to him. He thought to buttress his speech
with them this afternoon. And yet, so hopelessly unpractical is
he, that you see they are already back in the rightful owner's
hands.

{Margaret}

Then his speech is ruined?

{Starkweather}

Absolutely. The wheels are all ready to turn. The good people of
the United States will dismiss him with roars of laughter--a good
phrase, that: Hubbard's, I believe.

(_Dropping documents on the open cover of dispatch box, picking
up the pile of several account books and packets of papers, and
rising._) One moment. I must put these away.

(_Starkweather goes to alcove at left rear. He presses a button
and alcove is lighted by electricity, discovering the face of a
large safe. During the following scene he does not look around,
being occupied with working the combination, opening the safe,
putting away account books and packets of papers, and with
examining other packets which are in safe._)

(_Margaret looks at documents lying on open cover of dispatch box
and glancing quickly about room, takes a sudden resolution. She
seizes documents, makes as if to run wildly from the room, stops
abruptly to reconsider, and changes her mind. She looks about
room for a hiding place, and her eyes rest on portrait of
Lincoln. Moving swiftly, picking up a light chair on the way, she
goes to corner of bookcase nearest to portrait, steps on chair,
and from chair to ledge of bookcase where, clinging, she reaches
out and up and drops documents behind portrait. Stepping quickly
down, with handkerchief she wipes ledge on which she has stood,
also the seat of the chair. She carries chair back to where she
found it, and reseats herself in chair by desk._) (_Starkweather
locks safe, emerges from alcove, turns off alcove lights,
advances to desk chair, and sits down. He is about to close and
lock dispatch box when he discovers documents are missing. He is
very quiet about it, and examines contents of box care-fully._)

{Starkweather}

(_Quietly._) Has anybody been in the room?

{Margaret}

No.

{Starkweather}

(_Looking at her searchingly._) A most unprecedented thing has
occurred. When I went to the safe a moment ago, I left these
documents on the cover of the dispatch box. Nobody has been in
the room but you. The documents are gone. Give them to me.

{Margaret}

I have not been out of the room.

{Starkweather}

I know that. Give them to me.

(_A pause._) You have them. Give them to me