The Climbers | Page 9

[_With pathetic shame._] Let me go! I see what's the
matter with you, but the reason is no excuse; you've been drinking.
STERLING. [_Dropping her hand._] Ugh! The usual whimper of a
woman!
[RUTH _reënters Right._
RUTH. Well, Blanche, dear, your mother's in a calmer frame of mind,
and I must go. Dick, can you lunch with me to-morrow?

STERLING. [_Hesitating, not caring about it._] Er--to-morrow?--er--
RUTH. Oh, only for business. I must have a new business man now to
do all that he did for me, and I'm going to try to make up to you for not
having been always your--best friend, by putting my affairs in your
hands.
BLANCHE. [_Serious, uneasy, almost frightened._] Aunt Ruth--
[_She stops._
RUTH. What, dear?
BLANCHE. Nothing.
[She gives STERLING _a searching, steady look and keeps her eyes
upon him, trying to read his real self._
RUTH. [Continues to STERLING.] Mr. Mason is coming to me in the
morning, and if you will lunch with me at one, I will then be able to
give all the papers over to you.
[STERLING, _who up to this time has been almost dumbfounded by
this sudden good fortune, now collects himself, and speaks delightedly
but with sufficient reserve of his feelings._ BLANCHE does not take
her eyes from STERLING'S _face._
STERLING. Aunt Ruth, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I
will do my best.
BLANCHE. [_Quickly._] Promise her, Dick, before me--give her your
word of honor--you will be faithful to Aunt Ruth's trust.
[He answers BLANCHE'S _look steadily with a hard gaze of his own._
RUTH. His acceptance of my trust is equal to that, Blanche.
BLANCHE. It is of course, isn't it, Dick?

STERLING. Of course.
[BLANCHE _is not content, but has to satisfy herself with this._
RUTH. To-morrow at one, then.
[_She starts to go._
[JORDAN _enters Left._
JORDAN. Mr. Warden.
RUTH. I can't wait. Good-by.
[_She goes out Left._
BLANCHE. We will see Mr. Warden.
JORDAN. Yes, madam.
[_He goes out Left._
STERLING. Blanche, go to your mother and ask her to see Ned to
thank him. I want a minute's talk with him if you don't mind.
BLANCHE. [_Pathetically._] What difference does it make, Dick, if I
do mind?
STERLING. Don't say that, old girl, and don't think it.
BLANCHE. Dick, you are honest, aren't you?
STERLING. [_Without flinching._] What a question, Blanche!
[JORDAN _enters Left announcing "Mr. Warden."_ WARDEN _enters,
and_ JORDAN _goes out._
[EDWARD WARDEN, though in reality scarcely younger than
STERLING, _looks at least ten years his junior. He is good-looking,

practical, a reasoning being, and self-controlled. He is a thorough
American, with the fresh and strong ideals of his race, and with the
feeling of romance alive in the bottom of his heart._
STERLING. [_In enormous relief, greets him joyfully._] Ned, what do
you think! The greatest news going!
BLANCHE. Dick!
STERLING. Excuse me, Blanche, I forgot; but Ned will know how I
can't help being glad.
[WARDEN goes to MRS. STERLING.
BLANCHE. [Shaking NED'S _hand._] And Mr. Warden knows
nothing could make me "_glad_" to-day. Thank you for all your
kindness--
WARDEN. Don't thank me; it was nothing.
BLANCHE. Yes, please let me thank you all I can; it won't be half
what I feel, but I want to know that you know even my silence is full of
gratitude for all you've done for my mother, sisters, and me.
STERLING. Yes, we're all immensely indebted to you, Ned, old man.
BLANCHE. I will tell mother. I know she wants to see you.
[_She goes out Right._
STERLING. [_Speaking with suppressed excitement and
uncontrollable gladness, unable to keep it back any longer._] Ned, my
wife's aunt, Miss Hunter, has put all her business in my hands.
WARDEN. Made you her agent?
STERLING. Yes! What a godsend! Hunter didn't leave a cent.
[_A moment's pause of astonishment._]

WARDEN. What do you mean?
STERLING. It seems he's been losing for a long time. Everything he
had he lost in the copper crash.
WARDEN. But this is awful! What will Mrs. Hunter and her two
young daughters do?
STERLING. I don't know. I hadn't thought of that.
WARDEN. You'll have to think of it.
STERLING. I?
WARDEN. Of course you'll have to help them.
STERLING. I can't! Look here, I didn't tell you the truth about my
affairs last week, when I struck you for that loan.
WARDEN. You don't mean to say you weren't straight with me?
STERLING. Oh, I only didn't want to frighten you till I'd got the
money; if you had made me the loan, I'd have owned up afterwards all
right enough.
WARDEN. Owned up what?
STERLING. That I told you a pack of lies--that I haven't any
security!--that I haven't anything but debts.
WARDEN. [_Strongly._] Good things to borrow on! Look here,