The Machine | Page 4

JULIA has pushed back the lamp from the table and is having
a light supper, with a cup of tea; and at the same time trying to read a

magazine, which obstinately refuses to remain open at the right place.
She is an attractive and intelligent woman of thirty. The doorbell rings.]
JULIA. Ah, Jack! [Presses button, then goes to the door.]
JACK. [Enters, having come upstairs at a run. He is a college graduate
and volunteer revolutionist, one of the organizers of the "Society of the
Friends of Russian Freedom"; handsome and ardent, eager in manner,
and a great talker.] Hello, Julia. All alone?
JULIA. Yes. I expected a friend, but she can't come until later.
JACK. Just eating?
JULIA. I've been on the go all day. Have something.
JACK. No; I had dinner. [As she starts to clear things away.] Don't stop
on my account.
JULIA. I was just finishing up. [As he begins to help.] No; sit down.
JACK. Nonsense. Let the men be of some use in the world.
JULIA. What have you been up to to-day?
JACK. We're organizing a demonstration for the Swedish strikers.
JULIA. It's marvelous how those Swedes hold on, isn't it?
JACK. The people are getting their eyes open. And when they're once
open, they stay open.
JULIA. Yes. Did you see my article?
JACK. I should think I did! Julia, that was a dandy!
JULIA. Do you think so?
JACK. I do, indeed. You've made a hit. I heard a dozen people talking

about it.
JULIA. Indeed?
JACK. You've come to be the champion female muck- raker of the
country, I think.
[JULIA laughs.]
JACK. Why did you want to see me so specially tonight?
JULIA. I've a friend I want you to meet. Somebody I'm engaged in
educating.
JACK. You seem to have chosen me for your favorite proselytizer.
JULIA. You've seen things with your own eyes, Jack.
JACK. Yes; I suppose so.
JULIA. And you know how to tell about them. And you've such an
engaging way about you...nobody could help but take to you.
JACK. Cut out the taffy. Who's your friend?
JULIA. Her name's Hegan.
JACK. A woman?
JULIA. A girl, yes. And she's coming right along, Jack. You must take
a little trouble with her, for if we can only bring her through, she can do
a lot for us. She's got no end of money.
JACK. No relative of Jim Hegan, I hope?
JULIA. She's his daughter.
JACK. [With a bound.] What!

JULIA. His only daughter.
JACK. Good God, Julia!
JULIA. What's the matter?
JACK. You know I don't want to meet people like that.
JULIA. Why not?
JACK. I don't care to mix with them. I've nothing to say to them.
JULIA. My dear Jack, the girl can't help her father.
JACK. I know that, and I'm sorry for her. But, meantime, I've got my
work to do . . .
JULIA. You couldn't be doing any better work than this. If we can
make a Socialist of Laura Hegan . . .
JACK. Oh, stuff, Julia! I've given up chasing after will-o'-the-wisps
like that.
JULIA. -But think what she could do!
JACK. Yes. I used to think what a whole lot of people could do. You
might as well ask me to think what her father could do . . . if he only
wanted to do it, instead of poisoning the life-blood of the city, and
piling up his dirty millions. Go about this town and see the misery and
horror . . . and think that it's Jim Hegan who sits at the top and reaps the
profit of it all! It's Jim Hegan who is back of the organization . . . he's
the real power behind Boss Grimes. It's he who puts up the money and
makes possible this whole regime of vice and graft . . .
JULIA. My dear boy, don't be silly.
JACK. How do you mean? Isn't it true?
JULIA. Of course it's true . . . but why declaim to me about it? You

forget you are talking to the champion female muckraker of the
country.
JACK. Yes, that's right. But I don't want to meet these people socially.
They mean well, a lot of them, I suppose; but they've been accustomed
all their lives to being people of importance . . . to have everybody
stand in awe of them, because of their stolen money, and all the
wonderful things they might do with it if they only would.
JULIA. My dear Jack, did you ever observe anything of the tuft-hunter
in me?
JACK. No, I don't know that I have. But it's never too late.
JULIA. [Laughing.] Well, until you do, have a little faith in me! Meet
Laura Hegan, and judge for yourself.
JACK.