_Belle._ Why, sure!
_Bill._ I ain"t no dead beat, youse unnerstand. I earn my keep. Look a here! _(Pulls out a handful of pennies.)_ Ain"t much gold in it, but it makes a good jingle.
_Belle._ How did you get it?
_Bill._ Extry! Extry! Woil"n Join"l! Sun"n Globe! Mail"n Telygram!
_(Looks about.)_ Say, I don"t like the housekeepin" in this here joint.
_Belle._ What"s the matter?
_Bill._ A woman ought t"unnerstan"--when a man"s been out hustlin"
all day, he wants good, warm, nourishin" food, an" he wants it quick.
_Belle._ Well, sir, you see, sir, if I"d known exactly what hour you"d be in, sir! How would a slice of bread strike you?
_Bill._ Hand it out!
_Belle (gives him bread and he stuffs it. She sits on table.)_ Come here, Bill. You know, it looks nice, having you here. I had a little brother once.
_Bill._ Youse did?
_Belle._ I used to take care of him. If you"re going to be a member of this family, I"ll have to take care of you.
_Bill._ Watcher mean?
_Belle._ I used to wash the s.m.u.t off his face before each meal.
_Bill (disconcerted)._ Gee! Three times a day? Gawd a"mighty!
_Belle._ I"ll pay you for it, Bill.
_Bill._ What"ll youse pay?
_Belle._ Well, I wonder. A kid that"s had a stepfather to beat him and no one to love him! _(Puts her arm around him and kisses him gently on the cheek.)_
_Bill._ Holy smoke! _(Wonder and delight dawn on his face.)_ Say! I like that!
_Belle._ Then it"s a bargain?
_Bill._ Sure! Put it there! _(They shake hands.)_ Does it begin to-night?
_Belle._ No, I"m too tired to-night. We"ll start out fresh in the morning. You must be tired too, Bill. You"d better go in and sleep.
_(Leads him Right.)_
_Bill._ Say, Belle!
_Belle._ Well?
_Bill._ I like them kisses.
_Belle (clasps him in her arms.)_ Poor little fellow! _(Kisses him again.)_
_Bill._ Gee, but this is like heaven!
_Belle._ Good-night, Bill.
_Bill._ Good-night. _(Exit, closes door.)_
_Belle (returns, sinks to table with a moan of exhaustion; then hearing Jack coming, sits up, listens, gets herself together and pretends to be busy.)_ h.e.l.lo, Jack.
_Jack (enters)._ Well, Belle?
_Belle._ Did you get any work to-day?
_Jack._ Fine luck to-day. I made a quarter, helping to load a truck.
_Belle._ Is that all?
_Jack._ Better than nothing. How goes it with you, Belle?
_Belle._ Pretty well.
_Jack._ Only pretty well? Isn"t the rest doing you good?
_Belle._ Some good, I think, Jack.
_Jack._ Say, Belle! Do you know, I think you were much better after that imaginary journey we took the other night. Let"s take another.
_Belle (looking up with a feeble smile)._ So soon?
_Jack._ I"ve got some more time-tables.
_Belle._ Where"s it to be?
_Jack._ I"m tired of the Europe business. It takes so long, getting to Switzerland and Egypt. I believe in seeing America first.
_Belle._ Where shall we go? To Hoboken?
_Jack._ Stop laughing at me. We"re going to Florida. _(Draws up chair to table and spreads out R. R. folders and time-tables.)_
_Belle._ Where do you get those?
_Jack._ At the ticket-office. They give them away.
_Belle._ With those lovely pictures! How nice of them!
_Jack._ Yes--isn"t it! Now--here"s the Atlantic Coast line. We leave New York at noon----