Leggatt. Well, Snell then; you’d better keep pretty quiet. If this racket continues much longer I’ll miss my four o’clock sleeping spell. Now I wont be disturbed. (Lies down.)
Schnell. Ya! Ya! (Pause fifteen seconds, then loud caterwauling outside, ad lib.) Oh, dem cats! (Softly.) I was afraid of dot beaceful littery chap. He might shoot if he hears dem cats. (Rolls over.) Vell, I ton’t schleep, dot’s sure, alretty. (Glances at L.’s cot.) Dot man was tangerous. I yoost dries to ket a nap by der office. (Rises, softly stealing toward door, R., Leg. rolls over. Schnell, alarmed, darts out.)
Leggatt. (Sleepily yawns.) More noise, somewhere, and I was just going—(settles down and drops to sleep, short loud caterwauling, then all quiet.)
Bulger steals in R. with candle.
Bulger. This night will be worse on me than a week’s sickness. I’ll have to take another liver pill. (Takes pill.) If I had a keg of powder under this old hotel I’d blow it to Kingdom-come, landlord, cats and all. But I mustn’t wake that author or he’ll want to read Squibbs’ novel to me. He’s had a good sleep. I’ve caught cold in that hall. It was like the Cave of the Winds. (Feels bed. Surprised.) Why, that bed is warm yet. That’s very strange! The room is as cold as a barn. There’s no blanket here either. I left that in the hall. If I close that window may be I can get along. I’ll wake everybody in the house probably. (Goes softly to window, tugs at it, steals glance at Leggatt, gives a quick tug, down comes window on the run and breaks a pane of glass.)
Leggatt. (Starting up, sitting posture.) What’s that? Who’s there? (Bulger crawls behind the curtains.) Hey there! Say! (Pause.) It’s that Dutchman again! He’s worse than Bulger was. Fallen out of that rickety old bed again, I suppose. If he’d only break his neck! (Scratching matches, lights candle.) Why, he isn’t there. Now, that’s odd! Both gone! A good riddance. I may catch my four o’clock turn yet. (Starts.) My watch! I’ll bet that Dutchman was a thief in disguise. (Feels in vest pocket.) No, it is there all right. I have nothing else to steal. I’m an author. He wouldn’t take Squibbs’ novel. No, nobody would run away with Squibbs. (Looks at watch again.) 2:45! It’s just time for Bulger’s train. (B. behind curtain, “Confound it.”) What’s that? I surely heard a voice. Some one is concealed somewhere. I’ll call the landlord. No bell. I’ll catch cold if I get up to throw a pop bottle. I guess I’ll just fire the pistol. (B. in alarm dodges closer to wall. Pistol shot.) There! I guess that’ll fetch him. I’ll give him a piece of my mind. When I took this room I gave him the privilege of putting in a quiet party occasionally. Quiet! This has been a delightfully quiet night.
Enter Landlord, R., excitedly followed by Schnell.
Land. Great heavens! Where was that shot?
Schnell. Himmel! He sound like a cannon. I joomp out o’ my schleep ten feet alretty.
Land. (Excitedly.) Where was it? The house will be in an uproar. Leggatt, why don’t you speak?