_(He turns back to her.)_ Is Dominion Creek very rich? SITKA CHARLEY Dam rich. LORAINE And do you know whether Mr. Vanderlip has any claims there? SITKA CHARLEY Me no know. _(Starts to go.)_ LORAINE _(Detaining him.)_ But Mr. Vanderlip is very rich, isn't he? You know that? SITKA CHARLEY Vanderlip dam rich. _(Sitka Charley turns abruptly and goes back to stove.)_ _(Loraine crosses stage to left rear to counter, where a clerk waits upon her.)_ _(Enter Mrs. Eppingwell and Mrs. McFee from right. Both engage in brushing snow from moccasins.)_ MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Finishing first, and looking about the store as if in quest of some one.)_ as I don't see anything of Captain Eppingwell, and he is the soul of promptness. MRS. McFEE _(Still brushing snow.)_ Mayhap we are a bit early, Mrs. Eppingwell. But as I was saying, it's verra dootful morals the giving of this masked ball. Masked, mind you, with every low dance-hall creature a-dying to come and put decent folk to the shame of their company. I speak my mind, and it's ay shameful that honest bodies must be so sore put. There'll be ruffians and gamblers with masks over their sinful faces, and who's to know? And there's that Freda woman. 'Tis said she plays with the souls of men as a child with a wee bit of a pipe plays with soap-bubbles. And there's all the rest--bold hussies!--who's to stop them from flaunting their fine feathers in our faces? Who's to stop them, I make free to ask? MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Smiling.)_ The doorkeeper, of course. It is quite simple. Masks must be lifted at the door. MRS. McFEE Ou, ay, verra simple, I should say. Belike you'll undertake the doorkeeping, and belike you'll know the face of every rapscallion of them. MRS. EPPINGWELL We'll get one of the men who do know--Mr. Prince, for example. There he is, by the stove. We'll ask him to be doorkeeper. _(Prince goes to rear and joins Loraine.)_ MRS. McFEE _(With more than usual asperity.)_ And how comes it Mr. Prince should know the children of sin and still be company for decent bodies? MRS. EPPINGWELL Because he is a man, I imagine. _(Mrs. McFee snorts.)_ There is Sitka Charley. I suppose you would bar him if he wanted to come? MRS. MCFEE _(Judicially.)_ Why, no, he's a verra good soul. MRS. EPPINGWELL Yet I'm sure he knows all the children of sin, you call them. MRS. McFEE But he's an Indian, and he doesna dance. MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Laughing.)_ Then I suppose I shall not shock you by speaking to him. _(Approaches Sitka Charley, while Mrs. McFee goes to counter and is waited on by a clerk.)_ Good morning, Charley. Have you seen Captain Eppingwell? SITKA CHARLEY _(Nodding good morning.)_ Yes. Mrs. Eppingwell How long ago? Was he here? SITKA CHARLEY I see um last night. MRS. EPPINGWELL Oh! _(Laughing.)_ I've seen him later than that. But he was to meet me here. SITKA CHARLEY Um. MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Trying to make conversation.)_ It is rather cold this morning. Um.