Gwine down ter de sto’. Reckon I be right back. LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) Make up yo’ bed fo’ yo’ d’rectly. (_Pocher nods and grunts and goes out, Back, closing the door after him. Lucy Belle stands for a moment, pondering, and a thin smile plays over her face. At length she turns and moves listlessly toward the door, Right. As she reaches there, comes the sound of boyish shouts and laughter and the shuffling of feet about the door, Back. Lucy Belle pauses and listens. She scowls darkly, hurries to the door, and throws it open. This is followed immediately by the clatter of scurrying feet and taunting shouts as those who were about the door run rapidly down the alley._) LUCY BELLE (_standing in the doorway and shouting angrily after them_) I seen yo’ Jack Kramer! Yo’ too, Lippy an’ Mule! Keep away from yere or I’se gwine ter wring yo’ damn necks! Yas, yo’s--Lippy! I ain’ scar’t of none-a yo’! Quit skylarkin’ ’roun’ dis door! Sweah out-a warran’ fo’ yo’, too! (_She stands glaring off Left at them. Slim suddenly appears from Right._) SLIM H’yo’, Luce! LUCY BELLE (_shortly, as she steps back into the room_) ’Lo, Slim. SLIM (_entering, Back, and noting her ill-humor_) W’at’s de mattah? LUCY BELLE (_closing the door_) Oh, dat Jack an’ Lippy an’ Mule is allas skylarkin’ ’roun’ mah do’. SLIM Tryin’ ter git back at yo’? LUCY BELLE (_shaking her head_) Makin’ out ter plague ole man Pocher. SLIM Git somefin’ on him? LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) Gits wise dat he scar’t ter deaf ob evil sparits--an’ bein’ conjuhed. SLIM Sho’ nuff! LUCY BELLE Lil’ while aftah he rents dis room--an’ been aftah him evah since. Puts salt on de do’step an’ ev’thin’ like dat. SLIM Bus’ ’em in de haid. LUCY BELLE Do wuss’ an dat ef dey keeps on. SLIM Clean up fo’ ’em! LUCY BELLE I sho’ gwine ter ef dey don’ lay off him! (_In tones of pondering indignation and protest._) Dat room is hard ter rent. Ole man Pocher is kep’ it longer den anabody. (_Slim nods._) Two mon’s dere could’n’ rent it at all--an’ ole Jennie Wurmser goes off owin’ me fo’ five weeks. SLIM How long Pocher been yere? LUCY BELLE Free mon’s. SLIM He sing too much. LUCY BELLE Ain’ boderin’ ’bout dat so long as I gits mah money ev’y Monday mawnin’. SLIM Whar he git his money? LUCY BELLE Son in New York send it ter him. I couldn’ hardly git by now widout somefin’ like dat comin’ in reg’lar ev’y week. SLIM Wukkin’ now? LUCY BELLE Sho’ I’se wukkin! SLIM Whar? LUCY BELLE Fo’ Moy Wing--up on Seventh Street. SLIM Chink--? (_Lucy Belle nods._) W’at doin’? LUCY BELLE Washin’ an’ iron’. W’at yo’ think? SLIM Steady? LUCY BELLE Free times a week--Monday, We’nesday, an’ Friday. SLIM Dat ain’ no kin’-a job. LUCY BELLE Yo’ go out an’ git me a bettah one. SLIM (_with a laugh_) Sho’--! LUCY BELLE An’ git yo’se’f one an’ keep it. SLIM Been in hospital. LUCY BELLE Yo’ ain’ dere now. SLIM I git one quick ’nuff. Don’ yo’ worry. LUCY BELLE Git it! SLIM