miss civilization(文明小姐)-第2节
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REDDY： The folks in this town are the stingiest I ever see。 I won't
visit em again； no matter how often they ask me。 （Rising and crossing to
buffet） I wonder if these folks is vegetarians； too。
（HATCH enters）
HATCH： It seems all right。 There's no light； and everybody's quiet。
（To HARRY） You work the bedrooms。 I'll clear away those things。
Don't be rough； now。
HARRY： I know my business。 Give me the light。 （Takes lantern and
exits centre）
HATCH： Hist； Reddy。 Reddy； leave that alone。 That's not safe。
（Removes silver from sideboard to bag）。
REDDY： I know it ain't； governor。 I'm lookin' for somethin' to eat。
（He kneels in front of buffet； and opens door。）
HATCH： No； you're not！ You're not here to eat。 Come and give me
a hand with this stuff。
REDDY： Gee！ I've found a bottle of whiskey。 （Takes bottle from
buffet and begins to pull at the cork。）
HATCH： Well； you put it right back where you found it。
REDDY： I know a better place than that to put it。
HATCH： How many times have I told you I'll not let you drink in
business hours？
REDDY： Oh； just once； governor； it's a cruel； cold night。 （Coughs。） I
need it for medicine。
HATCH： No； I tell you！
REDDY： Just ONE dose。 Here's to you。 （Drinks。） Oh； Lord！ （He
sputters and coughs violently。）
HATCH： （starts toward him） Hush！ Stop that； you fool。
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REDDY： Oh； Im poisoned！ That's benzine； governor。 What do you
think of that？ Benzine！ It's burned me throat out。
HATCH： I wish it had burned your tongue out！ CAN'T you keep
still？
REDDY： Oh； Lord！ Oh； Lord！ Think of a man puttin' benzine in a
whiskey bottle！ That's dishonest； that is。 Using a revenue stamp twice
is defraudin' the Government。 I could have him arrested for that。 （Pause。）
If I wanted to。 （Pause。） But I don't want to。
HATCH： Oh； quit thatand come here。 Get out the window； and I'll
hand the bag to you。 Put it under the seat of the wagon； and cover it up
with the lap robe。
（REDDY steps to centre door and； parting the curtains； leans into the
hall beyond； listening。）
REDDY： Go slow。 I ain't to leave here till Harry is safe on the
ground floor again。
HATCH： Don't you worry about Harry。 He won't get into trouble。
REDDY： Sure HE won't。 It's ME and YOU he'll get into trouble。
You hadn't ought to send HIM to do second…story work。
HATCH： （Contemptuously） No？
REDDY： No； he's too tender…hearted。 A second…story worker ought
to use his gun。
HATCH： Oh； you！ You'll fire your gun too often some day。
REDDY： No； I won't。 I did once； but I didn't do it again for six years。
But Harryah； he's too tender…hearted。 If Harry was a chicken thief；
before he'd wring a chicken's neck he'd give it laughing gas。 Why； you
remember the lady that woke up and begged him to give her back a gold
watch because it belonged to her little girl who was dead。 Wellit turned
out the little girl wasn't dead。 It turned out the little girl was a big boy；
alive and kickingespecially kicking。 He kicked me into a rose bush。
HATCH： That'll do。 Harry's learning his trade。 He'll pick it up in
time。
REDDY： About time he picked up something。 Remember the
Gainesville Bank； where he went away leaving ten thousand dollars in the
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back of the safe。 〃Why didn't he pick THAT up？
HATCH： Because it wasn't there。 Bank directors always say thatto
make us feel bad。 Hush！
（HARRY enters； carrying his silk muffler； which now is wrapped
about a collection of jewels and watches。）
HATCH： That's quick work。 What did you get？
HARRY： Some neck strings； and rings； and two watches。
（He spreads the muffler on the table。 The three men examine the
jewelry。）
HATCH： That looks good。 Who's up there？
HARRY： Only an old lady and a young girl in the room over this。
And she's a beauty； too。 （Sentimentally。） Sleeping there just as sweet and
peaceful
REDDY： Ah； why don't you give her back HER watch？ Maybe she's
ANOTHER dead daughter。
HATCH： That's all right； Harry。 That's good stuff。 Pick up that bag；
Reddy。 We can go now。
（HARRY places muffler and jewels in an inside coat pocket。
REDDY takes up the dark lantern。）
REDDY： Go？ Not till I've got something to eat。
HATCH： No； you don't。 You can wait till later for something to eat。
REDDY： Yes； I can wait till later for something to eat； but I can wait
better if I eat now。 （Exit into pantry。）
HATCH： Confound him。 If I knew the roads around here as well as
he does； I'd drive off and leave him。 That appetite of his will send us to
jail some day。
HARRY： Well； to tell the truth； governor； a little supper wouldn't hurt
my feelings。 （Goes to buffet。） I wonder where old man Gardner keeps his
Havanas？ I'd like a Christmas present of a box of cigars。 Are there any
over here？
HATCH： I didn't look。 I gave up robbing tills when I was quite a boy。
（Carries bag toward window and looks out。）
HARRY： （Takes box of cigars from buffet） Ah； here they are。 （With
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disgust。） Domestics！ What do you think of that？ Made in Vermont。
The 〃Admiral Dewey〃 cigar。 Gee！ What was the use of Dewey's
taking Manila； if I've got to smoke Vermont cigars？
（REDDY enters； carrying tray with food and a bottle。）
REDDY： Say； fellers； look at this layout。 These is real people in this
house。 I found cold birds； and ham； and all kinds of pie； and real wine。
（Places tray on right end of table。） Sit down； and make yourselves
perfectly at home。
HARRY： Well； well； that does look good。 （Places box of cigars at
upper end of table； and seats himself。） Better have a bite； governor。
HATCH： No； I tell you。 （He sits angrily in chair at left end of table；
with his face turned toward the curtains。）
REDDY： Oh； come on。 It don't cost you nothing。 （The light from the
candle is seen approaching the curtains。）
HATCH： Hush！ Look there！
（He rises； lifting his chair above his head； and advances on tiptoe to
right of curtains； where he stands with the chair raised as though to strike。
HARRY points revolver at curtains。
REDDY shifts the lantern to his left hand and； standing close to
HARRY； also points a revolver。
ALICE appears between curtains。 She is dressed as before； and in
her left hand carries the candle； while the forefinger of her right hand is
held warningly to her lips。 For an instant she pauses； in the ring of light
from the lantern。）
ALICE： （Whispering） Hush！ Don't make a noise。 Don't make a
noise； please。
（There is a long pause。）
REDDY： Well； I'll be hung！
ALICE： （To REDDY） Please don't make a noise。
HATCH： （in a threatening whisper） Don't YOU make a noise。
ALICE： I don't mean to。 My mother is asleep upstairs and she is very
ill。 And I don't want to wake herand I don't want you to wake her；
either。
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REDDY： 〃Well； I'll be hung！
HATCH： （Angrily） Who else is in this house？
ALICE： No one but mother and the maid servants； and they're asleep。
You woke me； and I hoped you'd go without disturbing mother。 But
when you started in making a night of it； I decided I'd better come down
and ask you to be as quiet as possible。 My moth
