The Ghost of Jerry Bundler | Page 6

hand, is just putting it into his pocket. Seeing him.) Why, what's that you've got there?
LEEK. A revolver. (At fire.) You see I do a lot of night driving, visiting patients in outlying districts--they're a tough lot round here, and one never knows what might happen, so I have been accustomed to carry it. I just pulled it out so as to have it handy. I meant to have a pot at that ghost if I had seen him. There's no law against it, is there? I never heard of a close time for ghosts.
BELDON.--Oh, I say, never mind ghosts. Will you share my room? (To MALCOLM.)
(GEORGE comes down a little, holding candle.)
MALCOLM. With pleasure. I'm not exactly frightened, but I'd sooner have company, and I daresay George here would be glad to be allowed to make up a bed on the floor.
BELDON. Certainly.
MALCOLM. Well, that's settled. A majority of three to one ought to stop any ghost. Will that arrangement suit you, George?
GEORGE. Thank you, sir. And if you gentlemen would kindly come down to the bar with me while I put out the gas. I could never be sufficiently grateful, and when (at door) we come back we can let the Doctor out at the front door. Will that do, sir?
LEEK. All right; I'll be getting my coat on. (GEORGE gets to door. They exit at door L. LEEK picks up his coat off chair up L., puts it on and then turns up trousers. Footsteps heard in flies, then goes to the window R., pulls curtain aside and opens the shutters of the window nearest the fire. A flood of moonlight streams in from R. Clock strikes twelve.) By Jove, what a lovely night. That poor devil did get a fright, and no mistake. (Crossing down to fireplace for his cap which is on the mantelpiece. MALCOLM, BELDON and GEORGE return--the door closes after them.) Well, no sign of it, eh?
MALCOLM. No, we've seen nothing this time. Here, give me the candle, George, while you turn out the gas.
LEEK. All right, George, I'll put this one out. (Turns out gas below fire.)
(MALCOLM and BELDON are up at sideboard, GEORGE having put the other gas out, goes up to them and is just lighting the candles for them. The DOCTOR is filling his pipe at mantel-shelf, and stooping to get a light with a paper spill. LEEK whistles and lights spill. The handle of the door is heard moving. OMNES stand motionless--MALCOLM and BELDON very frightened. They all watch. The room is lit only by the firelight which is very much fainter than it was at the beginning of the play, by the candle which GEORGE holds, and by the flood of moonlight from the window.)
(The door slowly opens, a hand is seen, then a figure appears in dark breeches, white stockings, buckled shoes, white shirt, very neat in every detail, with a long white or spotted handkerchief tied round the neck, the long end hanging down in front. The face cadaverous, with sunken eyes and a leering smile, and close cropped red hair. The figure blinks at the candle, then slowly raises its hands and unties the handkerchief, its head falls on to one shoulder, it holds handkerchief out at arm's length and advances towards MALCOLM.)
Table GEORGE LEEK BELDON MALCOLM Chair
Fire HIRST
(Just as the figure reaches the place where the moonbeams touch the floor, LEEK fires--he has very quietly and unobtrusively drawn his revolver. GEORGE drops the candle and the figure, writhing, drops to the floor. It coughs once a choking cough. MALCOLM goes slowly forward, touches it with his foot, and kneels by figure, lifts figure up, gazes at it, and pulls the red wig off, discovering HIRST. MALCOLM gasps out "DOCTOR." LEEK places the revolver on chair, kneels behind HIRST. MALCOLM is L. C., kneeling. At this moment SOMERS enters very brightly with lighted candle.)
SOMERS. Well, did Hirst win his bet? (Seeing HIRST on floor, he realizes the matter). My God, you didn't--I told him not to. I told him not to!! I told him--(falls fainting into arms of GEORGE.)
Curtain.

PICTURE.
BELDON GEORGE LEEK HIRST MALCOLM SOMERS (kneeling) (seated (kneeling) (at door L.) on floor)
NOTE. When played at The Haymarket the piece finished with a different ending as given below. MR. CYRIL MAUDE fearing the above tragic termination would be too serious.
From SOMERS' entrance.
SOMERS enters with lighted candle, and exclaims very brightly.
SOMERS. Well, did Hirst win his bet?
Slight pause.
HIRST (suddenly sitting up). Yes. (Turning to DR. LEEK.) You're a damned bad shot, Doctor. (Then to MALCOLM.) And I'll trouble you for that sovereign.
The remaining characters express astonishment.
CURTAIN.

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MARY'S ANKLE
A comedy in 3 acts. By May Tully. Produced originally at the Bijou Theatre, New York. 6 males, 4 females. 1 interior, 1 exterior