Me an’ Mink Hall--an’ some oder niggahs--in a game ovah by dem coal chutes. She sneak ’long by Graley’s ice house--den run out on de wharf an’ th’u it in. Me an’ Mink seen ef we would save it--but it was’n’ no use. It--it was too da’k. Soon as ’Luce seen me she run’ as fas’ as she coul’. I believe she gone plum crazy. AUNT REBECCA Gawd-a-massy! Gawd-a-massy! Dat po’ chile! I knowed somefin’ tumble gwine ter happen. SLIM Yo’--yo’ ain’ seen her, is yo’? AUNT REBECCA Gawd-a-massy, no! SLIM Come on! Le’s see ef we kin fin’ her. (_Aunt Rebecca and Slim go out, Back. In the course of a brief interval Lucy Belle enters stealthily, Back,--dishevelled and terrified. She moves agitatedly about the room, twining and intertwining her fingers. Presently Sam enters, Back._) SAM Lucy Belle! LUCY BELLE (_in tremulous tones--as she pulls herself together with a mighty effort_) Sam-boy! SAM Was’n’ gwine ter take no chances. LUCY BELLE (_avoiding his direct gaze_) No, no! Honey-baby! Mah ole budigee honey-baby! I’se so scar’t I did’n’ know w’at ter do. SAM (_sharply_) Yo’ yere w’at she was tellin’ me? LUCY BELLE (_lying_) I yere jes’ a lil’. SAM (_fiercely_) She say yo’ all been foolin’ ’roun’ wid Chick Avery. LUCY BELLE It’s a lie! Ain’ a wud ob truf in it! SAM (_grabbing her and searching her face with a gaze of tense scrutiny_) Have yo’? LUCY BELLE No, no! Sam! Fo’ Gawd’s sake! Yo’ don’ believe a devil like her, d’yo’? SAM Ef I ketches yo’ runnin’ wid anabody else I’se gwine ter kill yo’! LUCY BELLE (_passionately_) Sam-boy! Hones’ ter Gawd--I ain’ had nuffin’ ter do wid nobody since yo’ been gone! Nuffin’ at all! Yo’ believe yo’ lil’ budigee, don’ yo’? Don’ yo’, honey-baby? (_Lizzie enters, Back._) LIZZIE (_with a cry of triumph_) I knowed I’d git yo’ numbah! SAM Git out-a yere! D’yo’ wan’ me ter kill yo’? LIZZIE Sam--Sam--she got-a baby! It Chick Avery’s. It’s yere! Dat’s de way she treat yo’ all! Ha! Ha! Makin’ a damn fool ob yo’! I allas knowed yo’s an easy mark! LUCY BELLE (_screaming_) It’s a lie! It’s a lie! Don’ yo’ believe her, Sam! (_Sam starts for Lizzie. She backs out of the door, Back._) LIZZIE (_just outside of the doorway--at the top of her voice_) I tol’ yo’ I’d git yo’! I tol’ yo’ I’d git yo’! Ha! Ha! (_Sam starts to rush out after her. He hesitates, however, and finally bangs the door shut and turns to Lucy Belle._) SAM (_fiercely_) Yo’ yere w’at she say? LUCY BELLE (_palsied with fear_) It ain’ so! It’s a lie! Yo’ knows she could’n’ tell de truf! She nuffin’ but a dirty, lyin’ hussy--! Yo’ don’ believe her, do yo’? SAM (_harshly_) Lemme look ’roun’ yere! LUCY BELLE Ain’ no use, honey. Yo’ ain’ gwine ter see nuffin’. SAM (_shoving her aside roughly_) Lemme look! (_He starts toward Left._) LUCY BELLE Ain’ nobody but Fanny an’ Israel in dere! SAM (_loudly_) Ef yo’ try any funny bus’ness wid me I’ll kill yo’! Damn yo’ heart ter hell!