_Jessie (rushing to him)._ Jack, I can't let you go! _Jack._ Don't touch me, Jessie. You'll ruin your dress. _Bob._ Let her kiss you, Jack. She'll be the last girl that offers for some time. _Jack (to Jessie)._ Be sensible, dear. I won't let any harm come to me. _Bob._ Get one of the fast freights, Jack. _Jack._ No freights in mine--New York will do. There's some money still lying around in this old town, I've an idea. _Dad (sarcastically)._ He'll be king of the shoe-string peddlers--the walking delegate of the Hobos' Union! _Jack._ You may laugh, Dad, but I know I'm not such a fool as I seem. Maybe it'll take me more than six months, but I think I can convince you in the end that I can make my way. _Dad._ Maybe you'll not want the quarter of a million at all! _Jack._ Oh, an extra quarter of a million would always come in handy. But we'll settle that when I return, Dad. For the present, I've got the world to conquer. _Bob._ Bow down, world! _Jack._ What I say is: Come on, world! _(with a gesture of defiance)_ I'm ready for you! I'll show you what I can do. Good-bye! _(exit suddenly Left)_ _Jessie._ Jack! Jack! Oh, how perfectly terrible! This cold night, and no money! What will he do? _Bob._ There's many another man out there with no money. What do _they_ do? _Jessie._ Bob, I _hate_ you! _Dad._ It'll be the very thing for the young scapegrace--if he'll stick to it. _Jessie._ But how will he live, Dad? _Dad._ Live? Wasn't I a poor boy when I came to the city? And didn't I manage to make a fortune? Let him do what I did! _Jessie._ But you were used to hardships, Dad! _Dad._ Used to it? Of course I was--and why shouldn't _he_ be? Why is he too good to work like other men? _Jessie (pleading)_ Oh, Dad--_(Sudden loud sounds in Real-play, Right; piano and voices shouting chorus of the latest rag-time. Play-play fades instantly.)_ _Will._ Hell and damnation! There go the devils with their coon-songs! _(leaps up with distracted gestures)_ Oh! Oh! Oh! _Peggy (laughing, runs to window--and tries to close it; sounds continue)._ _Will._ The monsters! The fiends! The satellites of Satan! _Peggy. (laughing)._ The window's stuck! Come put it down, dear. _Will._ The window's always stuck when that mad-house opens up! _Bill (waking)._ Ah---- _Will._ What's that? _Peggy._ It's Bill waking _(runs to him)._ _Bill (sitting up)._ Oh! _Peggy._ They woke you up, dear! _Bill._ I'm glad of it! _Will._ Hello! Bill! _Bill._ Oh, hello! You got back, did you! _Will._ Yes. _Bill._ Say, Will, listen to the music! _Will._ I hear it. _Bill (delightedly)._ Gee! That's great, ain't it? _Will._ You like it? _Bill._ You bet I like it! Say, I know that tune! The beggar-kid sings it every time he comes. _(Sits up in bed and keeps time with his finger. Chorus begins and he joins in at the top of his voice.)_ CURTAIN ACT II.