[_She shuts her eyes. For a moment he looks at her with a smile, then turns and quietly fills the stove with wood as Ben comes slowly downstairs and into the room._ BEN If there was only something I could do for her. JUDGE Jane’s asleep, Ben. BEN Did she look like that, unhappy, all the time? JUDGE Yes. BEN Crow buzzards! God damn the Jordans! [_Front door bell rings sharply, Ben is startled._ JUDGE Steady there! It’s just one of the neighbors, I guess. (_Bell rings again as Hannah crosses downstairs and to hall_) Hannah knows enough not to let any one in. BEN (_slowly_) When I got back, time before this, from France, I tried to go straight, but it wasn’t any good, I just don’t belong---- [_Hannah enters frightened._ HANNAH It’s Jim Jay! BEN (_to Judge_) And you didn’t think my own blood would sell me? [_Jim Jay, a large, kindly man of middle age, enters._ JIM I’m sorry, Ben, I’ve come for you! [_Jane wakes, startled, and springs up._ JANE What is it? JIM I got to take him, Jane. BEN (_turns fiercely_) Have you! JIM (_quietly_) I’m armed, Ben--better not be foolish! JANE He’ll go with you, Mr. Jay. He won’t resist. JIM (_quietly_) He mustn’t. You got a bad name, Ben, and I ain’t a-goin’ to take any chances. BEN I thought I’d get to go to her funeral, anyway, before they got me. JIM Well, you could, maybe, if you was to fix a bail bond. You’d take bail for him, wouldn’t you, Judge? JUDGE It’s a felony; I’d have to have good security. JANE I’m a rich woman, you said just now. Could I give bail for him? JUDGE Yes. BEN (_to her_) So the money ain’t enough. You want all us Jordans fawnin’ on you for favors. Well, all of ’em but me will; by mornin’ the buzzards will be flocking round you thick! You’re going to hear a lot about how much folks love you, but you ain’t goin’ to hear it from me. JANE (_turns to him quietly_) Why did you come here, Ben, when I wrote you she was dying? BEN Why did I come? JANE Was it because you loved her, because you wanted to ask her to forgive you, before she died--or was it because you wanted to get something for yourself? BEN (_hesitates_) How does a feller know why he does what he does? JANE I’m just curious. You’ve got so much contempt for the rest, I was just wondering? You were wild, Ben, and hard, but you were honest--what brought you here? BEN (_sulkily_) The money. JANE I thought so. Then when you saw her you were sorry, but even then the money was in your mind--well--it’s mine now. And you’ve got to take your choice,--you can do what I tell you, or you’ll go with Mr. Jay. BEN Is that so? Well I guess there ain’t much doubt about what I’ll do. Come on, Jim? JIM All right. (_He takes a pair of handcuffs from his pocket_) You’ll have to slip these on, Ben. BEN (_steps back_) No--wait--(_He turns desperately to Jane_) What is it you want?