»S 635 .Z9 E59 1891 Dopy 1 %^ 51. THE D Ji^ :M:ELODi^^:iyc^. REVISED. sf SI, THE TRAMP: (A MELODRAMA.) RE VISED. WM. F. ENSIGN. LAID IN SAN FRANCISCO TIME, 1880. ^-^.^\rV of Co;^- . NOV 10 ^ / "Wm M. Hinton & Co., PitiNiTiis, San Francisco. Ib'JJ. Entered According to the Act of Congbeps in the Year 18'JO By Wm. F. Ensign in the office of the librarian of congress, at washington. [All Bights Reserved.] Entered According to thr Act of Congress in the Yeau IS'Jl By Wm. F Ensign in the office OF the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. [Ail Rights Reserved.) TWP96-0C7237 SI THE TRAMP. (A MELODRAMA) By WM. F. ENSIGN. DRAMATIS PERSONiE. James Clayton, o Banker and Guardian of Grace Saville. Allen Drake, alias Clarence Meadows, James Cluyton's Con- fidential Secretary. Detective Spinner. Si, The Tramp. MuGGS, a Wandering Minstrel. GiP, a Gamin. Albert Clayton, Jr , known as "Prince," a waif. Max Shin bourn. Jimmy Hope. Grace Saville, ivay^l of James Clayton. Mrs. Drake, a nurse. Emily Jordan, a maid, ^li^""' \ "Chippies" k Mabell, ) ' ^ Mrs. Bloomtield, landlady of the Home for the Weary. Cashier, Teller and Clerk in James Clayton's Bank. Anna Clara PROLOGUE. Scene — Interior of James Ciayton's Banking House. 2'ime, three o'clock P. M. Clayton and Clarence at their desks in private office; Cashier, Teller, Clerk and customers at counter in banking room. SI, THE TRAMP. Clayton — "Clarence, will you bring me my private box from the vault?" Clarence goes to vault and re(urui< with box, places it on Clay- ton's desk, starts to return to his oxen. Clayton — "Clarence, during- my absence I wish you to reside at my house, with my family. At the bank you will have full charge of my private affairs." Clarence — "Your pleasure will be but a duty I owe to my benefactor and employer." Clayton — "You will also supervise the general affairs of the bank; the Cashier will consult with you in all its business de- tails. Have you finished the correspondence you were engaged upon?" Clarence— "Not quite, but will soon be done." (Returns to his desk.) Clayton opeiis the box, taking out a locket and a letter. Enter Spinner {B. F. E., through banking room into private office. To Clayton) — "Good afternoon." Clayton [rises out of hvi chair; lie and Spinikeb. shake hands) — "I am very glad to pee 3'ou." Spinner — "I received your note requesting me to call, and I have done so, hoping my oldest friend is not involved in any- thing of a serious nature." Clayton — "Be seated, and I will explain as briefly as possible, trusting you can attend to the affair." Spinner (seating himself, takes out a note-book) — "I will be pleased to render any service in my power." Clayton — "My son Albert, as you know, married against my wishes. After a stormy interview we parted, and never met again. I recently learned that shortly after we separated his wife was taken ill and died, leaving Albert sick and with a baby boy to provide for. He soon followed his wife to the grave; the child disappeared, a waif in the crowd of a great city. This locket contains Albert's photograph" (shows the locket), "and is SI, THE TRAMP. a duplicate of one Albert placed on the baby's neck, and will be the strongest clue to the child's indentity. Its counterpart I hope you may find, and with it my grandson." Spinner (who had been making notes in his book) — "I will do all in my power to find the boy, and hope to be successful. Where did you learn the child was last located?" Clayton — "With a poor Irish woman on Telegraph Hill; but this was some years ago. For years the woman had been in the City and County Hospital, speechless from a stroke of paralysis. Just before she died she recovered her speech, and begged the attending physician to bring me to her, as she had something of importance to communicate." Spinner — "Do you remember what time in the year this oc- curred?" Clayton — "I think" (pauses) "in May; the last of the month." Spinner (making notes in his book) — "What was her name." Clayton— "Ellen McCabe." Spinner — "About how old would the boy now be; and can you give me the color of his hair and eyes?" Clayton — "He would be about fourteen, his hair light-brown and curly, his eyes blue." Spinner (still making notes in his book) — ^"Of course you accom- panied the doctor to the woman's bedside." Clayton — "Yes; and there I learned for the first time Albert's sad end. It seems that he drifted down the road of poverty to absolute want. At last he found a home with this j)Oor but warm-hearted woman. He left with her this note," (holds up the note) "which, on account of her illness, I did not receive until recently." (Reads the note pathetically.) "Dear Father: These few lines from one who has never for- got the love due to his father will be handed to you by the good woman with whom I have found a shelter. I pray you to take charge of my poor boy; he will soon be fatherless and friendless in this world. I am dying, but no friend is near, with loving eye and voice, to cheer the fluttering spirit on its heaven-ward bound career. It has been said, the saddest word that falls SI, THE TRAMP. 4 uj^on the ear is that one word, 'farewell.' But, soon to number with the dead, then sadder far the long fare-well unsaid. "God bless you, "Good by, "Albert." [ Pause. ] "Oh! Albert, Albert! the son I loved and lost." [Pau!^e.] ^piNSER {his voice Ir-embling) — " What information did she give you regarding the boy, and when did she last see him?" Clayton — "None, but what I have already given you. She had been ill so many years that all trace of the boy was lost." Spinner — "Then, the description you have given was when he was a small child. Did you learn what name he was christened?" Clayton — "Certainly, and that from the memory of the poor woman; he was named Albert, after his father. I will intrust to your care the locket" (liands Spinner the lockel), "and promise you a liberal reward if you find the bo}'. I leave for Europe in the morning; therefore, my time is limited for arranging my business affairs. I will leave you my address, in case you should wish to communicate with me." [Hands him a card.) Spinner {putting hix note-book in hi^ pocket and risiv< and looks at him)— "Ahl Prince, the tamale vender, poor fellow! Some drunken brute has done this. I will help him to his room be- fore a cop comes along and runs him in." (Prince revives and is helped to his feet and supported off bj/ Si.) (Exeunt Si and Prince, B. V. S.) Re-enter Clarence {E. F. E.) — "I must have dropped the locket on the ground." {Looks for it.) Enter Gip {L. D. S., turns corner) — "I say, mister, gimme a nickel for a coifeeV" Clarence (fiercely) — "Get out of here, you ragamuffin." Gip — "S'pose I'z ragged. I don't roll a drunk, looz der swag, an' go ter clawing in der mud fer it." Clarence — "See here, boy, what do you know? Come here. Here is some money for you." (Shows money.) Gip — "Frow it 'ere; I ain't der kid to let yer get yer claws on ter." (Sings:) "Fer yer er so very kind, In yer mind, in yer mind." (Ends with a mocking laiif/li.) Enter Sim^iioviis (B. D. S., htughing) — "Ha! ha! lia! Clarence Meadows, having a bout with Gip, one of the smartest gamins in the city. Ha! ha!" Clarence (a/Hyri/;/) — "You need not be so merry; I have had too much to annoy me to-night." Shinbodrn (to Gip) — "Take this." (Throws him a piece of money.) "Now, get out of here, you young Arab." Gip (catches the piece, hoks at it and bites it) — "Gov, I'll see yer later." Exit Gip, E. U. S. Wldle Muggs is singing, he returns and hides in cellar-ioay on. the corner. Enter Muggs (L. D. S., drunk and singing) — SI, THE TEAM P. "Once I was a landlord's pet, then I had money to spend; I spent it in driuk, and verily did think It never would come to an end. But now I have nothing but rags to my back, My boots won't hide my toes-o-oes, The crown of my hat goes flip, flop, flap, Boys laugh at my rum-blossom'd nose." {Speaks)— ''That's SO!" (Gazing stupidly around, discovers Shinbourn and Clarence; staggers up to them.) — "Could I speak to you? If I bad twenty- five cents, I could get a bed," (aside) "or five schooners." (Holds up his hands with fingers extended.) Clarence (gives him a, piece of money) — "Now go." MuGGS (staggerutg away) — "I always knew you were a gentle- man." (Liioks at the money.) "The money is good, au3'how." Exit MuGGS (R. F. E., singing) — "Tlje crown of my hat goes flip, flop, flap" — Shinbourn — "You look worried; what's up?" Clarence — "My wife is in the city; I just met her." Shinbourn — "Very likelj^; she lives over on Stevenson street. If she should find you out, you would be in a nice fix." Clarence — "She shall never know." Shinbourn (aside) — "He is in a desperate mood; I will spring the game on him." (To Clarence) — "I see that James Clayton is on his way home. He will miss his bonds." Clarence — "What do you mean? What do you know about the bonds?" Shinbourn — "Oh! your position is plain. No man can place fourly or fifty thousand dollars in wild speculation on twenty-five hundred a year." Clarence — "Ah! then you know?" Shinbourn — "Yes; you have but one way to safety." Clarence — "And that?" Shinbourn — "You have the combination to the vault at the bank, I believe?" Clarence — "Certainly; but what of that?" SI, THE TRAMP. 10 Shinbourn — "Just this; give me the combination, and I will do the rest." Clarence — "Oh! I see; it's burglary you propose." Shinbourn — "Say it easy; you having appropriated part of the funds in the day-time, I take the balance at night, thereby cover- ing your defalcation." Clarence (asif/e) — "The first gleam of hope; but I must not consent to readily." {To Shinbourn) — "Suppose I refuse to be- come the accomplice of a burglar?" Shinbourn — "This, from you? Yes; in the mad hour when the brain tottered on its throne, I fell — fell — as the eagle falls, when his tired pinions refuse to longer bear him on his upward flight! He falls to the ground — an eagle still. The world never for- gives. You the accomplice of a burglar! Bah! such as you I use not mate with. Give me the combination, or to-morrow I will have you denounced as the friend who betrays his friend's trust. As the man who wooes, wins, weds, then deserts a young, confiding girl, leaving her in poverty, helpless and alone. You made your choice then; you can choose now." Clarence — "A well-told-tale; doubtless true. But you need not be so bitter; you press me hard." [Taken out a pencil and card ; vjrUeti on card and hands it to Shinbourn.) "Here is the combination, but there is a time-lock on the door." Shinbourn — "That!" (snapn hin fingers) "for your time-luck." Clarence — "Well, make sure work of it. Come, show me where my wife lives." Shinbourn — "NO! I do not war on women." {Exit Shinbourn, L. U. S.) Clarence {mockingly) — "A knavish fool, or foolish knave, which? He'd use me, while I attain my ends by using him. As though there was a difi'ereuce in vultures, our prey's the same — mankind." {Exit Clarence, B. F. E.) Grip {coming out of cellar xvag) — "I'm on der racket. I'll be in der swim. Si, an' me er'l per-tect der duc-ats. I'll tote ter der ranch fer sul-tation," {Starla logo.) SI, THE TRAMP. 11 Re-enter Clarence (catches hold of Gip) — "You youug rascal, where is the locket j'ou stole out of my pocket?" Gip — "Hey, you want to wreck a feller's close? Wot yer talkin' about? I ain't got nawfin er yourn." (Struggles.) Enter Si (R. F. E , catches hold of Clarence and shakes him) — "Let go your grip on the lad; you hear me?" (Gives him a push; Clarence goes doivn on one hand and knee.) Gip (breaks away, dancing ai'ound and sparring at Clarence; as Clarence recovers himself, Gip stops) — "Oh, I say, did yer, did yer ever go er bobbin fer eels?" (Jerks liis head to one side.) "See?" Curtain. ACT II. Scene 1 — Parlor i.n James Clayton's Mansion. Time, seven o'clock p. M. Grace Saville at piano, playing the waltz, "A Friend of Mine." Clarence in easy chair. As the music ceases, Grace turns from the piano. Clau^^ce (rises a) id goes to her) — "Grace, when will you give me the 'Yes' that makes me more than a friend — the 'Y'^es' that will make you my wife, and me the happiest of men?" Grace — "Clarence you know by the terms of my father's will I cannot engage myself until I am of age without my guardian's consent." Clarence — "But, Grace, you will be of age in a few days, and your guardian will give his consent on his return." Grace — "Do not urge me, Clarence; it gives me as much pain as it does 3'ou disappointment that I cannot answer you now." A knock at the door. Enter Maid, hands Grace a card. (Exit Maid.) SI, THE TRAMP. 12 Gkace {/'fads rtird, luraing in Clarence) — "Excuse me, Clar- ence, there is a lady waiting, with whom I have an engagement. I must bid you good-night.' Clarence^ — "Good-night. " {Exit Grace.) Clarence — " I feel her answer will be the 'Yes' I seek, but I must wait for her guardian's return." {Stops in tliought for a moment.) "Now for my wife. By a stroke of good luck I've found out where she lives; I must silence her — if not by fair means, then by foul." (^i;i/ Clarence.) Scene 2 — A room in a Jorlgin(/-]iout!)\ Tinie, eight o'clock p. m. Enter Si {by door B. U. S.) — -"I do not know why I take such an interest in this poor woman. I will leave the provisions for her. I know she needs them." {PIace)< them on the table, and stejjs to th" store.) "The wood is almost gone. I will go and get some." {Exit Si, by door R. U. S.) Enter Mrs. Drake {liglds the lamp, discorer.'< the jyorisions on the table) — "Why, my guardian angel has been here. I wonder who it can be? They have saved me from starvation more than once." {Tarns to the .^tore.) "There is only wood for morning; I will have to eat a cold supper." {Seats herself at the table.) A knoel- at the door. Mrs. J)'b.\k-e, {rises and goes to the door, and opens it) — "Allen Drake! What do you want here?" Enter Clarence {pashing Mrs. Drake to o)ie side) — "My dear, it's a long time since you had the pleasure of my company." Mrs. Drake — "The pleasure of your company was but an- other name for a woman's folly, which to soon changed to sor- row. When you deserted me and our babe, leaving us in poverty, the child sickened, wasted away from want and died. Kind- hearted angels of charity nursed me back to life, but in my heart there was nothing left for you but a woman's hate." SI, THE TRAMP. 13 Clarence — '=Be it so; now to the purpose of my visit. You must give me the certificate of our marriage, and the ring with my name engraved upon it, Jeave for some secluded place in the East, and forget you ever knew me. I will furnish you with money to begin life anew. The minister who married us is dead; his house caught fire, burning up all the records and leaving nothing but his charred remains to mark the spot of my folly." Mrs. Drake {sfrjjs up Id him and (jdzcs in his /(ti-c irilh a look' of horror) — "You fiend!" Clarence [laiKjhs itiochrnghi) — -"Think what you please; the dead give me no trouble." Mrs. Drake — "Have you no heartV Had you ever a mother's care?" Claee^ce {>far1i< hack) — "Had la mother's care? Y^es, a kind, gentle mother; one upon whom the world frowned, shunned and spurned, for no sin of hers. It broke her heart, she died, and as I turned from her grave my heart was stone; it never warms, it never will. But I've no time to give to the past. I'm here to enforce you to comply with my terms." Mps. Drake — "Do you know what you ask — what it is for a woman to surrender all that guards her honor? Never will I surrender the only proof that stands between you and some other woman's ruined life. No! not while life lasts shall you be free!^' Clarence- — "Then life shall not last long." {He cd/chrs he/- hij flic throat, they striiyyh', she appears to be dead; he places her on the lounge.) "Where can she keep her papers? Perhaps in this." (Ne talcH a leatlter bag from Iter ivaiM and opens it; tales out some papers.) "Ah, here it is." {He strikes a match, lig]ds the paper, throws tlieni on the stove hearth, looks toioards the lounge.) "My dear, burnt papers, like dead men and women, tell no tales." {He then takes the ring from her finger, looks at it.) "At lastl am free.'' (Goes to tlie door, looks back, returns to the table.) "I will upset the lamp, set fire to the house, destroy all evidence of this, and who's to know?" {While speaking lie upsets tlie lamp, lai/s a .string dipped in oil to it, lights the string.) {Exit Clarence by door B. U. S.) SI, THE TRAMP. 14 Enteral (hi/ door Tl. U.S., irifli .sv/r/' of icood; obserrcs ihc lamp and fin' rrrejiin;/ /o the oil: hiifs doicii IJic irood mid ('.rfingidsJustJie tin'; fai'('>< a candle from. Ilir iii((idcl-.->ide pocket of his voat a small case (f suTf/ical instruments, selects a lance, uncorers her arm, cut- ting a flesh colored tube connected to a rubber bulb filed n:ilh a red fluid, and flien rubbing her arm, while she, pressing on, Uw bulb, causes the fluid to flow cut, giving the ap2warance of bleeding. She shoivs sigiis of life, and he hastily bandages her arm, taken out a .^mall vial.) "This will give her strength." (He pours a few drops into a glass of water, and gives it to her. Her breathing be- comes regular. lie Jielps her to her feet, supyporting her with his arm.) "She lives! Lives for retribution, for justice!" Curtain. ACT III. Scene 1 — Oflice and bar in the "Home for the Weary." Time ten o'clock p. m. Landlady in the bar, sereral lodgers in die room. Enter Gip and Prince by door It. 2d. E. Prince — "Si isn't here; we will have to wait for him." Gip— "We kin take in der place till he comes." (Gip and Prince sit dincn and appear to be talking.) Enter Mdgos (/>// door B. 2d. E., drunk, carrying a jug and sing- ing) "Spare, oh, spare this jug; Oft times it's warmed the heart" {Speaks) "of Muggs." {Staggers up to the bar.) SI, TBE TRAMP. 15 "Mrs. Bloomfield, I hope j'ou're quite well — I'm all broke up, aud have had a bad spell" (Pauses.) "Tve traveled far, am very tired and thirsty, too," (Pauses.) Would you give me a drink on my I. O. U?" Mrs. Bloomfield — "Muggs, it's no go; but if you will sing a song, I'll treat for old acquaintance' sake." Muggs— "All right." (Siiu/s ) THE ONE, AND THE OTHER. "They're born the same, the rich, the tramp, As you must certainly know, Tho' living apart, they end the same, As I will surely show. The rich they go on a journey afar, A tramp comes jogging behind; The rich they ride in a gilded car, A tramp on the baggage, blind. ChoruH — Tho' his coat is ragged and torn, ' His hands are grimy with dirt — The coat can cover a heart that's warm, Tho' his hands are unwilling to work. The rich wear clothes from a tailor, so grand, A tramp wears what he can get. The rich wear hats with silken bands, The tramp's is made out of felt. The rich they dine at restaurants fine, A tramp where he dines ain't clear. The rich sip wine from a glass that shines, While a tramp from a can drinks beer. Vhorus — Though his coat is ragged and torn, etc. The rich lie down on beds of down, A tramp on a cellar door. The rich are covered with satin spreads, \ tramp has no covering o'er. The rich they die, as die they will, A tramp, he dies when he must. The rich, the tramp, a box they fill. While both are turning to dust. Chorus — Tho' his coat is ragged and torn," etc. SI, THE TRAMP. 16 Af, clone of Hong, all go up to the bar but Gip and Prince. Enter Si hi/ door E. 2d. E., look.-i around; Gip and Prince go up /oSi. Gip — "I say, Si, 'ere's a locket a bloke took off a chap's neck; I prigged it outer his pocket." (Si and Prince examine the locket. ) "Prince — "This is mine; it has the picture of my father and mother. It was taken from my neck last night while I was un- conscious." Si {with a start) — "Lad, what is your correct name?" Prince — "While my father was living, I remember being called Albert; but that was a long time ago." Si (hands the locket /n Prince) — "This is of great value to you; take good care of it."' Gip — "Der bloke an anuther gent 'greed ter rob Clayton's Bank; we can spile der game." Si — "Come, lads, we will take a turn down by the bank." (Exeunt Si, Gip and Prince bi/ door li. 2d. E.) Enter Anna Starr and Clara Mabell. Anna — ^"If them dudes don't le've me alone they'll get er mash dey won't like — See? I'll lay some er 'em on de shelf for kee^DS— See?" Clara — "Oh, Anna, you'r rough on the jays." Anna — "S'pose I do dance at the theatre an' look pleasant; dat's how I makes me living — See? An' s'pose me English is er missfit, I ain't an' dey shouldn't judge a book by the kiver — not dis book — See?" Clara — "Well let's practice the new dance we are to bring out." Anna — "Me feels more like jumping on them dudes' heads, but I'll go yer the'r dance all the same." (Ihe.g thruw off their wraps and dance) "On the Beach at Monterey. (Exeu}it Anna and Clara.) Scene 2 — Interior of James Clayton's Banking House. Time, seveii o'clock p. m. Clerk at work on his books; he gels down from SI, THE TRAMP. 17 his sfool, ])ut books in the vault closes and locks {he door, draws screen gale mvai/ fi om froni of vault. 2he vault is made of Jiiw vnre clotJt, jjainted ivhite, loHh euiiains inside that draw up ndien the doors are closed by the burglars on en- ieriinj the vault. Bunch lights are turned on, so that the interior of vault is plainly seen, while the outside of vault i^emains in plain view of the audience. [Time changes to twelve o'clock, midnight.) Evtfr SHiNbouEN and Hope by Vie door L. 3c? E.; they make a sharp examination of the office. Shinbcuen {in a wJiisjje?-] — "Jim, you keep watch while I un- lock the doer." {(roes to and unkcks the door to the vault.) "All right, Jim, come." They both inter and cluse the doors to vault behind them, and drill a hole in door of i-afe, insert a cartridge attached to fuse, fire the fuse, stip out of vault and fyo to the door L. 3d. E.; after the ex- plosion they go to and re-enter vault, gather up the money and put i-t in a bag. Enter Si, Gip and Prince by door L. Sd E. Gip and Peince stej) up) close to vault and remain there, while Si goes to front of vault. Shinbouen and Hope sfcj) out of van It and are confronted by Si; Shinbouen dropjs the bag, and raises a jimmy to strike; Si covers him with a pistol. For one moment they glare in each other's eyes. Si — "Drop your weapon; or I'll shoot." Shinbouen (cotvers, lowers his weapon , .shrinks back; looking over Si's shoulder, exclaims) — "Stop, don't hit him, Jim." Si turns his head, and Shinbouen makes a leap towards Si, strikes him a blow on the arm; Si drops the pistol. Shinbourn and Hope start for the door; Si catches hold of Hope, forces him back on a desk. Hope draivs a knife; Gip and Prince rush for- ward; Prince takes hold of Hope's arm; Gip piH'S up the pistol, places it at Hope's head. GiP — "Der yer gin in? Si, is yer hurt?" Cnrtain. SI, THE TRAMP. 18 ACT IV. ScESE —reception room in James Clayton's ma/i.sio;/. Time, ten o'cloek a. m. Clayton seated reading jjc(pe7'. Enter Grace (bij door, R. 2d E., draim a ka>