in ^" iri 8 orders is always a feature of our ousltress. Catalogue* are nf.nl free. Any Play, Dialogue Book, speaker, Guide 801, 1 Beards iti fact auy- iii be VMES PUB. CO., 'Clyde, Ohio. AMES' SERIES OF DARD AND MINOR DRAMA. No. 310. Claim Ninety-six. ."BOIJDKH DRAMA. WITH CAST OF CHARACTERS, ENTRANCES AlV KXITS. RELATIVE I'DSITK/NS OF TFIF. PERFORMERS oN THKSTAfiK. DESi UIPTloX OF < 'OSTUMES AND THE WHOF.E OF THE STAGE HI CARE- FULLY. MARKEh FROM. THE MOST AP- 1MIOVE!) ACTING COPY. This Book will not be exchanged. PRICE 25 CENTS. AMES' PUBLISHING CO W. H. 4MES, Proprietor, CLYDE. OHIO. a No goods sent C. O. 1). Money MUST accompany all orders. ' Edition of Plays. Fifteen cents unless otherrrise marked. NO. 2M 14 135 318 350 113 S2rt 321 272 IftO 2RS 310 284 M DRAMAS Arthur Eustace, 25c After Ten Y- 10 7 !> F. 3 5 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 NO. 103 34 229 112 2W 40ft Miriam's Crime M. 5 F. :t F, r, 1 I ^ K ,IH Rouifli MUiiteb:tnl. Th- Anld Robin GI-H v. Adventurers. The e of Love Mrs. Wi;i-,' Wilt ! Paiitain. The 25<- >fv P:,rd, 3Sc BUI Detrick Brao, the Poor House Oirl Broken Links ..4 8 Nc\r York Book A .Not Such a Fool ;i Conn : or Love's Victory.... Cleat-ill? the Mi Noel Person's Oath On th Bound Claim Nliietv-slx (M) ' Commercial Drummer, The S 81 Old Pliil'v Blrthdnv 194 ' 3 9 ISfi 330 387 417 4in 33=, 251 IRENE DWEN ANDREWS unnen Mann Tosh Winchester. Joe, the W:iif, 2oc 5 Kathleen MM von reen. ."....... 12 Lights and Shadows of the Great Rebellion, '25c 1f> 5 Lidv of Lyons 12 5 Lady Andley's Secret ft 4 Lee-a1 Holiday . 5 3 T.itt.le rjoldio f ..V - Little Heroin-- . . . Little Wife. The.. Life's R.even? e A ..11 4 Lost in London.... fl 4 MHiid'sP^ril 5 3 Mchnnir's Reprieve, Tlie...8 3 Miller's Danihter. i'ic 7 R Mldniirht Mistake 6 - Millie, the Quadroon. 6 6 TEMPERANCE PLAYS 'rift 1 301 Amonjr the Moonshiner- . nut T)i>>nh' Ple.lee 054 f)^t: the Miner's Diiiiiihter TiinUard, The 13 185 T)rnnHard's Warning fi 180 rvnnkard's'Dooin 181 Fifteen Years of a Drnnk- :,r,lV Life 13 Fruits of the Wine Cni 04 Lost Claim Ninety-Six.4> A BORDER DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS, BT- LBD Ware, TO WHICH IP ADDBD A PKs. I.IPTION OF THE COSTUMES CAST OF THE CHARACTERS KVi'RANCES AND EXITS RELATIVE POSITIONS OF TUB PERFORMERS OX THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OF THE STAGE BUSINESS. accnrdnm to the act of Congrett in tlie near 1393, by AMES" PUBLISHING CO., in the ojKcK oj tht Librarian of Centre** at Wcuitingto*. --CLYDE. OHIO: AM.LS PUiJLiSHl^U CO QLA I M OAST Of CHARACTERS. JEKKT MACK _ _ OPT LKSTKR ~ _ -~_._JfAr' CHAKLKT GREY .^. _^. _ - _ - Owner of Claim ARTHUR BRANDON..,., ........._ .. ' b r MAJOR DOLITTLB _ ......._ _ X tpec n l!! BILL .. .. ..--, ~ ~. ........__. Mack' i in/' Mis. BRANDON ... _..... Brandon '/!>' JKNNIE LESTKI....... _ Uvy' titter Baaift OKFICKM . "SYNOPSIS JOF^JE VENTS. ACT I. The Land of Gold. 5o*ru /-^TooiBgtone, a mining town in . California. Jerry Mack's saloon. Guy Lester, king of counterfeiters. Nell. The toast. Claim Ninety-Six. The inennest man. A plan te steal Charley Gry> dust. Arrival of Major Dolittle. from KIMI tuck. Nell and the M'uor. A love .^ene, which ends in ''g\n and pepperminr." Scrne //.Charley Grey and Mack. Ebony, the boot black. Ebouy's advice. Guy Letter, the ectoroon. Toonaitone quiet. "Slayex, runaway nijrgers." Ebony keep< kis eveti open. Scene ///. Sacramento Joe and Nell. Nell's history. The little black book. Nell locks Sacramento Joe in the cellar. Bell und Mack. Guy discovers Mack'n ecret. "Nirrwhipjer. slare driver." Tfap quarrel. Sacramento Jo*. "Dom'tpull boys, I've got the drop on ve. and I -lon't give n n SpriitRins." Peterson proposes to Xell. The game of eardr, Bessie (ir-\ interrupts the gaiiie. Th* way to Vermont. The wife beater. Mack faces Nell's rifle the second time. Scene IV. Peterson, "a thin pair of pants and a light keart" Murder of Sacra- mento Joe. Nell on 'the war-path. Scene V. The safe robbery and mnrder of Mrs. Brandon. Nell arrives on the ACT IV. Gold Dust Saloon. Soenrl. Ebony and Nell. Arrest of Xell for the murder of Mrs. Brandon. T not iruilty." Seen* 11. Major Dolittle and Ebony. Jennie, the octoroon, a runaway slave, meet- her former master. The slave brand. "I could kill you." &>< III. Bell's grief at the arrest of Nell ; Ebony's attempt to comfort her. "I golly, ilis chile'? eves am leakin'." ACT V.-Street. Scent /.Mack and Guy break open the jail and escape with Nell, the prisoner, to the mountain. Major Dolittle and Ebony arrange a plan to rescue Nell. Guy'.< secret discovered. Scene //.Jennie tells Guy of her meeting Major Dolittle, "that cursed mark. " Jenn ; f and Xell in the cave. The quarrel, Jennie'? murderous attempt to kill Xell. Mack interferes. The secret of the octoroon* disclosed. Jennie stabs Mack. Guy and Jennie eraape. Ebony and Major Dolittle rescue Nell. Mack reveals to Nei' who her narent* anv Scene /A/. Return of Xell. Ebony and Major Dolittle. to Toomstone. News of Mack's death. Charley Grey regains his stolen gold. Nell to return East with her father. Ebony can't fr* loft behind to be boo-dooed. _ ... means RizV: f... L-ift: a. H.. Right '1 inl: t,. H.. Left Hani; o.. Centra; s. . 3d t-.lSaoond W itn-ve; n. K.. tlnper Entranoe; si. o., \fi 1 lie lr>,->r; r., tht PUt I . r., Door in Flat: .. C., Rizht of Centre; u 0., Left of Centra. VI. O. 0. L. (1. Tm ra4* * ~~* ^ fk ita** faoiat U M Claim Ninety-Six. ACT I. SCENE I. MACK'S saloon at Toomstone. California. Table and 9h*ti R. c. ; fear extending from c. to R. ; MACK leaning on end of bar c. , GUY leaning veer bar R. c.. smoking ; a* curtain rises MACK striket bar viciously with open hand. Mack. I tell yon, old man, if -we can do that, and make as good success of it as \\e have of the two's and flvn's, in lesi than a year our fortune will run way over the million line, thev will be oolossial I U'll you, but it is risky, I fear we'll never do it, if we can Guy. If we can bah! I know we can! Didii't learn he title of "King of Counterfeiters" while I was in the Eat? Do you think I have lost any of my skill since coming out here? No sir! lean engrave as good a plate to-day as I could te.n rears ago; yo ; Daren't heard any complaint from the two's and five's yet, have you? Mack. Thunder! no, they would pass with the cashierof any bank. Guy. And if I don't engrave plates for ten's and twenty's that will do the same, I'll I'll well I'll agree to drink all thr old rotten shotgun whiskey you've got in this this (looks around) this pilaoe of yours, Mack, (lauqhiny) There! you couldn't ask a man to Jo anything more desperate than that, could you? Mack, (goes behind bar) There old man, that's all right (sets out bottle} lei's imbibe, that's reliable; the common run of cow-boy's don't get to see that bottle take something. Guy. No! a man in the business I am, needs a clear and level head, an i he can't have that and drink your whiskey, Mack; but about the plates for the twenty's you have never seen any of Jennie'* work, have you ? Well here, (takes out bill and throws it on bar) look at that. (MACK examines bill closely) Well, what do you think of that, pretty good, eh? Think th it would pass? Mack. Thunder! ves, I would take it myself, if you hadn't said it was queer. You don't mean to say that your sitter engraved that plate, do you ? Quy. That's exactly what I do say; she not only engraved it, but she printed it too. Mack. The devil ! (examines b:il) Say, old man, is the whole family counterfeiters? If they are, your father must have been om- thing extraordinary. Say, where did he work? Guy. That's none of your darned business, Mr. Jerry Mack. I've told you several times that you didn't need te know anything about mr antecedent*. Our business relation U just this aai ao r J 2072900 CLAIM print the money and you pass it off, that is just a-? far as we go, do you un NXLL) Who told you about it, Nell? Nell. Nobody I I seen it with my own eyes. I went with Charley down to the a*sayers office; you ought to have een that old clerk's eyes bulge out when Charley showed him a pan full of the dirt. Say, Guy, I'll shake you the box for the drinks. (picks up dice box Quy. What's he going to do with his claim? Nell. Charley says he is going to work old "96* ; for all she is ^orth. Oid Brandon, the banker, offered him fifty thousand for th mine, but Charley refused, and then Brandon offered him thirty thousand for a half interest. Mack, Tiiunderation ! Sell. Lord ! You ought to SM Charley's cabin, he's got gold piled up on the floor a foot deep. Quy. Nell, you are giving us a breeze now. Has Grey really struck it rich at last? Nell. You bet he has! Re has got lots of gold down in his cabin, not a foot deep, though. .Mack, you old schemer, that's one of your speculations that didn't pan out well. (starts R. Jfack. Hold on ! Where are you going? Nell. Charley bet me an ounce of dust a while ago, that he could CLAIM .V/.Y;. 7 T-57T. I host me shooting with a rifle, and 1 ju>t \\ant to show him tha 1 !i can't shoot a little hit. (exit, R., 1 K. Ml R. o.) and that fool of a tenderfoot Grey has struck it rich at last. Guy. (settled R. c.) Seems that way. Mack. Guy. we've been partners for about a year in the jfreen goods busine-s, havn't we? Guy. About a year I think, and in that year you have tried, at le.-ist seven hundred different schemes to chisel me out of money, havn't you Mack? Yon are the most miserly man I ever done busi- ness with. Honestly Mack, you are the meanest man I ever saw, you'd pasture a go.-it on your mother's grave. Mack, (laug'titig) Oh ! well, if a fellow don't look out for himself these days, who will look out for him? I am in the West for what money there is in it, and not for my 'health. But about this partner- ship bu-ine?s how wouid you like to go in deeper that i, if there i- any money in it, and I think there is. Guy. Well. I don't know, explain yourself, Mack. .Vac /i. Well, Charley Grey has struck it rich. Guy. Yes, thaf a a dead sure thing, Charley Grey baa struck it rich >Well ! Mack. And he keeps his gold in his cabin. Guy. Not so sure of that Mack Well ! Mack. O! drop that infernal well of yours, Guy, it grows monotonous. Listen suppose you and I go down to Grey's cabin to-night, while he is away, and take whit gold he has. I know where he keeps it, we can get it and no one be the wiser, and then \\ e can get him in here get him to drink some Guy. Yes, if we get lain to drink any of this "stomach corosive" yon keep. Mack, you can get him to do anything. Mack. We'll get him to drink and then get'himin a game of cardi and cheat him out of what gold he has left. Guy. Well, of all the low down, mean, two faced, thieving, cool- headed rast -ally men I ever knew, you tuke the banner, Mack, you take the whole culinary department lor cussedness. Mack. Don't get so personal, Guy; what do you say? Will you help? Guy. Well, I never done any of that kind of work before but here's my hand on it, and you may rely on me. ( they ihake, hands Maj. (out L. ) Hello! there, I say; house! houae! Landlord! bar- tender! anybody ! send a nigger out here, or coma out yourself and iake my horse Gad, do you want a fellah to starve? Hello! house 1 house! Guy. What the deuce is that? (looks L.) Ho! Mack, another innoeent for you to fleece, and I'll wairer that you'll do it too! M"Ck. (goes L., 1 E.) flitch yer horse and come in stranger. (U> GUY) Thunderation ! Guy, here cmne's Stonewall Jackson. Guy. Well, I'll see you again in an h uir or so. (exit, R., 1 c. Mack. All right! '(goes L., 1 E.) Come in stranger, come in don't stand on ceremony here, come in. Enter, MAJOR DULITTLK, L., 1 E. Maj. Begad! sah, 1 can't say that I like your hospitality ( ina nvse) Faugh ! is this a saloon or a glu factory ? Mack. Thunder I what do you mean ? This is a saloon, of course. KHiat did you take It; for? A tan yard ? Maj. You better go and whew (whtstlct) where does that dia- bolical odor come from ? Mack. O! that's limberger cheese. (retires behind bar Ma}. Well, begad sah, you'd better lead it out. (yoe* L. c.) Give me some gin and peppermint. I suppose you could furnish (stops and stares at MACK) well, by gad ! Mack. Well, what in thunder is the matter with you? Didn't you ever see a stranger before '{ Maj. Well, begad sah, I never saw a stranger before that looks o much like my old slave driver, John Sands. Mack, (goes L. c., startled aside) Thun< Oration? Maj. I suppose eah, that you don't know John Sands? Mack. No! sir, no! sir, never heard tell of -him hefore, or you either. Maj. Well, that's all right then; give me some gin and pepper- mint. (MACK serves him) This is a pretty common snloon, ain't it? Begad gah, I'm used to drinking before a looking-glass. Mack. Then you haven't been in the West very long. I might put in a flne mirror and a seventy-live dollar pyramid, and the first cow-boy that come in drunk, would see how many pieces he could shoot them into. Maj. Then sab, be gad, I'd shoot him. (flourishes revolver Mack. The boyg out here want wliigkey, and they would rather drink it out of tin cups than cut glass. Maj. By gad, sah, I'm giad I stopped here. Give me so ne diabo- lical gin and peppermint. I want to stop here with you a few days I'm Major Dolittle, from Kentuckey, be gad sah. Muck, (excited, goes L. c. aside] Thunder! my old employer; what ill luck lias brought him here? Maj. Be gad, sah, 1 used to own a hundred niggers before the war ; when the cussed abolitionists came down and treed 'em. I used to liave a fellah hired to \\hip niggers and do other chores for me h,- name was John Sands lie stole a hundred dollars from me, be gad, and cut sticks for the West; you look enough like John San Is to be his twin broiher. be gad sah ; if I ever find that man, I'll put, a holt- through his diabolical heart, that you can throw a Chinese bible through, and I more than half way believ* you are the m in. (flourishes revolver Mack. But 1 tell you I am not! I was born an 1 raise I herein Ji is section ol the country ;'and I'll tell you another thing too, 1 don't allow every stranger that comes along, to give me the lie; now sir, let's drop the subject. Maj. All right sah, if you ain't John Sands, why why be gad, sah, give me some gin and peppermint. 1 came to this country to invest in mining lands, and be gad, sah, I've got the motn-y to pay for 'em too. i want the best room you've got in your diabolical house, sah, and here's ten dollars to pay for it, give me your regis- ter and I'll sign my name. I'm Major Dolittle, fro.n Keuucky, sah. 1 used to own one hundred niggers, two moon-shine distilierys, and the biggest tobacco plantation in the Srate; (MACK throws out regis- ter) \ always sign my name with an X. Mack. Here! let me write your name for you. Ma). Jf yo don't- like the way 1 write my name, sah, maybe, you CLAIM NIXETJ-SIX. w\\\ meet me In a little affair of honah In the morning, be gad, sah, ind 1 choose pistols for the weapons. Mack. No sir ! I decline to fight you. Maj. Then sah, if you won't fight, I'll take some gin and pepper- iiiint. Mack, (goes R. , I K. , calls) Nell! O! Nell! come here and watch ".he bar, I'm going down to see Grey. Enter, NELL, a., 1 B. Nell. All right governor! here I am and you can bet your last iiigget on me, I'll keep things straight. (noes behind bar and works vigoromly Mack. I'll not be gone long, Nell, halt an hour, maybe. (exit, L., 1 K. Nell. Stay all day if you want too. Maj. (R. c. aside) Be gad, Major, that's a diabolical good look- ng girl. (NKLL brushing clothes, etc.) It's ben some time since i ou've had a chance to look at a pretty girl, sah, but 1 flatter myself, i ou've got a good appearance; now tor a little love making. What'.* :he matter with that di iliolical heart of mine: 1 Be gad, it?s right up n my mouth. Now Major, play your cards to your own advantage, i ml use your infatuating powers the beso you know how. Ahem! aloud) I'm Major Dolittle, from Kentucky, sah, and and and be ;al:ive. th:it I have had to acknowledge myself another man's properly, to do hi> bidding, to work with the other niggers, as he has ot'it-n expiv>seil it; or take the lash at the hands of an over-bearing slave driver a "nigger-whipper" who would count it a crime for running H way from such a man as that? Bah! I wish I oootd exterminate the whole accursed race, at once. Enter, JENNIE LESTER, H., 1 K. Jennie. Hello! Guy, what are you doing here? Guy. Whui! Jennie? What are you here for T CLAT.V If TN STY-SIX. Jtn. Well, I heard that the Regulators of Toom*tone were about waking up again, so I came down to see if I could learn anything about it. Guy. O ! the Regulators are all right, they will never do anything, they can't afford to track thieves, there's too many thieves among themselves. Jen. How does it come that you are here in Toomstonu ? Thought yon were up on the ''Divide." Guy. OI Mack and 1 were arranging some business for to-night. Jen. And what were you standing out here on the street by yon r- selt tor? Oh! 1 know, you were brooding over that oM trouble: will you never forget ? Guy. Forget? How can a man forget when he has to wear that accursed mark to the grave; (hold* out hand with S marked on back) and you too, Jennie, (takes jENXiE'sftarad, S on back) how can yon aek me to forget and these marks slareiug me in the face? Jen. But we are free, now Guy, to do as we please, we are not ihe property of any man now. We are free, I say, and let any man deny it if he dares (draws small dirk) but we are the onlj r ones here that know of our part life. truy. Bah! but the dread, the suspense sometimes we may sec .-omeone who will recognize us as slaves, runaway niggers; someone inav find out our past life then what? I tell you giri, the thought is almost madening. Jen. Let them find out, but let anyone breathe one word and (raises dirk) but don't speak ofglaves, runaway niggers; for heaven'- saUe ! don't mention that, Guy. We have seen trouble enough while we were in bondage; don't speak of it now, when we are far away I roiu it. There is no danger of anyone finding u* out, we liav.: changed our name Guy. That amounts to nothing what's in a name? There is the trouble, (shown hand) 1 tell you sometimes that cursed mark burns and sears the flesh like a coal of tire. There would be more honor in being as black as midnight then you are not in dr.id, you are known. Sometimes I think i could cut that hand off, throw i in the fiie and watch it burn anything to destroy, and bend of tliaf mark. Jen. O! Guy! Guy! don't get yourself in such a fearful rag<-, come, go home with me and we will go to work and forget all about that hateful mark. Come buy. No! I shnll stay here you go, and you may go to work on the plates for the ten's and twenty's. Mack will be up to .see them sometime to-morrow. I shall be home sometime to-night or in the morni. g you are not afraid? Jen. Afraid? (shows dirk, exit, L., 1 B. Guy. (looking L., 1 B.) Few men have such a faithful sii thousands ahead. Guy. Mack, do you expect Grey to stay away of his own accord ? Mack. No! I've bee i talking to him until he thinks I am the best friend he has. I must go down to the "G >M Dust," Grey said lie would be down there, and we can't afford to let the friendship be- tween us grow cold now. (starts L.) O! by the way, (turnin/j) I i nought of another plan awhile ago. Grey carries his claim papers w ith him all the time, so we can g'-t him drunk and steal his papers from hirn, and we will be the owners of old "96," and tnen if he makes a fuss about it, we can say that he sold the claim to us. We can write out a receipt you know that's a good plan, don't you think go? Well, I must be going. You come down to the "Gi>ld Dust" afier awhile and we will finish our arrangements for that little affair of to-night. (ejcit, L. Guy. (looking L.) Of all the rascally, scoundrels in'existence you must be the worst, Jerry Mack. (EBONY looks in R.) I fear you more than any other living man ; it you knew my secret, it would bo noised from ttie Mississippi river to the Pacific coast. If 1 coul.l only learn tiie secret of your past, then we would be even. You have a. secret, I am sure, and I shall make it my business to find out wh u. that secret is. (es.U, L., 1 K. Enter, EBONY, R.. 1 E., slips after GUY. Ebony, And I'll show you dat a fool nigger's got some sense. If I don't keep de white of my eye over in your direction, i hope I may chew all of de bristles outu't my shoe brush. (exit, L., 1 K. SCENE III. MACE'S saloon; SACRAMKNTO Jo seated *. c., NBLJ seated on box L. of JOB. Joe. Them's my sentiments exactly, precisely, just to a dot, and I don't give a cuss. It's a shame, Nell, a burnin' shame fer hirn tor keep you here in Toomstone, in this here hole of pure cussedness, ter uaake you stay here aud serve out his slop over that bar to these her* CLAIM NINETY-SIX. 1) miners, what ain't any better nor a durrb hrnte a animnl what walks on four feet. You orter be some'rs in the East, In school or or soniethin' Nell. Why Joe! he gays I know too mutfi now. Joe. Yes, that's jist like his 'Moil burned" chinnin' to talk that*er way. I say you orter be in school, and I'm goin' ter tell him so, too. Them's my sentiments and 1 don't give a cuss. Nell. He wouldn't let me go, Joe, 'cause h<: says, he's my my what do you call it? Joe. Yer yer gardeen, Nell, that's it persactly and that's another one of his "dod burned" lies too. Mack's alers been a rascal and he alers will be. Them's my sentiments jist to a dot and I don't give a cuss. I've knowed him fer a (stops suddenly Nell. Well, what made you stop, Joe? You told me once that you had only been in this part of California for two years, and of course you didn't know Mack before then. Joe. O! incourse, incourse, I 'de never seed him afore, then, but don't you pay too perticlar 'tention to whsit I was 'er savin*, gal. I -;iid that Jerry M;ick was 'er rascal, and dot burn him lie is too. Fir in't no more yer gardt-en nor Iain. Them's my sentiments per- 5.-ictly and I don't give a cuss. How did he git you anyway? Nell. Why. he said in 1850, there was a wagon train passed through Nevada, clse to when 1 he was working in a silver mint- the next morning lie was out on the prairie looking for some stray hor-e? and he found me, and that I had got lost from the wagon train. I was about two years old then, and when Mack took me to the camp the miners said they would call me Nugget Nell, and that's Deen my name ever since. Joe. Persactly, and Mack said that was in 1850; now let me Hirer a little this is 1865, and fl:ty and ten is sixtv, and five is sixty-five, that makes fifteen years and you was two years old when he found von, that makes two more, consequently you are seventeen year? old. . Nell. But I am older than that, Joe. I am nineteen, I found that wrote down in a little book that Mack keeps hid. Joe. Then them dates i* another one of his dod burned mistak"*, 'cause tigers w. n't lie. I tell you Nell, Mack's a rascal. Them's my sentiments jist to a dot and 1 don't give a cuss. He knows who you belong to jist as well as as as any other man. 1 wish I had that 1 ttle book that you say he keeps hid. Nell. Well, I can get it for you Joe, if you'll never tell. Je. Well, I'll never tell. Ndl. Honest? Joe. Honest! "honor bright." Nell. Hope to fall down a raft and break yonr neck, if yon do? Joe. Break my neck if I do. Them's my sentiments. Nell. Well then, I'll watch and the first chance I have, I'll pick the lock of hi- desk and steal it. Joe. Nell, if you'll do that, the first nugget I find I'll give to you, don't care if it's as big as a house. _Neil. All right! I'll get the hook for you, you can rely on me, I ain't no marked deck. I'm straight an 1 yini can bet your last scale ol 'lust nn that, Joe. Jue. Tuein's the sentiments, Nell, persactly. You git m that /* CLAIM XINETY-SIT. book and I'll bet my claim what ain't nothin' but imagination th* we wll 1 liave you in school in the East in less than two months. Nell. 1 don't believe I'd like to go there. I'll rather stay here. Joe. Now look here, you jist rHy on Sacramenter Joe, fer I tell you, when you git to the East you'll ike it so well, you'll never want to come back here. Them's my sentiments. Nell. I'd want to come back and see you sometimes, Joe. Joe. No! you wouldn't, you'd soon forget old Joe. Why do i burn it gal, you don't know how much difference there is between the East and this place; why'you'd he dresse 1 in silk Nell. Is silk nio-r than old faded blue calico? Joe. (lauahs) Ha! ha! ha! O! listen at her, "Is silk nicer than calico?" Well I think it is Xell, a dod bur ;ed right nicer. Silk siiines so you can see yourself in it. and then you'd have a nice straw hat with green ribbon on it and a little red timbreller fer to keep off the sun. Nell. The sun can't hurt me Joe, I'm used to it. Joe. Well, you'd need a red unbreller when you go East. Nell, (lattghs) Ha! ha! ha! if 1 was to dress up that way, wouldn't 1 cut a figure, Joe? Ha! ha! ha! Joe. You'd soon get used to it jist think of the nice things you'd see, big fine buildin's and Nell. Why, don't you think this country is nice, Joe? The trees, ind mountains, and rocks and the mines, why 1 think they are juit grand. Joe. Yes, but not like the East. Nell. Is there really so much difference between the West and East? Joe. You bet ! Wiiy dod burn it gal, I'd bet my last nugget on that every time. Them's my sentiments persactly, and I don't oare a cuss. Nell. Don't the girls there have to 'tend old dirty bars like I do here io the "Gold Dust?" Joe. No sir I The girls there ride in their carriages and have a nigger to drive their horses for em'. (NELL drops her head in her /lands and study's deeply') and then you git good gtub outthare, old fashioned pumpkin pie and sicli like. I tell you Xell, I'd go furder right now fer a piece of real oil fashioned, Now England Pumpkin pie, than anything else on earth ; dod burned ef 1 wouldn't. Now them's ay sentiments persactly, and I don't give a cuss. Enter, CHABLBT, L., 3 . flello! Charley, struck it rich, haven't you? Come here and let me shake yer hand. (they xhnka hand* Ghas. Yes, struck it rich at last, Joe, and my days of poverty are at an end. Ah ! Joe, many's the time that I've gone to bed hungry, and wondering where my bieakf'ast was to come from, but those days are past, for if "Claim 96" holds out like she opens up, I'm Jay Gould, Joe. Joe. Persactly, them's the sentiments. Chas. But what's the matter here? (points to NBLL) She seems unusually quiet; nut sick are you Xell? Joe. No! she's uot fcick, she's studyin*. I've been sivin' her a CLAIM Nl.V ET7-S1JL. 2J lecture about tin- Ka-t. and she can't hardly take it all in, she kindei thinks Joe's a lyin' to her. Nell. No! I don't Joe, I know you wouldn't, lie to me, but it all seems so strange, (to CHARLEY) Is there really so much difference between the East and the West, Charley? Chas' Ye-. Xeil, there is a vast difference, you can rely on all that Joe tells you. Joe. Persactly, them's the sentiment*, thank ye Charley. Chus. Well, 1 must be moving, or I shall be overtaken by dark- ness Nell. Are you going away, Charley? Chas. O ! only over on the '"Divide." I h<>:ir that there is a fellow over there Maj-T Dolittle, I believe his name is wants to invest, in mining stock, and I thought I might dispose of part of my claim to him ; and Nell, I sent for my wite several days ago, she may come on this evening's stage, and if she does, you take care of her until I come back in the morning. Nell. All right! Charley, you can bank on me every time, you iiet on that. (exit, CHARLKY, L., 2 K. Joe. Them's the sentiments, persactly jist to a dot, X '', and I lou't give a cuss, and there will be another chance fer you L .iiid out more about the East, ef that gal comes here and 1 'spose she will. Why dod burn it, Nell, ef you was in the K:tst, you'd git a husband in less than a year. Nell. But I don't want a husband. I'd rather have a friend that I could come and talk to like you, Joe. When a fellow gets married they 'have to quarrel like Mack and his wife; they quarrel all tin time, and of course everybody else is the same. Joe. Not much they ain't. Xosir! not by a dod burned sight. Nell, say you go bring old Joe a che\v of dog leg terbacker. I've sot here and chinned so long to you and Charley, that my mouth's as dry as a brick yard. Nell. Let's get up some excitement over it, Joe. I'll pitch coppers with you to >ee whether 1 get it lor you, or you get it yourself. Joe. Them's the sentiments, gal, have you got a dod burned cop- per? Old Joe's broke, persactly. Nell. I've got the coppers, now then, head or tails? Joe. Heads, them's my sentiments. Nell, (tosses u)> pfnny, they both cry nut, as penny strike* the floor} You've lost. There Joe, it's rolled down in the cellar. Joe. I'll go and get the dod burned thin :. (raises tra^-dour R. c. and goes down Nell, (closes trap-door laughs) Ha! ha! ha! Joe, you are my prisoner and I'm going to keep you, too. Joe. (under stage) G.d, you opi-n that dod burned trap-door aud let me. out. Ntll. No sir ! no sir ! no sir ! ( dances off R., 2 K., tinging) No sir I uo sir ! etc. Enter, MACK and GUY, L., 2 K., they lean over bar. Mack. And that was another good scheme, Guy, getting Grey U go over on the "Divide" to-niglit. He will be completely outof out way ; we have nothing to fear. (jruy. That is, fronTGrey, but that nigger, Ebony, has been fol- 'owinur ma around all dav. he mav have over-heard some of our coa- vergation, and he never had any timp for m or you either, Mack. He may drop in on us or tel' someone else- Mack. What? Tvvoot us and afraid of that boy? Thunderation! no, he won't do anything, but let him show himself around here and I'll soon fix him. Enter, BELL, R., 9 m. Bell. Jerry Mack. What? Eavesdropping again, (jerks her o.) How long have you been standing there '( Don't study up some lie now, tel! me the truth. Bell. I haven't been eavesdropping. I just come to Mack. Shut up! didn't 1 tell you once that 1 didn't propose to have my movements spyed upon? I meant every word 1 said. You try this sneaking game on me once more and I'll find a way to cure you of it, that you'll remember. Sell. But I wasn't spying on you, I came to tell you Mack. Didn't I say that i didn't want to hear any of your lies? Guy. Let her tell what she came for. Mack. Mack. Well then, out with it, but no lies, mind. When 1 ey any thing I mean it; now let's have your story. Bell. I have no story to tell Mack. Just as 1 thought, Guy, she's Beil. I came to tell you that Charley Grey's wife came on the stage a few minutes ago, and she want's to know where he is. Mack. Thunderation! Guy, that will (checks himself suddenly} you tell her that Charley's over on the "Divide" and won't be back till morning; you keep her here till Charley comes back. Now go you are noi wanted here, do you understand ? Bell, (turning) You may see the time Jerry, when you'il want me Mack. Shut up and get out here, or (raites hand) I'll spoil your beauty. ^exit, BKLL, R. Guy. Mack, if Charley's wife has come, we will have to drop our litile excursion to-night. Mack. No! we will finish our arrangements right now and be off. I'll watch outside the cabin and you can go in and get the gold. Guy. You'll do nothing of the kind, Mr. Jerry Mack, we will both go in after the gold. Mack. Well then, if I do that and there is two thousand, I'll take twelve hundred Guy. I diller from you there, too, we will share equally or not at all. Understand that? Mack. Didn't 1 tind out about the gold and didn't I lay all of the plans? I- say I'll have twelve hundred of it. Guy. And I say you'll not, Mr. John Sands. Muck, (startled) Thunderation ! what do you mean? (hand to pocket Guy. (presents revolver) Just what I say! Take that hand away from your pocket, or you are a dead man. Mack, you dropped a paper out on the street and I found it. Listen and I will read it to you: (reads) "Louisville, K'y., Aug. 27, 1858, I, John Sands, do hereby agree to work tor Major Frank Dolittle, in the capacity of oter&eer of slaves in the tobacco fields during the summer saaoni. CLAIM and in the tobacco sheds during the winter seasons, for which ser- vices 1 am to receive the gum of $50 per month payable monthly. Signed John Sands." There Mr. John Sands, alias Jerry Mack, \\h-it do you say to that? Jfack. It's a lie, an infernal lie. &uy. Listen to what i.s written on th back : (reads) "Nov. 16, 1858, 1 have this day stolen two hundred dollars from Dolittle; think we are even now." That'.* another lie is it? Thief, slave driver, nigger whipper. (L. c. Mack. Curse you Guy Lester ! (tries to draw revolver ( JOB pushes up trap-door and springs on stage, presents two pistols. Joe. Don't pull boys, fer I've got the drop on ye persactly. Thm's nay sentiments and I don't jrive :>. cuss. PICTURE SLOW CURTAIN. END OF ACT I. ACT II. RGENE I. Interior of MACK'S house. BKM. and NBM, seated l c., Hdl. Nell, 1 don't see how 1 am' to stsiud this any longer, this lift- is worse than a prison. He threatened to strike me to-day. I don'i know wiiat to do or which way to turn. Nell. 1 know what I'd do, I'd scratch his eyes out, if I was in your phice. I'd leave him, that's what I'd do and you can bet your 1 1 ust on that. Uell. If I was to leave, he would follow me and bring me buck, i lien my life would be ten times worse than it is now. No! that would never do, Nell. Nell. Then I'd get a pick nandle and smash that cast iron skull of Ills. There, how does that "pointer" suit you? Hell. O! Nell! Nell! Nell. Well then, if you don't like that, here's another way; shake him the box for the drinks and put some arsenic in his Bell. Why Nell! you wouldn't kill him. would you? Nell. You just bet I would or iny other man, if he treated me like Jerry Mack treats you, of course I'd kill him. Why not? Bell. O! Nell! Nell this wild, rough life is ruining you the same as it is me. If we coukl only go away from it all, far awav, where we would never see or hear anything that would make mi- think of my unhappy past, where you could be in school, and away from this evil influence and as.-oci:it*-s. If we could only be where there i^ culture and refinement. O! Nell, this life is killing me; we shall yet see a tragic ending, tor I am sure that Jerry is not getting all of his money honestly. What if he is a highway-man, and il hu is found out; think of the disgrace, Nell. Ebony, (out L., sings) "I carry my shop upon my back." EBONY rushes in L., 1 B. Bay dar Nell, kin you tell (sees BULL) I golly, you look* white u chalk, what's de matter tick? t6 CLAIM \7XKTY-S1J[. Bell. No! Ebonr, I'm not sick, I have a headache, that's all. (exit, R., 2 B. Ebony, (looking R., 2 E.) I-nol-ly ef dat 'oman ain't sick, den I hope I'll never shine another shoe, (to NELL) Say, kin you done tole me where boss Charley am ? Nell. Why, he's gone over on the "Divide;" what do you want with him ? Ebony. 'Pears to me you'se mi'ty 'quisitive, but I'll done tell yer, 'cause your a friend of mine. Dat ar' snake, dat ar' dumed copper head, dat ar" rattle snake Nell. Oh! wind up and start over, niggers can't talk no how. What are you trying to say ? Ebony. Why, I was goin' down de street awhile ago and I seed dat ar' dumed, onery, prairie dog, water mocasin. I golly 1 Nell. Well, why don't you say it? Ebony. Dat ar' dumed sneak Guy Lester agoin' down de street HI d a talkin' to hisselt, likes if he was interested Nell. Well, he's got a right to talk to himself if he wants too. Let him talk, tain't none of your business, you haven't any right to flop him. Ebony. But but but golly Neil, he said as how, if Charley was gone he'd he'd fo' de good Lord sake, Nell, if boss Charley's gone, he's goin' to steal all his dust to-night. Nell. What! are you sure? (grabs EBONY and shakes him Ebony. Well, do you think I'd lie 'bout it? (cryinj) Dat's too much to think dat in my best friend 'ud think 1M I'd I I lie bobo 'uout dat. (coat sleeve act Nell. Well, you can bet all of your dust on one tiling, Nell will be on deck to-night. Ebony, (brightening up) I'll bet all de bristles out'en my shine crush, I'll be dar too, and I'll be armed to de teeth too, I golly. (exit, L., 1 B. Enter, BELL, B. , 2 m, Bell. Has Ebony gone, Nell? What did he want? O! he gave me BiH-h a shock, I was almost sure he had come to tell me something about Jerry Enter, MACK, L., 2 B, Mack. Seems to me you are putting yourself to a great deal of trouble on my account I'll tell you o ie thing, Jerry is able to take care of himself now get out of here, I want to use this room awhile. Bell. Has it come to this, that you order me from my own room, after all that J/ac/f. What ! n<ut he is as close as an oyster, when it comes to talking about himself. Luck is running against me lately, but it may come my way again. Thunder! what a foolish trick it was in me, pulling those papers out of my pocket on the str et; the way mv luck has heen late y, I might have known that I would lose something, or i well there's no use in crying over spilled milk; I dropped the pap^r and Lester found it, aud now I am in his power and I suppose he will Enter, GUY, R., 1 a. . Guy. Use that power? You just bet your life I will, Mr. "nig- ger-wblpper" John Sands. Mack. Letter, don't kick a man when he is down. You have learned my secret and you can send me back East and have me Im- prisoned i; you want to, I am at your mercy, but as far as m bein^ a "niuger-whipper" you needn't throw that in my teeth. I worked or whipped slaves for so much money Guy. Anil if yon didn't have money enough, you stole what you thought you needed. Is that what you mean? Made. Being a slave driver is nothing dishonorable, or wasn't be- fore slavery was abolished but counterfeiting Guy. Is about as dishonorable as going to a miner's cabin and stealing his dust. Eh!. Mack? Mack. Suppose the government finds out we are in the green goods busine-s, who will serve the longest term, you or I? Guy. Lock here MM "k, ju-t because! happened to tin 1 out a *ecret or your past life, it's no reason we should not still be friend-.; we can't ati'ord to be enemies, here's my ban '., I am wi.ling to be just as we have been in the pa>t. Come, what do you say ? Muck. \\e will be friends, Guy. (they shake hands Guy. Oh ! glad to hear you say that. I don't like to mak enemies, MacK, 1 have too many of them now. I spoke hastily awhile ago we are all apt to do that you know, when we are a lutle out of humor i ask your pardon? Mack. 1 spoke rather hasty myself, Guy, so I guess we are about even on that score but this business we i>ad planned out for to- night, ahout Grey's du^t, are we to drop that or not? Guy. By no means, if everything IB ail in shape, why not carry out our plans? Kuc*. That suits me, and as it Is near eleven now. let's start al it CLAIM NiyETT-8IX. once Toomsfone seem-; unusually quiet to-night, I wonder what can be the cause? Here (hands mask) put that on, we may meet some one and we better keep on the safe side. Ghty. Ah ! Mack, those masks are a good idea, they may save us a great denl of trouble. (put on masks Mack. Now then, are you armed? Guy. Yes, I always ana. Mack. Then come on. (exeunt, L. Enter, NBXL, R., 1 ., rifle in hand. Nell. Ah ! you old stick in the mud. (points L.) I'm after yon. don't think that Charley Grey's dust is lying around loose just be- cause Charley isn't here to protect it. If I don't give you a surprise to-night, my name ain't Xell. (exit, L. inter, EBONY, *., 1 B.. cautiously and badly scared; lights down gradually. Ebony. Golly ! I'd rather sleep to-night dan look fer thieves, but boss Charley's dost getter be perfected and I'm de feller what can do it. (looks L., trembling) Golly! what am dat? I wish I hadn't << me, I allers get sick when I'm by myself after night, (slight noise i;.) Boas, am dnt you? Golly! I wish I hadn't come, (nervous gun discharged off R.) Fo' de good Lo'd sake; (drop* on knees) now I lay me down ter ter ter now I lay me down down I golly dis child is hoo-dood sho', now I lay me (looks R. ) lay me lay me (looks over shoulder. etc. -business) don't believe it was anvrhing after all. (noise I.., hands up works mouth says nothing Nell, (out L., calls softly) Ebony! Ebony, (raises quickly) I golly. Mis* Nell dat you ? Dis child's glad to see you, I tells you. (bravely) Jerry Mack, de avenger am on yer track, (flourishes white-wash brush) Hi! dare Miss Nell, I golly, wait for dis chile. (run* out Y.., 1 E. Enter, JOB, K K. Joe. Tell, of all the goin's on in Toormtone that I've seed fer dome time dod burn my tarnal eyesight; if this don't beat me. Here 1 find Nell out on the street with her rifle, likes if she was a lookiu' ter some one, and that little speciman of Africa follerin' Ions; after her, and hero it's almost midnight. Wonder what they are after. I think I'll kinder hang around awhile and see, and ef there's a ecimmage comes up, whv dod burned ef old Joe don't take a hand in it. Them's mv sentiments persactly, and I don't give a cuss. I \vi