SAM. When we were eighteen or twenty miles out, an' I was stoopin' this way over a box--I felt him on my back, and grabbing at my arms--why, why--even then I thought he was jokin', and I looked around laughin', and here was his gun pokin' right into my face. MRS. VERNON. [_Haunted._] Just think of it! JOE. Then he tied you. SAM. What could I do? There was his gun--and I wasn't even on my feet--anybody could tie a fellow that way--I could tie you, couldn't I? [_To_ JIM. JIM. If you had the gun? SAM. Yes. JIM. Well, rather. SAM. [_Indignantly._] The ropes cut clean through here at my wrists, and there was a mark over one eye where I fell against the safe--and then the company said I was an accomplice. JOE. Then I s'pose he jis' deliberately packed his little valise full of green-backs and--[_Pantomimes._]--got out! SAM. A hundred and twenty thousand-- JOE. Jump off? SAM. No--got off at a water-tank. JIM. I s'pose you'd know him agin? SAM. Anywhere. LIZBETH. [_With nursery alarm._] He must a looked terrible. SAM. [_Commonplace._] Well, he didn't--nice a lookin' feller as you want to see. Black mustache--kind a curly hair--looked a little bit, you know, like a race-horse man. EM'LY. The company said Sam wrote the superintendent's order himself. SAM. Oh, yes--got an expert to swear it looked like my writing. EM'LY. Tain't a bit--like it. JIM. [_To_ EMILY.] Did you see it? SAM. No, but I showed her part of the letter he wrote to the newspaper, saying I was innocent. [_Feels in pocket._] Ain't that strange? Seems to be a kind-hearted fellow. MRS. VERNON. Jes' drove to it I s'pose by drink. SAM. Here it is. [_Hands paper to_ JIM. JIM. Hello! [_Looks at_ KATE. JOE. What is it? JIM _hands paper to_ KATE. KATE. [_After slight start--haughtily._] What do you mean? JIM. Oh, not you, Kate. [_Smiling, to_ SAM.] 'Twasn't Kate dressed up like a man--no! [_General laugh._] Oh, I didn't think that. [KATE _vexed, goes up-stage._ JIM _in whisper to others._] Mad? [_JOE shakes his head;_ JIM _nods interrogatively to_ MRS. VERNON. MRS. VERNON. [_Looking after_ KATE.] Well, I can't see why. _Exit_ KATE. JIM. [_After another look after KATE--to_ SAM.] Well, I suppose you know you're watched. SAM. [_Indifferently._] How's that? JIM. There's a Pinkerton here--come last night--had a letter to me from the Chief--sayin' they knew of me, an' hoped I'd co-operate with this fellow in watchin' you--and they'd pay well for it. SAM. [_Smiling._] What did you say? JIM _shakes head--goes up centre._ EM'LY. Why, Jim kicked him off--of our stoop. _General laugh._--LIZBETH _crosses to forge and gets pan._ ESROM _enters playing jew's-harp._ ESROM. What about the coke, Mistah Vernon? JOE. [_At forge._] Don't want none. [_Suddenly._] See here; look at this clinker. ESROM. Can't understand that--shouldn't ought to be no clinker in dat coke. JOE. Well, there it is--hard as flint. ESROM. [_Examines clinker._] Funny clinker. JOE. Well, there it is.