The Second-Story Man | Page 4

and puts it into bag which he carries;
then exit left.]
AUSTIN. [Enters at front door without much noise. Hangs up coat and
hat, and then stands in entrance. He is a smooth-faced young man in
evening dress.] All gone to bed, hey?
[Takes out cigarette case and is about to light one, when a crash is
heard off left, as of a vase falling. He starts, then runs to table, opens
drawer, takes out revolver, and examines it, and steals off through the
other entrance at left, saying, "That noise seemed to come from
downstairs."]
JIM. [Enters panic-stricken.] God! What a thing to do! [Gazes into hall
and upstairs--long pause.] Don't seem to have waked them.
[Proceeds to examine room, stopping now and then to listen. After
placing several articles in bag, he goes to cabinet and tries to open it.
This takes some time, and while he is crouching in the shadow, with his
back to the entrance right, MRS. AUSTIN appears.]
MRS. AUSTIN. [She is young and beautiful, and wears a night-robe
and dressing- gown. She stands looking about anxiously, and then goes
to centre of room, when she hears a sound from JIM, and starts wildly.]
Oh!
JIM. [Leaps to feet, lifting revolver.] Hold up your hands! [She starts
back in terror.] Hold up your hands!
MRS. AUSTIN. [Half complyingly.] I'm not armed.
JIM. Never mind. [Long pause while they stare at each other.] I don't

want to hurt you, lady.
MRS. AUSTIN. [Calmly, after first shock.] No, I suppose not. You
only want to get away.
JIM. That's right!
MRS. AUSTIN. Very well, you may go.
JIM. And you yell for the police the moment I get out of the door, hey?
MRS. AUSTIN. No, I don't want the police. I don't believe in sending
men to jail.
JIM. Humph!
[Another pause.]
MRS. AUSTIN. Why do you do this?
JIM. It's the way I live.
MRS. AUSTIN. Isn't it a rather trying kind of work?
JIM. It ain't all play, ma'am.
MRS. AUSTIN. [Smiling.] I should think it would be hard on the
nerves. [After another pause.] Is there no honest way you can earn a
living?
JIM. I don't know. Maybe so. I got tired of looking for it.
MRS. AUSTIN. I might help you if you would let me.
JIM. I ain't asking any help.
MRS. AUSTIN. No, but I'm offering it. [After a pause.] Have you been
doing this sort of thing very long?
JIM. No.
MRS. AUSTIN. How long?
JIM. [After hesitation.] This is my first job.
MRS. AUSTIN. What! You don't mean that?
JIM. It happens to be true, ma'am.
MRS. AUSTIN. What made you do it?
JIM. It's a long story.
MRS. AUSTIN. Tell it to me.
JIM. It ain't just a good time for story telling.
MRS. AUSTIN. You are afraid of me? I have no quarrel with you. I
don't care anything for the things you have in the bag; and, besides, I
suppose you won't take them now. I'm only sorry to see a man going
wrong, and I'd like to help if I could. I'll play fair, I give you my word
of honor.
JIM. There ain't much honor in this business.

MRS. AUSTIN. No, I suppose not. But you can trust me. Put up that
gun and talk to me.
JIM. [Surlily.] It can't do any good.
MRS. AUSTIN. It can't do any harm. Put up that revolver, and tell me
what's the matter.
JIM. You'll let me go when I want to? No tricks!
MRS. AUSTIN. I give you my word.
JIM. All right. I'm a fool, I guess, but I'll trust you. [Puts revolver in
pocket.] Sit down, ma'am. It must be cold for you. This is a queer kind
of layout for a burglar. [Sits opposite her.] You heard that racket I made
in the other room?
MRS. AUSTIN. Yes. What was it?
JIM. Some kind of a jar.
MRS. AUSTIN. Oh, my Greek vase. Well, never mind . . . it was an
imitation. What were you doing?
JIM. I was looking for something to eat.
MRS. AUSTIN. Oh!
JIM. It would have been the first thing I've had since the day before
yesterday.
MRS. AUSTIN. What's the matter?
JIM. No work. [A pause.] I suppose you'll give me the old gag . . .
there's plenty of work for a man that's willing.
MRS. AUSTIN. No, I happen to have studied, and I know better than
that. Else I should have fainted when I saw you . . . instead of sitting
here talking to you . . . . Do you drink?
JIM. Yes, but I didn't use to. Any man would drink . . . that went
through what I did.
MRS. AUSTIN. Are you married?
JIM. Yes .