's Travers, ain't it?

JOE. [_Coaxing_.] Is it, Kate?

KATE. Yes, it is.

JOE. Well, there, ma--see. [_Walks away as though matter were closed.
Crossing left_.

MRS. VERNON. Air you losin' your senses, Joe Vernon?

JOE. [_Irritated_.] The girl's tole you, ain't she?

MRS. VERNON. And jes' what I thought, too. She's goin' to meet him.

KATE. Well, what of it? You're polite enough to his face.

MRS. VERNON. Of course, if he'll come here like a man. But when I was
a gurl--it'd a been an insult fur a man to send a note askin' her to
meet him after dark.

JOE. [_Loudly chaffing_.] Oh, ma--now don't forget--

MRS. VERNON. You upholdin' her? Jim, that's the way I have to fight to
keep this family straight. What's _your_ opinion?

JIM. Well, 'tain't no business o' mine, Mrs. Vernon, and--

MRS. VERNON. Do you like his looks?

JIM. [_Pause_.] He ain't jes' my kind--but may be he don't like mine.

MRS. VERNON. Do you uphold his sending letters to Kate?

JIM. Why, Mrs. Vernon, I can't blame other men fur likin' Kate.

MRS. VERNON. Meetin' them after dark?

JIM. Kate knows how I feel about her--[_Pause_.] And if she wanted my
opinion I'd give it to her--but on the other hand--I've got an awful
lot o' confidence in Kate.

MRS. VERNON. Why don't you answer his letter, Kate, an' say you'll
be happy to receive him at your home? He won't think none the less of
you.

KATE. I've promised to meet him, and I'm going to keep the
appointment.

MRS. VERNON. Is she, Joe?

JOE. Well, ma, I can't tie her.

MRS. VERNON. Take Lizbeth with you.

KATE. I don't want Lizbeth with me.

LIZBETH. I won't play proprietary for her!

KATE. [_Starting up_.] I'm going alone. [_Crosses right_.

MRS. VERNON. [_With her back to street door_.] Not this door, you
ain't.

KATE. Then the other. [_Exits, followed by_ MRS. VERNON.

MRS. VERNON. [_As she disappears by door_.] We'll see!

_Enter_ BOLLINGER _from street_.

BOLLINGER. [_In great excitement_.] Say, boys--man killed up at
Clark's--

JOE. [_Catching the thrill_.] Man killed?

BOLLINGER. Yes.

LIZBETH _and_ EM'LY. Oh!

JOE. Run over?

BOLLINGER. Shot.

ALL. Shot!

BOLLINGER. [_Revelling in the gossip_.] Travers shot him. Sam Fowler
came in the drug-store, and the minute he saw him he said, "That's the
man robbed my car--"

JIM. [_Quietly_.] What's he look like?

BOLLINGER. [_Impatiently_.] Why, _Travers_--Sam says that's the
man--and Travers started for th