_Shawn Early:_ Do you tell me so? Well, that’s a queer thing, and Bartley Fallon so quiet a man! _Mrs. Tully:_ I wouldn’t wonder at all. I would never think well of a man that would have that sort of a mouldering look. It’s likely he has overtaken Jack by this. (_Enter James Ryan and Mrs. Tarpey._) _James Ryan:_ That is great news Mrs. Tarpey was telling me! I suppose that’s what brought the police and the magistrate up this way. I was wondering to see them in it a while ago. _Shawn Early:_ The police after them? Bartley Fallon must have injured Jack so. They wouldn’t meddle in a fight that was only for show! _Mrs. Tully:_ Why wouldn’t he injure him? There was many a man killed with no more of a weapon than a hayfork. _James Ryan:_ Wait till I run north as far as Kelly’s bar to spread the news! (_He goes out._) _Tim Casey:_ I’ll go tell Jack Smith’s first cousin that is standing there south of the church after selling his lambs. (_Goes out._) _Mrs. Tully:_ I’ll go telling a few of the neighbours I see beyond to the west. (_Goes out._) _Shawn Early:_ I’ll give word of it beyond at the east of the green. (_Is going out when Mrs. Tarpey seizes hold of him._) _Mrs. Tarpey:_ Stop a minute, Shawn Early, and tell me did you see red Jack Smith’s wife, Kitty Keary, in any place? _Shawn Early:_ I did. At her own house she was, drying clothes on the hedge as I passed. _Mrs. Tarpey:_ What did you say she was doing? _Shawn Early:_ (_Breaking away._) Laying out a sheet on the hedge. (_He goes._) _Mrs. Tarpey_: Laying out a sheet for the dead! The Lord have mercy on us! Jack Smith dead, and his wife laying out a sheet for his burying! (_Calls out._) Why didn’t you tell me that before, Shawn Early? Isn’t the deafness the great hardship? Half the world might be dead without me knowing of it or getting word of it at all! (_She sits down and rocks herself._) O my poor Jack Smith! To be going to his work so nice and so hearty, and to be left stretched on the ground in the full light of the day! (_Enter Tim Casey._) _Tim Casey:_ What is it, Mrs. Tarpey? What happened since? _Mrs. Tarpey:_ O my poor Jack Smith! _Tim Casey:_ Did Bartley overtake him? _Mrs. Tarpey:_ O the poor man! _Tim Casey:_ Is it killed he is? _Mrs. Tarpey:_ Stretched in the Five Acre Meadow! _Tim Casey:_ The Lord have mercy on us! Is that a fact? _Mrs. Tarpey:_ Without the rites of the Church or a ha’porth! _Tim Casey:_ Who was telling you? _Mrs. Tarpey:_ And the wife laying out a sheet for his corpse. (_Sits up and wipes her eyes._) I suppose they’ll wake him the same as another? (_Enter Mrs. Tully, Shawn Early, and James Ryan._) _Mrs. Tully:_ There is great talk about this work in every quarter of the fair. _Mrs. Tarpey:_ Ochone! cold and dead. And myself maybe the last he was speaking to! _James Ryan:_ The Lord save us! Is it dead he is? _Tim Casey:_ Dead surely, and the wife getting provision for the wake.