The Americans Part 32

JERGENS.

I've no objection.

(_Egerton comes from the mill-yard_)

CHIEF OF POLICE.

You'd better throw a guard about the house.

You see it's out of my jurisdiction.

EGERTON.

Coming to see me, eh?

JERGENS.

I don't believe it.

(_Chadbourne talks aside with Haskell_)

CHIEF OF POLICE.

To see the Governor, they say.

EGERTON.

All right.

(_Gets into the automobile_)

They'll find him in the southwest room upstairs When the train comes. Have them clean off their feet.

RALPH ARDSLEY.

(_Who has just come in, left_)

Clean off whose feet?

EGERTON.

Yours, Ardsley. Step right in.

(_The Chief of Police goes out, left_)

RALPH ARDSLEY.

What's the news now?

EGERTON.

The news is that you've got Barely an hour to get on your togs.

(_Ardsley unb.u.t.tons his light overcoat and shows his full dress_)

EGERTON.

You editors are smart men.

(_Chadbourne gets in behind with Egerton, Ardsley in front with the Chauffeur_)

CHADBOURNE.

(_As they go out right_)

Don't forget, Haskell.

(_Jergens lingers about as though undecided what to do. Finally he goes left and saunters down the street. Haskell enters the mill-yard. Later an old woman, who has evidently been waiting till the mill-owners left, comes down the hill-side rear left and begins to pick up sticks that lie scattered about in the sawdust_)

FIRST SENTRY.

(_Who finally sees her_)

Get out!

OLD WOMAN.

They're thrown away.

BUCK BENTLEY.

(_Who has come from the mill-yard and resumed his seat on the keg_)

Let her alone.

OLD WOMAN.

G.o.d help us if we can't have even sticks That's thrown out.

FIRST SENTRY.

Let your old man go to work.

OLD WOMAN.

Then let 'em pay fair wages. Ain't they all Wantin' to work? What's the poor to do, Things goin' up an' wages goin' down?

What's the poor to do?

FIRST SENTRY.