"Then, we must get out of here to-night with the gold," Jack hurriedly said, "and take you along. My mother will be glad to have a girl like you in the house, and it is only forty miles up the river to the mines. Is Felipe a sound sleeper?"
"I will see to it that he sleeps well to-night," Maria answered, with more meaning in her words than Jack understood at the time. "Hush! They are coming!"
While Felipe slept soundly in his hammock that night under the influence of an herb that Maria added to his tea, the two Americanos paddled their canoe rapidly up the Urubu River toward the mines. Maria sat demurely in the bow; for she was not quite as heavy as the box of gold, so that was put in the stern. The thousand dollars that was her share of the reward made Maria one of the richest half-breed girls in Venezuela, and the boys still delight in counting over the five hundred dollars that fell to each of them. But Jack's mother says the greatest prize captured in that expedition was Maria, the copper-colored little Venezuelan.
[CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.]
BY PATTY PEMBERTON BERMANN.
Dramatis Personæ:
| Madge. |
| Bess. |
| A Stranger. |
| A Salesman. |
| A Cash-boy. |
Scene.—The Upholstery Department of a fashionable shop. Screens, piles of rugs, sofa pillows, etc., in confusion. Three or four cane-seated chairs placed about at irregular distances. Across left end of stage extends a pole for the display of curtains. Behind these the actors may retire. There should be a second exit opposite, near back of stage. Right of centre an upright piano. As curtain rises, enter slowly, Cash-boy bearing check and small change.
[An impression of space may be produced in two ways, either by hanging a background canvas, whereon is painted a perspective of counters, draperies, potteries, etc., or by the use of mirrors. As scene-painters do not grow on every twig, the better plan is to borrow long mirrors from a house-furnishing establishment, and arrange them so that they reflect a section of the stage behind the curtained pole. This section can be made to look as if sales of small articles were going on at another end of the shop from that in the foreground of stage. But take care that no part of the real stage setting is reflected. A pantomimic repetition of the play would bring down the house, and as certainly disturb the performers. Do not crowd the stage.]
Cash-boy. Now where's 792 gone, I wonder? That's just the way with 'em; always yelling for "check," and when you come racing and tearing, they ain't there. Glad I ain't down-stairs, to have them girls hollering "Cosh! Cosh!" (mimicking) fit to bust your ears. Guess I better chase after 792. (Seats himself, and examines change.) I'll toss up to see where he is—heads, he's skipped to lunch; tails (enter, R., Madge and Bess unobserved), he'll gimme ginger for keeping him waiting.