sing Mr. Peters?

Petees. You. have that honor, but please excuse
me— Why, Doc, how are you? Most happy to
see you.

De. B. And I to see you.

Petees. This is an unexpected pleasure; on the
word of a lawyer, it is, Doc.

De. B. If rumor be true, you add no weight to
your declaration by reference to your vocation
Peters.

Petees. The old prejudice. Doctor. The great-
est and grandest profession on earth, sir.

De. B. By the way, I haven't seen you since
your advent in that capacity.

Petees. Nor I you, since you became a full-
fledged peddler of pills. Capitola, permit me.
Doctor, Miss Hunt, a flower of the verdant country,
whom I hope soon to wear on the lapel of my coat
as ray wife. Capitola, Dr. Burns, an old schoolmate
of mine, at present Assistant Superintendent of the
State Asylum for the Insane. I know all about
you, Doc, on the word of a lawyer — Excuse me for
the expression — IVe kept track of you, and I want
to know, why have you never permitted your gaze
to rest upon my shingle, and your heels upon my
office table?

De. B. I have often thought I would hunt you
out, but I very seldom come to your city. It is
only an accident that brings me here now. One of
our inmates escaped and I got track of him, and
came to recover him.

[Capilolu and Peters look at Major Gurley.)

Major Gueley, Don't you see the man is ill?
You can't go to-night, my man. Ha! hal ha! Take
care you don't fall, uncle. No, no, nephew, the
man is ill. (Takes locket from his neck and looks at



TO

picture.) Yon loved him ; we both loved him ; but
I drove him away— drove him away — drove him
away. But I must change my will! {Starts up,
turns his face full upon Peters, the doctor and Capi-
tola. — Steps forward and limps slightly. — Capitola
shrieks.)

Cap. Look! Look! Ruf us, it's Major Gurley!

Peters. Doctor, who is this man?

Dr. B. I don't know, Peters. What's the
matter? Do you know him?

Peters. Do 1 know him? See here, doctor,
don't question me. There's life and death in this
business. What do you know about that man?

Dr. B. You're a strange fellow, Peters ; you
always were ; but I will tell you I all know about
the man. He's been in our institution six years.
His lunacy is of a harmless type- What you hear
is about all he ever says.

Peters. Yes, yes, yes ; but where did he come
from ?

Dr. B. He came from this city. He was found
wandering in the streets near the dock, with an
ugly wound on his head, which, doubtless, caused
his insanity. He was dressed like a vagrant.

Peters. When was this. Burns? What month?
What day? Don't stop to ask me why.

Dr. B. I'll tell you in a minute. (Produces mem-
orandum hook.) September 16th.

Peters. My Clod ! It's Gurley ! It's the Major,
Capitola.

Dr. B. Who? Gurley?

Peters. Yes, Grurley ; for whose murder his son
will hang to-day. If I only had some proof !
What's that he holds therein his hands?

Dr. B. He had it on when we received him, and
we have let him wear it, as he is inclined to be
violent, if we take it away.

Peters. Yes, yes ; but what is it?

Dr. B. a locket with a woman's picture.

Peters. (Seizes Capitola and embraces her.) Cap-
itola, did you ever see the picture in Major Gurley's
locket?

Cap. No, no.



71

Peters. Who has? Who knew his wife?

Cap. Mother, mother, Rufus, and Aunt Ruth.

Peters. Where are they?

Cap. At Aunt Ruth's house.

Peters, I must bring them here. Doc, you
know me. Will j^^ou let me take that locket?

Dr. B. Yes.

Peters. We'll save him, Capitola. On the word
of a member of the greatest and grandest profes-
sion on earth, we'll save him yet.

Cap. But it's twenty miles to Aunt Ruth's
house, and there's no train before nine o'clock.
You can't ajo.

Peters. I can't? If 1 had to tunnel through
mountains, and swim oceans, I'd get there.

Cap. I'll e[o and tell Nellie to be brave and
hope. It will kill her to say good-bye to him.

Peters. Not a word to her, Capitola. We may
be deceived. This may be only a strange coinci-
dence in this strange story Don't hold out a false
hope that may end in deeper agony. If we are
right, I'll be here before she says good-bye.

Cap. If you should be too late to stop this exe-
cution !

Peters. Capitola, you are again reflecting upon
my professional honor. I belong to a profession
who are always on time in a case of emergency.
Talk to the pill-pedlar about being late, but, remem-
ber I am a lawyer.

Cap. But how can you go so far and get back in

time?

Peters. How? Why, I'll build a balloon, ride a
cyclone, buy a railroad, but I'll do it. I must see
the superintendent of this road, and get a special
train. If entreaties won't move him, I'll try
money, and if money be ineffectual, let him

beware.

Cap. Oh, Rufus ! What desperate thing would

you do?

Peters. What would I do? What would I do?
Why in a last last desperate extremity, I would
try eloquence.



Cap. Oh, Rufus! You might kill him!

Petees. {Emhraces her.) Capitola, remain where
you are until the hand of time has woven five
minutes of warp into the woof of your existence,
and I will embrace you again.

(Exit Peters.)

De. B. What is this all about, Miss Hunt?

Cap. Oh, sir! Have you never heard of Ralph
Gurley?

Dr.B. Is Mr. Peters his lawyer? Yes, I have
heard of him. He is to be executed for the murder
of his father.

Cap. He is innocent. (Weeps.) That man is
his father.

Dr. B. Impossible I

Cap. He is — I know he is. Oh, sir ! May I speak
to him?

Dr. B. He is insane. He knows no one.

Cap. But he njightknow me. Let me try. Oh,
if you only knew.

Dr. B. Certainly you may speak to him if you
desire; but it is useless. [Capitola crosses over and
kneels at feet of Gurley, ivho still looks at locket.)

Cap. Major Gurley, don't you know me? Look
at me — speak to me. Don't you remember me?
{Gurley looks at her blankly.) I am Capitola ! You
knew me. I used to sing to you under the old
maples, you called me little Cap, and gave me
XDennies. Yon must know me! Speak to me; its to
save Ralph's life. Try to remember me ! Try — try
to think !

Maj. No! No! 1 drove him away — drove him
away — drove him away. There! There! Don't
you see the man is ill — too ill to cross the river
to-night?

Cap. He does not know me. Oh, sir! Can't you
think? Can't you remember me? Try hard to
think for poor Ralph's sake. They'll kill him,
maybe, if you don't.

Maj. {Siezes her hand atid draws her to him, stares
at her and pushes her hack slowly.) Then I must
change my will, for 1 drove him away — drove him
away.



Cap. (Sobs.) He does not know me. Oh, if Mr.
Peters should fail 1 (Enter Peters.) Can he ^et a
train — do you think he can, doctor?

Dr. B, I cannot say.

Peters. But I can say. I am the fee-book of a
lawyer, there's no such word as fail. Capitola,
embrace me — embrace me, Capitola. I have got
that special train. In two minutes she'll be here,

and then [Gurley is led out hy an officer.

Doctor goes out and returns?^

Cap. And then— out— out, flying oat into the
night, bracing its iron shoulders to the wind, toss-
ing its flowing mane in the- air, flinging the white
foam from its quivering sides, gasping and choking,
as if for air; on, on, over dashing streams and rat-
tling bridges; on, on, through fields and woods; on,
on, across level reaches of green meadow; on, on,
along the hillside; down, down, into the valleys,
frightening the sleeping cattle, startling the nest-
ling birds, panting and rushing onward — ever on-
ward — with life and de-ath in the keeping of its
spining wheels; screaming with terror, lest it be
too late, will speed the special train. Oh, Rufus !
{Throws herself into his arms.)

Peters. Bravo, Bravo, Capitola ! Hark ! What's
that? {They listen and then sing.)

It's the train, the special train.
Hark! It is — it is the train,
Outward, onward, through the night,
May it speed with eagles flight.
Life and death are in its wheels; •
This the iron monster feels,
Hear it shriek, at one in pain.
Hark! It is the special train.

Chorus.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Hear the bells,
Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! It's whistle swells
With the echo from the hills,
And the night with discord fills,
With it's Ho! Clang! Ho! Clang! Ho!
Clang! Clang! Ho! Clang! Clang! Clang! Ho!

Peters. And it is here 1 Doctor, the locket !
{Doctor hands it.) Capitola, good-bye. Rember, not
a word to her — not a word to her for the world.
We may be mistaken after all.



74

Cap. She will ask for you. What shall I say to
her?

Peters. Say anything to her, but don't tell her^
what I am doing. Tell her that 1 am detained. Go
with her, and comfort her, but don't tell her any-
thing, 'till we are certain.

Cap. Rufus, you must come in time.

Peters. I will — I will on the word of a lawyer.
Doc, won't you see the Governor and tell him what's
up? Take your man to the hotel and ask the
Governor to meet me there. He will listen to you.
If its Gurley, I can establish his identity. Capitola,
I'll be there. (Exit Peters.)

Scene U.— (Vestibule of jail. — Enter Evans and

Sheriff Marsh.)

Evans. Sheriff, I shall never forget your kind-
ness in this matter. I am aware that the hour is
an unseasonable one, and my request somewhat
extraordinary.

Sheriff. I appreciate your feelings, and respect
your motives, Mr. Evans.

Evans. As absurd and improbable as his story is;
there are those, whose good opinion is of the
utmost value to me, who look upon me with dis-
trust because of his accusations.

Sheriff. I am sure, Mr. Evans, that you have
the full sympathy of all honest and law abiding
citizen's. Your conduct has, in all respects, been
honorable to him and to the state.

Evans. I feel, and have felt, that, in justice to
myself, and in justice to the officers of the law, his
guilt should be established by his full confession.
He has striven to fasten odium on me, and 1 alone,
perhaps, of all men, can secure his confession.
Standing, as he does, at the very brink of the scaf-
fold, with every avenue of escape cut off, with no
hope of life, and the certainty of death and final
judgment so near at hand, I feel that I can move him
to confess his guilt, and do me justice, if I can visit
him alone in his cell. If I presume too far in this
request, do not hesitate to remind me of the fact.
I respect the anxieties, and perplexities of your



75

position at this time, and would not willingly add
to them.

Sheriff. I also appreciate your feelings, Mr.
Evans, and believe that I am doing my duty in
granting your request. His spiritual advisers are
with him, but I will ask them to withdraw for a
few minutes, and leave you together, undisturbed.
Please come this way, sir. (Exit.)

Scene III. — {Slowly run on.—Inierior of prison,
dimly lighted.— Ralph sits at table ivith his head
boived on his hands. — Spiritual advisers singing
hymn, "7)e Profundis." — Sheriff Marsh enters and
stands waiting until hymn is finished.)
Sheriff. Gentlemen, I am deeply sorry to 'dis-
turb you, but there is a visitor outside, who must
see the prisoner alone. May I ask you to withdraw
for a few minutes? {Clergymen and Sheriff exit. —
Ralph starts and looks up.)

Ralph. A visitor who must see me alone ! It
must be she ! Oh ! Give me strength to master my
despair, and calmly say good-bye to her ! It's hard
to die, else why do all that live shrink back in terror
from the open grave, when the cold clods fall with
ominous echoes on the coflB.n lid of some departed
friend, from whom the air and sunlight of this
world are shut forever out. It's hard to die, before
the shadows of our loves and hopes fall to the east-
ward from the light of life's declining sun, and try
the passage of a shoreless sea in darkness and alone.
It's hard to die, although the hand of love makes
soft the dying pillow, and Grief 's quivering lips
seal Death's decree with kisses. But such a death
as this ! To die upon the scaffold, with love
denied me, and even Pity without a tear to shed
for the cold clay that Hate and Vengeance have so
rudely marred — too hard to bear ! But harder,
still, are those last words, '"good-bye." {Buries his
face in his hand. — Enter Evans] approaches Ralph
and lays his hand on his shoulder. — Ralph turns
sloivly and looks up, sees Evans and rises slowly to his
feet.)'

Evans. Well ! Do you feel my power now?



Ealph. {Sloivhj.) No. {Evans coivers.) But
you feel mine, and shrink you coward, like a
baffled cur.

Evans. You have not three hours more of life.
What power do you possess to frighten me?

Ralph. The power of innocence over conscious
guilt. The human eye has the power to quell the
savage beast of prey. You are in my power, not I
in yours. Go !

Evans. ( With mock bravado.) Ha ! ha ! ha I Do
you think you can frighten me? You are unarmed
and help is within call. Don't be a fool, Ralph.
Listen to me. I am here to help you.

Ralph. You are here to help me? You? Why
am I here? I am here through your hellish machi-
nations ; here for a crime of which you are guilty.
Do you know that you are in the presence of death?
{Speaks wildly, steps to lamp and turns it nearly out-)
See there ! Look there ! Do you see that ghastly
phantom with hands that clutch at you to drag you
to the grave, that yawns a fathomless abyss at your
very feet? It's Death. And the gray-haired man
you killed, with a bleeding wound upon his forehead
is there — there, behind you — to push you in ! {Evans
turns horrified. — Ralph forces him doivn upon his
knees.- Evans coicers. — Balph, with hand uplifted,
speaking slowly.) I am unarmed and help is within
call! {Evans rises to his feet.)

Evans. For God's sake, listen to me, Ralph!

Ralph. Listen to you? No. You could not
speak. The words would choke you. I know what
you would say. If 111 confess to her and all the
world, that I am guilty of your crime, you'll strive
to save me from a present death, and give me life
imprisonment instead. Is that your purpose?
{Evans hesitates.) Speak!

Evans. Yes.

Ralph. Then stop, sir, where you are. Another
word, and I shall have a crime to answer for, of
which I should be guilty. I'd rather die upon the
rack than take life from your hands. I tell her — I
— that you are innocent, that you may poison the



77

air she breathes with your avowals? {Crosses over
to him.) No. I will not kill you. Go ! [Enter the
Sheriff'. — Ralph to Sheriff'.) I am a prisoner and in
your keeping, sir; a felon, with but few hours
more to live ; yet the same law that takes my life,
affords me some protection at your hands. Remove
that man.

Sheriff. Sir?

Ralph. Remove that man!

Evans. My efforts have been fruitless, I will go.

Sheriff. Gurley, I am sorry at the turn affairs
have taken. It was from a sense of duty that I
admitted him to see you.

Ralph. Then you have mistaken the duties of
your position, sir.

Sheriff. Gurley, out of consideration for the
innocent, who suffer because of your crime, and
not for you, I have shown you more than ordinary
kindness. It is in my power to refuse admittance
to any of your friends, and since you presume to
instruct me as to my duties, I shall feel obliged to
refuse admittance to your wife and child.

Ralph. Oh, sir ! You can not mean it — you will
pardon me for what I said. I spoke in anger, not
you, but to him. Let me see them, and after that,
I shall ask nothing more, do nothing more, but make
your work as easy as I can. Don't refuse me this.
You have a wife and child, and in their names I
appeal to you, let me say good-bye to mine!

Sheriff. I'll do it, Gurley, but let the interview
be brief. I won't refuse you this, and I am sorry
for what! said a moment since; but for your own
sake, Gurley, say good-bye, and let that end it — an
interview of any length would be sure to unnerve
you and would do no good, beside you — you haven't
much more time

Ralph. What time is it now, then ?

Sheriff. Its morning.

Ralph. And they?

Sheriff. Are waiting outside — Gurley, be calm
and face this business like a man.

{Exit Sheriff and Evans.)



Ralph. Face it like a man — Oh heaven ! I am
not flint, but for her sake and for my own I must be
Qalm or this will kill her too! God only knows the
depth of human misery and despairl {Invocation.)
Oh, help me then to suffer and be strong. [Enter
Nellie, Little Ralph, Capitola, Sheriff and attendant.)

Nel. Ralph ! Ralph ! {Nellie throws herself into
Ralph'' s arms and sobs convulsively. He embraces her
in silence and with suppressed emotion. Capitola
crosses over and little Ralph goes to his mother'' s side.)

L. R. Oh, mamma, we have found papa! {Nellie
starts convulsively and clings to Ralph, at the child's
speech he is unnerved, he staggers, sinks into chair.
Nellie kneels at his feet and he draws little Ralph to
him.)

Ralph. ^ly child ! my child!

L. R. {Gently.) You'll go with us won't you,
pa-pa? {Ralph bows head on table.)

Cap. {At door.) Oh! Why don't he come.
{Sheriff comes to Ralph and speaks in a low voice with
emotion.)

Sheriff. Be careful, Gurley, end this as soon as
possible.

Ralph. Yes, yes, a moment more. {Bows head
cund overcomes emotion.) Nellie, my daring, we must
part.

Nel. Oh Ralph! Ralph!

Ralp^. 1 am innocent of any crime and am sus-
tained by that, but you — you must live— live for
little Ralph. And Nellie, in years to come, when
he can understand the odium and disgrace that my
death will fasten on him, if the finger of scorn
be leveled at him by his mates because he
is my child, if he should ask you anything of me,
tell him I died innocent and that our name is not
dishonored in the sight of heaven. Tell him I died
upon the scaffold because the judgments and
decrees of man are finite, and because the law
groped blindly in the dark and exercised the power
of ending life which rests alone with God. Nellie !
Wife! Have you a doubt, a lingering shadow of a
doubt that 'I am guiltless.



79

Nel. [Sobs convulsively and clings to him.) No!
No! No! Ralph.

Ralph. Then teach my child to see the truth
And you— yoQ must not always think of the suf-
fering and misery only that I brought to your
young life. Think sometimes also of the tender
memories which the past holds in its keeping
because you were my wife. I have but one request
to make, and that is this: When I am gone, bury
me under the maples on the old homestead, where
you first told me that you loved me, and where you
can often come and stand beside my grave. (Nel-
lie sobs convulsively.)

Sheriff. (With emotion.) Gurley!

Ralph. Yes, yes. Nellie, be strong and say good
bye, (Rises to his feet; as he speaks lifts her up with
one arm and with the other he 'presses his child to him.)

Cap. No — no — no— not now. Wait, wait ; he'll
come, I know he will.

Sheriff. She must go.

Cap. She must not go. He is innocent. His
father is not dead. I saw him. He is not dead;
he is insane.

Ralph. (Starts.) Capitola !

Cap. He is alive. You are innocent. Rufushas
gone to get the proofs, and he will come back in
time, I know he will. He said he would.

Ralph. Sheriff, what does this mean?

Sheriff. Nothing. Bring this to an end. There's
no hope for you in this. The sight of suffering has
turned her head. Young woman, you must go.

Cap. I will not go! He will come in time! You
shall not separate them. (Sheriff seizes her.) I
will not go! Let go your hold. He will come! He
will! He will! (Breaks loose and runs to door, past
guard. — Looks out and shrieks.) He's here ! He's
here!

(Enter Peters, Governor and Mrs. Hunt. — Capitola
catches Peters around neck and runs him forward.)

Cap. Oh!Rufus! You have come in time. (Peters
very much winded.)

Peters. (Rapidly.) I have; I have, Capitola.



80 .

It's all right, Ralph. You're reprieved. On the
word of a member of the greatest and grandest pro-
fession on earth, you are all right. May have to
stay in jail a fev^ days, but you'll be out in time
to go to mj^ wedding. Capitola, what do you say?
Am I much of a lawyer? Am I or aint I?

Cap- Oh, Rufus; come here, and I'll give you a
souvenir. (Kisses him and takes him aside.)

Ralph, {To Governo7\) What does this mean?

Governor, Mr, Gurley, I am the Governor of the
State, I have reprieved you, I am now satisfied
that your father lives and that you have been the
victim of a terrible mistake.

Ralph, Nellie, my darling, there is life and
hope! {To Governor.) My father lives?
(Nellie goes to Mrs. Hunt.)

Governor, You shall know all in time. I am
now convinced that you have suffered for Evans'
crime.

Ralph. Evans? Where is he?

Peters. Collared, In durance vile. Did it my-
self. Charged him with killing his pal on the dock
and scared him so that he claimed he did it in
self defense.

Capitola. You did, Rufus?

Peters I am a detective as well as a member
of the greatest and grandest profession on earth,
I did it myself with the assistance of two seven-
story policemen. He is now in the clutches of the
goddess who is painted blind and who has been
going it blind m this case, but who has now got
the bandage off from one eye at least.

Governor. And I, sir, as Governor of a great
State, representing its people, thank you that
through your efforts justice has not been mis-
carried,

Mrs, Hunt, And I too, Rufus —

Peters. Excuse me; you will, I know you will,
but I must say this sort of thing is too much for
my nerves. Do you all feel the same way?

All, Yes,



81

Peters, And you all want to do something for
me?

All. Yes.

Peters. I know it — I feel it. That being so —
{To Ralph and Nellie.) Don't mention it. {To Lit-
tle Ralph.) Learn that song and sing it to Grandma.
{To Governor) As for you, my dear sir, {with dig-
nity) I desire you to apologize to me for ordering
me kicked.

Governor. I do, sir, most sincerely.

Peters. {To Governor) Don't mention it. {To
Capitola.) Give me another souvenir- {Kisses her.)
And mother-in-law, please name the day. {To
Audience.) And, by the way, to the general public
I desire to say that I am about to get married, but
that I am still a member of the greatest and grand-
est profession on earth. That T desire clients, and
if you need anything in my line and will call on
me I will with characteristic modesty, and as ably
as I may, present your case to THE BLIND GOD-
DESS.

{Curtain.)



CH AR AOTEES :



RUFUS CHOAT PETERS— "A Member of the Great-
est and Grandest Profession on Earth."

RALPH GURLEY— A Victim of Circumstances.

MAJOR GURLEY— Ralph's Father.

JOSEPH EVANS— Ralph's Cousin.

RICHARD GARLAND— A Prey to Conscience.

LITTLE RALPH— Ralph's Child.

TEDDY— An Arab.

DR. BURNS— Of the Insane Asylum.

NELLIE IRVINE— ACountry School-mistress, After-
wards Ralph's Wife.

MRS. BETSY HUNT— Freespoken and Kindhearted.

CAPITOLA HUNT— A Frolicsome Samaritan.
Governor, Sheriff, Officers and Others.