John Sands? 
 Mack. No! sir, no I sir, never hear>l tell of him before, or you 
 either. 
 
 Maj. Well, that's all right then; give me some gin and pepper- 
 mint. (Mack serous him) Tiiis is a pretty common saloon, ain't it? 
 Begad sah, I'm used to drinking before a looking-glass. 
 
 Mack. Then you haven't been in the West very long. I might 
 put in a line mirror and a seventy-live dollar pyramid, and the first 
 cow-boy that come in drunk, would see how many pieces he could 
 shoot them into. 
 
 Maj. 'I'hen s di, be gad, I'd shoot him. {Jl'iurishes revoloer 
 
 Mack. The bnys out here want whiskey, and tney vvoulJ ratiier 
 drink it out of tin cups than cut glass. 
 
 Maj. By gad, sah, I'm glad I stoppe<l here. Give me sone diabo- 
 lical gin and peppermint, i want to stop here with you a fevv days 
 —I'm Major Uolittle, from Kentuckey, be gad sah. 
 
 Mack, (ejxittd, ijoes l. c. — aside] Thunder! mj^ old employer; 
 what ill luck has brought him here? 
 
 Maj. Be gad, sail, i used to own a hundred niggers before the w.ir ; 
 when the cussed abolitionists eame down and freed 'em. 1 used lo 
 have a felhdi hired to \\ hi[) niggers and do other cliores for me — hi- 
 name was John Sands — he i?tole a hundred tlollars from me, be gad, 
 and cut sticks tor the We-t; you look enough like John Sands to be 
 his twin bro.iier. be gad sah; if I ever lind that man, I'll put a holt; 
 through his dialjolioal heart, that von can throw a Chinese bible 
 through, and 1 more than half way believe you are the m ui. 
 
 {flourishes revolver 
 Mack. But I tell yun 1 am not! I was born and raised here in 
 Jiis section ol the country ; and I'll tell you another thing too, I 
 don't allow every stranger that comes along, to give me the lie; now 
 sir, let's drop the snbjecr. 
 
 Maj. All right sah, if yon ain't John Sands, why — why be gad, 
 sah, give me some gin and peppermint. I came to this country to 
 invest in mining lands, and be gad, sah, I've got the mom-y to pay 
 for 'em too. 1 want the best room you've got in j'our diabolical 
 house, sah, and here's ten dollars to pay for it, give me your regis- 
 ter and I'll sign my name. I'm Major Dolittle, from Kemuuky, sah. 
 1 used to own one hun Ireil niggers, two moon-shine distillerys, and 
 the biggest tobacco plantati')n in the State; (Mack throws out rcjia- 
 ter) I always sign my name with an X. 
 
 Mack. Iderel let me write your name for you. 
 
 Maj. It yo'j don't like tiie way I write my name, sah, maybe, you 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 7 
 
 will meet me in a little affair of honah in the morning, be gad, sah, 
 and I choose pistols for the weapons. 
 
 Mack. No sir! I decline to light you. 
 
 Maj. Then sah, if you won't light, I'll take some gin and pepper- 
 mint. 
 
 Mack, (goes R.,1 K., calls) Nell! 0! jSTelll come here and watch 
 :he bar, I'm going down to see Grey. 
 
 Enter, Nell, r., 1 e. 
 
 Nell. All right governor! here I am and you can bet your last 
 tiuggot on uie, I'il keep things straight. 
 
 (jjoes behin:l bar and works vigorously 
 
 Mack. I'll not be gone long, Nell, half an hour, maybe. 
 
 [exit, L., 1 K. 
 
 Nell. Stay all day if yon want too. 
 
 Maj. (R. c. — aside) Be gad. Major, tliai's a diabolical good look- 
 ing girl. {NTS.i.h brushing clutkes, etc.) It's been some time since 
 \ou've had a chance to look at a pretty girl, sah, but I flatter myself, 
 lou've got a good appearance; now for u little love making. What's 
 the matter with tliat diabolical heart of mine? Be gad, it's right up 
 n my mouth. Now Major, play 3'our cards to your own advantage, 
 ind use your infatuating powers the base you know how. Ahem! 
 aluud) I'm Major Dolittle, from Kentucky, sah, and — and— and be 
 2.ad sah, I'll take some gin an 1 peppermint. 
 
 SCENE II.— Street. 
 Enter, Mack, l., 1 e., Charley Grey, r., 1 e., they meetX;. 
 
 Mack. Hello! Charley, how are you? I had just started down to 
 ?ee you. They tell me that you've struck it rich at last. I want to 
 congratulate you on your good luck. {shake hands , 
 
 Charley. Yes, Mack, after so lonsr a time I have struck "pay dirt."! 
 I am afraid that the selling of old "90" was a bad speculation for 
 you, Mack. 
 
 Mack. Ah ! that's all right Charle.v, of course I didn't get the real 
 kvorth of the mine, but I like to lipip a follow along when lie needs 
 it. When 1 sold you "Claun i)'}" you had been Iilmc in Toomstone 
 for a year, and hadn't made a (iollar, wiiile I had been here about 
 two years and made plenty of money. Mv motto is "Live and let 
 live." 
 
 Chas. And that's a good motto for any man to have. Mack, you 
 Have been a royal ^rood Iriend to me, and Charley Grey ain't the man 
 to go back on ins iiiends. 
 
 Ebony, (out R., sings) "Oil carry my shop upon my back." 
 
 Enter, Ebony, r. e. 
 
 Hello I dar Charley, lemme shine yer boots, only five cents. 
 
 Mack. Hello I tliere Ebonj', I thought you had left these diggino-s. 
 
 Ebony. Hi golly 1 no boss, I'se here fo' de reason, I tells yo'. Hi 
 dar boss Charley, you done been gone and struck it rich at last, ain" 
 yo' ■? Lemme shuie yer shoes fer you. 
 
 Chas. Yes, go ahead, give them a good shine, now mind you 
 Ebony. ' 
 
I CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 
 
 Mack. "Well, Charley, comedown to the "Gold Dust bar" to-night 
 and we will get up a nice little game, Lester and one or two others 
 will be down there. {starts, r. 
 
 Ebony. Hi golly ! Charley, didn't I done go for to tell yerdat yer 
 goin' ter make a fortune yet? {shining CHAiiniv's shoes 
 
 Chas. All right, Mack! I'll be down to-niglit. ((o Ebony) Yes, 
 Ebony, I've struck a good vein, and if it holds out I am on the high 
 road to fortune. 
 
 Mnck. (aside) And on the high road to the devil too, if I dou't 
 fleece you, I miss my guess, that's all. {exJt, r., 1 e. 
 
 Ebony. I tell you boss, we'se all goin' to strike it rich some time 
 sho', if we jist got de stayin' quality, jist sho' to. 1 golly, when I 
 first came here to d is place, I us'ter think dat I'd nuver get 'nnlf 
 money ahead to buy me a looking-glass to see myself starve to death, 
 but I tell you boss, I'm way out of siglit now, but if I was yuu 
 Charley, I wouldn't trust dat feller, Mack. 
 
 Chas. Why not, Ebony ? Don't you think he is hone-t? 
 Ebony. Tell you boss, he talks too smooth; I be'ieve he'd steal. 
 Chas. But he has always been a friend of mine. He sold me 
 "Claim 96" for a great deal less than he uave for it. 
 
 Ebony. And when lie sold you dat claim he didn't think it was 
 worth anything. You better take a niggers advice. I tdl you he'll 
 steal, and dat feller comin' down de street yonder, {points l., 1 e.) 
 better watch him too. 
 
 Chas. {looks h., I li.) Oil! Guy Lester, I don't like him v^ry 
 well. He always wears good clothes and ha-i plenty of money. 
 
 Ebony. And, I golly, lie never works none, either: nobody knows 
 anything about him or Mack either, nobody knows where dey coma 
 from. 1 ttdl you boss, dey'll steal. ' 
 
 Chas. Well, there may be something in what you say. Ebony, 
 and it won't do any harm to waich them a iittie. I don't feel iu 
 the mood to talk to Lester now, so I'll just walk down the street. 
 
 (exit, R,, 1 E. 
 Ebony, {lookinij r., 1 e.) I golly, white man's mighty euro's, 
 / bet he makes a fool out'en himsell ; most white folks do when de.y 
 lind something dey ain't expectin'. I golly, he never paid me for 
 shinui' dem shoes, (calls) Hi dar! boss Charley! golly wait. 
 
 (rushes out u., 1 e. 
 
 Enter, Guy Lester, l., 1 e. 
 
 Guy. Cuss the niggers, it always gives me tiie shivers ti see one. 
 I wonder if I ever can overcome my iiatred of the race? Not likely, 
 when I take the second tliongnt and know that some of the same 
 blood courses througb my veins, and that I have been a slavt', that 1 
 have had to acknowledge myself another man's property, to do his 
 bidding, to work with tlie other niggers, as he lias often expressed 
 if, or take the lash at the hands of an over-bearing slave driver — a 
 "nigger-whipper" — who would count it a crime for running away 
 from such a man as that? Bah! 1 wish 1 could exterminate t.ip 
 whole accursed race, at once. 
 
 Enter, Jexnie Lester, r., 1 e. 
 
 Jennie. Hello! Guy, what are you doing here? 
 Guy. What! Jennie? What are you here for? 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SI^. S 
 
 Jen. Well, I heard that the Pteo-ulators of Tooniitone were about 
 waking up again, so I came down to see if I could learn anything 
 about it. 
 
 Gu)j. O ! tlie Ilco;ulators are all right, tliey will never do anything-, 
 they can't aftbrd to track thieves, there's too many thieves among 
 themselves. 
 
 Jen. How does it come that you are here in I'oomstone ? Thought 
 you were up on the "'Divide." 
 
 Giaj. O ! Mack and I were arianging some business for to-night. 
 Jen. And what were you standing out here on thestreetby your- 
 self tor? Oh! I know, you were brooding over that old trouble; 
 will you never forget? 
 
 Gvij. Forget? How can a man forget when he has to wear that 
 accursed mark to the grave; {/udds oni hand lolth S marked on back) 
 and you too, Jennie, {takes Jennik's 'ue;u?, Son back) how can you 
 ask me to forget and these marks stareing me in the face? j 
 
 Jen. But we are free, now Guy, to do as we please, we are not 
 the property of any man now. We are free, I say, and let any man 
 deny it if he dares — {draws small dirk) but we are the only ones liere 
 that know of our jias-t life. ' 
 
 Giuj. Bah! but the dread, the suspense — sometimes we may see 
 someone who will recognize us as slaves, runaway ui<j:gers; someone 
 may find out our past life — then what? 1 tell you girl, the thought 
 is almost madening. 
 
 Jen. Let them find out, but 1 't anyone breatiu^ one word and— 
 {raises dirk) but dun't speak of slaves, runaway niggers; for heaven's 
 sake! don't mention tliat, Guy. We tiave -ecu troul)h3 enougii wliile 
 we were in boniiage; dun't speak of it now, when we are tar away 
 trom it. Tliere is no danger of anyo.ie fimliag us out, we liavj 
 changed our name — 
 
 Gin/. That amounts to nothing — what's in a name? There is the 
 trouble, {sitows hand) I tell you — sometimes that curseil mark 
 burns and sears the fiesli like a coal of tire. There would be more 
 honor in being as black as midnight — then you are not in dread, you 
 are known. Sometimes 1 think 1 could cat that hand oif, throw it 
 in the file and watch it burn — anything to destroy, and bend of tliaf 
 " mark. 
 
 Jen. O! Guy! Guy! don't get yourself in such a fearful rage, 
 come, go home witli me and we will go to work and forget all 
 about that hateful mark. Come — 
 
 Giiij. No! I shall stny here — you go, and you may go to work on 
 the [jlates for the ten's and twenty's. Mack will be up to see them 
 sometime to-morrow. 1 shall be home sjmetime to-night or in tlie 
 morning — you are not afraid? 
 
 Jc7i. Afraid? {shoios dirk, exit, j.., 1 e. 
 
 Guy. (looking l., 1 E.) Few men have such a faithful si-ter as I 
 have. Ah ! if it wasn't for that bligiit {raises hand) I c mid be somer 
 body yet. Why did my life have to be so curse I? An octoroon — 
 an eighth blood — (draws revolver) I've a good mind to put an end to 
 iny existence, but no! I have an ajhorence — a hatred against tiie 
 world. I'll live, and any crime, any .-iciion 1 can do against mankind, 
 I'll do it. For men have made me what I an], and now they must 
 look out, I am desperate. 
 
10 CLAIM yiNETY-SIX. 
 
 Enter, Mack, r., 1 e., aJaps Guy on shoulder. 
 
 Mack. Well Gnyl 
 
 Guy. O! Mack, you are back, are you? 
 
 Mack. Yes, ancreveryihingis cominjrour way. I tell you I have 
 rbuiul out everyrhing about Grey, we need to know. He keeps his 
 o^old hid in one corner of his cabin, Tlie lock on the door is a very 
 c'.UQisy afl'air, asniall piece of wire will remedy that. Thunderation ! 
 Guy, it is tlie most invitiuii; job I ever saw. 
 
 Gu;/. 3Iack, you are taking this very cool, it strikes me that yoc 
 must be an old Laud at tbe business. 
 
 Mack. Yon told nie awhile ago that I need not know anything 
 about your ancestors; now I'll tell you that you don't need to know 
 anything about m}" past. •• 
 
 Gxt'j. Well, I guess we are about even on that score, ^[ack; but 
 look here, suppose Grey comes back to his cabin a id finds us there, 
 then what? 
 
 Mack. And suppose he don't do anythingof the kind? Thunder- 
 ation I isn't the chances as good one way as the other? I think tiiey 
 are better, if he does come in ami linds m in his cabin, we can frame 
 up some kind of a lie, and if he don't co.ne, then we will ba a couple 
 oi thousands ahead. 
 
 Guy. 2Jack, do you expect Grey to stay away of his own accord? 
 Mack. No I I've bee i talking to him until he thinks I am tiie b?st " 
 friend he has. I must go down to the "G >1 I Dust," Grey said he , 
 would be down there, and we can't afford to let the friendship be- 
 tween us grow cold now. {starts l.) » 01 by the way, (turniiKj) I 
 tiiought of another plan awhile ago. Grey c.irries his tdiim papers 
 with him all the time, so we can get him drunk and steal his papers 
 from him, and we will be the owners of old "9G," and t leu If lie 
 makes a fuss about it, we can say that he sold the claim to us. VVe 
 can write out a receipt you know — that's a good plan, don't you 
 think so? AVell, 1 must be going. You com3 ilown to the "GjM 
 Dust" after awhile and we will linish our arrangements for that little 
 aiJair of to-night. {exit,i.. 
 
 Guy. (looking l.) Of all the rascall}'-, scoundrels in'existence you 
 must be the worst, Jerry Mack. [KsoyY looks in r.) I fear j'ou 
 more than an}- other living man ; if you knew my secret, it would be 
 noised Irom tlie Mississippi river to the Facirtc coast. If 1 coiild only 
 learn the secret of your past, then we would be even. You have a 
 secret, I am sure, and I shall make it my business to tind out what 
 that secret is. {ejcit, l., 1 e. 
 
 Enter, Eboxy, r., 1 e., slips after Guy. 
 
 Ebony, And I'll show you dat a fool nigger's got some sense. If 
 I don't keep de white of mj' eye over in your direction. I hojje 1 may 
 chew all of de bristles outu't my shoe briish. [exit, l., 1 e. 
 
 SCEXE III. — Mack's saloon; Sacramento Joe seated r. c, Xeli 
 seated on box L. &/ Joe. 
 
 Joe. Them's my sentiments exactly, precisely, just to a dot, and 
 I don't give a cuss. It's a shame, Xell, a buruiu' shame fer him ter 
 keep you here in Toomstone, in this here hole of purecussedness, ter 
 make you stay here and serve out his^slop oyer that bur to these hero 
 
CLAIM XIXETT-SIX. U 
 
 miners, what ain't any better nor a dumb brute — a anininl what 
 walks on four feet. You orter be some'rs in tlie East, in school or — 
 or — somethin' — 
 
 Xell, "Why Joel he savs I know too much now. 
 
 Joe. Yes, "that's jist like his 'Mod burned"' ehinnin' to talk that'er 
 way. I say you orter be in sciiool, and I'm golu' ter tell him so, too. 
 Them's my sentiments and 1 don't give a cuss. 
 
 Xell. He wouldn't let me go, Joe, 'cause ho says, he's my — m y — 
 what do you call it? 
 
 Joe. Yer — yer gardeen, Xell. that's it per-aetly and that's another 
 one of his ''dod burned" lies too. ilack's alers been a rascal and he 
 aleri will be. Them's my sentiments jist to a dot and I don't give a 
 cuss. I've knowed him fer a — {^tops suddenl'j 
 
 Xell. Well, what made you stop, Joe? You told me once that 
 you had only been in this part of Caiifornia for two years, and of 
 course you didn't know Mack before then. 
 
 Joe. Olincourse, incourse, I 'de never seed him afore then, but 
 I'ion't you pay too perticlar 'tention to wliat I w.-is 'er sayin', gul. I 
 j.nd that Jerry Mack was 'er rascal, and dot burn him he is too. Hi 
 ain't no more yer gardeen nor I am. Them's my sentiments per- 
 sactly and 1 don't give a cuss. How did he jric yoa an_vway ? 
 
 Xell. Why, he said in 1850, there was a wagon train passed 
 through Xevada, close to wliert- he was \a orking in a silver mine — the 
 next morning he was out on tlie prairie lo<ikin:j: for some stray hordes 
 and he found me, and that I had got lost fron the wagon train. \ 
 was about two years old then, and when Jtlack took me to the camp. 
 the miners said they would call me Xugget Xell, and that's Uetu 
 my name ever since. 
 
 Joe. Persactly, and Mack sai 1 that was in 1S50: now let me tiger 
 a little — this is 1S05, and llity and ten is sixtv, and five is sixty -five, 
 that makts fifteen \ears and you was two years old when be found 
 von, that makes two more, consequentlv vou are seventeen vears 
 old. 
 
 Xell. But I am older than that. Joe. I am nineteen, I found that 
 wrote down in a little book that Mack keeps hid. 
 Joe. Then them dates is another one of his dod burned mistakes, 
 
 cause figers won't lie. I tell yon Nell, Mack's a rascal. Them's 
 my sentiments jist to a dot and I don't give a cuss. He knows who 
 you belong to jist as well as — as — as any other man. 1 wish I had 
 I .;hat little book that you sav he keeps iiid. 
 ' Xell. Well, I can get it for you Joe, if you'll never tell. 
 
 Joe. Well, I'll never tell. 
 \ Xell. Honest? 
 
 Joe. Honest.' ''honor bright." 
 1 Nell. Hope to fall down a raft and break your neck, if you do? 
 \ Joe. Break my neck if I do. Them's my sentiments. 
 I Xell. Well then. I'll watch and the first chance I have. I'll pick 
 ; -.he lock of his desk and steal it. 
 
 I Joe. Xell, if you'll do that, the first nugget I find I'll give to you, 
 I ion't care if it's as big as a house. 
 J Xell. All right I I'll get the book for you, you can rely on me, I 
 
 lin't no marked deck. I'm straight and vou cau bet your last scale 
 «»f dust on that, Joe. 
 * _!^" Them's the sentiments, Xell, persactly. You git me tbat 
 
12 CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 
 
 Look and I'll bet my claim— what ain't noihin' l)ut imagination— tha* 
 we wil 1 luive you in school in llie East in less than two months. 
 Ndl. I doii't believe I'd Uke to go tliere. I'll rather stay here. 
 Joe. Now look here, yon jist rely on Sacramenter Joe, fer I tell 
 yon, wlien yon git to the East yon'il like it so well, you'll never want 
 "to eome back here. Them's my sentiments. 
 Neil. I'd want to come back and see you sometimes, Joe. 
 Jue. No! you wouldn't, you'd soon fori^et old Joe. Why do 1 
 1 urn it gal, you dnn't know how much diflereuce there is between 
 the East and this plaee; why you'd be dresseil in silk — 
 Ndl. Is silk nicer than old faded blue calico? 
 Joe. (laughs) Ha! ha! ha! O! listen at her, "Is silk nicer than 
 :alico?" Well I think it is Nell, a dod burned right nicer. Silk 
 sliines so you can see yourself in it, and tlien you'd have a nice stravv 
 hat with green ribbon on it and a little red nmbrellcr fer to keep off 
 the sun. 
 
 Nell. The sun can't hurt me Juo, I'm used to it. 
 Joe. Well, you'd need a red unbreller when yon go East. 
 Nell. (Imig'tis) Ila! ha! ha! if I was to dress up that way, 
 wouldn't I cut a ligure, Joe? Ila! lia ! ha! 
 
 Joe. You'd soon get used to it— jist think ofthe nice things j-ou'd 
 see, b'g fine buildin's and — 
 
 Nell. Why, don't you think this country is nice, Joe ? The trees, 
 :ind mountains, and rocks ami the mines, why I think they are just 
 «;rand. 
 Joe. Yes, but not like the East. 
 
 Nel\. Is there really so much difference between the West and 
 East? 
 
 Joe. You bet! Why dod burn it gal, I'd bet my last nugget on> 
 
 that every time. Them's my sentiments persactly, and I don't care' 
 
 a cuss. I 
 
 Nell. Don't the girls there have to 'tend old dirty bars like I do 
 
 litre in the "Gold Dust?" 
 
 Joe. No sir I The girls tiiere ride in their carriages and have a 
 nigger to drive tlieir iiorses for em'. (Nkll drops her head in her 
 /lUiuls and studi/s deeply) ami then you git good grub outthare, old 
 fashioned ))umpUin pie and sicli like. I tell you Nell, I'd go fnrder 
 right now fer a piece of real old fashioned. New England Pumpkin 
 pie, than anytiung else on earth; dod burned ef I wouldn't. Now 
 them's my sentiments persactly, and I don't give a cuss. 
 
 Enter, Charley, l., 2 is. 
 
 ilello ! Ciiarlej% struck it rich, haven't 3'ou? Come heie and let me 
 shake yer hand. (they shake hands 
 
 Chas. Yes, struck it rich at last, Joe, and my days of i)overty are 
 at an end. All ! Joe, many's the time that I've gone to bed hungry, 
 and wondering where my breakfast was to come from, but those 
 days are past, for if "Claim 96" holds out like she opens up, I'm Jay 
 Gonld, Joe. 
 
 Joe. Persactly, them's the sentiments. 
 
 Chas. But what's tlie matter here? [points to Nell) She seems 
 unusually ([uiet; not sick are you Nell? 
 
 Joe. "Sol slie's not sick, she's studyin'. I've been givin' her a 
 
CLAIM NINETT-SIJ^. -13 
 
 lecture about the East, and she can't hafdly take it all in, shekindei 
 thinks Joe's a lyin' to lier. 
 
 Nell. N"o: I don't Joe, I knovv- yon wouldn't lie to me, but it all 
 seems so strange, (to Charley) Is there really so much ditl'erence 
 between the East and the West, Charley? 
 
 Chas. Yes, Nell, tliere is a vast difference, you can rely on all 
 that Joe tells you. 
 
 Joe. Persactly, them's the sentiments, thank ye Charley. 
 Chas. Well, I must be moving, or I shall be overtaken by dark- 
 ness — 
 
 Kell. Are you going away, Charlej-? 
 
 Chas. O ! only over on the "Divide." I hear that there is a fellow 
 over there — Major Dolittle, I believe his name is — wants to invest in 
 mining stock, and I thought I might dispose of part of my claim to 
 him; and Nell, I sent for my wite several days ago, she may come 
 on this evening's stage, and if she does, you take care of her until I 
 come back in the morning. 
 
 Nell. All right! Charley, you can bank on me every time, you 
 bet on that. " (exit, Chaklky, l., 2 e, 
 
 Joe. Them's the sentiments, persactly jist to a dot, N U, and I 
 don't give a cuss, and there will be another chance fer you tu .iud out 
 more about the East, ef that gal comes here aiKl I 'spose slie will. 
 Why dod burn it, Nell, ef you was in the E ist, you'd git a husband 
 in less than a year. 
 
 Nell. But i don't want a husband. I'd rather have a friend that 
 I could come and talk to like you, Joe. When a fellow gets married 
 they have to quarrel like Mack and his wife; they quarrel all the- 
 time, and of course everybody else is the s une. 
 
 J(ie. Not much they ain't. No sir! not by a dod burned sight. 
 Nell, say you go bring old Joe a chesvof dog leg terbacker. I've sot 
 liere and chinned so long to you and Charley, that my mouth's as 
 dry as a brick yard. 
 
 Nell. Let's get up some excitement over it, Joe. I'll pitch coppers 
 with you to ^ee whether 1 get it lor you, or you get it yourself. 
 
 Joe. Tliem's the sentiments, gal, "have you got a dod b lined C!ip- 
 per? Old Joe's broke, persactly. 
 
 Nell. I've got the coppers, now then, head or tails i" 
 Joe. Heads, them's ni}' sentiments. 
 
 Nell, {tosses up penny, they hoih cry nut, as penny strikes the floor) 
 Yoti've lost. There Joe, it's rolled down in the cellar. 
 Joe. I'll go and get the dod burned thinj-. 
 
 (raises trap-door R. c. and goes down 
 Nell, {closes trap-door — laughs) Ha! ha! ha! Joe, you are my 
 prisoner and I'm going to keep you, too. 
 
 Joe. {binder stage) Gal, you open that dod burned trap-door and 
 let me out. 
 
 Nell. No sir! no sir! no sir! {dances off r., 2 e., singing) No sir! 
 no sir ! etc. 
 
 Enter, Mack and Guy, l., 2 e., they lean over bar. 
 
 Mack. And that was another good scheme. Gay, getting Grey tc 
 go over on the "Divide" to-night. He will be completely out of oui 
 way; we have nothing to fear; 
 
 Guy, That is, from Grey, but that nigger. Ebony, has been fob 
 lowiiiff me around all dav, he may have over-heard some of our con- 
 
3^ CLAIM ymETT-SIX. 
 
 versation, and he never Imd any time for me or you either, Mack. 
 He may drop in on us or tell someone else. 
 
 Mack. What ? Two of lis and afraid of that boy ? Thunderation ! 
 no, he won't tio nnytliing, but let liiai show himself around liere 
 and I'll soon tix liiin. 
 
 Enter, Bkll, r., 2 e. 
 
 BelJ. Jerry— 
 
 Mack. What? Envesilroppina- aijain. {jerks her c.) How long 
 liMve you been standing there y Don't study up some lie now, tell 
 me the truth. 
 
 Jiell. I haven't been eavesdropping. 1 just come to — 
 3Iack. Shut up! didn't I tell you once that I didn't propose to 
 have my movements spyed upon ? I meant every word I said. You 
 try tins sneaking game on me once more and I'll lind a way to cure 
 you of it, that you'll remember. 
 
 Bell. But I wasn't spying on you, I came to tell you — 
 Mock. Didn't I say that I didn't want to hear any of your lies? 
 Guij. I-et her tell what siie came for. Mack. 
 
 Mack. Well then, out with it, but no lies, mind. When I say any 
 thing I mean it; now let's have your story. 
 Bell. 1 have no story to tell — 
 Mack. Just as I tlioughr, Guy, she's — 
 
 Bell. I came to tell you that Charley Grey's wife came on the 
 stage a few minutis ago, and she want's to know wdiere he is. 
 
 Mack. ThnndeiMtion ! Guy, that will — [checks himself sudclenhi) 
 you tell her tlaL Charley's over on the '"Divide" and won't be back 
 till morning; you keep tier here till Ciiarlej' comes back. Xow go — 
 you are nc-. wanted here, do you understand? 
 
 Bell, (titrniny) \ou may see the time Jerry, when j-ou'U want 
 me — 
 
 Mack. Shut u\) and get out here, or {raises hand) I'll spoil your 
 beauty. (exit, Bkll, r. 
 
 Ontj. Mack, if Charley's wife has come, we will have to drop our 
 lit'le excursion to-night. 
 
 Mack. jS'o! we will finish our arrangements right now and be oT. 
 I'll watch outside the cabin and you can go in and get the gold. 
 
 Giaj. You'll ( o norliing of the kind, Mr. Jerry Mack, we will both 
 go in alter the goM. 
 
 Mack. W ell then, if I do that and there is two thousand, I'll take 
 tvveive hundred — 
 
 Guy. 1 ditlcr from you there, too, we will share equally or not at 
 all. Uiulersc.-uid that? 
 
 Muck. Didn't I lind out about the gold and didn't t lay all of the 
 plans? I say I'll iiave twelve hundred of it. 
 Gii)/. And I say you'll not, Mr. John Sands. 
 Muck, {stariliidj Thundtration ! what do you mean ? 
 
 (hand to pocket 
 Gnij. (presents revolver) Just \\ hat I siy ! Take that hand away 
 from your pocket, or you are a dead man. Mack, you dropped a 
 paper out on the street and I found it. Listen and I will read it to 
 you: (reads) "Loiusville, K'y., Aug. 27, 1858, I, John Sands, do 
 herel)y agree to work for Major Frank Dolittle, in the capacity of 
 over-eer of slaves in tlie tobaouo fluids during the summer seasona- 
 
CLAUI KINETT-SIX. 15 
 
 nnci in the tobacco sheds during tlie winter seasons, for which ser- 
 vices I am to receive tlie sum of $50 per month — payable montlily. 
 Signed John Sands." There Mr. Jolin Sands, alias Jerry Mack, 
 Avhat do you say to that? 
 
 Mack, It's a lie, an infernal lie. 
 
 Guy. Listen to what is written on the back : {reads) "N'ov. IG, 
 1858, I have this day stolen two hundred dollars from Dolittle; think 
 we are even now." That's anotlier lie is it? Thief, slave driver, 
 nigS^r whipper. (l- c. 
 
 Mdclc. Ciu'se you Guy Lester! {tries to draw revolver 
 
 (Joe pushes np trap-door and springs on stage, presents two pistols. 
 
 Joe. Don't pull boys, fer I've ^ot the drop on ye— persactly. 
 Them's my sentiments and I don't give a cuss. 
 
 FICTUBE—SL OW C UB TAIN. 
 
 KJN'D OF ACT I. 
 
 xiCT II. 
 
 SCENE I.— Interior of Mack's house. Bell and N'ell seated L. c.< 
 
 Bell. Nell, I don't see how 1 am to stvnd this any longer, this life 
 is wor^e than a prison. He threatened to strike me to-day. I don't 
 know what to do or which way to turn. 
 
 Nell. I know what I'd do, I'd scratch his ej'es out, if I was in 
 your phice. I'd leave him, that's what I'd do and you can bet your 
 dust on that. 
 
 Bell. If I was to leave, he would follow me and bring me back, 
 then my life would be ten times worse than it is now. No I tlial 
 would never do, Nell. 
 
 Nell. Then I'd get a pick nandle and smash that cast iron skull of 
 Ills. There, how does that "pointer" suit you? 
 
 Bell. O.: Nell! Nell! 
 
 Nell. Well then, if you don't like that, here's another way, shake 
 him the box for tlie drinks and put some arsenic in his — 
 
 Bell, Why Neil! you wouhhi't kill him. would you? 
 
 Nell. You just bet I would or nny orhbr man, if he treated me 
 like Jerry Mack treats you,, ot (;ourse I'd kill him. \Vhy not? 
 
 Bell. O! Nell! Nell, this wild, rough lile is ruining j^ou the 
 same as it is me. If we couid only go away from it all, far away, 
 where we would never see or hear anything that would make me 
 think of my unhappy jnist, wjiere you could be in school, arid away 
 from this evil inlhienc^e and as.-ociates. If we could only be where 
 there is culture and leliiieinent. O! Nell, this life is killing me; we 
 shall yet see a tragic ending, tor I am sure that Jerry is not getting 
 all of his money iK.ne-tly. What if he is a highway-man, and it" he 
 is found out; think of the disgrace, Nell. 
 
 Ehowj. {out 1.., sings) "1 carry my shop upon my back." 
 
 Ebony rushes in l., 1 e. 
 
 Say dar Nell, kin you tell — {sees Bell) I golly, you looks white as 
 chalk, what's de matter— sick ? 
 
26 CLAIM l^IKETY-SIX. 
 
 Bell. No! Ebour, I'm not sick, I have a headache, that's all. 
 
 {exit, R., 2 K. 
 
 Ebony, (looking ii., 2 k.) I-.<io!-]y ef dat 'omaii aia't sick, den I 
 hope I'll never sliiiie aiiotiier shoe. ' (to Nell) Say, kin you done 
 to!e nie where boss Charley am ? 
 
 Nell. Wh}-, he's gone over on the "Divide;" what do you want 
 with him ? 
 
 Ebony. 'Pears to me you'se mi'ty 'quisitive, but I'll done tell yer, 
 'cause your a friend of mine. Dat ar' snalce, dat ar' dumed copper 
 head, dat ar' rattle snake — 
 
 Nell, Oh! wind up and start over, niggers can't talk no how. 
 What are you trying to say? 
 
 Ebony. Why, 1 was goiu' down de street awhile ago and I seed 
 dat ar' dumed, onery, prairie dog, water mocasin. I golly I 
 
 Nell. Well, why don't you say it? 
 
 Ebony. Dat ar' (huned sneal< Guy Lester agoin' down de street 
 ai d a talisin' to liisself, iilves if lie was interested — 
 
 Nell. Well, he's got a right to talk to himself if he wants too. 
 Let iiim talk, tain't none of your business, you haven't any right to 
 stop him. 
 
 Ebony. But— but— but golly Nell, he said as how, if Charley was 
 gone he'd — he'd — fo' de good Lord sake, Nell, if boss Charley's gone, 
 he's goin' to steal all his dust to-nighc. 
 
 Nell. Whatl are you sure? (grabs Ebony and shalies him 
 
 Ebony. AVell, do you think I'd He 'bout it? (crying) Dat's — too 
 —much— to— thinlv— dat— m— ray— best friend— 'ud think— I'd— I'd 
 — I — I — ]ie — bobo — 'bout dat. [coat sleeve act 
 
 Nell. Well, you can bet all of your dust on one thing, Nell will 
 be on deck to-uight. 
 
 Ebony, {brightening up) I'll bet all de bristles out'en my shine 
 orush, I'll be dar too, and I'll be armed to de teeth too, I golly. 
 
 (exit, L., 1 E. 
 
 Enter, Bell, r., 2 e. 
 
 Bell. Has Eb^ny gone, Nell? What did he want? O! he gave 
 me such a .shock, I was almost sure he had come to tell me something 
 about Jeny — 
 
 Enter, Mack, l., 2 e. 
 
 Made. Seeais to me j'ou are putting yourself to a great deal of 
 trouble on my account— I'll tell you one thing, Jerry is able to take 
 care of liimself — now get out of here, I wantto use this room awhile. 
 
 Bell. Has it come to this, that you order me from my own room, 
 after all that — 
 
 Macic. What ! nit gone j-ec? Get out of here — go to the kitchen 
 where you belong. Don't stand there staring at me like a big wax 
 doll— go! or I'll— (raises hand 
 
 Nell. Jerry Mnck, you strike her and I'll save the Regulators a 
 job. Do you understand that? {exit. Bell, r., 2 e., slowly 
 
 Mack. You and Bell have got a fit of the sulks. I am able to run 
 my own house yet awhile; now get out of here, I want this room — 
 get J say. 
 
 Nell, Jcrrv Mack, you go to tliunder, I am not your wife. (Mack 
 
■—•"■■ ^....i -^^ V, „, -. . 
 
 crying over spilled iiiilic; I dropped the paperi 
 ud now i am in his power and 1 suppose he 
 
 CLAIM NINETY-SIX. i' 
 
 sneaJcs out l., 2 e.) you can't order me around you old buzzard, you 
 can bet your dust on that. 
 
 Eboj^y sneaks in from R., 2 E. 
 
 Ebony, (c.) I goliy. 
 
 SCENE II. — Street scene. Lights down. 
 
 Mack, (c.) Thunderution ! I'd ratlier stand up to a square 
 shouldered light any time tlian be whipped by a woman's tongue. 
 Cuss 'em, Bell has got a tit of the suiUs and Nell is full of her high- 
 toned notions. Somebodj^ is meddiing with my affairs, and 1 believe 
 it's Sacramento Joe; the olil fool will set and talk all day. If I find 
 out tiiat it is him, I'll learn him a lesson that lie won't forget in a 
 hurry. I'd give something to know who he is and where he came 
 from, but he is as close as an oj'ster, when it comes to talking about 
 himself. Luck is running against me lately, but it may come my 
 way again. Thunder! what a foolish trick it was in me, pulling 
 those papers out of my pocket on the str ct; tlie way mv luck has' 
 been lately, 1 might liave known th.-it I woukl lose something, or- ' 
 well there's no use in 
 and Lester found it, an 
 will— 
 
 Enter, Guy, e., 1 e. 
 
 Guy. Use that power? You just bet your life I will, Mr. "nig- 
 ger-wlnpper" John Sands. j 
 
 Mack. Lester, don't kick a man wjiien he is down. You have 
 learned my secret and you can send me b.".ck East and have me im-j 
 prisoned i. you want to, 1 am at y*;ur mercy, bjt as far as me being' 
 a "ni^rger-whipper" you needn't throw tliat in my teeth. I worked: 
 — o.r whijjped sImvcs— tor so much mone}^ — 1 
 
 i-vy. And if you didn't liave money enoui^h, you stole what you 
 thought you needed. Is that what j^ou mean? 
 
 Mack. Being a slave driver is nothing dishonorable, or wasn't be- 
 fore slavery was abolished — but cou iterfeidig — 
 
 Guy. Is about as ilisiionorable as going lo a miner's cabin and 
 stealing his (lust. Eh! Mack? 
 
 Mack. Suppose the government finds out we ore in the green 
 gooels busine^, wlio will SL-rve the lo.ige-t rerin, }^on or I? 
 
 Guy. Look here Alack, ju-t because 1 happened to find out a secret 
 of your past life, it's no reason we should not still be friends; we 
 can't attbrd to be enemies, here's my haml, him widing to be just as 
 we liave been in the past. Come, what do you say? 
 
 Mack. We will be friends, Guy. (they shake hands 
 
 Gay. Oh ! giad to hear j^ou say that. I don't like to make enemies, 
 MacK, I have too many of them now. 1 spoke hastily awlule ago — 
 we are all apt to do that you know, whoa we are a lictle out of humor 
 — I ask your pardon? 
 
 Mack. I spoke rather hasty myself, Guy, so I guess we are about 
 even on that score — but this business we i;ad planned out for to- 
 night, about Grey's dust, are we to drop that or not? 
 ^ Guy. By no means, if everything is all in shape, why not carry 
 out our plans? 
 
 Mack. That suits me, aud as it i? near eleven now, let's start at 
 
2S CLAIM NIXETY-SIX. 
 
 once — Toomstone seem? unusually quiet to-night, I n'onder what 
 can be the cause? Here (hands mask) put that on, we may meet 
 some one and we better keep on tlie safe side. 
 
 Guy. Ah ! Mack, those masks are a good idea, they may save us a 
 great deal of trouble. {put on masks 
 
 Mack. Now then, are you armed? 
 
 Guy. Yes, I always am. 
 
 Mack. Then come on. (exeunt, l. 
 
 Enter, Nell, r., 1 e., rifle in hand. 
 
 Nell. Ah ! you old stick in tlip mud. (points i..) I'm after you. 
 don't think that Charley Grey's dust is lying around loose just be- 
 cause Charley isn't here to protect it. If I dou't give you a surprise 
 to-night, my name ain't Nell. (exit, l. 
 
 Enter, Eboxy, r., 1 e., caiitioufihi and badly scared; lights down 
 
 gradually. 
 
 Ebony. Golly I I'd rather sleep to-night dan look fer thieves, but 
 boss Charley's dust gotter be pertected and I'm de feller what cm do 
 it. {looks I.., trembling) Golly! what am dat? I Avish I hadn't 
 come, I allers get sick when I'm by ravself after night, (slight noise 
 R.) Boss, am dat j'ou? Golly I I wish I hadn't come, (nervous — 
 gun discharged off R.) Fo' de good Lo'd sake; (drops on knees) now 
 I lay me down ter — ter — ter — now I lay me down — down — I golly 
 dis child is hoo-dood sho', now I lav me — {looks r.) lay me — lay me 
 — (looks over shoulder, etc. — business) don't believe it wa? anvthing 
 after all. {noise l., hands up — works mouth — says nothing 
 
 Nell, (out 1... calls softly) Ebony! 
 
 Ebony, {raises quickly) I golly. Mis' Nell dat you ? Dis child's 
 glad to see you, I tells you. {bravely) Jerry Mack, de avengcn- am 
 on yer track, (flourishes ivhite-wash brush) Hi! dare Miss Nell, I 
 goliy, wait for dis chile. (runs out l., 1 e. 
 
 Enter, Joe, r e. 
 
 Joe. Well, of all the goin's on in Toomstone that I've seed fer 
 some time dod burn my tarpial eve-ighr ; if this don't beat me. Here 
 I find Nell out on the street with her rifle, likes if she was a lo >kin' 
 fer some one, and that little soeciman of Africa folleifn' long after 
 her, and here it's almost midnight. Wonder what they are atter. 
 I think I'll kinder hang around awhile and see, and ef there's a 
 scimmage comes up, why dod burned ef old Joe don't take a hand 
 in it. Them's my sentiments persaetly, and I don't give a cuss. I 
 wish I had a cliaw of dogleg tobacker ter keep me comjjany. but dod 
 burn the dilference, hero goes fer finden out what these ''cur'os'' pro- 
 oeedin's mean. Tliem's my sentiments jist ter a dod, and I don't 
 give a cuss. (exit, l., 1 e. 
 
 SCEXE III.— Chaulky Gkey's Cabin. 
 
 Enter, Mack and Gv\' cautiously with dark lantern — looks around, etc. 
 
 Mack, It's all right ohl man, no one there and nooiiehas seen us, 
 l^ow let's hustle and get the dust and be off. 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIJr. 19 
 
 Ouy. I'm your man for the dust. Where do j^ou suppose he h as 
 it hid? 
 
 Mack. It's in one corner of his cabin, I don't Icnow which one, 
 you look m one and I'll look in the other. 
 
 Guy. All right, keep your eyes peeled now, we don't want any- 
 one to slip up on us. 
 
 JIack. I'll keep a sharp look out and you do the same. (Mack l., 
 on knees, GvY r., ou knees, they search. Business as long as the au~ 
 dience will stand it) Thunder! there's nothing here. (moves to R. 
 
 Guy. There's nothing here either, (moves to h.) Ah! 
 
 Mack. What's the matter ? Found anything? 
 
 Gmj. You bet I have. Mack, look here. 
 
 Mack, (goes l. quickly, kneels side o/Guy) Thunderation. 
 
 Enter, Nell, l., covers Mack and Guy loith rifle, 1£bony sneaks in 
 from L., trembling, kneels l. c. 
 
 Guy. There's a deuced big bunch of it, Mack. 
 
 Mack. Let me lift it Gu3\ \ pause) 'J'hunder! there's tliree/ 
 thousand if there' an ounce. We can't divide it here, come and let's 
 get out of this — quick as possible. 
 
 Guy. Tliat's my ticket, we can't move an}' too quiclv now. 
 
 {(hey rise, facing audience 
 
 Nell. Halt! C^lxCK awl <3r\}\ startled) Drop that dust; Charieyi 
 Grey is not here to protect his own, but his friends are. Throw up/ 
 your hands ! (Guv and Mack mnke a blind rush out R., Nell shoots 
 
 Ebony, Fo' de good Lo'd sake, dis chile is gone, I golly. 
 
 [exit, L., 1 E. 
 
 Enter, Joe, l., 2 e., presents two revolvers. 
 
 Joe. Hold on thare ray beauty, drop that shootin' iron; (Nelli 
 luwers rifle) throw up two hands. (Nell /aces Joe) What? dod' 
 biun my tarnal eyesigiit; Nell! you here in Charley Grey's cabin at 
 iiiitliiigiit. Gal, what does this mean? 
 
 Xell. They were going to,.-teal Cliarley's dust, (points R.) See! 
 I was juet ill time to keep them from carrying it away. 
 
 Joe. Nell, you've got the grit, dod biiriied ef you ain't, put her 
 thar' gal; (fta/id owO Joe's yer friend. You've got a heart bigger 
 than a salt barrel. Them's my seiuiiuents persactly, and I don't givt} 
 a cuss. 
 
 QUICK CUMTAiy. 
 
 END OF ACT It. ^ 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. — Brandon's rooms, Arthur seated i.., Mrs. Brandon 
 
 seated l. c. 
 
 Mrs. Brandon. What is the matter with you this morning, Arthur, 
 you seem more despoudant than ever. 1 liave noticed of late that 
 you were worrying yourself over something; you must quit that, oi 
 yow v.'Ul certainly malce yourself ill. Is it business troublQ that U 
 
»& CLAIM ^'IXETY-SIX. 
 
 bothering you? Come confide in me, tell me what you are studying 
 about. 
 
 Arthur. I was tliinkhag about you, Julia. 
 Mrs. B. About me, and what about, me? 
 
 Arthur. O! tbis country is so \vl ' i i 1 r »ugh, I have been thinlv- 
 ing tliat it would l)e better for you — mi lis botli, if we were baclv at 
 the old lioine. Just think, there is li;irdly a day passes here in 
 Toomstone without a quarrel or a fight taking place, and often re- 
 sulting fatally. 
 
 Mrs. B. But we have not done what we came here to do; you 
 foi-get — 
 
 Arthur. Forget? No 1 Julia, I wish I could forget. Ihaveworkel 
 hard with the one idea in view, and that to forget, but 1 have failed. 
 I can never forget. It is true tliat we have established uothing, 
 neither will we. 
 
 Mrs, B. But the anonymous letters we received, saying that we 
 could learn somethhig of the lost by coming here. Have you lost 
 faith in them ? 
 
 i Arthur. Haven't we been here in Toomstone a year? And wM\:it 
 have we learned? Nothing, absolutely nothing. The child is dead, 
 long ere this. How many times have I lain awake tlie entire night, 
 studying and brooding over the case. No! Julia, the child is dead. 
 Mrs. B. I have tried to bring myself to that belief, but I can not. 
 I think that those anonjinous letters did mean something. 1 feel 
 that we shall yet see our child and be proud of her. 
 1 Arthur. Don't delude yourself with that idea, Julia ; don't cherish 
 that hope, for 'tis vain — useless. - 
 
 I Mrs. B. Arthur, do you know that this is her birthday, that seveu- 
 |teen years ago to-night she was stolen from us? 
 j Arthur. Do I remember? Oil! only too well. Seventeen long 
 jmiserable years, seventeen bleak, cheerless birthdays; if she was liv- 
 ing to-day, she would be nineteen. What suspense for a father — 
 (looks at Julia) for a mother to be in. (walks stwjc) Yes, seventeen 
 years ago to-niglit, our cMild — (iraeie — was stolen from us, merely 
 for revenge. AVliat a liend a man must be who will seek revenge 
 by— 
 
 ; Mrs. B. No! do not tiiink that Arthur, she was carried away by 
 a roving band of Indians, whicli passed near us on that night. 
 Everytiiing went to prove that she was lost, seen wandering towards 
 the camj) of the Indians. 1 do not think that Fred Eldair^- 
 
 Arthur. Fred Eldair was a man who would stop at no hing, Julia, 
 when once his passion was aroused. When I detected him in steal- 
 ing money from me, he svvore to be revenged upon me. A great 
 many men woLdd have had him imprisoned, but he was young then 
 and that was his first ott'ease — he promised me to lead an upright and 
 honest life, and on that promise 1 let him go. 1 can't help but think 
 that lie is the one who stole our child. 
 
 Mrs. B. 'Tis true that he disappeared at the same time Gracie 
 did, but that proves nothing against him. I am sure it was the In- 
 dians who carried her off. 
 
 Arthur. Perhaps you are right, I liopa you are, I don't like to 
 
 wrong any man, but why has lie kept himself hidden all these years? 
 
 Mrs. B. Why uncover the past? Let us strive to make itablaidc, 
 
 do not re-call those old memories, we have ourselves left, we will 
 
 pot grieve for our child, but think she is better off. 
 
 Arthur. 0-' Julia, what a com:orter you are. If it had not been 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIX. Si 
 
 for you, I believe I shonld have o:one mac! long ago. We have our- 
 selves left, we will live for one anoMier and think that all is for the 
 best. (exit, Mrs. Bkandon 
 
 Enter, Bessie Grey, r., 1 e. 
 
 Bessie. Mr. Arthur Brandon? 
 
 Arthur. That is my name — can I be of service to you? 
 
 Bessie. Ycui arc the banker ot Toomstone? 
 
 Artlnir. 1 can liardly be called a banker; liowever, I do some 
 bankiui;- business liero merely to accommodate tlie miners. 
 
 {both sit at table 
 
 Bessie. We are alone, I presume? 
 
 Artliur. We are — please state your business. 
 
 Bessie. My name is Bessie Gre}^ — 1 am Charley Grey's wife — I; 
 arrived here in Toomstone last evenin;^, and as Charley was over onj 
 tiie "Divide," I stayed at the "Gobi Dust Hotel." Every one iui 
 Tuomstone, was wild over the news that Charley had struck it rich,' 
 that ''Claim 96" was likely to prove the most valuable mine in this 
 camp. Exagerated stories were told of the amount of dust Charley] 
 had secreted in his cabin. j 
 
 Arthur. All I yes, I heard some of the absurd stories myself, to, 
 the etlect that Charley had gold dust pile J upon the floor of his cabin; 
 a loot deep. 
 
 Bessie. Yes, that story and a great many others ec[nally as ridic- 
 ulous, were circulated and were really believed by a number of 
 people of Toomstone, and last night, duriug Charley's absence, an 
 attempt was made to steal his dust, but the robbers were foiled by 
 I he timely arrival of Nell. Charley had hid his dust in his cabin, 
 but he hadn't tlie amount that people thought he had, or anything 
 near it. 
 
 Arthur. O!) ! certainlj', the stories about Charley's good luck were 
 greatly exagerated, but the inhabitants of Toomstone ai-e ready to 
 l)elieve anytlung, if they hear the word "gold" mentioned in con- 
 nection with it. 
 
 Bessie. 'J'his morning ("barley and I decided that it would not be 
 safe to keep the dust in his cabin any longer, and as we didn't want| 
 anyone to know that we had mov(> I it, and as I am a stranger here 
 in Toomstone, AVe decided that iL would be best for me to bring it; 
 he said that you would put it in your safe and give me a certificate 
 of deposit. {haiiils Arthur bag uf (/old 
 
 Arthur, (tnkes dust) Oh! certainly, cerlainl^y, but as this is 
 merely an accouHnodaiioi, I, of course, am not responsible — 
 
 Bessie. I understand Mr. Brandon, but Charley has all confidence 
 in your honesty. 
 
 Arthur. Ah I thank you — excuse me, I will lock^the dust in the 
 safe. (exit, L., 2 e. 
 
 Bessie. Tliere is one responsibility oiT of my mind, we will out- 
 wit the liiievcs of Toomstone yet. 
 
 Enter, Guy, r., 1 e., looks around cautiously; sees Bessie and slips 
 
 out R., 1 E. 
 
 Be-enter, Arthur, l., 2 e. 
 Arthur. Under the circumstances, Mrs. Grey, I think that Charley 
 
s» CLAIM NINHTY-SIX. 
 
 has done the best tiling he could do by pl.icin^^ the dust in my keep- 
 ing, as his life would not be safe as lon;4- as he had the gold in his 
 possession, (writes) Here is the certificate of deposit, (hands paper) 
 and tell Charley that 1 hope his prosperity uill not be short Jived, 
 but will hold up until he has massed a coinfortal)le fortune. 
 
 Bessie, (rise^) Thank j'ou 31r. Biamlon, and except our thanks 
 for taking care of the dust lor us, for we appreciate the favur— good 
 morning. 
 
 Arthur. Ah ! there's a business woman, and she has more refine- 
 ment then 1 have seen since co.uing to Toomstone. 
 
 Enter, Guy, r., 1 e. 
 
 Guy, All! good morning Mr. Biandon; Lfster is my na'.ne — Guy 
 Lester. I suppose you know me by sigiit, if not persourdly. 1 called 
 this morning to ask j-ou a few qucisiioas: I believe thatC larley Grey 
 deposited some dust with you this morning ? 
 
 Arthur. Then sir ! your suppositious are wrong, I have had no 
 dealings with Mr. Grey this murning, or at any previous time. 
 
 Gu!/. Then Grey's wife deposited iiie dust, did site? 
 
 Arthur. You are prying into business that does not concern you 
 sirl and I decliue to answer, go and ask that lady herseif if }m)u wish 
 to know — I wish you good morning. (turns to table 
 
 Guy. (clinches hands) Arthur lirandon, you'll see tiie lime when 
 you will wish that j'ou had told Uij w hat I wanted to know. 
 
 (exit, R., 2 E. 
 
 SCENE Il.—Street. 
 
 Enter, Peterson, l. e. 
 
 Peterson. I guess that would be a tetotal good specrilation, if I 
 dould just lind ihe right man, I'd trade liim two barrels of apple sass 
 for a square meal, and think I'd made a dai neii good bai'gain. I've 
 got to have something to eat protty s* on. or I'll l)low away, or wilt 
 right down like a cabbage leaf in .July. I'm just liku the atmosphere 
 — one big vacium — if I was to stumble I'd break into corn staiks and 
 beanpoles; but I'd just like to see how nnich grub I could store 
 away. I leel just •perpendicularliy tlabergasted," tetotally so. If 
 things don't change for the brtter soon, I guess 1 will borrow six 
 pence, buy a rope and hang mj^self. If 1 don't get sometliin>j: to eat 
 belore another week rolls aroun 1, there won't be enough of me left 
 to make a grease spot. Td like to put my leet inider some man's 
 table, if 1 wouldn't make a tetotal cleaiiing. I swear l"d split up 
 the table legs for tooth picks. 
 
 Enter, Ebony, k. e. 
 
 Ebony. Biack yere boots, shine 'em up. Hello! dar, you don't 
 jook like you'd seen pay dirt fer sometime. 
 
 Peterson. 8ay, boy, boy, go way, don't talk to me. 1 am offering 
 more inducements now, for a sfpiare meal, than any other living 
 man. I offer two barrels of a|)ple sass lor a good dinner. 
 
 Ebony. Are you hungry ? 
 
 Peterson. Hungry? Boy, if 1 don't get something to eat soon, 
 1 '11 be a tetotal wreck. 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIX. SS 
 
 Ebony. You ort to been with me awhile ago, boss; I hadde finest 
 dinner — roast duck, roast turkey, roast goose, roast everything. 
 
 Peterson. Ah ! boy, boy, boy. (i»i agony 
 
 Ebony. And all kinds of vegetables, roast vegetables. 
 
 Peterson. What a tetotal good dinner that was, wasnH it? 
 
 Ebony. You bet! and we had pie and cake. 
 
 Peterson. Say boy, where did you eat tliat dinner? Was there 
 ;Uiy scraps lelf? 
 
 Ebony. Yes, but dey done throwd 'em out to de chickens. 
 
 Peterson. Say, you take me down there and I'll pick around 
 i\\ liile anyway. ) 
 
 Eljony. Wiiat will you give me to told yer where you can get a 
 2,o()d dinner? \ 
 
 Peterson. I've got.four barrels of apple sass to home, the best 
 Api)lo s;iss that was ever make in Vermont, and I'll just be tetotally 
 fizzled if 1 don't give you a whole barrel of that apple sass, if you 
 uillhelpme to get a square — rectangular — parolelogranical meal. 
 I'here now, ain't that fail-? 
 
 Jibony. Well now, here's de way for you to get de dinner— yoa 
 io down to de ''Gold Dust Hotel" and tell old Mack, dat Charley' 
 'Jrey done give you a paper fer to carry to his wife, and if he will. 
 ;ive jou a square meal you'll done give him de paper, and I'll be& 
 .^11 de bri-tles out'en my shoe brush, you git's tie grub. (^.exit, l. 
 
 Peterson. Now that's what 1 call a tetotally perpendicular good 
 >peculation ; here goes for the grub. (starts, r. 
 
 Enter, Bessie, r. e., meets Peterson, r. c. 
 
 Say female, I am just about flabergasted, and I'd be tetotally obli|, . 
 to you for a little information. Can you tell me — 
 
 Bessie, {snapishly} No! I can't — I'm no guide post. {exit, -i. 
 
 PHersoTu {looks aft"'' her) Squashed, tetotally ; I guess I'll v<alk 
 
 'exit, K. 
 
 SCENE J/f.— Mack's saloon. — Mack ana u-uy at oar. 
 
 Giiy. I tell you Mack, that was a narrow escape for us both; li 
 neard that bullet sing as it pa? ed my ear, and wlien I seen Nell' 
 raise her rifle, I thought it would be "all day" with one of us any 
 way, for j'Oii know she is a dead sure shot. 
 
 jlack. You bet I do, Guy, and when I looked around and seen 
 her standing there wiih her rille at her shoulder, I would have taken 
 two cents for my chances of life aaul thought 1 was making big money 
 1 tell you old man, if she bad puiled an inch lower, I'd passed in my 
 ciiecks. How I lo you suppose it happened that she was there any- 
 wav? 
 
 Guy. Well now you've got me Mack— I haven't the faintest sus- 
 picion, and what do you suppose ever caused her to miss that shot? 
 P'or you know as well as I do, that she could have hit one of us if she 
 had Wantiid to. Do you think she recognized us, or knew that we 
 were going to Grey's cabin after his dust? 
 
 Mack. Thunder! no, she didn't know anything about it, and she 
 never recognized us either — she couldn't — for you knoiv we had our 
 masks on. She just hap[)ened hy Grey's cabin and heard us make a 
 noise and came in to see what it was. But itis alittle strange abpii' 
 
^4 CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 
 
 her being thereat midnight, isn't it? But tlien Nell is a strange 
 girl, slie is just as liable to be in one place as anoth"r. 
 
 Guy. Yes, and she happened to be just at the right place to spoil 
 all of our plans everytiniu, Mack. 
 
 Mack. Yes, seems that way, but we could have got away with the 
 dust that night, if you had not dropped it. Why didn't you liold on 
 to it? 
 
 Guy. Ho]d on to notliiug! I tell you, when I look around and 
 see a rifle barrel pointed at me, with Nugget M"ell behind it, and 
 Nugget Nell's eye looking along the barrel like tills, (i:iiitate->) i'll 
 drop anytiiing; I am not courting deatii yet awhile. 
 
 Mack. Thunder! butNelldidgive measliock Jastn'ght. Honestly, 
 I wouldn't have been any more surprised if 1 had seen Ciiarley Grey 
 standing there. 
 
 Guy. Or Charley's wife. 
 
 3Iack. Ah I Guy, there's a woman we've got to wateli. 
 
 Guy. You are just right we have Mack, and we can't watch iier 
 any too close either; she is a cute one I tell j'on. 
 
 Muck. Yes, she can take care of lierself and her husb ii,d, and 
 three or four other fellows like Grey. 
 
 Guy. My opinion is, that if she stays heroin this camp for six 
 months, the counterfeiters of Toomitone, will have to "fold their 
 tents aud gently steal away." 
 
 Mack, (goes behind bar) Here, {si-ts b'dtle onbar) take something, 
 we must brace up some way — there is otiier work l)9fore us j'et — 
 come on and drink with me; this isn't the best, but then — 
 
 Enter, I'eterson, k., 1 e. 
 
 Peterson. I guess I can worry some of it down and be tetotally 
 obliged to you in the bargain. ( reaches for bottle 
 
 31ack. (jerks buttle b ick) Don't get too fast ! 
 
 Peterson. V/hy I ain't you going to give me ;i drink? 
 
 Mack. I don't see that I am under any ob!i<>-ation to, sir! 
 
 Peterson. No'v, t!ia;'s \\ hat I call down right, tetotal s.dtishness 
 in you.' Say, I'll tr de yen a half barrel of apple sass for a drink— 
 
 Mack. No sir! J sell this whiskey lor money. 
 
 Peterson. Well, that's tlie same way 1 sell my apple sass. Saj^, 
 maybe you could loan me ten dollars and take your pay out in apph 
 sass. I've sot four barrel of the best apple sass — 
 
 Mack. No sir! I don't want to invest in any app'e sass. Say, do 
 you seethatsign ? {poiut.s to signoverbar — "2Vea( — Trade cr Tnivel" 
 
 Peterson, (reads) "Treat — Trade or Travel" — well, you won't 
 treat and I've offered you a perpendicular good trade — now that 
 apple sass of mine (Mack a?uZ Guy talk, pay no atientioa to Peterson) 
 can't be beat, I tell you, it was made by one of the best cooks in 
 Hillsborough county, Vermont — I mean Polly Ann Spriggins — sh'? 
 that used to be Polly Ann Flint before she was married— lie r and I 
 are kinder related like — now iier father, old Jebedil Flint, and my 
 mojiei-'s great uncle were cousins — so you see we are bound together 
 by thetieofconsinganity. Now when Polly Ann married Jeddediah 
 Spriggins — you see he had been married before, and she was his 
 second wife. His first wife was taken with the cramps and went oft 
 kinder sudden like — she ate thirty-eight raw^ turnips one da}' and 
 they didn't agree with her. Everybody said that Jeddediah made a 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIX. S5 
 
 tetotal wood speculation when he married Polly Ann, 'cause Jedde- 
 diah wasn't worth nothing. He had forty acres ot the worst land in 
 Vermont. That land was so tetotal poor that yon couldn't raise a 
 disturbance on it. That farm was nothing but a big buncli of sand — 
 it was a perpendicular line place to scour knives, though — but as I 
 was saying about Polly Ann — {looks around anl sees Mack a7id Guy 
 are paying no attention to him) squashed tetotally. (goes to table, sits 
 doivn and sets grip on top of table) Well, I'm >ust flabergasted, teto- 
 tally so. A fellow that's as backward and basliful as 1 am, oughtn't 
 to be tliis far away from home. 
 
 Guy. {points to Peterson) What do you call it, Mack? 
 
 Mack, i don't know. I'll investigate, (goes n. c.) Say, who are 
 you anyway ? 
 
 Peterson. I'm little Peter Peterson, from Peterville, Vermont 
 I've got four barrels of the best apple sass — 
 
 Mack. Hold on ! never mind that ! What are you doing out here ? 
 
 Peterson. Come out for my liealth, and it 1 could sell ihat apple 
 sass — 
 
 Guy. Oh ! let loose of the "apple sass," you don't look as if you 
 found very much health. 
 
 Peterson. No! the air don't agree with me— but that apple sass — 
 
 Mack. Hold on! Say, did you expect to live 0!i air? 
 
 Peterson. From what 1 heard about tins country, I 'snosed I couhl 
 and keep teto. ally fat too. Iftheairhad agreed with me, I hgger 
 t at 1 would weigh a little over seven hundred jjounds now, but as 
 it diihi't agree with me,.i only weigh about forty-two poiuids. 1 am 
 oilering two wliole barrels ot apple sass — 
 
 Gay'. How much longer are you going to talk about that "apple 
 sassV" — 
 
 Peterson. It's a tetotal No. 1 good apple sass, and I can afford to 
 talk about it — now this apple sass that — 
 
 Mack. Oh I hold on. Siy, what did you come down here for? 
 
 Peterson. Why, Charley Crey gave me a paper to take to his wife, 
 and 1 thought, maybe you'd give n;e a tetotal goo 1 dinner.^ if I'd give 
 yuii the paper and throw in some apple sass — 
 
 Guy. iireak oil' the "apple sass" — we don't want the paper. 
 
 relerson. Wouldn't give me the dinner if I was to throw in one-< 
 half barrel of apple — 
 
 Muck. No! not if you was to throw in a barrel and a half. 
 
 Peterson, \\ell, am I to be tetotally swindled out of my dinner, 
 with all my apple sass on hand? (Mack an.d Guv botli laugh) This 
 ain't no laughing matter. 1 am gruwing ilesperate, if i don't eat 
 something pretty soon, I'll be a tetotal wreck. 
 
 Guy. (gets suck oj crackers behind bar) Here, try tliese. 
 
 Peterson, (.takes sack) Say, that will make a tetotal rectagiilar 
 kind of a meal, won't it? Now, if I had soiue of that apple sass. 
 Sa3^ is there any water to go witli these? 
 
 Guy. No sir! not a drop, you must eat them dry. 
 
 Peterson, Well, I can just do it. I'll eat the sack if you say so. 
 
 {seated 
 
 Enter, Nell, r., 3 k, 
 
 Nell. Hello! Guy. (sees Peterson) What have vou o-nt, tbara 9 
 
8S CLAIM J^IXETY-SIX. 
 
 Mack. 'Tend bar awl lile, Nell: come on Guy, let's walk dowc 
 street ami see if we can't find Gre.v. (exit, l., 1 e. 
 
 Guy. Don't let lliat lellow have a drop of water, Nell. 
 
 (exit, L., ] E. 
 
 Nell, All right! (behind bar. idly throwing dice 
 
 Peterson. That's a perpendicular tine sirl. 1 wonder if she has 
 an}^ ol)jection=. to matrimony, [rises and leans againstbar, facing the 
 audience — business) Miss, there's something; laboring on the upper- 
 part of my disposition, wiiich I'd like tetotally well to promulgate. 
 
 Nell, {throwing dice) Two aces and a pair of sixes. Good throw. 
 
 Peterson, (aside) 1 doa't seem to interest her. {aloud) Miss — 
 ahem — Miss. 
 
 N'ell. Well, what do you want? You can't work this bar for free 
 drinks, understand that? 
 
 Peterson. Say, don't .vou want to buy four barrels of nice apple 
 sass? I'll sell 'em dirt cheap. 
 
 Nell. No I I don't. Say, why don't you introilu.^e yourself? 
 
 Peterson. I will, and wliea you get acquainted WMtli me, you'll 
 think I'm a tetotal perpendicular kind of a fellow too. My nama is 
 Peterson — Peter Ulj'ses Peterson. 
 
 Nell, Well Peterson, I'll >ihake you the box for the drinks. 
 
 Peterson. 1 never gambled witli a girl before, but let 'er sliver. 
 
 N'ell. {throws dice) There, beat four sixes. 
 
 Peterson, {throios) Tliree lives — say, that's the first equii e on 
 me, ain't it? 
 
 Nell. You owe nie ten cents, (Petersox goes through pocket) 
 Well, hurry up, give me ten ceiits, or Mack will come in and think I 
 am doing busine-s on credit. 
 
 Peterson, (searches clothes) Say, I ain't got ten cents, take it out 
 in apple sass, won't you ? (Nell turns away disgusted) Say, be ycu 
 engaged ? 
 
 Nell. What? 
 
 Peterson. Did you ever experience the tender passion of love, that 
 great pent up lire that will glow and smoulder in spite of you, until 
 you think that you'll just tetotally sizzle? 
 
 Nell. No! 
 
 Peterson. Well, I have, I'm just tetotally scorched into a cinder 
 now, and love is the cause of it — say, you'll be pretty well off one of 
 these daj' s, won't you ? 
 
 Nell. 1 am preity well off now. 
 
 Peterson. Well, so am 1 — that is to say, I will be wlien ray aunt 
 Hulda dies. 1 took an inventory of her effects last spring, and I 
 find that she has two acres of land under water in South Carolina, 
 besides eighteen dollars and live cents in cash on hand, and enough 
 clothes lo l:ist her, her natural life time; that is, if it ain't spun out 
 too tetotal long. Now, 1 think that it would be a perpendicular 
 good speculation for us — you and 1 — to hitch up and wade down the 
 stream of lile together, don't you?j 
 
 Nell. No! 1 don't. 
 
 Peterson. That is to say, you reject my suit? 
 
 Nell. You don't call tiiat a suit, do you? 
 
 Peterson. 1 mean, that you don't feel matrimonially inclined to- 
 ward the afore said Peterson — meaning me. 
 
 Nell. No! 1 don't, when 1 marry 1 want a man, not a shadow- 
 understand ? 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIX. S7 
 
 Peterson, (turns and sits at table — aside) Another speculsitioji 
 tetotally busted {aloud) Wouldn't cli:iun;e your mind, I reckon, if 
 1 would throw in two barrels of apple sass? 
 
 Enter, Mack, Guy and Charley, l., 1 and 2 e. 
 
 Made. Now boys, let's hustle and ij-t up a nice, quiet little game. 
 (NCd.s Pktersox) Hello! you here yet? Didn't I show you that 
 sign awhile ago? {exit, Nell 
 
 Peterson. Well, I can't get a trade out of anybody around here. 
 (Jo Charley) Could you make me a small loan on four barrels of 
 apple sass ? 
 
 (Jhas. ISTo! I'm not dealing in "apple sass" now. 
 Gun. Hurry up Mack, and get those chairs around that table and 
 let's get to work. (Mack gets chair, etc., Gvy goes behind bar) Hero 
 take something, Charley. 
 
 Chas. No I I never drink before going into a game. 
 Peterson. You seem to be a tetotal perpendicular kind of a fellow, 
 I'll drink with you. (steps up to bar, Gvy puts bottle behind bar and 
 tcalks to table) Another speculation l)usted. 
 MacL-. All right, come on boys, sit down. 
 
 (they sit down — business 
 Chas. Go on and deal, Mack. (Mack de lis 
 
 Peterson. Wait! waic! where's my chair? I'm in that game. 
 Guif. You are not going to play in this game. 
 Peterson. Yes, I am too. . (kneels side of table 
 
 Mack. All riiiht boys, tliere's your cards. 
 
 Peterson. Wait! wait! wliere's my crackers? ( goes and gets them 
 'iff bar and gets chair) Here goes for a tetotal speculation. 
 Mack. Well, what are you doing? 
 Crinj. I stay. 
 L'lias. 1 see you myself. 
 Mack, Well, I am along with you boys. 
 
 Peterson. You seem to be a perpendicular kind of a crowd, I guess 
 I'ii stay too. 
 2Iack. Cards? 
 
 (iny. Give me tlie three cards on top. 
 Chas. Burry that top one. Mack, and give nie two. 
 Peterson. Give me three more kings, I've got one. 
 Guii. Hokl on there! you haven't discarded yet; wait Mack, how 
 many are vou going to throw away? 
 
 Petrrson. Four,'th9 others are iill three spots, I don't want them. 
 
 Chas. Give him four cards. Mack — now then. 
 
 Guy. Well, I'll chance live doliars any way. 
 
 Chas. 1 have a pretty good hand, 1 raise you five. 
 
 Mack. I pass out. 
 
 Peterson. 1 bet a barrel of apple sass — 
 
 Guy. Hold on ! tliis game is for money, only. 
 
 Peterson. So is my apple sass. 
 
 Muck. You've got to bet money if you play in this game. 
 
 Peterson. Well, then I bet five. 
 
 Guy. All right, I call you. 
 
 Chas. I've got three queens. 
 
 Mack. Thunderation ! 
 
 Guy. They are not large enough, I have four aces. 
 
Z8 CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 
 
 Peterson. I've won the money ! I've won the money ! [jumps up 
 
 Guy. VV[iat have you got? 
 
 Peterson. I've sot three pah's — twothices, two fives and two jacks. 
 
 Guy. That luind's no good, you've got too niaay cards, you did 
 nor, discard enough. You owe me ten duUars. 
 
 Peterson. How much? 
 
 Guy. Ten doHars. 
 
 Peterson. What tor? 
 
 Guy. Why! lor this liand that we just played. Come, hand it 
 over. 
 
 Peterson. Say, I'm tetotally hroke ; take it out in apple sass, won't 
 you? How much did lie loose. (jjomJs to Charley 
 
 3Iack. Why, lie lost ten dollars, 
 
 Peterson. How much did he loose? [points to Ma.ck 
 
 Guy. Why, he passed out, 
 
 Peterson. Well, wiiy the tetotal thunder, didn't I pass out? 
 
 3Iack. [presents revolver) That's what you are going to do right 
 /low, 
 
 Peterson, (steps bad-) Hold on ! liold on ! I'll leave, I'll pass 
 out, {points East) Is tiiat the way to Vermont? 
 
 Mack. Yes sir ! tluit's the way to Vermont. 
 
 Peterson. Ilillshorough county? 
 
 3Iaek. Yes! 
 
 Peterson. Petersburgh? 
 
 Mack. Yes sir! now you get! 
 
 Peterson. Tiiat's whore I am going— Petersburgh, Hillsborough 
 I'ounty, Vermont, If you ever need any of my apple sass— 
 
 Guy. O! kill him Mack, why don't you shoot him? 
 
 Peterson. There's anotlier i>peculati"on busted — say, that will be a 
 tetotal nice little walk over to Vermont, won't it? 
 
 Mack, (starts fur him) Say, are you going, or — 
 
 Pelerson.^ I'm going. GooVl-by boys, good-by. [exit, l., slowhj 
 
 Muck. 'J'hat fellow is the hardest one to get rid of, I've seea for 
 some time, 
 
 Chas. Why didn't you kick him out a long time ago, Mack? 
 
 Guy. That's a game tliat two can play at, and he is about as big 
 as Mack is— Mack don't take no risks, do you Mack? 
 
 Mack. Let's get to work boys and finish this game. 
 
 [chairs to table, all seated 
 
 Enter, Peterson, l. e. 
 
 Peterson. Say, do yon know of any one else that wants to walk 
 over to Vermont? I'd like company. 
 
 Mack. No sir ! I don't. Now you get out of here. 
 
 Peterson. I am going— Petersburgh, Hillsborough county, Ver- 
 mont, Good-by boys. (exit, L. 
 
 Mack. If you ever show your face in here again — 
 
 Guy. Mack, you've got an elephant on yoitr hands, that fellow 
 intends to stay with you. 
 
 Chas. He won't come back again — here let's get to playino", I 
 want to win back that ten if I can— whose deal is it? ° 
 
 Enter, Pisterson, l. e., Mack grabs him by throat. 
 
 Peterson. Look out! be tetotally careful, that's my "jugler." 
 
CLA TM NINETY-SIX. S9 
 
 MacTi. Hanj:^ j'our jugler ! Didn't I tell you awhile ago, what I 
 would do if you came in here again? 
 
 Guy. Now then, what the deuce do you want? 
 
 Peterson, {points to grip on bar) 1 w'ant my trunk. 
 
 Mack. Well, you get it and get out of here. 
 
 Chas. And if }^ou come bade here again, I shall take it upon my- 
 self to kick you out in the street. 
 
 Peterson. All right — I'm going now — if you see anybody that 
 wants to buy some tetotal fine apple sass— (Guy rises) Good-by 
 boys, good-by. {exit, L., hurriedhj 
 
 Guij. Now tlien, let's have the game out — deal Charley. 
 
 Charley cZeaZs, they play the hand, talk ad lib.; work it as long as 
 audience will stand it. 
 
 Enter, Bessie, l. e. 
 
 Bessie. Cliarley Grey, what are yon doing here? Trying to loose 
 what dust you have? Come and let's go home. Come on now ! 
 
 Chas. All ri^ht! just as quick as I play this hand out; go on, I'll 
 be there — give me tliree cards, Maclv. 
 
 Bessie. No! you come witli me, I won't move a step unless you 
 rrotoo-, these fellows will cheat you out of all the dust you have. 
 Come on I 
 
 Mark. Why, Mrs. Grey, this little game is just for pastime; of 
 course there is some money up, but not enougli — 
 
 Bessie. You shut up! I wasn't talking to you, you can't soft- 
 soap me. 
 
 Enter, Ebony, r., 1 e. 
 
 Ebony. 'Caus, I golly, she don't use soap, do you? 
 
 Bessie. Yon little black imp. {makes a dive for him 
 
 Ebon//, (dodges her) I golly, boys, look out for storm" weather, 
 fer she's got lier skates on. it would take five aces .t; i a "raizor"( 
 10 bent ilat hand, so it would, I golly. (exit, l., 1 e. • 
 
 Bessie. (t((kes hold of chair, Car-ley rises) Now, come on and 
 let's go; d(in't stay here and associate with that old tliief, (points to 
 Mack) lie would steal anything he could get his hands on, (Guy 
 laughs) and you too, I mean botl) of you. {starts, l., 2 E. 
 
 Guy. Come back sometimes and we will finisli that game, Charley. 
 
 Besbie. No I he won't either ; if he does, I'll follow him with a 
 broom. Charley Grey has a wife that will take care of him, lie'll do 
 as I saj\ {exit, both, l., 2 e., Mack and Guy laugh 
 
 Enter, Petekson, l., 1 e. 
 
 Peterson. Now, there's another perpendicular good speculation 
 tetotally busted, I might say. 
 
 3Iack. (sees Peteuson) Well, I'll swear, if that ain't cheek per- 
 sonitide. 
 
 Guy. Didn't we tell you awhile ago, to never come in here again, 
 
 Peterson "^f" but say, is that the way to Vermont? 
 
 (wints Fast 
 
so CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 
 
 3fack. Yes, that's the way to Vermont. 
 
 Peterson. Well, I walked up that way about a mile and a half, 
 but I never saw anything of it. 
 
 Gill/. See here, l am going to count five, anil if yon are not out of 
 here when I get through, you will cease to exist; now then, one — 
 two — three — four — fi — 
 
 Peterson. Four and one-half time. Siiy, don't rush me out so 
 fast, I think I vsee a tetotal good speculation down here. I've got a 
 trade up. I can get a sway backed mule for three barrels of apple 
 sass. (Mack and Guy push, him out i.. 
 
 Guy. (sealed) Well Mack, what do you think of Charley Grey's 
 wife now? 
 
 Mack, (seated) I tliiuk she will run Toomstone to suit herself. 
 
 Guy. So do I, and if we do anythuig about Grey's dust, we will 
 have to work lively, I tell you. She deposited the dtitt with old 
 Brandon this morning. 
 
 Enter, Bell, l., 3 e., stops and listens. 
 
 Mack. Thunder! is that so? Well, that's better for us, old Bran- 
 don is keeping dust for several of the miners, and we can go up there 
 to-night and blow that safe open easy enough and iret well payed for 
 the work too. {sees Bell) Ah I enve^dfopping again are you, curse 
 you. (jeiks her to c, exit, Guy, r., 1 e. 
 
 Bell. I didn't intend to overhear, but 1 couldn't help it, and the 
 words I ovfci'lierd are terrible. Jerry, don't do ti\at, give it up for 
 niy sake it not j^our own. 
 
 j Mack. Shut up! didn't I tell you once, that if I caught you at 
 this sneaking game again, I'd cure you of it; now then, I am going 
 ^to keep my wurd. (gets whip behind bar 
 
 : Bell. You can whip me Jerry, if you want to, but don't be a 
 thief, a '"safe breaker." (kneels) See, on my knees I ask you to give 
 up this wild scheme. 
 
 Mack. Get up ! (Bell rises) I used to whip niggers, and I'll 
 show you that I haven't forgot how to use the lash "yet. I'll learn 
 you to mind your own aftairs. (strikes) You dare to scream and 
 I'll put a bullet through your treacherous heart. {strikes 
 
 Bell, {kneels) O I Jei ry ! Jerry ! have some mercy. 
 
 Enter, Peterson, l. e. 
 
 Peterson. T say, that's a tetotal darnation shame. I'll give you a 
 oarrel of ai)ple sas, if you'll quit. 
 Mack. Get out of here, curse you. 
 
 Mack strikes Peteksox, ivho runs out l., yelling, then strikes Bell, 
 she screams. 
 
 Bell. O! Jerry I Jerry! quit, for heaven's sake, stopl 
 
 Enter, Nell, r. e., raises rifle. 
 
 Nell. Jerry Mack stop that! 
 
 ''Mack sIods and looks at Nell, Bell on knees r. c. 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIX. SI 
 
 SCENE IV.— Street. 
 
 Enter, Peterson, l. e. 
 
 Peterson. Gosh all hemlock, bald hornets anrl yaller jackets, but 
 that fellow can u.<e a whip. If he was back in Vermont, he would 
 make a tetolal fortune in less than a month, drivino" an ox team. 
 This is a perpendicular fine kind of a place, but F don't see any open- 
 ing for me. It's going to be a tt^total long walk over to Vermont, 
 but as the old saying is— "a light heart and a thin pair of pants get 
 merrily through the world." If times don't improve, or I don't get 
 something to eat before another week rolls arounil, I'll put a postage 
 stamp on mj^ ear and send myself thro uLrh by mail; that would be a 
 tetotal good speculation, if I could Ihid some man tliat I could trade 
 tu'o barrels of my apple sass too for a stamp. 
 
 Enter, Mace, l. e., gesticulating wildly. 
 
 Sood-br, good-by. (exit, R., quickly 
 
 Mack. Thunderation ! if I have to face Xell's rifle ones more, 
 my nerves will be shattered. I don't see why she can't mind her 
 own aftairs and let me alone. Thai's twice she h is come in on' 
 me. I am almost ready to believe that she is watching me. If she 
 is, I will have my hands full to keep clear of her, and there's Grey's 
 wife — curse her, I wish she was away from here, she beats anything 
 I ever saw — 
 
 Enter, Ebony, l. e. 
 
 Ebony. I golly, she does, don't she? Say, let me shine yer shoes| 
 boss, ain't made a nickel to-daj^. 
 
 Mack. Say, yon little black cuss, what made you pilot Grey's 
 wife down to the "Gold Dust" and brake up that garnj for? She is 
 woise than a powder magazine. 
 
 Ebony. I didn't send her down dar. 
 
 Mack. Yes, you did too! 
 
 Ebony. No II didn't neithpr. Let me told yer 'boutdat — vou sen' 
 she was a walkin' down de street and she done see me and she says, 
 "here, can you done told me where bo^s Charley am," and I say 
 "no" and she say — "nigg.'r, do yon done 'spose he's down to de 
 'Gold Dust'," and I done tolil her dat I 'spect not, and she say, don't 
 you go fer to lie to me you little brack cuss, and with dat she made 
 une grab for dis child's wool, but I wasn't dar boss. I tell you, I 
 was clean gone outen sight. I golly boss, when she came fer me I 
 was scared, I thought dis child done boo dooed, sho'. 
 
 Mack. That woman beats the devil. 
 
 Ebony, Dat's ju-^f right boss, sho'. I done told yer she's way 
 outen sight. De Uebil needn't watcii Toomstone any longer, not 
 while she's here, {look R.) Hi dar bo^s Charley, lenmie done shine 
 j'^er shoes, ain't made a nickel to-day. [exit, r. 
 
 Mack. I'll swear, I don't know whether to think that little blacU- 
 imp is lying to me or not. I suppose I'll have to take it for granted, 
 that he told me the truth. I'll hunt up Guy and speuU to him aboui 
 it. 
 
Si CLAIM NINETY-SI^. 
 
 Mack starts R., Joe enters r. e. 
 
 Why, hollo! Joe, shake hands old man — 
 
 Joe. No sir! dod burn you Jeriy Mack, your too ornery to shake 
 liand-? with old Joe. 'J'hem's my sentiments, persactly. 
 
 Mack. Why ! what in thunder's the matter now? 
 
 Joe. Tlie matter is just this, dod burn you, I know you, Fre^ 
 Eld air. 
 
 Mack, (startled) What? (recoils L. C 
 
 Joe. I've read tlie little book tliat you kept locked up in your desk, 
 1 know all about Nell, dod burn you, and I'll tell old — 
 
 Mack, Curse J^uu, don't you mention that name. 
 
 Joe. I will too. Tliem's my Sfntiments and [ don't give a cuss. 
 
 Jr[uck. Curse you, jou will never tell that story to any one else, 
 
 {draws knife 
 
 Joe, I will! I'll tell Xell and I'll tell Arthur Brandon. 
 
 Mack, You cursed traitor ! 
 
 i?';s/ies on him, st/ibs him,' he falls back as Nell enters; she catches 
 him as he sinks to the floor. 
 
 Nell. O! Joe! Joe! h" has killed you. 
 
 Joe. (raises ojielhoio) You'll regret tiiis to j'ourdj'ing day, Fred, 
 for I am your brotlier. 
 
 Nell, {helps J oi<\ to rise) Blast your eyes, Jerry Mack, you've 
 killed the best friend 1 had. I'll get even with you for this. 
 
 {helps Joe out R. 
 
 Mack, {c, speaks slow) My-brother, I-have-killed-my-brother 
 and \vc were playmates together. My brotlier, who — 
 
 Enter, Guy, l. e. 
 
 Guy. Hello! Mack, what's the matter with you — you look all 
 shaken up — have you seen a ghost? 
 
 Mack. I — I — I don't know Guy, I hope so — I — I — 
 
 Ouy, You've been patronizing your own bar. Mack. 
 
 Mack. No! Guy, 1—1 don't feel ''like myself." 
 
 Gi y. "Well, ii you will walkaround a while, you'll soon be "your- 
 selt" again. Let's move lively now an 1 pay a visit to old Brandon 
 and go through that iron box of his. I am anxious to see the inside 
 ot it. Ilemember JMaek, "Claim 90" may be the reward to-night, 
 and I have everything all ready. (exit, l. 
 
 Mack, {starts i..) All right Guy, I'm — I'm a little nervous now, 
 but I'd be all riglu directly. {exit, l., slowly 
 
 Enter, Ebony, r. e. 
 
 Ebony. Hello ! old stick in the mud is gone. I golly, didn't T 
 done hoo-doo him with dat big lie 'bout Mrs. Grey? Dis chile is way 
 outen sigiit, I tole yer. 
 
 Enter, Nell, r. e., rifle in hand, 
 
 ilello! dar Miss Nell ; golly, wliat you goin' to you? 
 
 Nell. I am going to put a tiole tlu-ough Jerry Mack's heart. He 
 stuck a knife in old Joe a'\ hile ago. ' (exit, L. 
 
 Ebony. For the good Lo'd sake, you dou't told me so? Well.! 
 
CLAni KINETT-SIT. S3 
 
 always like to b.3 in at the deiUh. Hi! dar, Miss N'ell, wait for dis 
 cliil( . {exit, L. 
 
 SCENE V. — Boom in Mr. Braxdon'r house; staije dark, safe L. 
 dipper corner. Enter, GuY and MACKmasked, vjlth burglar tools — 
 look arutiiid cauiionsUj. 
 
 Guy. Let's o-et to work old man, the coast is clear and we can't 
 jUTonI to fool awav any time hen'. 
 
 Mack. Have you iior, everyrhina: — thg powder? 
 
 Gioj. Yes, everytliiiiir, lei's hurry. {then go to icork on safe 
 
 Enter, Mrs. Brandox, r., 1 e, 
 
 Mrs. n. I cannot sleep, I have tried, but in vain; sleep will not 
 visit my eyes to-nio;lit. I am filled with h foreboding of evil to us or 
 to someone througji us. I have tried to banisli the thought, but T 
 can not. 
 
 Ileavij explosion to r. e.. as Guy rind Mack blow open safe; Mrs. 
 1'kandon screams, Guy rises. 
 
 Gny. Yon get tiie dust Mack, I'll takecare of lier. (catchesMRS. 
 BuAKD(tN by throat, she fulls, GuY stubs her— rises) Are you ready, 
 iMaeK> 
 
 Mcck. Yes. yes, I've got it; r|uick, let's 20. 
 
 {both exit, R., 1 E., hurriedly 
 
 Enter, Arthvr, 1-., 3 E. 
 
 Arthur. What can be the meaning of the noise I heard. 
 
 Enter, Xei.l, r., ?> k., rifle in hand, stands till curtain drops. 
 
 I cnulfl have sworn that 1 iieard a woman scream, {sees Mrs. Kran- 
 don) What's tiiis? {knaals) My God ! it's Julia, what villain can 
 have ■ one this 'i^ Julia! Julia! ioak up, speak just one word, whose 
 work is thic? Julia! Juii.i! 0! GoJ, she's dead and I am left alone. 
 
 {head bowed 
 
 CUBTAIN. 
 
 E-ND OF ACT III. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 5'C£'.V J? /.—Mack's s«Zoo)i— Nell leaning against bar, h., playing 
 ivith her revolver, rifle lyiny across bar. 
 
 Enter, Ebony, l., 1 e. 
 
 Ebony. I golly. Miss Nell, T just believe you naturally love detr 
 ar' oiin's, von'>e always foo in' with 'em. 
 
 Nell. 'J'hey are tin'" best friends I've got, Ebony. 
 
 Ebony. G "lly, ain't you 'Iraid of 'em? 
 
 N?U. Afraid? Ha! ha! (laughs) not mr.eh I ain't. Most girls 
 have tk^Us to olav with when they are small, bu: I never had, I nevei 
 
J^ CLAIM NrN-ETY-SIX. 
 
 had anything to .luiu'e my?elf ^vilh but o:nns, and revolver?, and 
 knives. I've grown to love tlieni — but how's Toomstone this morn- 
 ing — quiet? 
 
 Ebony, No sir I dey nre bndly flustprcated now, I tole yer. 
 
 Nell. Well, two murders in one ni^lit is enougli to excite even 
 Toomstone and all it's natives. 
 
 Enter, Bell, r., 2 e. 
 
 Bell. Toomstone seems unusually excited this morning. Nell. 
 what is the matter? 
 
 Nell. O! nothing, I guess. 
 
 Bell. Have you seen anytliing of Jerry, this morning? 
 
 Nell. No! {picks up rifle) but I'd like to. 
 
 Bell. He never came in at all last night. There must be some- 
 thing wrong. 1 can't help thinking there is some terrible calamity 
 about to beiall us, everything seems wrong this morning. 
 
 Enter, Offickk, l., 1 e. 
 
 Officer. Nell, you are my prisoner. 
 
 Bell. What? (recoil R. c. 
 
 Officer. Let me see your hands. (Nell holds out hand, he hand- 
 cuffs her) I arrest 3'ou for tlie murder of Julia Brandon. 
 
 Bell. O! Neli: Nell! has it really come to this. Did you do 
 that? 
 
 Nell. No! but 1 know who did, and I'll make it warm for theim 
 when I get out. 
 
 Bell. O ! don't take Nell away, don't, she never committed a crime 
 in her life; let her go, take me. 
 
 Officer. Madam, I am simply doing my duty. The charge of 
 murder is against iier, if she is innocent and can prove it, all welt 
 .and good, but I must take lier to the station house. 
 
 Ebony. I say, it's er shame, I golly, and I can lick yer too. 
 
 Officer. Come, let us be moving. {start l. 
 
 Bell. Good-by Bell, I'll be back soon. 
 
 Bell. O! Nell, I can't let you go (throws her arm around Nell) 
 alone, I shall go with you. 
 
 Officer p^^shes Bell aside and exit, l. with Nell. Bell seated 
 
 crying. 
 
 Ebony, {/olloroing Officer) Coward! coward! 'fraid to take any 
 Dodv of your size — why don't you take a man. Just tackle me, 1 
 gollj. I'll stay with you, Nell. (exit, l. 
 
 SCENE Il.^Street. 
 
 Enter, Major, l. e. 
 
 3Iaj. Be gad, sah, I can't say that I like this diabolical country, 
 they are too free with their "sticker;" dang a man that fights with a 
 knife anyhow. Why don't they choose something more modern like 
 tliis. (shows revolver) Be gad, there's "old never fail," just give me 
 a little gin and peppermint, and "old never fail" and I can lick all 
 the western desperates that get their washing done in this camp. 
 "(Je gad, I'm Major Dolittle, from Kentucky-, sah; used to own ona 
 
CLAni. NINETY-SIX. S5 
 
 hundred nig^iers. I sioti my nnnie with aii X, and be gad, I'll go 
 and get some gin and peppermint. {start, R. 
 
 Enter, Eboxv, e. e. 
 
 Ebony. 0-0-0 -o, etc. (crying verfj loud 
 
 Maj. UeWol there, g:id hoy, what'.* tlie matter? Say, I wouldn't 
 cry about it. (Y.Boyy cries londer) S ly, piel^aninny, don't take it 
 so to lieart. Brace up — come and go with me and get some gin and 
 peppermint, {pause) Wlia''.* the matter, anyway V 
 
 Ebony, (crying) Dey've done been gone and tooken my girl off to 
 de ius-up, I golly, 
 
 M"j' What's that; took her where? 
 
 Ebony, (crying) Down to de — de — de jua:-up. 
 
 Maj. I guess, be gad, that you mean tiie Lx'k-up, don't yon? 
 
 Ebony. Well. (ley's all de same, jug-up and lock-up, ain't dey ? 
 'I'liey've got her in jail anyhow. 
 
 Miij. Well, who is ihe girl that's in jail? ' 
 
 Ebony. AVh.v, our Nell, ! soily, and I'm goin' to p^et her out too, 
 
 J/"j. Gad boy, she's the sinie girl that u*ed to sell such diabolical 
 ni od gin and jieppermint down to the '"Gold Dust," ain't she? 
 
 Ebo .y. Dat',> de girl and now dev's got her in de jug-up. 
 
 yinj. I'm Major Dolittle, from Kentucky, sah — I'll go and get 
 S( me gin and peppermint, and help you gee the siil out. , 
 
 Eb< H'l. I go ly, boss, it you'll done do dat dls chile will be way 
 onten >igiit, now i done tole 3'er. 
 
 M ij. VV'ell, he gad I ov, I'll do it. You run down the street and 
 watnni' I come. (Eboxy eoiji, L.) Gad, I'll andnlate 'em ; (scarc/ies' 
 p( ckels \Y.\' re's my annihilator i* Come out here "old never fail." 
 (d aws r- volve>-) Be g;id, sah. you've got to wade tiiroiigh blood — 
 becau e I'm Major Dolittle, fron) Kentucky, sah, and I'll go and get 
 sonu^ gin and pe| permint. (starl k.) Gad, Major, you are gifted 
 wiiii an immt ne amount of courage. 
 
 Enter, Jennie, r. e., sees Major and tries to pass him hurriedly. 
 
 Hold on there! be gad, I believe I know you. 
 
 J. n. 1 don't allow strangers to accost me in the street. 
 
 Jhij. Well, be gad, I don't think ue a e strangers. Let me see 
 your hand, don't hold back, let's see your hand. ' 
 
 Jen. I don't know what you mean, but there's my hand. 
 
 Mu}. Oil! I thought that we were acquainted. My old slave 
 brand, I recognize that "S ', that stands for Slaves. Begad, I've 
 lonnd you at last, haven't I? 
 
 Jen. You are an entire stranger to me. Let louse of my hand, or 
 I shall call for assistance. 
 
 Maj. Be gad, I'm from Kentucky; yon don't work that dodge on 
 nie. Don't you suppose 1 know my old slaves? Especially, when 
 they lave the brand on their hands. O! 1 know you. Gad, I hate 
 niggers, 'si ecialiy runaway niggers; I've a great notion to take you 
 back to tlie plantation and set you to work. What made you run 
 away. 
 
 Jen. O I that life was too terrible, we couldn't stay ; but don't take 
 us back, we will do anything — anything but that, we have money 
 we will buy oiu- freedom — 
 
 Mdj, Gad, don't you know that the niffsers are free? 
 
36 CLAIM J^mETY-SIX. 
 
 Jen. But we will pay you anj'tliing you ask, if you will let us 
 alone — to do as we please. 
 
 31aj. Where's that nigger brother of yours. I'd like to see the 
 rascal. Be gad, I'd put a hole throimli that black heart of his, that 
 you could throw a Chinese bible tlii':":^' . ''omeout here "old never 
 fail." {dravjs revolver) I'll tell evir> one iiere in Toonistone, tliat 
 3^0u and your brother used to be slave> — runaway niggers, and you 
 used to belong to Major Dolittle, of Kentucky. Be gad, sah, I hate 
 niggers, 'specially runaway niggei's. I've a notion to shoit a hole 
 through both of your ears, so I will know you after thi*. 
 
 Jeri. O ! don't, please don't, you couldn't be that cruel. Let us 
 go and we will leave here and never cross j'onr path again. We have 
 been slaves, and bianded with the mark, which we shall carry to the 
 grave, but do not tell the miners that we were once slaves, don't be 
 so inhuman — 1 beg you — more — I iu)plore you — {about to kneel 
 
 Maj. Get up girl, I ain't no little tin God on wheels, you needn't 
 kneel to me — yovx can go, for I'm dry, I'm going to get some gin and 
 peppermint, be gad. I'll pay you and your brother a visit one of 
 these days, and then I will settle accounts with yon. {exit, r. 
 
 Jen. {draws dirk and slips after him ) Ah ! I could kill you — yes, 
 kill you. (pause) But no, there's been enough murder done in 
 ■Toomstone for one niglit — {looking r. ) but to be called "slave- 
 runaway nigger," to have that thrown in my face — I shall go ami 
 tell Guy and put him on his guard. {exit, u 
 
 SCENE III. — Mack's saloon, Bell seated K. c. Eboxy standing j.. 
 c, Bell crying. 
 
 EJiony. Now looky here, Mrs. Bell, don't you go fer to take on sn 
 'bout dis hear. I teli yer things will come out all right yet. Nell 
 never done gone kill no 'oman, now I done tole yer dat ar' gal did 
 never do dat, don't I know her? I'm de feller what kin git her 
 outen dat ar' old jng-up, and I golly, I'segoin' to do it too. I'll just 
 git 'er big long pole and put dat pole under dat jug-up and den jniU 
 down and dat will just turn dat jiig-up right upside down, den Mr. 
 Jug-up fall all to pieces and Miss Nell come out, and den we will tell 
 deni to go to de debil, and we will go to de "Gold Dust." 
 
 Bell. Why Ebony! that wouldn't do; you couldn't do that. 
 
 Ebony. Tes, I could tool Now 1 done tole yer dat a nigger can 
 Jo a good deal, and den dat feller froui Kaintuciv' done told me he'd 
 help. Goin' to git dat gal outen dat jug-up slio'. 
 
 Uell. But Ebony, if Nell escapes, that will go to prove that she 
 did kill Mrs. Brandon, and then the Regulators would soon be after 
 her — we must do all we cm to turn suspicion away from her. Ebony, 
 we must work to get proof of her innocence, we nuist lind out who 
 made the charge against her. Who do you suppose did, Ebou}^ ? 
 
 Ebony. 1 golly, you'se got me clean outen sight, but maybe I can 
 done tind out. 
 
 liell. If we could find out that — tlien we would have something 
 to work on, a clue to go by, but it certainly was made for revenge 
 by some enemy of her's. 
 
 Ebony. Dat's so, 1 golly, I wish I had hold of dat feller, I'd jerk 
 forty-eleven diflerent kinds of stuffing outen him. 
 
 £ell. 1 didn't know that she had an enemy; she was a favorite 
 with every one in Tnomstoiie. 
 , JEbony. 'Specially me, I golly. 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 
 
 55 
 
 Bell. She has said something or done something that has niade 
 someone mad at her, and Lbat person has brought this charge agamst 
 her through m;ilice. , ,. ^,, , , . ^ 
 
 ^6rm?/. I golly, if I had him, I'd "mallet" him, I'd make him 
 think he was hoo-dood, sho'. " , i i. i 
 
 Beil. All this trouble and excitement is causing my head to acne 
 and whirl so that I do not know what to do, or which way to turn. 
 Ol Nell! Nell! why did this trouble have Lo cjiiie up? 
 
 {breaking down ^ 
 
 Eh.nni. 1 .--olir, I knows wh it I'm goin' to do. I'm goin' to have 
 a -(o I crv airbv'inyself, an<l d it's w.iat you'd better do too, and den 
 ynu will "leel betier. {tunmuj) 1 golly, dis nigger'seyes are leakm 
 iiow ^^^'*' ^• 
 
 n'dl. I don't know but Ebony is giving me good advice, and I 
 wdl not give way as long as I can keep from it. I must keep my, 
 courage iip now, if I jjossiblv can. Jerry is in some trouble 1 know 
 or he'would have been here long before this. If he has done wliati 
 overlieanl him and Guy Lester planning to do yesterday, and he is 
 lound our, and Xell in jail for a crime she never t-o'^^i'tted— U . wnar 
 ^hall I do— no one to advise me— no one to help me. O I JNell ! JNeii . 
 
 {crying ! 
 
 CUBTAIN. 
 
 END OP ACT IV. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 SCENE I—Street. Enter, Mack and Guy from l. e., with Nell,| 
 ■ v-hose hands are lied behind her, handkerchief tied over her mouth, 
 she pulls back, etc— business. 
 
 Mack. Come on! come on ! There's no use to pull back, for 
 vou've'eot to go with us; hold on to her, Guy. 
 
 Gwi. It won't do you any good to struggle, for you've got to go, 
 von know too much about us. 
 ' Uack. We will take good care of you, Nell. , 
 
 'dun Yes and take good caie that you don't tell any one what 
 yuu know too. Huirv up Mack, we haven't any time to fool away, 
 here, some one may see us ; if she won't walk, carry her. 
 
 ' ({/iey exit, R., dragmg Nell with them 
 
 Enter, Major, l. e. 
 
 Mai Well be o'ad, I'm stumped, the "Gold Dust" is shut up and 
 I Min't o-ot anv »in Juid peppermint; wonder what's got the matter 
 vlt knnstone^anyway^ Begad, I'm Major Dolittle, fvom Ken- 
 tnckv and I'll have gin and peppermint or blood. Come out here 
 ''old lUver fall." (draws revolver 
 
 Enter, Ebony, l. e., excited. 
 
 Fhmw O' boss! boss! what you'se think? Dey've done gon? 
 .nfbSen into de .iug-up and carried Miss Nell.. off up the mouu. 
 
SS CLAIM I^INETY-SIX. 
 
 tain alonpj with Charley Grey's dust. For de good Lo'd sakes I— I 
 -I-I golly ! 
 
 Mtjj. Well, be gad, sah, I'll go and get soin.?gln an 1 peppermint, 
 and we will go and get her. I w;uit to go up on tlie niountiiin any- 
 vvaj'-, got a runaway nigger up tliere that I want to .see. We will 
 talie "old never fail," and b;? gad, sah, we will shoot out a patli 
 through them and get tlie girl. We wi 1 have her if we have to wade 
 through blood, "old never fail" is always in the ring. I'll go and 
 get Rome gin and peppermint, and then we'll go. 
 
 Ebony. Say, bos<, can't yon get her by yourself? I don't believe 
 I want to go up dar'— I golly, I don't. 
 
 Maj. What's the matter iiiggvr, 'fraid? 
 
 Ebony, X—n— no— ain't 'fraid, but 1 golly, I'm sick. 
 
 Maj. Be gad, you needn't be afraid, look'at "old never fail." 
 
 Ebony. Say, boss, we want to all stay together. 
 
 Maj. Of course we do, you and me and "old never fail." Gad, 
 boy, we will sliow 'ein. I'll get the gin and peppermint. 
 
 Ebony. Say, boss, is there goin' to be any knockin'sdown in this? 
 
 Maj. Be gad, sah, I'm IVlajor Dolittle, from Kentucky — 
 
 Ebony. Say, I golly, we want to all stay together now? 
 
 Maj. Why, of course we do! You run on down the street and I'll 
 go and get the gin and pe[)permint, and then we will go. 
 
 Ebony, {start K.) We'll show 'em I golly; {turns) we want to all 
 stay together boss, all stay together. [exit, r. 
 
 Maj. Yes, we'll all stay together; come out here "old never fail." 
 
 {flourishes revolver 
 
 Enter, Mack, l. k. 
 
 Muck. Hello I there Major, how goes the battle? 
 
 Maj. Say, Landlord, be gad, s:di, do you know a fellow by the 
 name of Guy I>ester? 
 
 Mack. Can't say that I do. Why? 
 
 Maj. Be gad, sah, I'd like to see him; he's a runaway nigger — 
 ased to be one of my slaves before the war. He and his sister lar 
 away from me; curse 'em. They've got my brand on their liands 
 Be gad, sah, if 1 tlntl him, me and "old never fail" proposes toanihi- 
 late him, sah, we'll blow a hole througli his diabolical heart that you 
 can throw a Chinese bible through. W'e are looking for blood — me 
 and "old never lail", and be gad, sah, I'll go and get soaie gin and 
 peppermint. {exit, r. 
 
 Mack. Thunder! luck's coming my way at la^t, that's what 1 call 
 information worth something. I always thought Lester had a secret, 
 and at last I've found it out. He called me slave driver — nigger 
 whipper, and now then I'll be even with him — I'll call him "slave- 
 runaway nigger," I'll throw that in his face, curse him. (exit, k. 
 
 SCENE II. — Cave in the Mountain. 
 
 Guy r. Enter, Jenxie, l. e. 
 
 Jen., (rnns to Guy) O ! Guy ! Guy ! 
 
 Guy. What is the matter, Jennie, tell me quick, what have you 
 seen or heard? 
 Jen. We will have to leave — ilajor Dolittle is here — in Toorastone, 
 Guy. Well, what of that, he don't know us. 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIX. S9 
 
 Jen. O ! be does — he does, he stopped me on the street, recognized 
 me, called me a slave — a runaway nio^ger. O ! Guy, I could hardly 
 keep from killing him. He said he would soon pay you a visit and 
 settle accounts with you — _ _ , 
 
 Guy. Let him, curse him, lie will never pay another man a visit. 
 When he hunts Guy Lester, he will have hiuited up his last man. 
 We both wear his mark and curse him, he shall wear mine — Jennie, 
 you are excited, go in and bring Nell to this room. See that she 
 tloes not escape — I must go and see if ^lack is coming. 
 
 Jen. Are we always to liear tlie words "slave-runaway niggers?" 
 
 {ezit, R. 
 
 Guij. No 1 by heavens wt-'ll not, I'll not be hounded down by him, 
 curse him. (exit, l. 
 
 Enter, Jennie and J^Khh, from r. e,, Xell hound by chain — Jennie 
 fastens chain to rock. 
 
 Jen. You're a beauty, you are, and you've got yourself in a nice 
 fix too, haven't you ? Maybe you will learn toleto:her people's busi- 
 ness alone after this — see what you've got yourself into by your 
 meddling. O! j'ou are a siveet one. 
 
 Nell. If these chains Avere oft' of me and I had my rirte, you 
 wouldn't talk that way to me, I'd put a liole through that treacher- 
 ous heart of yours. 
 
 Jen. Yes ''if I" Wiiy don't you break the chains. Don't tell me 
 I'm treaclierous, you are the one that will have to be Avatched, you 
 are the one that is treacherous. Who started the Regulators after us? 
 Why you did. 
 
 Nell. No I didn't either, but if I ever get out of tliis I will, you 
 can bet your du?t on tliat. , 
 
 •/en. Well, I'll take^ood care that you never get out alive. i 
 
 Nell. Ah I you wouldn't kill anybody, you haven't got tlie courage 
 — it takes courage to kill peopk — you and that sneaking brother of 
 yours — both together — haven't the courage of a rag doll. 
 
 Jen. Shut up, don't provoke me too far or I'll — I'll — (draws dirk) 
 I'll cut that throat of yours. 
 
 Nell. Ah! go away, you tire me — run down to your play-liouse, 
 sissy, and play with your dolls. 
 
 Jen. You'll never say that aualn. 
 
 [rai.ses kirk and adrances about to strike 
 
 Enter, Mack, I{., 2 e. 
 
 Mack. Hold on tliere, wliat the thunder are you trying to do? 
 Drop that knife. 
 
 Jen. I'll kill her! 
 
 Mack. No I you won't either, I've got something to say about 
 thai, put up that "sticker." 
 
 Nell. Let that coward alone, she won't hurt anybody. 
 
 Muck. Shut up Nell, this has gone far enough. Where is Guy, 
 Jennie? 
 
 Jen. I don't know, hunt him up if you want him. 
 
 Mack. I will, and I'll surprise him when 1 do find him, too. 
 I've a little account to settle with him and you too. You've called 
 Die slave-driver and nigger whii)per long enough, now then I'll ('■«'; 
 
JtU CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 
 
 even with yoii both. I've found you out — I know you — yon are 
 octoroons — slaves — runaway niggers — you have the slave brand on 
 your hands. 
 
 Jennie raises dager and rushes upon ]\[acic, strikes him, he staggers 
 back, she striken again, he falls c, she strikes again. 
 
 Enter, Guy, l. e. 
 
 Guy. Jennie! Jennie! heavens girl, what have you done? 
 
 Jen. O! Guy, I've killed him — he called us slaves, runaway nig- 
 gers — 
 
 Guy. We have no tiinr; for explanations, the Regulators are after 
 us — almost upon us. Tliis country is too warm i'or us, we must 
 leave. Come! hurry! tliey are just comhig down the mountain; 
 hurry girl or we will be talven. 
 
 Nell. Cowards! cowards! I'll shoot both of you yet. 
 
 Jennie runs back to Nell, raises dirk to strike, Gvy jerks her out r. 
 
 Ebony, (out l.) Now boss, we want to all stay together. ! 
 
 Maj. (out L.) Come out heie 'old never tail," Where's the gin and 
 peppermint? Here it is, now be gad, let'sgo. (calls) Don't shoot, 
 don't shoot, we're IrlcndS; we're friends, etc. 
 
 Enter, Ebony ajul Majoi:, l, e., Majok pushing Ebony in, trying to 
 hide behind him. 
 
 Ebony. I golly, boss, let's all stay together. 
 
 Maj. Don't shoot, don't shoot, be gad, I'll take some gin and 
 pepperment.' {sees Mack on stage, points revolver over Ebony's 
 shoulder) Throw up your hands, be gad, sah, "old never fail" has 
 got the drop on you. 
 
 Nell, (calls) H-bony! 
 
 Ebony. 1 gody. Miss Nell, dat you? [runs to her 
 
 Maj. (goes to Nkll) Wed, be uad, sah, j^ou're prettv wtdl tied 
 upj, ain't you? Jlere, take some gin and pe[)permiiit, and I'll soon 
 get you loose. (unlocks chains, Nell rises 
 
 Maj. [goes to Mack) Now then, be gad, if you are dead, say so, 
 and if you ain't, wliy lake some gin and peppermint. 
 
 (kneels over Mack 
 
 Ebony. I golly. Miss Nell, I done thought that you'se clear outen 
 sight, now I done told yer I did. 
 
 Nell. So did I, Ebony, j 
 
 Mack, (calls) Nell! 
 
 Maj. Be gad, landlord, you ain't dead yet, are you? Here, take 
 some more gin and peppermint. [business 
 
 Mack. Nell! come here. (Nell gfoes c.) Don't hold anything 
 against me, Nell, will you? 
 
 Nell. Well ^Slack, you've treated me badly — 
 
 Mack. I J<now 1 have, Nell, but j'Ou'U forgive me, won't you? 
 I am dying Nell, and I want to tell you sometliing. Listen, Nell, 
 n)y name is Fred Eldair; my oldest brother Joe, left Boston and 
 eame to the West — to Toomstone — you knew him as Sacramento Joe. 
 1 didn't know he was mv brotlier until f had killed him — (stops 
 
CLAIM NINETY-SIX. il 
 
 Moj. Here, take some more of the gin and peppermint. 
 
 {business 
 
 Made. While I was in Boston, I was casliior in Arthur Brandon's 
 bank — !ie detected me ia steiiling- from him, but as I was young, lie 
 lei't me go free, and in return for liis kindness toward me, I stole his 
 child. Tiie ci)ild was named Grade; she was then about two years 
 old — I fled to the Soutli with her, and tlien West— well, you know 
 the rest, Nell— all but this— the child I stole from Arthur Brandon 
 Was you, Nell — Arthiir Brandon is your lather. 
 
 {sinks back on stage 
 
 Ebony. I golly, if dat don't beat the debil ! 
 
 Maj.' Weli, be gad, I should say so, and the gin and peppermint 
 IS all gone, let's go to Toomstone and get some more. | 
 
 Nell, nut, can we take him with us? 
 
 Maj. I'm Major Dolittle, from Kentucky, sah, and be gad, I'll 
 try. (they raise Mack ?(p) I j-ign my name with anX, and be gad, 
 i\ e will get some more gin and peppermint. (exeunt, u 
 
 SCENE //f.— Mack's saloon. 
 
 Enter, Major and Nell, l,, 3 e.. Bell, r. e. 
 
 fell. O ! Nell ! Nell ! I am so glad to have you back again ! 
 
 3Iaj. {behind bar) Gad, if I could tind that gin and peppermint. 
 
 Nell. 1 told you I'd soon be back, Bell. 
 
 Bell. A.iid Jerry? Have you seen anything of him? 
 
 Nell. Try not to think about that Bell, he is— he will never come; 
 lack— 
 
 Bell. Is he — he is not — not — 
 
 Nell. Yes, Bell, he is dead; wo tiied to bring him down the^ 
 U'.oiuitain, but he dietl before we got half way. 
 
 M,tj. Yes, the gin and peppermint give out. If that had held 
 out, we'd got him here all riglit. (Bkll ?oecj)s 
 
 Nell. Don't grieve about it Bell, it's better that he should be dead, 
 lie \\as a murderer, for he killed old Joe, and Joe was his brother, 
 lie told me the history of his life before he died— he told me that 
 Artlinr Brandon was inv father, and he has all of the proofs, we just 
 came trom my latiic.'s house; and Bell, we are to leave Toomstoue 
 to-morrow forever, and you are going with us. 
 
 Bell. 01 Nell, you are too good and kind, I can not express my 
 thanks in words, I — I — I — I don't know what to do. 
 
 Maj. Come up and take some gin and peppermint witli me. 
 
 Enter, Charley, l. e. 
 
 Chas. Ah ! Nell, back in the "Gold Dust" again, alive and well I 
 see — Ah! good-morning. Bell. 
 
 NeU. Yes, Charley, back again — how did the dust and the papers 
 turn out, all right? 
 
 Chas. Yes, "all right, the dust was all there, just to the ounce, 
 and the papers for "Claim 96" were all right too. i heard you were 
 going to leave in the morning, so I came around to try to thank you 
 for the good turn you done me by returning the dust and papers. 
 
 Nell.^ Don't thank me, thank the Major ; if it hadn't been for him, 
 I would still be a prisoner on the mountain. 
 
 Chas. Well. Major — 
 
if2 CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 
 
 Maj. Re gad, .sah. you needirt tliniik ine, "old never fail" is the 
 one tli.-it done the work. I'm Major Dolittle, from Kentucky, sah, 
 jonie up and take some ^in and i>ei)perinint with me and "old never 
 fail." 
 
 Nell. I don't suppose that we could persuade you to go back to 
 the Prist with us, Charley? 
 
 C'has. .\o! Nell, I expect to leave the West some time, but not 
 now. I liave too much at stake to leave now. I shall work "Claim 
 06" for all she is worth — I may go to the East in a year, or may be 
 sooner, but not novv — and you Bell, I suppose that you — 
 
 Bell. Yes, I'm to go wi h Nell. She says I must, and I suppose 
 I shall have too. She has been my best friend, and I have tried to 
 be a friend to her — 
 
 Nell. And you have su ceeded too. Bell. 
 
 Chas, And you Major, I suppose you are going to — 
 
 Maj. I'm going to 'tend bar in the "Gold Dust" be gad, sab. 
 Come up and have some gin and peppermint. 
 
 Chas. Well, it seems as if everything is all ready fori'ou to make 
 an earlv start in the morninir — 
 
 Enter, Ebony, l. k. 
 
 Ebony. Well, hold on, I golly, here's me \'et — if you'se all goin' 
 away, what's goin' to come o' me? What am I goin' to do? Are 
 \ou done goin' to leave me back here to be hoo-dooed? What you 
 goin' to do witli dis chile? 
 
 MnJ. Give him some gin and peppermint, be gad, sah. 
 
 Nell. V/liat do you want us to do with you. Ebony? 
 
 Ebony. I golly, I don't know Miss Nell, does you? 
 
 Nell. Do you want to go with us? 
 
 Ebony. 1 golly, can 1 ? 
 
 Nell. Yes. if you want too. 
 
 Ebo)i;i. Whoop : {yells) dis chile's done outen sight novv, I done 
 tole yer. 
 
 Mdj. Andsoamland "old never fail," and be gad, sah, we'll 
 t;ik!^. some gin and peppermint. {drinks 
 
 Nell. Euony, you've done me several good turns, and if you 
 wa^'nt -o iiuicli on iIk; tirunette order, I'd kiss j'ou. 
 
 Maj. [comes from behindhiir, bottle in hand) Well, be gad,' sah, 
 here's one a shade liguter— I'm Major Dolittle, from Kentucky, sah ; 
 used to own one lutadred niggors. 1 sigii my iiauie witu an X, and 
 be gad, sah, I'll lake som.^, gui an 1 peppermint. {drinks 
 
 Ma JOE c. Nell l. c. 
 
 Charley r. Eboxy r. c. Bell l. 
 
 CVBTAIN. 
 
NEW PLAYS. 
 
 I'^irioeii Cciiti>> I'^acli Uiilei^s Odicrwii^c j^larUed. 
 
 -OR. 
 
 Around the Horn 
 
 A Farce-Comedy in 4 acts. 4 male, 2 female characters. 
 
 An ocean trip from San Francisco to New York 
 
 causes an immense amount of fun. 
 
 COST UMES—MODEBN, 
 
 TIME OF PLAYING— TWO HOURS. 
 
 SYNOPSIS. 
 
 ACT r.--r'?Kne 1st. Cabin of the ocean steamer Mary Jane — Passensor? enmingr on 
 board — Peter and Peleg meet— Isabel and Captain— Peleg and his Billow— a patent pin- 
 cusliion — Isabel's trouble — '"Let's be gay and happy stilt" — Peter gives his first ex- 
 perience on board of a ship — "I never vas so sick in mine life" — Kate, Isabel and 
 the Captain — Peleg and Kate— Peleg kisses the cook— how she accepted his advances 
 — "Mine Got in Himmel, I finds me somedings in mine room" — Hanibal, the darkey 
 — a general ruption— "Hi gollyl see 'em." 
 
 ACT IT.— Scene 1st, Isabel and the Captain— Pele» afraid he is in the way— it 
 reminds him of the time he went sparking Sail — Kate and Peleg — Ilanibal comes in — 
 disgust of P^leg— "Mere nefer was a posey flower mit<iadtstickers"-Peleg and Peter sea 
 sick— Hanibal intenupts love scene between Peleg and Kate. 
 
 ACT III. — Scene 1st. Hanibal and Peter — "Oh! father, you signed my death war- 
 rant when you signed your will" — Peter relates his courting experience— Peleg in love- 
 Peter's ad\-ice to the Captain— Peleg jealous of Peter. 
 
 ACT IV.— Isabel tells the Captain the conditions of her father's will— The Cap- 
 tain's declaration — "I must ohey my father!" — The quarrel between Peter and Peleg, 
 in which Hanibal appears — "(ilor^- mit der stars und stripes and the American 
 eagle — and de cullud population "-Kate and the Captain — Kate tells a secret— Captain's 
 despair — Kate endeivors to make Peleg propose, in which she succeeds as Ilanibal ap- 
 pears — Peter's opini(m of mudder-bj--laws—]sabelle tells the Captain she is to many 
 Peter Polstine — Peter — "Dot vas me" — the despair of Isabelle when she discovers who 
 Peter is — Peter refuses to marry Isabelle, tor my wife's name will be Katrina — mine 
 little Shermany gal — Isabelle accepts the Captain— Kate and Peleg — matrimony — • 
 ioabl« wedding when the Mai7 Jane reaches port. PRICE 25 C£NTS> 
 
Every Amateur wants a copy, and should 
 order at once. 
 
 NTS TO 
 
 BY A. D. AMES. 
 
 A boolv of usoful information for Amateurs and others, written 
 
 pressl}' for those who are giving public entertainments — and 
 
 who wisli to make their efforts successful — containing 
 
 much information never before given. Mr. Ames 
 
 has had many years experience, and in 
 
 this work gives many hints which 
 
 cannot fail to be of great 
 
 benefit to all. 
 
 Do yon wish to know How to act? 
 
 Do you wish to know IIow to make up? 
 
 Do yon wish to know How to make fuses? 
 
 Do you wish to know How to be prompted? 
 
 Do you wish to know How to imitate clouds? 
 
 Do you wish to know How to imitate waves? 
 Do you wish to know How to make thunder? 
 Do you wish to know How to produce snow? 
 Do you wish to know How to articulate? 
 
 Do you wish to know How to make lightning? 
 
 Do you wish to know How to produce a crash? 
 Do yoii wish to know tlow to make a wind-storm? 
 
 Do you wish to know How to be successful on the stage? 
 
 Do you wish to Know 'J'he ellects of the drama on the mind? 
 Do you wish to know How to assign parts successfully? 
 Do you wish to know The duties of the property man? 
 Do you wish to know How ot arrange nuisic for plays? 
 Do you wish to know Many hinls about the stage? 
 
 Do you M Ish to k?iow How to form a dramatic club' 
 Do you v.ish to know The duty of the prompter? 
 
 Do you wish to know How to conduct I'ehcarsals? 
 
 Do you wish to know The best method for studying? 
 Do you wish to know How to make a stage lauL':li ? 
 
 Do j'ou wish to know How to burn a C(*lored fire? 
 Do yon wish to know How to make a rain storm? 
 
 Do 5^ou wish to know A short history of tlie drama? 
 Do you wisli to know All about scene painting? 
 Do you wish to know Macready's method for acting? 
 
 If you wish to know the above, read Hints to Amateurs, it will be 
 sent you for 15 cents per copy. 
 
THE ADVENTURESS; 
 
 —OR — 
 
 Lad yEvelyn'sTriu mph 
 
 A drama in 4 acts by Yv\ Bert Emeisoii, for 8 male 
 and 6 female characters. Costumes modern. Time of 
 performance 1 hour and 40 minuter. 
 
 SYNOPSIS. 
 
 ACT I.— Home of Sir Harold Courtily. 
 
 Evelyn, Sir Ilarold's second wife. A happy home. "I'm the happiest man in all 
 England." The letter from Calcutta. "Oh'. Heaven's, it is from Jjouisa, my wife 
 whom 1 supposed was lost in that steam boat accident, three years aso." "My poor 
 Eva, this is iTiaildeniiig." Susan and Pete overhears Sir Harold rending the letter. 
 "We'll help Lady EveljTi." Arrival of i'rank Foster, the new Secretary. The solilo- 
 quy. "I'll have no mercy." 
 
 Belle and ].eo. "A father's trouble." Sir Harold and Lady Eva. "No one shall 
 partus." Pete thinks it time to help Sir Harold. Pete steals the Calcutta letter and 
 gives to Lady Evelyn. Her restdve ai.d plan to unmask the plotters. Erauk Eoster 
 icomes to Lady Evelyn's aid and sends for his brother Ciiarley. 
 
 ACT II.-A Plaimly Furnislied Room at a Hotel. 
 
 Joe Rice and ii,o.-e, the Adventuress, who passes herself oil for Harold's first wif". 
 Joe's soliloquy. "So I am to impersonate Dr. Murphy." Interview between Sir 
 ilarold and br. Murphy. Kose as an eaves-dropper. Susan and Pete overhears the 
 plot to ruin Lady Evelyn. Eva's note to Sir Haiold, "1 have read theO.ilcutta letter." 
 Susan and Pete. Pete nearly talked to death by an old maid. Leo and Bell's suspi- 
 cions of Louisa— "She is not our nmthor." Erank Ei'srer discovers in Lady Louisahis 
 llost wife — I'll be revenged for all the misery she has caused me. 
 
 ACT III.-A Reception Room. 
 
 Arrival of Lady Evelyn disguised as Chirley Foster. Meeting of Sir Harold and 
 Charley— 'Thank Uod ho did not recognize me." The q'.iarrel between Su-ian and 
 Pete, in which Pete ; omes oft' second best. Dr. Murphy nnd llose, the r.idnigh? ap- 
 pointment. Frank Foster overhears the plotters — "I will give you t.i merriest sur- 
 prise you ever had." 
 
 ACT IV.-"Woods Scene. 
 
 Mi Inight. Joe awaits the coming of Kose, who surprises 1 iin. Arrival of Charley— 
 "Lady Louisa, yuurgaraeis up, 1 know you as iio,-.e, the Ad,i.'n;uross." An attempt to 
 murder Charley, fi-ustrated by Pete, Sir Harold, Leo, Belle and officers arrive ou the 
 scene. Rose and Joe prisoner's. Charley throws off disguise — "Harold, don't you 
 Enow me." Frank Harris confronts Roie, his wife. "Lost! lost! but tho Adventure-s 
 will die game." Death of itose. The double wedding. Susan and the Puliceiuan. 
 A happy ending, as Lady Evelyn t. iumphs over Rose, th3 Adventuress. 
 
 Price 15 c. 
 
 A Matchmaking Father. 
 
 A Farce in 1 act by Sbettle and George, for 2 male 
 and 2 female characters. The matchmak ng father has 
 two daughters who are e : pensive in dress, etc., and it 
 seems to be the only desire of his life to get them "off his 
 hands." He at last succeeds, and the farce tells how he 
 does it Costumes modern. Time— 30 minutes. Price loo 
 
^Gyp, the Heiress ;4^ 
 
 OR, 
 
 The Dead Witness. 
 
 A Drama in 4 acts by Len Ware, for 5 male and 4 female 
 characters. 
 
 The cast contains a good villain, a soubrette, a chinaman; 
 
 a "deown East" aunt, and an insurance agent 
 
 make up the rest. 
 
 Costumes to suit characters. 
 S YT^OPSIS OF EVENTS. 
 
 ACT I.— Drav/ing-room of Oscar Royalton, Silver City, Nevada. 
 
 Aunt Rachel — Osoars Aunt, from down East — Hezekiah Hopeful,! 
 n tramp — "No miistaeli near me" — Gyp — a-b-c — Thornton tlie 
 Villain — A .snored trust — Royalton depart for the East — Clara and 
 'J'liornioii — He demands the papers — "I'll gnard them with my life 
 — Supposed murder of Clara and Hezekiah — "Heavens! I'm a 
 nuinlerer — I'll burn the house and conceal my crime — Exciting tire 
 ecene. 
 
 ACT II.— Hop Sing's Laundry. 
 
 "fakemquick — A live Insurance man — Rachel and Gyj) — Hop Sing 
 and Rachel — The fiii'lit— 'I'akemquick on hand — Sister Carmeta re- 
 veals a secret to Gyp and Rachel — Thornton's demand of Hop Sing, 
 his ai complice — The refusid — An attempt to murder Hop Sing — 
 'J'lie Dead Witness appears. 
 
 ACT III.— Thornton's Law Ofl&ce. 
 
 Hezekiah the tramp, secures a position in Thornton's office — 
 'J'aki'UKiuick — Hezekiali reveals to Gyp who her enemy is — "Trust me 
 ■ I'll get your fortune for you" — Ilezekiah's novel — Sister Carmeta — 
 'I'm licre to avenge the death of Clara Royalton" — The shot — I am 
 the Dead ^Vitness — "A colt revolver" — Oscar disguised — A game of 
 cards — "Discovered" — Oath of vengeance— Hezekiah holds both 
 bovvers. 
 
 ACT IV.— Same Scene as Act III. 
 Ivove scene between Hezekiah and Rachel — Proposal — Two notes 
 — Thoi-iuon shot by Hop Sing — Oscar in disguise — Clara is the Dead 
 "Witness, wiio escaped death in the burning house — Oscar throws oft 
 (Msgnise and introduces Gyp as his wife — Death of Thornton — Devils 
 toast — Hezekiah presents papers to prove Gyp's inheritance and 
 is ready for matrimony — Aunt Rachel finally surrenders and all are 
 liapi)y. 
 
 Time of playing 1 hour and 40 minutes. Price 25 Cents, 
 
Santa Claus' Daughter. 
 
 A Musical 
 
 Christmas Burlesque 
 
 In Two Acts, 
 
 By Everett Elliott and F. W. Hardcastle for 13 characters 
 A new and sparkling Christmas Burlesque, 
 
 Introducing Songs. Marches and many 
 New and Brilliant Witticisms. 
 
 SYNOPSIS OF EVENTS. 
 
 ACT I.— Scene, North Pole Snow Castle. Santa Claus' home. Song of the Snow- 
 fairies. Gussie and the Fairies. Santa Claus preparing for his "night out." The 
 "Directory." "The Dude." Kitty wants to move to the land of mortals, where men 
 are plenty. Santa Claus' advice. Song by Santa Claus and family, "A Model Man." 
 Gussie, "That's clevah, deucedly clevah doneher no?" Gussie's attempt to sing. 
 Chestnut bell. Santa Claus' promise to bring Kitty a man. Astonishment at Kitty's 
 rash request. Caught out on a foul. "I'll bring her a boodler. a Farmer,s Alliance 
 man," anything to disgust her with the whole race. Song — Sleighing sotig. Depar- 
 ture of Santa Claus for the land of mortals, in his sleigh and fleet-footed reindeers. 
 
 ACT. II.— Return of Santa Claus, with an Irish Paddy. Santa Cl.'m-- imd Gussie 
 witness unseen, the meeting of Kitty and "her man." "Do yez cbf'\'' .^' am, and play 
 on the type-writer." Song by Kitty, "The Pleasure of Catching ;■ .\inn." The i>ro- 
 posal. "The could weather will make yez a widdy before ycz married, so it will." 
 Santa Claus' despair at Kitty's acceptance of O'Rourke. Gussie has an idea. O'Rourke 
 declared King or the North Pole. Coronation song. March by Fairies and Holidays. 
 "The last ton of coal which broke the camels back." O'Rourke ascends the throne. 
 Cigarette or two. Kitty resolves to reform O'Rourke. Tableau. Erin appears. 
 Her appeal in behalf of the Irish girls, beats the world and Kitty isn't in it. 
 Kitty undecided whether to go with O'Rourke or remain. Tableau. Curtain. 
 
 Just the thing for a Christmas entertainment, or will 
 make a good after-picc«. Can use as many Fairies and 
 Holidays in the chorus as the stage will accommodate. 
 Time of performance 45 minutes. Price 15 Cents. 
 
 Order a copy of 
 
 Ames Publishing Co,, 
 
 Lock Box, 152, - - Clvde, Ohio. 
 
-OR- 
 
 Con O'Rasfen's Seeret. 
 
 An Irish drama in 3 acts by Bernard F. Moore, 
 for 5 male and 4 female characters. Costumes to suit 
 characters. Time of performance 1 hour and 45 minutes. 
 
 SYNOPSIS OF EVENTS. 
 ACT I.-Home of Mrs. O'Kelley. 
 
 Scene /.— "The last Rose of Summer." Con and Maureen. The secret. A love 
 sr-ene iiiterrur>ted by Xorah O'Kelley. The letter, and appointment to meet at the 
 ruined Chapel. Murty Tobin, an eavesdropper. Murf.y delivers Sajare Corrigan's 
 message. How Norah received it. Maureen and Murty. Arrival of Con in time to 
 Iirevent Murty from kissing his sweatheart. Maureen faints and Con takes advantage 
 au'l steals a kiss. 
 
 Scene JJ. — Murty informs hi'' mister of the met^ting at the Chapel. They arrange 
 to kill Frank and abikiet Norah. Con's opinion of Marty and his master. Bob 
 Jackscn, the detective and (^on decides to search the ol<l mil'. Maureen and Murty. 
 The (piarrel. The attempt to nhduct Alaurcen, Con to the rescue. 
 
 Scene II f. — The Cliapel at midnight. The Sfpnre and Murty, unseen witnesses of the 
 meeting of Frank and Nor.ih. Attempted muider and th'j abduction of Norah. _ Con 
 and iJob discover Frank, "Heaven helpNoruh, lor she is in the hands of her enemies." 
 
 ACT Il.-Same as Act I. 
 
 Scene I. — Home of Mrs. O'Kelley. Arrival of Con.' Maureen and Con. the mysterv 
 of the ol(l mill. Squire Corrigan and Mrs. O'Kelley. The demand for Norah' s hand 
 in marriMge and refusal. The nT^rtgage. "(iod help me, I consent" 
 
 Scene 11. — Squii e Corrigan and jMurty. The lost letter. Con and Frank, "We'll visit 
 tlu- old mill to-night." 
 
 Scene III. — Haunted mill. Mrs. Corrigan, a prisoner in the mill. Squire Corrigan 
 and .Murty visit the prisoner, another dose of poison. A trap door. Squire Corrigan 
 t hi o-is Murty down through the trap dojr. "Cur.-e him, he is out of my way." In- 
 terview between Squire Corrigan and Norah, who he has locked into the haunted mill. 
 N(u-ah's consent to be the Sfpiire's wife, to save her mother. The raid on the hauntcl 
 mil!. Murty discovered and released, he reveals the secrets of the mill, Meeting ^ 
 Mrs. Corrigan and her brother. 
 
 ACT Ill.-Same as Act I. 
 
 Scene /.—Return of Norah. iMother and daughter meet. l"'rank and Norah, disp: 
 of Frank, on hearing of Norah's intended marriage with the Squire. "Oh! God, my| 
 life is wrecked forever." 
 
 Scene //.—Murty turns State witness. The mortgage illegal. Frank D.alton. Con's 
 little scheme. Alaureen and Con, the secret revealed. Squire Corrigan and the 
 I'riest. 
 
 Scene ///.—Norah and her mother. "The hour approaches." Arrival nf the Squire 
 and Priest. The marriage interrupted. Mrs. Corrigan and .Murty, unbidden guests. 
 Tiie disguised Priest. "T'he game is up, I've lost all." h double wedding, cotnplcti'" 
 the happine.-s of Frank and Norah, Con and Maureen. Price 15c 
 
 II 
 
 Cleveland's Reception Party, 
 
 A Farce in 1 act by George W. Williams, for 5 male '; 
 and 3 female characters. A funny little piece which will - 
 please wherever presented. Costumes to suit characters. 
 Time of performance 30 minutes. Price 15o. 
 
9^" 
 
 ^ 
 
 Ames' Plays — G antinuBii. 
 
 Comedies Continued. 
 
 Not Such a Fnol as He Looks 6 
 
 Our Diiugluers 8 
 
 Pug and the Biibj' 5 
 
 Passions 8 
 
 Prof. Jarnos' Experience 
 
 Teachinsf Country School 4 
 
 Rags and Bottles 4 
 
 Scale with Sharps and Flats.. 3 
 
 Solon Shingle 14 
 
 Two i3ad Boys: 7 
 
 The Biter Bit 3 
 
 The Cigarette 4 
 
 ?2,000 R>iward 2 
 
 TRAGEDIES. 
 
 The Serf 6 
 
 126 
 26,) 
 114 
 
 2(J4 
 
 219 
 23'. I 
 221 
 
 2iJ2 
 ST 
 131 
 240 
 
 16 
 
 FARCES & COMEDIETTA S. 
 
 129 Aar-u-ag-oos 2 1 
 
 132 Actor and Seryant : 1 1 
 
 2M) A Colonel's M'siiap .) II 
 
 12 A Capita Match 3 2 
 
 303 A Kiss in the Dark 2 3 
 
 166 ATexan Aiother-iu-Law 4 6 
 
 30 A Day Well Spent 7 .5 
 
 169 A Regular Fi.\ 2 4 
 
 2Hfi A Prof CSS ion. a I (lardencr 4 2 
 
 f<0 Alarmingly Susi)icious 4 3 
 
 78 An Awfi 1 Criminal 3 3 
 
 31 A Pet of the Public.... 4 2 
 
 21 A Roniantiu Attachment 3 3 
 
 123 A Thrilling Item 3 1 
 
 20 ,\ Ticket of Leave 3 2 
 
 175 Betsey Baker 2 2 
 
 . S Better Half b 2 
 
 R6 Black vs. White 4 2 
 
 '"- Captain Smith _ 3 3 
 
 Check Will Win 3 
 
 (^y,"sin Josinh 1 1 
 
 i DoubleJ.fet?nV.V:V.V.V.; o i 
 
 t Der Two Surprises ...'.'.'.'. l i 
 
 ■; Deuce is in Ilim 5 ] 
 
 Did Dream it 4 3 
 
 Domesiic Felicity 1 1 
 
 D'ltflv Prize Fighter " 3 
 
 Dutchy vs. Nigger ;5 
 
 Kh? Wt at Did You Say :j I 
 
 Everj'body Astonished 4 
 
 Fooling with the Wrong Man 2 1 
 
 r reezing a Moiher-iu-Law... 2 1 
 
 tun in a Post Office 4 2 
 
 i^^imily Discipline I 
 
 family Jars 5 •) 
 
 / <ri»)se with the (xolden Eggs.. .5 .3 
 
 iLfcXJiveMo.My Wife .. 3 3 
 
 ll\r?l*''*'^"li*'*^''i' <^he Medicine 
 
 fV' Man 4 ;^ 
 
 Hans, the Dutch J. P H \ 
 
 Hans Brummel's Cafe .3 
 
 Hash 4. 2 
 
 H. M.S. Plum ; ;;; i i 
 
 How She has Own Way 1 3 
 
 140 
 74 
 35 
 
 247 
 95 
 
 305 
 
 ; 99 
 11 
 99 
 X'l 
 
 182 
 127 
 223 
 
 302 
 
 106 
 
 288 
 
 1.39 
 
 231 
 
 2.i-) 
 
 09 
 
 2.3 
 
 208 
 
 212 
 
 32 
 
 186 
 
 273 
 
 29f) 
 
 2.W 
 
 44 
 
 33 
 
 57 
 
 217 
 
 lt).i 
 
 litt 
 
 1.59 
 
 171 
 
 l.SO 
 
 207 
 
 iS 
 
 13H 
 
 115 
 
 •Vr- 
 
 2;J2 
 241 
 270 
 
 i 
 1.37 
 
 252 
 40 
 3.S 
 
 li»l 
 
 167 
 
 291 
 
 308 
 
 285 
 
 68 
 295 
 
 M 
 
 2s 
 292 
 142 
 270 
 
 How He Popped the Quest'n. 1 
 
 How to Tame M-in-Law 4 
 
 How Stout Your Getting....... 5 
 
 Incompatibility of Temper... 1 
 
 In the AVrong Clothes 5 
 
 Jacob Shlaff's Mistake. 3 
 
 Jimiuie Jones 3 
 
 John Smith 5 
 
 Jumbo Jum ■..._ 4 
 
 Killing Time 1 
 
 Kittie'.s Wedding Cakp 1 
 
 Lick Skillet Wedding 2 
 
 Ijauderbach's Little Surprise 3 
 Locked in a Dress-maker's 
 
 ]{oom 3 
 
 Lodgin gs for Two _ 3 
 
 TiOveinall Corners 5 
 
 Matrimonial Bli.ss 1 
 
 Match for a other-Mi n-Law.. 2 
 
 More Blunders than one 4 
 
 Mother's Fool 6 
 
 My Heart's in Highlands 4 
 
 My Precious Betsey 4 
 
 My Turn Ne.vt 4 
 
 Mv Wife'^ Relations 4 
 
 My Pay and Now-a-Daye 
 
 My Neighbor's Wife 3 
 
 Xanka's Loaj) Year Venture.. 5 
 
 Nobody's Moke 6 
 
 Obedience 1 
 
 On the Sly 3 
 
 P.'iddy Miles' Boy 5 
 
 Paten'^ Wa.shing Machine 4 
 
 Persecuted Dutchman 6 
 
 Poor Pilicody .' 2 
 
 Quiet F.amily 4 
 
 Kou<.'h Diamond 4 
 
 Ripples , 
 
 Room 44 2 
 
 ?ch'ap.= „ 1 
 
 Sewing Circle of Period ~ 9 
 
 S. H. A. M. Pinafore 3 
 
 ■x^c.:xL'^hn,\y<!i Nobody 3 
 
 Stage Struck- i'»,7Jiffc 4 
 
 Struck by Lightning 2 
 
 Slick .Tnd Skinner 5 
 
 Slasher and Crasher 5 
 
 Taking the Census 1 
 
 That Awful Carpet Bag;. . 3 
 
 rh t Mysterious B'dle 2 
 
 T!ie Bewitched Closet.. ._ 5 
 
 The Coming Man 3 
 
 Turn Hini Out ~. 3 
 
 The Actor's Scheme ..." 4 
 
 riie frish Squire of Squash 
 
 Ridge 4 
 
 The Mashers Mashed...."!...!!] 5 
 
 Ttto Sham Professor 4 
 
 TbeSpellin' Skewl.. 7 
 
 TheTwoT.J's „. ;■■ 4 
 
 Thirty-three Next Birthday.. 4 
 
 Tim Flannigaa 5 
 
 Tit for Tat V..'.! 2 
 
 The Printer and His Donls.. 3 
 
 rfi 
 
I 
 
 iimea' Plays — 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 015 793 100 3 
 
 NO. 
 
 263 
 
 7 
 
 281 
 
 2t)9 
 
 170 
 
 213 
 
 151 
 
 56 
 
 70 
 
 \iS 
 
 147 
 
 156 
 
 111 
 157 
 
 Trials of a Country Edtor.... ^ 
 
 The Wonflerful Telephone.. .._ S 1 
 
 'J'wo Aunt Emily •" 'J 8 
 
 Uii.iust Justice '> 2 
 
 U. S. Mail - - \ 
 
 Vermout Wool Dealer 5 3 
 
 Wanted a Husband 2 1 
 
 Wooing Under Diffioultie 5 3 
 
 Which will he Marry 2 8 
 
 Widower's Trillin 4 5 
 
 Waking Him Up 1 2 
 
 Why they Joined the Re- 
 becca-; - " ^ 
 
 Yankee Duelist 3 1 
 
 Yankee Peddler 7 3 
 
 ETHIOPIAN FARCES. 
 
 204 Academy of Stars « 
 
 66 An Unwelcome Return 3 1 
 
 15 An Unhappy Pair 1 ! 
 
 172 Black Shoemaker t 2 
 
 98 Black .Statue 4 2 
 
 222 Colored Senators 3 
 
 214 Chops -^ 
 
 145 Cuff's Luck 2 1 
 
 190 Crimps Trip .: ^ 
 
 27 Fetter Lane to <Travesend 2 
 
 2;iO Hamlet the Dainty 6 1 
 
 153 llaunted House 2 
 
 103 How Sister Pa.\ey t'ot her 
 
 Child Biiptiz.d 2 1 
 
 24 Handy Andy - 2 
 
 236 Hypochondriac The 2 
 
 47 In the Wrong Bo.x 3 
 
 77 Joe's Vis t 2 1 
 
 88 Mischievous Nigger 4 2 
 
 256 Midnight Colic 2 1 
 
 128 Musical Darkey 2 
 
 90 No Cure No Pay 3 1 
 
 61 Not as Deaf as He Seetis 3 
 
 244 Old Clothes S 
 
 234 Old Dad's Cabin 2 1 
 
 1.50 OldPompey .^r.-}i^ 
 
 246 Othello^,^,r-rrr-.-.... 4 1 
 
 109 
 
 297 
 
 134 
 
 Z58 
 
 177 
 
 96 
 
 107 
 
 1.83 
 
 179 
 
 94 
 
 243 
 
 2.5 
 
 92 
 
 238 
 
 10 
 
 64 
 
 2.53 
 
 282 
 
 122 
 
 118 
 
 6 
 
 108 
 
 ■m 
 
 4 
 
 197 
 
 198 
 
 216 
 
 20(i 
 
 210 
 
 203 
 
 205 
 
 1.56 
 
 17 
 1.30 
 
 215 
 
 250 
 
 I 260 
 
 Other People's Children — 8 
 
 Pomp Green's Snakes 2 
 
 Pomn's Pranks „ 2 
 
 Prof.Bones'Latest Invention 5 
 
 Quarrel ome Serrants 3 
 
 Rooms to Let _ 2 
 
 School _ „.. 5 
 
 Seeing Bo8ting„._..._ 3 
 
 Sham Doctor _ . _. 3 
 
 16.000 Ye.irs A«ro 3 
 
 Sports on a Lark 3 
 
 Sport with a Sportsman „ 2 
 
 Stage Struck Darkey 2 
 
 Strawberry Shortcake 2 
 
 Stocks Up, Stocks Down 2 
 
 That Boy Sam __ 3 
 
 The BestCura _.. 4 
 
 The Intelligence Office 3 
 
 The Select School 6 O; 
 
 The Popcorn xMan 3 1 
 
 The Studio _ „ 3 
 
 Those Awfu! Roys 5 
 
 Ticket Taker 3 
 
 Twain's Dodging 3 
 
 Tricks 5 
 
 Uncle JetT 5 
 
 Vice Versa 3 
 
 Villkens and Dinah 4 
 
 Virginia Mummy 6 
 
 Who Stole the Chickens........ 1 
 
 William Tell 4 
 
 Wi(f-Maker and Hia Servams 3 i 
 
 GUIDE BOOKS. 
 
 FHnts on Elocution 
 
 Hints to Amateurs 
 
 CANTATA. 
 
 On to Victory ~ ■< '■> 
 
 TABLEAUX. 
 
 Festival of Days . \ 
 
 - 'VANTOMIME. 
 
 Cousin John's Album 
 
 MA KE YOUR O WN WIGS 
 
 prepared" WOOL' 
 
 PREPARED WOOL IS AN ARTICLE THA'l EVERYONE, WITBOUTA 
 EXPERIENCE. CAN MAKE INTO 
 
 WIGS! BEARDS! MUSTACHES! ETC 
 
 A T VER Y LI TTLE COST. 
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 -^-^ PRICE 50 CENTS PER OUNCE. 
 
 Addre»». THE AMES PUBLISHING CO.. 
 
 LcckUo.cV.2, - CLYDE. Omi 
 
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