MAYOR CLARK.
I ain’t cloakin’in wid none. I’m de Mayor of dis whole town I stands for de right an’ ginst de wrong—I don’t keer who it kill or cure.
SISTER THOMAS.
You think it’s right to be runnin’dat boy off for nothin’?
CLARK.
I God! You call knockin’a man in de head wid a mule bone nothin’? ’Nother thin; I done missed nine of my best-layin’hens. I ain’t sayin’Jim got ’em, but different people has tole me he burries a powerful lot of feathers in his back yard. I God, I’m a ruint man! (He starts towards the right exit, but LUM BOGER enters right.) I God, Lum, I been lookin’for you all day. It’s almost three o’clock. (Hands him a key from his ring) Take dis key an’ go fetch Jim Weston on to de church.
LUM.
Have you got yo’ gavel from de lodge-room?
CLARK.
I God, that’s right, Lum. I’ll go get it from de lodge room whilst you go git de bone an’ de prisoner. Hurry up! You walk like dead lice droppin’off you. (He exits right while LUM crosses stage towards left.)
SISTER TAYLOR.
Lum, Elder Simms been huntin’you—he’s gone on down ’bout de barn. (She gestures)
LUM BOGER.
I reckon I’ll overtake him. (Exit left.)
SISTER THOMAS.
I better go put dese greens on. My husband will kill me if he don’t find no supper ready. Here come Mrs. Blunt. She oughter feel like a penny’s worth of have-mercy wid all dis stink behind her daughter.
SISTER TAYLOR.
Chile, some folks don’t keer. They don’t raise they chillun; they drags ’em up. God knows if dat Daisy wuz mine, I’d throw her down an’ put a hundred lashes on her back wid a plow-line. Here she come in de store Sat’day night (Acts coy and coquettish, burlesques DAISY’S walk) a wringing and a twisting!
(Enter MRS. BLUNT, left.)