a drawer in which Dick kept--a
_pistol_!--

[_She drops her voice almost to a whisper._

WARDEN. Good God, he's shot himself!

JESSICA. Perhaps not--he left the house.

WARDEN. Yes, if he were really determined to shoot himself, why wouldn't
he have done it there in his own room?

JESSICA. What can we do? What can we do?

WARDEN. I'll get Mr. Mason; he's with your mother; he must go back to
town at once.

[_Going to the house._

JESSICA. He can go with me; I'd better be at the house. Some one must be
there.

WARDEN. Good!

[_He goes into the house._

[MISS GODESBY _and her brother ignore and apparently forget the presence
of_ JESSICA _in their excitement. They both speak and move excitedly._

MISS GODESBY. I ought to have suspected something when Sterling told me
he was getting ten per cent for my money,--the blackguard!

GODESBY. I always told you you were a fool not to take care of your
money yourself! You know more about business than most men.

MISS GODESBY. I didn't want to be bothered; besides, there was always
something very attractive about Sterling. I don't mind telling you that
if he had fallen in love with me instead of the stiff-necked woman he
married, I'd have tumbled over myself to get him.

GODESBY. How do you feel about him now?

MISS GODESBY. Now! Thank God, I'm saved such a waking up! It's going to
make a big difference with my income, Howard! I wonder if his wife knew
he was crooked! I'll bet you she's got a pot of money stowed away all
right in her own name.

JESSICA. [_Who can bear no more, interrupts._]

Please--please! Remember that you're speaking of my sister and that
every word you are saying cuts through me like a knife.

MISS GODESBY. I beg your pardon; I ought to have thought. I like and
respect you, Jess, and I've been very rude.

JESSICA. You've been more than that; you've been cruelly unjust to
Blanche in all that you've said!

MISS GODESBY. Perhaps I have, but I don't feel in a very generous mood;
I've some excuse--so please forgive me.

[WARDEN _reenters Left._

WARDEN. [_To_ JESSICA.] Mason is waiting for you with the sleigh. He's
going first to my house. Dick may have gone back there to hear the
result of my interview with Ryder,--then Mason'll try his own house and
Sterling's club.

GODESBY. The _police_ are the best men to find Sterling, whatever's
happened.

WARDEN. [_To_ GODESBY.] You wait a minute with me; I haven't finished
with you yet. [_To