t in it to win--my friends kind a put it that way--an' it
seems I ought to do my best for _them_--but--I wish you luck, old
man,--I wouldn't take the nomination now--I didn't think Kate cared.

CURTAIN.

ACT II.

SCENE. VERNON'S _blacksmith shop, adjoining his living-room. Forge.
Door to living-room above forge. Bellows down stage below forge. Bench
with vise at left. Big double doors. Trusses. Tub of water back of
anvil._

DISCOVERED. JOE _and_ CAL _beating weld of tire;_ ESROM, _a
half-witted negro, absently playing jew's-harp on trusses._

JOE. [_Wearing boots and leather apron._] Hand me the traveller.
[HELPER _hands it, and drops tire horizontally on anvil, while_
JOE _runs traveller around it inside._] Jes' the same size--give it
another heat an' we'll beat her out a quarter inch. [_Crosses to left
centre._ HELPER _puts tire into fire and works bellows._] Esrom!

ESROM. Yes, sah.

JOE. I'm purty busy now, an' that tune--can't you let up till I'm
through?

ESROM. Yes, sah.

JOE. An' while you're resting you might bring another bucket o' water
an' dump it in this tub.

ESROM. [_Going._] Yes, sah--don't you really want to buy any mo' coke?

JOE. Not this morning, Esrom. [_Exit_ ESROM _with jew's-harp,
playing._] Ready? [_Takes tire from fire and hammers weld out--when
pounding is done, traveller runs over it as before. Enter_ MRS.
VERNON.

MRS. VERNON. Joe, can't you leave that now?

JOE. Course I can't, ma--it's Louisiana time now.

MRS. VERNON. Well, the breakfast's spilin'. [_Exit._

JOE. [_Calling._] Well, it's Dave an' his durned alarm-clock--if I'd
let Kate set it--I guess she's all right now, Cal. [HELPER _puts tire
in fire--last heating._ JOE _goes to trusses and lays wheel square.
Enter_ SARBER. SARBER _wears linen duster and boots, and carries a
whip._] Hello, Bill.

SARBER. [_Down_] Hello, Joe--mighty nigh time. [_Looking at watch._

JOE. Won't be a minute longer--soon as we stretch her a little and
drop her over this bunch of bones--

SARBER. [_Examining wheel._] Hello, Cal? [HELPER _nods._] Fellers
ain't hurt?

JOE. Nothin' ain't hurt. [_Enter_ ESROM _with water._] This wheel's
got as purty a dish as I ever see.

SARBER. Don't know why the durned weld broke.

JOE. Them steel tires are hard to make fast sometimes--

ESROM. Right heah, Joe.

JOE. Let her go.

ESROM _pours water into tub._

ESROM. [_Coaxingly._] No coke dis mawnin'?

JOE. No. [ESROM _exits._ _To_