FREDA _(With mock admiration.)_ Unerring instinct. MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Replying in kind.)_ Yes, wasn't it? FREDA Er--by the way, didn't you find anybody at the second water-hole? MRS. EPPINGWELL A strange woman. I thought she was you at first. She seemed restless enough. VANDERLIP _(Starts at mention of strange woman, suddenly moving toward the street door.)_ I've fooled around here long enough. I'm going. FREDA Good luck, Floyd. POLICEMAN _(Stepping forward, meeting and stopping Vanderlip.)_ Sorry. VANDERLIP _(Irritated.)_ What's the matter now? POLICEMAN _(Drawing document from pocket.)_ I've got a warrant for you. Forgery. Sorry. VANDERLIP _(Astounded.)_ What in hell-- _(Breaks off.)_ POLICEMAN Sorry. VANDERLIP _(Expostulating.)_ Now look here, I say, whose game is this? _(Freda laughs her silvery laughter, it is laughter of amusement only.)_ FREDA _(To Mrs. Eppingwell, still laughing, accusingly.)_ You did this. MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Nodding.)_ I had tried everything else to stop him from running away. FREDA _(Laughing merrily and shaking her head.)_ Poor Floyd! Poor, poor Floyd! VANDERLIP _(Wrathfully.)_ Look here, Mrs. Eppingwell. This is your work. You'd better call it off. I'm done with bucking other people's games. _(Starts toward door, but Policeman lays hand on his arm.)_ Get out of my way, you whipper-snapper! POLICEMAN _(Not backing down a bit.)_ Sorry. VANDERLIP _(Flinging off hand, but remaining where he is.)_ You'd better call him off, Mrs. Eppingwell, or there'll be the almightiest ruction round here you ever saw. FREDA _(Lightly.)_ Don't be in a hurry, Floyd. She's gone. VANDERLIP No, she isn't. FREDA Ask Mrs. Eppingwell. MRS. EPPINGWELL Whom do you mean? FREDA The strange, restless lady at the water-hole. MRS. EPPINGWELL Why, yes. She went away on a sled down the river. VANDERLIP Who'd she go with? MRS. EPPINGWELL With nobody. She had an Indian dog-driver, though. _(Vanderlip makes gesture of despair, signifying that he has been completely beaten. Freda laughs merrily.)_ VANDERLIP _(Wrathfully.)_ Oh, you women! MRS. EPPINGWELL _(To Freda.)_ Who is this strange lady? FREDA _(Indicating Vanderlip.)_ Ask him. _(Mrs. Eppingwell looks inquiringly at Vanderlip.)_ VANDERLIP _(Wrathfully.)_ None of your business, you and your games! I quit. I've bucked myself broke against you--_(Whirling on Freda.)_--against all of you. _(To Policeman.)_ Go ahead, arrest me. It's a fake, and you know it. But go ahead. POLICEMAN I've only got my orders. Sorry. You'll come along peaceably? _(Vanderlip grunts savage assent.)_ VANDERLIP You know it's a fake. POLICEMAN I know only my orders. Sorry. _(General movement of preparation to leave.)_ FREDA _(To Mrs. Eppingwell.)_ It's too bad you can't stop longer, but-- _(Suddenly breaks off and listens intently.)_