_Policeman._ Why didn"t yez ask him for work?
_Schmidt._ I don"t vant his vork. I vant his money, or you takes him to jail.
_Policeman._ An" phat might his bill be?
_Jack._ Thirty-five cents.
_Policeman (to Schmidt)._ Do yez think I"ve no more to do than arrestin" people for thirty-five cents?
_Schmidt (excitedly)._ Can I feed all the tramps on dis Avenue by my place? I say you arrest him!
_Policeman._ Well, all right--if that"s it. Come along here.
_Belle._ Mr. Schmidt.
_Schmidt._ Hey?
_Belle._ Let me pay what he owes you.
_Schmidt._ Hey?
_Jack._ No!
_Belle._ Let me pay it. He"s a friend of mine, and I don"t want him arrested.
_Jack._ No, no--I won"t have it.
_Belle._ You can pay me back. You"ll get a job soon. Mr. Schmidt, will you take it out of my next wages?
_Jack._ I say no!
_Belle._ You can"t help it. Just take it out of my wages, and let him alone--that"ll settle it, won"t it?
_Schmidt._ Ja, wohl, if you say it so. I haf no more to do mit it!
_(goes Left in anger)._
_Belle._ That"s all right, isn"t it, officer?
_Policeman._ Yez kin call yourself lucky, young feller. Next time I"ll not let yez off so aisy _(exit Center)._
_Jack (stands gazing at Belle)._ Oh, say! That was awfully decent of you! I don"t know how to thank you.
_Belle._ You needn"t thank me.
_Jack._ But--why did you do it?
_Belle._ Because I didn"t want you to go to jail. A fellow gets started at that, and he doesn"t know where to stop.
_Jack._ You make me feel like a dog, because I can"t help you. I had no business to come here!
_Belle._ Don"t make so much out of it. We have to give each other a hand now and then--we"d none of us pull through if we didn"t.
_Jack._ I"ve done nothing to deserve a hand!
_Belle._ You showed me a little kindness. Can"t you understand how that might be worth something?
_Jack (looking at her keenly)._ When you"re sick and discouraged and lonely--yes. _(with sudden intensity)_ By Jove, I _do_ understand!
I"ve wandered up and down these streets all day and all night, and I never dreamed of such loneliness! I could have gone and drowned myself in the river.
_Belle._ I"ve thought of that too--but did you ever go and look in?
It"s even more lonely in the river.
_Jack (hesitates)._ I wish you"d let me be a friend of yours _(laughs with a touch of embarra.s.sment)._ It"s a queer way to get an introduction.
_Belle._ I don"t mind that. I can see when a man is straight--when I can trust him.
_Jack (looks about)._ Well, I suppose I"ve got to go _(hesitates)._ Gee! _(looks outside)._ Brr-r! It"s cold out there!
_Belle._ Have you no place to go?
_Jack._ I have not _(starts, then hesitates)._ Gee! I wish I had a job here. Somehow it seems kind of homelike in this place!
_(pantomime showing Jack"s reluctance)._ Well--I suppose I"ve got to go on. Say--do you suppose they need another waiter here.
_Belle._ I don"t know. You might ask.
_Jack (goes to Schimidt)._ I say, Mr. Schmidt, you couldn"t use another waiter here, could you?
_Schmidt._ I could not. Move along now, or I call anodder police!
_Jack (returns to Belle)._ Gee, it must be tough for a girl like you to be ordered about by a great hulking brute of a Dutchman who has no thought in the world but his cash-drawer! Well, I"ve got to go.
May I come here to eat some time--if I can get the money?
_Belle._ Yes, surely.
_Jack._ Well, good-bye!
_Belle._ Good-bye _(she staggers slightly and he looks at her sharply)._
_Jack._ Why, what"s the matter with you?
_Belle._ Nothing. I"m--I"m just a little weak _(catches herself by the chair)._
_Jack (supporting her)._ Why--she"s fainting! Here! _(To Schmidt)_ Bring me some water. She is ill.
_Belle (feebly)._ No! I"m all right!
_Jack (to Schmidt)._ Hand me that water here. Quick, man! _(Schmidt obeys, dazed by his vehemence.)_ There, that"s better? _(Settles Belle in chair.)_ Didn"t you know the girl was ill?