t, takes up other coat, hangs both on pegs.)_

The apple pie, Sir.

_(Hazel sits down, gasping and wiping his face.
Mineog turns his back.)_

_John:_ Is there anything after happening, Mr. Hazel?

_Hazel:_ There is not--unless some sort of a battle.

_John:_ Ah, what signifies? There to be more of battles in the
world there would be less of wars.

_(He pushes Mineog's chair to table.)_

_Hazel: (After a pause.)_ Apple pie?

_Mineog: (Sitting down.)_ Indeed, I am not any way inclined for
eating.

_(Takes plate. John stuffs a cushion into window pane and picks up
MSS.)_

_John:_ Are these belonging to you, Mr. Mineog?

_Mineog:_ Let you throw them on the coals of the fire, where we
have no use for them presently.

_Hazel: (Stopping John and taking them.)_ Thursday is very near at
hand. Two empty columns is a large space to go fill.

_Mineog:_ Indeed I am feeling no way fit to go writing columns.

_Hazel: (Putting his MS. in his pocket.)_ There is nothing ails
them only to begin a good way after the start, and to stop before
the finish.

_Mineog: (Putting his MS. in his pocket.)_ We'll do that. We can
put such part of them as we do not need at this time back in the
shelf of the press.

_Hazel: (Filling glasses and lifting his.)_ That it may be long
before they will be needed!

_Mineog: (Lifting glass.)_ That they may _never_ be needed!

_Curtain_

DAMER'S GOLD

A COMEDY IN TWO ACTS

PERSONS

_Patrick Kirwan_ CALLED DAMER
_Staffy Kirwan_ HIS BROTHER
_Delia Hessian_ HIS SISTER
_Ralph Hessian_ HER HUSBAND
_Simon Niland_ THEIR NEPHEW

DAMER'S GOLD

ACT I

_Scene: The kitchen in Damer's house. Outer door at back. Door
leading to an inner room to right. A dresser, a table, and a couple
of chairs. An old coat and hat hanging on the wall. A knocking is
heard at door at back. It is unlatched from outside. Delia comes in_.

_Delia: (Looking round cautiously and going back to door.)_ You
may come in, Staffy and Ralph. There would seem to be no person here.

_Staffy:_ Take care would Damer ask us to cross the threshold at
all. I would not ask to go pushing on him, but to wait till he would
call to us himself. He is not an easy led man.

_Delia: (Crossing and knocking at inner door.)_ He is not in it.
He is likely slipped out unknownst.

_Ralph:_ Herself that thought to find him at the brink of death