, they hinted to me that they'd like to
square it.

JOE. Compromise.

JIM. [_Nodding his head._] I worked it up for him. Said Bollinger was
a regular terror.

EM'LY. Will the express company have to pay Sam?

JIM. Well, rather. And after they do, Sam ought to go down to their
president's office and kick 'em all around the back-yard.

_Exit_ KATE.

JOE. What's ailing Kate?

MRS. VERNON. Seems out o' sorts--mebbe she'll tell me alone. [_Exit._

DAVE. [_Protesting._] You can't move backwards.

LIZBETH. Well?

DAVE. That's cornered.

JOE. He's got you, Lizbeth.

JIM. Dave!

DAVE. Yes?

JIM. I saw the Wabash folks.

DAVE. Have a talk with them?

JIM. [_Hands_ DAVE _a paper._] Yes--there's a memorandum
agreement--they'll take all I can give 'em at thirty dollars a
car-load.

JOE. What's that?

JIM _takes a piece of gumbo from pocket and hands it to_ JOE.

JIM. [_To_ DAVE.] Now I've got a proposition for you.

DAVE. What?

JIM. You superintend the burnin' of the stuff, and I'll take you in.

DAVE. Why, Jim--[_Rises in delight._

JOE. What's this fur?

JIM. Ballast.

JOE. Ballast?

JIM. Yes, that road-bed that washes out. [_Pause._] Thirty dollars a
car.

JOE. What!

JIM. Me an' Dave.

DAVE. Why, Jim, I ain't got no claim on you.

JIM. You pumped the bellows this morning while I burned it.

DAVE. Well--

JIM. And you want a steady job, don't you?

DAVE. Well--[_"I should say so," understood; turns to him._

JOE. But see here--[JIM _looks at him--waits._]--You goin' into this?

JIM. Wouldn't you, if you got the contract?

JOE. But Dave--Dave's helpin' me!

JIM. You told him to git a job, didn't you?

JOE. Yes--but--

LIZBETH. [_Ready for a fight._] An' that's what you told me.

JIM. [_Abetting_ LIZBETH.] Yes.

JOE. But my business needs somebody.

JIM. Then why don't you let them git married?

JOE. An' me support them?

JIM. [_In disgust._] Hell!--

JOE. What's the matter?

JIM. Ain't he worth his wages?

JOE. I never said he wasn't.

JIM. [_In superlative display._] And he's made nearly a whole set of
furniture.

JOE. But if I went to Jefferson, I was goin' to leave this shop with
Dave.

LIZBETH. [_With pride._] Dave!

JIM. Well, that's different. See here! You let 'em get married. I only
want Dave to superintend this burnin'--it won't take two half-days a
week to kind a-look it over--we kin get niggers to do the work, and
Dave kin stay here.

LIZBETH