QP fi M DTW CC C ln rtllin K al1 orders ia alway. • ' ; i ' LOO Catalogues sent free. Any Play, Diaiogu II HbVW Quide Book> Wlg3 ftnd Be^j^^ ? Mt | want will be sent by AMIS' PUBLISHING CO., Cly do, 4)£ 'I J be 11 C*.S 52 2 ill 5 S = rt-BO AMES' SERIES OF STANDARD AND MINOB DRAMA, No. 372. ^ SUNLIGHT. ^ (Z)JB^iV.4 ) WITH CAS r OF CHARACTERS, ENTRANCES AND EXITS. RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PERFORMERS ON THE STAGE, DESCRIPTION OF COSTUMES AND THE.WHOLEOF THE STAGE BUSINESS; CAREFULLYJMARKED FROM THE MOST APPROVED ACTING COPY. PRICE 25 CENTS. CLYDE, OHIO : AMES' PUBLISHING CO, a- \__ j& Ment C. O. D. Money MUST .•iccompan}" all r ^ ALPHABETICAL LIST DF iimes' Edition nf Plays — ♦ -sSQ^z •♦ ■ FIFTEEN CENTS EACH UNLESS OTHERWISE MARKED. 294 V 2 164 39 43 1U0 125 350 89 113 226 14 321 272 160 268 310 161 60 343 152 279 173 143 162 255 300 357 311 283 117 52 76 141 26 191 362 337 194 3 9 330 261 335 355 46 227 211 251 163 91 36 34 229 rK DRAMAS. Arthur Eustace, 25c. 10 A Desperate Game 3 After Ten Years 7 A Life's Revenge.. Arrah de Baugh 7 Aurora Floyd Auld Robin Gray 25o 13 By Force of Love 8 Beauty of Lyons 11 Bill Detriek 7 Brae, the Poor House Girl.... 4 Brigands of Calabria Broken Links Beyond Pardon 7 Conn; or, Love's Victory 11 Clearing the M'ste, Claim Ninety-Six (9( Dora Driven to the Wall in Defending the FN Daisy Garland's Fortune Driven from Home 7 Dutch Jake 4 East Lynne Emigrant's Daughter Gyp, The Hi Haunted by a Shadow... Hal Hazard, 25c 10 Henry Granden 11 How He Did It 3 Hidden Treasures Hunter of the Alps 9 Hidden Hand 15 Josh Winchester Kathleen Mavourneen 12 Lights and Shadows of the Great Rebellion, 25c 10 Lady of Lyons 12 Lady Audley's Sec Little Goldie, 25.\ Lost in London Miller's Daughter, 25c 7 Mrs Willis' Will. My Paid Man and Wife 12 Maud's Peril Midnight Mistake fi Millie, the Quadm Miriam's Crime... Michael Erie Miller of Derwent v Mistletoe Bough.. Mountebanks (The) New York Book A . > i NO. M. 'ur Country Aunt. •Id Honesty 81 Old Phil's Birthday 85 Outcast's Wife Out on the World... 331 Old Wayside Inn, '! 1% Oath Bound 29 Painter of Ghent .... 278 l'enn II :0 301 Pelegand Peter. 25c IS Poacher's Doom Pheelim O'Reokes' 5 Phyllis, the Beggar Girl. 110 Reverses 45 Rock Allen Stub 79 Spy of A Hani weetbrier 11 -'liter lie Winning Hand 144 Thekla :j 18 The Ad mmercial Drumine 212 The Dutch Recruit Che Fatal Blow 119 TheForty-Niners... I he General Manager 93 The Gentleman in Black 314 The Haunted Mill. 112 The New Magdalen 322 The Raw Recruit 71 The Reward of Crime 306 The Three Hats 105 Through Snow and Sunsl 201 Ticket of Leave Ma 293 Tom Blossom 193 r i •277 The Musical Captain Corn's Cabin 2!0 Wild Mah.. 121 Will-o'-the-U 41 \ Von at Last 192 Zion TEMPERANCE PLAYS. At Last 7 75 Adrift \unt Dinah's Pledge Dot; the Miner's Daughte 202 Drunkard [The] Drunkard's V * 189 Drunkard's Doom... ard's of the Wine I 104 1 -^ Sunlight ; 4* -OR- The Diamond King. A WESTERN DRAMA, IN FOUR ACTS. — BY CdI. Geo. H. Hemiltnn, Author -of "Hotel Healthy,'''' "President," etc. •0 — PRINTED FROM THE AUTHOR'S ORIGINAL MANU- SCRIPT. ——TO WHICH IS /-DDE!) H k DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUMES— CAST OF THE CHARACTERS — ENTRANCES AND EXITS— RELATIVE POSITIONS OP THE PERFORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE 2 § » WHOLE OF THE STAGE BUSINESS. - • -J * sf — ° — ©■» IT ^> B a cs ©5 Entered accord ino to the act of Congress in the year 1393, 5y I AMES 1 PUBLISHING CO., h, the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 3 AMES' PUBLISHING CO. y CLYDE, ohio: SUNLIGHT; OR, THE DIAMOND KING. CAST OF CHARACTERS. Sandy Marvin, A miner. Silas Steel, An Irish advertising agent. J ubal Jones, A negro servant "Win Klee, The laundry man, not such a fool as he seems. Yosemite Bill, The stage coach driver. Walter Burrell, A lieutenant in the U. S. Army. Frank Siloartte, Guerilla Tom. Juan Palacio, A briggand. Viol Vascard, Leader of Palaces gang. Philip Kedfern, A villain . Nellie Marvin, Called /Sunlight by the boys at the camp Mrs. John Marvin, Nellie's mother, a wido * Dollie Wallace, Up to the tim-s Miners, Mexicans and Brigands, etc. TIME IN REPRESENTATION— 1% hours. COSTUMES.— Mexican or Western. PROPERTIES. ACT I. — Cards, broom, valise, whip, letter, enveloves, four lega papers, paper money, bottle of water, two glasses, one rec ;ipt. ACT II. — Bar room out- lit, two tables, chairs, cards, bottles, four chisels, tin cups, large book, gun, pan of bread dough and Hour. ACT III.— Mining tools, headlight, colored glass, fur robes, couch, one barrel, six tin cups, gun and pistol. ACT IV.— Exterior of Yosemite Hotel. Notice: — The author of the "Diamond King, Unknown, Hote! Healthy, A Knight of Labor, The President, Deadwood Dick, Silver Bird." desires to state that at any time, parties who wish to * ngage his services for a production of either of these plays, can ao so by addressing Col. G. H. Hamilton, 59 Bond street, Cleveland, Ohio, or to the offing nf 4»n«' Ty '—*.i&B.mGrCo-, Clyde Ohio _ , _ TNP96-007048 STAGE DIRECTIONS. p., means Right; l., Left; r. h., Eight Hand ; l. h., Left Hand; c, Cenier ; s. e., [2d e.,J Second Entrance ;u. e., Upper Entrance ; M. d., Middle Door; f., the Flat; d. y., Door in Flat; r. c, Right of Center; l. c, Left of Center. r r. c. c. l. c. c. *.*• Tbe reader is supposed to be upon the stage facing the audience. SUJVUGH1; —OK — The Diamond King, ACT I. SCENE. — Interior Yosemite Ho' el — lively music at rise of curtain — Redfern and Sandy sitting at table, cards in hand, pile of money on table. Sandy, (throws card* down and pushes himself back from table-** Redfern /oMs money up and puts it in a big pocket-book) No use, Mr. Redfern, luck is against me to-day; you have taken every cent fro n me in that last hand. Bedfern. (takes a drink) Cheer up, Sandy, better luck next time. The cards did run a little bad for you to-day, but we must always live in hopes of our luck changing. Sandy. No. I am afraid luck will never change forme, and now that every farthing is gone, it jm fitters very little to me, whether luck ever changes or not. Bedfern. There, you are discouraged, you must remember you have a wife, a mother, a child. Sandy, Yes, and the more I think of them, the harder it is for me to realize that I have squandered every penny of my earning. (takes bottle) My only comfort now is this, (taps bottle) This, Mr. Redfern, makes me forget it all. (pours out a glass and drinks it Bedfern. (rising) There was always a good motto taught while at college, and that motto was, "Enjoy lite while it lasts, for when we are dead, it's a long time." Ha! hai S'tndy. S > it is, so it is. Bedfern. Well Sandy, [ will leave you now, and if I am not engaged at anything serious to-morrow, I will come over with the mortgage all made out and ready to sign. At any rate I am in no hurry. This receipt is as good as a mortgage. (hold< up receipt— takes bottle, drinks) Hereto you, my boy, better luck next time, (crosses up to c, stands and looks baa's at Saxdy, whose head is bowed on the table — aside) Ha! ha! poor devil I have wrought his ruin, despondency has set in, his next move will be to fill a suicide grave. Ha! ha! (exit, r. c. e. 4 SUNLIGHT; OB, THE DIAMOND KING. Sandy. "Enjoy lite while it lasts, tor when you are dead, you are dead a long time." How can I faceiuy sunlight, my wife and mother, now a beggar, a low despicable gambler. Sandy Marvin, you have wilfully thrown away all honor and respect, you deserve nothing more than a paupers grave. The grave did I say? {feels for pistol, looks cautiously around) lean never face them now, tis better to die. {puts pistol to head) What would 1 do, coward tnat I am, would I end my misery and plunge mother, wife and Child in deeper trouble? Shame on you, Sandy Marvin; be a man, live, work and redeem all that is lost, {stands up) I will ! (puts pistol in belt) For their sake, I will start anew — an ambi- tious soul and willing hands will always overcome adversities. This night do I swear, so long as I live, 1 will never touch another card. Heaven help me to keep that oath. Enter, Dollie, l. e. Dollie. Sandj', what's the matter? You look as if you had lost yer best friend. Sandy. So I have, Dollj r , for they do say, man's best friend is tha almighty dollar, and I have lost the last one 1 had. I Dollie. Anoiher game of draw, eh? and I will bet it was with that blackleg, Philip Redfern. Sandy. Yes, he and 1 played a small game, at least, we started in to play it small, but soon the excitement came, bets were heavy and — Dollie. As usual, you lost. Say, Sandy, take a fool's advice: Don't ever play cards with Philip Redfern, for he is not what he looks. Sandy. Why Dollie, how strange you talk. Dollie. I know the old saying, ail women have queer Ideas. My ideas may be queer, ray notions funny, but I tell you, Philip Redfern is not what he pretends to be. Sandy, look- at that tele- gram and read what it says. (hands him paper Sandy. Why, it's a cipher telegram, received by Mr. Redlern, at Carson City, dated three days ago, and that is all that 1 can make out of it. Dollie. Of course we can't make much out of it, but it proves clearly to me that he is a rascal, for honest men and their pards, don't send such messages. Now do they? Sandy. Where did you get this, Dollie? Dollie. I found it on the lloor just now. Sandy, {going l.) Well, when you see Mr. Redfern, give it tt him. (hands paper to Dollie Dollie. Alright, Sandy. I will, {exit, Sandy, l. e.) Gee! but don't Sandy look blue. "Well, card games must be awfully ex- citing, to make a fellow loose the last dollar he has, and then to think Sandv would be such a softy, to play with that skinflint, Redfern. Oh! well, it takes all kinds of people to make a world. {roes up stage — quartette sings outside) There goes the jolliest set of miners that ever graced a mining camp, happy and light hearted after a hard days work. "Happy is the being, who earns his bread by the sweat of his brow." Well, it is now G o'clock and nearly time for the stage coach ; Yosemite Bill must be awful late to-nio'ht. (rings bell — large bell rope from side of hotel Jubal. {outside, R., 2 e.') Yes' urn, I'se a coming! SUNLIGHT; <)L\ THE DIAMOND KING. 5 Dollie. Well, Mr. Coon, you rush. Enter, Jubai , n., 2 v. Jubal. Ain't I rushing? Here I am. Dollie. Say Jubal, mother, say-*, that somebody has boon down cellar ;md tapped the barrel of whiskey, and now it's nearly empty, and I'll gamble you have had a hand in ir. Jubal. Who, me? Dolli". Yes, you ! Jubl. No, indeed, this nigger never took dot whiskey. Nig- gers never drink whiskey, niggers don't drink nothin' but gin, and nigger gi n a t that. Dollie. Come here, 1 am going to teat your breath. Jubal. What is yer gQiny; to do? Dollie. Why, I am going to see if yout>ok the whiskey or not. Jubal. How can yon find out? Dollie. {strikes a match) Do you see this match. Well, now open your mouth, and it you drank the whiskey, the alcohol will form gas, that will come trom your mouth, this lighted match close to the nostril, will ignite the gas, and — Jubal. Away goes dis nigger. Explosion— :io Misses Dollie, you can't explosion this coon. Uph ! uph ! Dollie. Then you drank the whiskey. Jubal. I specks I did. Dollie. I knew ir. Now what did you do it for? Jubal. For excitement. Dollie. Excitement, eh? Well, Mr. Marvin will give you all the excitement you want, when he finds it out. A half a barrel of whiskey. i Jubal. No, no, Miss Dollie, I didn't drink that much, I only drank fifty quarts, the Chinaman drank the rest. Dollie. The Chinaman? Does he drink whiskey? Jubal. Does he? Well, I should sav so. Miss Dollie, dem cussed Chinaman mixes rice, whiskey, opium and rats all together, eats them, lies down and has der shakes, and dis Chinaman, Win Klee, is always a smoking something that smell? awfully. If be don't stop it, I ain't a goin' to sleep in that room any more. Dollie. Now Jube, you know it's time for the tables to be set for supper, the boys will all be here in a minute, and you had better keep shady when Sandy is around. Jubal I specks I will. Miss Do lie. (exit, r., 2 e. Dollie. A nigger and a Chinaman, they are a healthy pair, you bet. {can introduce specialty if desired Enter, Silas, l., 2 e. Silas. Hello! Dollie, me darlint, how are ye, sure, and yer looks as a sunflower that; bends in the breezes, you see I have just returned from the heights of yonder massive mountain, where I swung off my perch like the great American eagle and painted salvation oil on every giant boulder I came across, and when I was at the top of that great peak, I thought of you me darlint, and, and, and — Dollie. What Silas. Silas, Salvation oil, bedad. (business of being bashful) Oh! if I had the courage, I'd— by the way me jewel, does you know 6 SUNLIGHT; OR, THE DIAMOND KING. what I come over here for? (D( llik shakes head) You don't, well, I will tell you. I am in search of that infernal Chinaman. Dollie. Win klee? What h;is he done now? Silas. Be gorra! whatis it he hasn't done. This noon he stol^ all me paints, pot-* and brushes, and o:i every rock, tree and fence, for miles around, he has made Chinese puzzles. Dollie, Well Silas, the Chinaman was only trying to help you. Silas. Helping me, is it? Is it helping me to drink a gallon of me turpentine last Sunday, and call it whiskey? And do yoi think it is helpiug me, to paint higerlicks all over the town, and have the marshal arrest me with being a nuisance? Just as sure as I meet him, he'll be a dead Chinaman, and it's helping me no more he will be. Dollie. Well, Silas, that was bad, I feel sorry for you. Silas, (aside) Ah ! now is me time, I'll tell her how much I love her. (aloud) Oh! Dollie, me darlint, the more I look at you, the more I see — I see. (aside) Ah ! bad cess to me. Blarney, what the devil is the matter wid me. | Dollie. (aside) Oh! goodness, 1 do believe he is going to pro- pose, (aloud) Ye», Silas, go on— go on ! 1 Silas. That's what I am trying to do, to goon. Ah! Miss Dollie Wallace, you can see here on my bended knees — Silas kneels to Dollie — horn blown outside, ratchet wheel is worked, whip is cracked. Bill, (outside l.) Whoa! Enter, Win Klee, r. e., runs and kicks Silas, who is on his knees. Win. Stagee coachee comee, stagee coachee comee. Win Klee runs off stage, r., 2 e., Silas gets wp and runs after him and falls. \ Silas. Bad luck to that Chinaman. (exit, r. e. Enter, Bill and Silcartie, l., 3 e. — Bill carries a valise and wh>p. Bill. Here we are at last, stranger, and I reckon you found it a long and tedious ride. Silcartie. Yes, and it was a rough ride, too. They done well, when they name you dare devil Bill. Tell mell you drive over hill, dale, mountain and valley ; surely you care very little for your life. What place is this? Bil 1 . Yosemite Inn, of Yosemite Valley. Silcartie. Who is landlord here ? Bill. Sandy Marvin, and one of the jolliest of landlords in all California. Silcartie. (to Dollie) Can I get a room an 1 supper? Dollie. Yes, sir ! I'll go in and arrange it for you. Right this way, sir ! Silcartie. Try and See Sandy Marvin, Bill, and send him to m^ at once. Bill. I will, Squire. (exit, Dollie and Silcartie, l. e. Enter, Mrs. Marvin, r., 1 e. Mrs. M. Stage was late to-night. Bill, what's up? Bill. Jlpads are heavy, Widdy, and tough rolling, 'sides I was SUNLIGHT; OB, THE DIAMOND KING. 7 delayed at ther Twin Trees to-day. Sit down, Widely, I want to have a long and confidential talk wid you. I am kinder worried to-day, and perhaps you can tell me how to drive away the blues ; first of all, read that letter. (hands letter Mrs. M. (take* letter, reads) "Fort Laramie, Sept. 20th. — Friend Yosmite Bill, Carson City: On your next trip you can expect me, your old friend, to ride with you. Mv three years are up here and 1 shall return. Give my love to Sunlight and mv old pard, Sandy. Yours as ever, Bud," So Bud is coming home again, eh? Well Sandy and Sunlight will be glad of that. Bill. Don't you be too sure of that. Mrs. M. Why, what do you mean, Bill? Bill. For eight long years Sandy and Bud were partners, where one went you was sure to se^ ihe other; they loved each other better then ever two men were known to love before, till at last Bud got to drinking and gambling heavily. So Sandy got him piuted scout up to r'ort Laramie, them two boys and partners parted, and now I tells you Widdy, when th'y separated, there were many tears shed over it, but I am afraid it was only a dipper full, to what will flow at his coming now. Mrs. M. What makes you think that Bud's coming, will cause sorrow and tears? Bill, it's been nigh onto ten years since yer old man passed in his checks, and had a hole scooped out for him, under the hill. Mrs. M. Yes, ten years ago last April. Bill. And fifteen years ago next month, I dropped into your cabin, one dark night, with a little girl in my arms, she 'peared to he about five years old — I Mrs. M. Or six, we never could make out. She was a burning up with the fever— you found her in a basket floating down the creek. I Bill. Yes, that's what I told you. I brought her to you, be- cause you was the mother of the Valley. Mrs. M. And good luck, Bill, her coming brought to us. And may heaven be praised for that night's work. Bill. Luck, you bet she did, them little ones alwavs do. I read a long time ago, in a big book, about that King Pin, who struck the little game called Faro, and named it after himself: now he had a child that he found floating in a creek, and called it Moses, Now I wasn't going back on Scripture, so made up my mind I'd do the right thing by the little gal, so all at once the boys christened the child Sunlight. Mrs. 31. Yes, and well named, for that child was a dancing ray of sunlight alwavs to u-. Bill. Everybody loved that gal, and they all claimed she was a nugget of luck to the camp. S iy. Widdy, I just staked a claim, when I got that chi.d, says I, "Bill, you be her dady, and ther Widdy thar shall be her mother," so I fetched her here. I be- lieves that the angels dropped one of their little sisters in the creek, just to make us poor sinners ashamed of ourselves. You has done a mother's duty by that little gal ; you brought her up in the fear of the Lord, and when she reached womanhood, your son, Sandy Marvin, the pride of our camp, won her hand and made- her his wife. Mrs. M. Yes, Bill, and now why do you .predict sorrow at 8 SUNLIGHT; OB, THE DIAMOND KING, Bud's coming back? Bill. Sandy may be glad enough, but neither you nor him knows all. 1 am afraid the sunlight of happiness of this valley, will be turned to clouds of misery. I don't know why, but ever since I got this letter, I feel so strange. Mrs. M. Bill, it's nigh two years since Sandy and Sunlight were married. Bill. Yes, (both rising) Widely, two years of sunlight, and now I am afraid the shadows will fall, but I must be going. Exit, Bill, e., 1 e., and Mrs. Marvin, l. e.— Sunlight is heard s nging off l. Enter, Sunlight, l. e. Enter, Redfekn, r. e., slowly, comes c, unseen by Sunlight. SunluAt. What a delightful walk I have had, way up the height oT Eagle rock, to gather these beautiful wild flowers, and to watch the golden sun as it sank to rest. I (has bunch of flowers in hand and lays them on table, comes down C. I Bedfern. I beg your pardon, (lijts hat) Mrs. Marvin; I trust this will be no intrusion 'i \ Sunlight. Not knowing; any one was around, Mr. Redfern, the sound of your vo ce startled me. Bedfern. 1 well know it was quite rude to be an eaves dropper, but I assure you it is so seldom, one in thesa parts sees a beautiful picture, like i just beheld, that I dare say, I forgot myself and remained silent. Sunlight, (crosses to door) Thank you sir! you are quite com- plimentary this evening. (starts to go Bedfern. Mrs. Marvin, pray do not go away so hurriedly, 1 have a few words, which 1 wish to say to you. Sunlight. To me, Mr. Redfern? Bedfern. Yes, and I trust you will And the conversation quite interesting, as it lies on a subject of the deepest interest to you. Sunlight, (returns to table, sits down) Of the deepest interest to me? Then Mr. Redfern, 1 assure you, I will give you all at- tention. Bedfern. Mrs. Marvin, to properly interest you, first of all I will speak of your husband's actions. Day by day, Sandy i; squandering his wealth, rum and the card table are earrving him down to destruction. It's only a question of a few months, when the end will come, and that end means disgrace, poverty and starvation — Sunlight. Starvation! Bedfern. It is a hard word, yet it is true ; only to-night, In a game with me, he tendered me this note for one tho isand dollars borrowed money, secured by a mortgage on all he possessed, and signed unconditionally, in three days time, 1 can claim all that he owns, unless this note is paid in full. Sunlight. Mr. Redfern, whv do yon tell me this? (rises Bedfern. To show to von the standing of the man you so proudly call husband. Oh! Sunlight, I know too well, "you do not love Sandy Marvin. ( Sunlight hams head) You respect this miner, yet you do not love him. For years, Sunlight, 1 have loved you fondly, ah! mad y. This is no place for you— come, SUNLIGHT; OB, THE DIAMOND KING. fly With me this night, and I promise you, yes, t swear to you. that I will give you every comfort, every luxury in life. Sunlight. See here, Philip Redfern, you forget sir ! I am a wife. Bedfern. In my mad love, I forget everything. 1 love you uridly and will love you — Sunlight. Another word on the subject, and I will call Silas Steel, and he — (starts to bell Bedfern. Stay just one- moment, the paper? that I hold over ?andy Marvin's head, will place you all in the street, paupers, sound that alarm, and I will claim my own. Sunlight. Philip Redfern, if you are a man, I beg of you to go, and not stand there and taunt and insult a helpless woman. Bedfern. I offer you a home of luxury, with comfort and hap- piness. What can lie offer, nothing but poverty and misery. I await your answer, is it yes or no? Sunlight. It is no, a thousand times, no! (at door) Philip Redfern, now go ! Bedfern. No, not yet, Sunlight, you are dealing with a man, who would stop at nothing to accomplish his purpose. Sunlight. I believe you. Bedfern. Bud, your husband's partner is coming here soon. (Sunlight starts) Ah! you start; Sunlight, what would the world say, if I told them that you, the wife of Sandy Marvin, loved his partner. What would Sandy sav if he knew this? Sunlight. Philip Redfern, you coward ! go tell whom you may. Sandy Marvin is too much of a man to listen to a story that comes lrom such lips as yours. I Bedfern. You couldn't imagine how sweet you look, the temper you are in, helps to heighten the beautiful color of your face, (looks around) and as there is no one around, I'll just take a kiss from those pretty lips. (starts toward her. \ Enter, Sandy, l., 2 e., throws Redfern l. 1 Sandy. Well, you rascal, what do you mean? Sunlight, ex- plain? Sunlight. Oh ! Sandy, beg him to go. Bedfern. Sandy Marvin, you are not very careful how you handle a man. Sandy. Redfern, I demand an explanation. Bedfern. Ask her ! she will tell you. Sandy. See here, sir ! I want you to git, and don't show your- self around here again. Bedfern. (crosses to c.) Yes, I'll go, but this, (shows paper) to-morrow, will make both you and her regret this hour. (exit, r., 2 e. Sandy. Well, he is pretty cool, ain't he? I rather think he is the nerviest man in all Frisko. What was he doing here? Sunlight. Oh! nothing, Sandy, nothing, dear husband to speak of, his words were not suited to my taste, I ordered him out, and — Sandy. He tried to kiss you, eh ? Well, I don't blame him for that. So he was talking about me, eh ? What did he say? Sunlight. Sandy, dear, what hopes have we for a future? • Sandy. A future, (aside) What can she mean? (aloud) Sunlight, give me a cup of brandy, (she gets brandy) Now go to your room and kiss our little one, and always remember I love 20 SUNLIGHT; OB, THE DIAMOND KING. you dearer than life. (exit, Sunlight, l. e. Enter, Dollie, l., 1 e. Dollie. Sandy, there is an old gentleman in the office, that wi>hes to see you. Sandy. An old gentleman to see me — who can he be, Dollie? Dollie. I don't know, he came with Bill in thestasre coach, and if the snow was a flying east, I'd say It was Santa Claus coming to give us a Christmas gift. Sandy, (crosses to do<,r, laughing) Ha! ha! ha! {exit, l. e. Dollie. Here comes Yosemite Bill, Silas S'.eel, and that China- man, Win Klee. I bet they are going to have a game of cards. I'll just keep my eye on Mr. Silas Sreel, and if he thinks that I will marry a gambler, I'll show him I am made of different material. {exit, l. e. Enter, Bill, Steel, and Win Klee, r. e. Sttl. Come on Silas, lei's have a few minutes of draw. Silas. I'm with you, you bet! What will we play for? Dill. Fifty cent ante. (all sit at table Win. Me likee lokee, allee samee like a Melican man. Silas. Go on Chinaman, don't give us any of your blarney. Win. Playee plokee allee samee so — so. Bill. Let the heathern join us, and we will skin him in a few minutes. He ain't got much money. Win. Skinee Chinaman alle lightee. Silas. Here you heathen Chinee, I want you to fully under- stand, if you go to cheating, there will be :io laundry tolmorrow. (sticks kn>fe in table Win. Allighee. Bill, (pulls gun and lays on table) See here, Mr. Devil, no monkeying. Win. Chinaman no can monkey. Bill, (cuts cards) I deal, come ante up laundry. Win. Allightee, fifty cents. Cards are dealt, each one bets, Win Klee raises the better four times, to fifty cents better, at last Silas and Bill have every dollar np on the game, an.d they call the Chinaman — Bill has four sevens and a king, Silas has four nines and an ace. Win. No goodee, Chinaman has four aces. Win Klee holds his hands, so they can see, both Silas and Bill grab Win Klee as he starts to run away with the money — they stand him on his head, and three pack of cards fall out of his sleeves on the stage — they kick him off the stage yelling, Si las and Bill after him. Enter, Sandy and Silcartie, l. e. Sandy. Sit here, (oficrs chair) Mr. Silcartie. (both sit) Now we can talk without interruption. Silcartie. Are we alone? Sandy. Yes, quite alone. Silcartie. I don't know why it is, but there seems fro me, there is someone following me, that means me harm SUNLIGHT; OR, THE DIAMOND KING. 11 Sandy, Oh! nonsense, Mr. Silcartie, you are a guest of Sandy Marvin, and not a living soul will harm you. Silcartie. (takes paper from breast) Here, Mr. Marvin, are certain papers I want yon to keep for me. One is my will, iriviiii: a 1 my entire esia^e to my child. The other is a valuable mining chart, where lies the secret of my life. Guard and protec; them with your life. Sandj. (takes papers) I certainly will, sir! Enter, Eedferx, r., 2 e., unseen. Sdcai lie. Listen to my story, fifteen years ago, one dark night, myself, wife and five year old child were at Carson City. °My child asked for bread, 1 was almost driven to desperation. Aye, Mr. Marvin. I was on the verge of madness, tor one year before, I wa* a prosperous business man in New York State; the bank failed and I lost all; being young, 1 took my family West. I wandered from post to post, but nothing could I find to aid my family. [ was nearly insane, when a man approache I me and made a tempt- ing oiler. He was the leader of a band of men, who then lived in Mexico. He offered me five hundred dollars to join his band; he recommended me to send my family t> the valley, where they would be eared for. That night, 1 put my wife and child in the coach, and I got up on the box with the driver, who was Yosemite Bill— Sandy. Yosemite Bill ? Silcartie. Yes, alter giving Bill the instructions, to care for ray wi e and child, and placing the five hundred dollars in his hand, I dropped from the boxand disappeared in the darkness. Thinking my family were well provided for, i joined the band, and for fit" teen years, I was one of the number. Three moi\ths after I had left my family with Yosemite Bill, 1 heard that \\i)e and child had been murdered by some Mexican, and from that time, I murdere I every Mexican I could find. One week ago, I met an Australian, (who was dying) — this package of money, six thousand dollars' he gave me, and requested me to bury his body and write to his home in Australia, to an aged father, telling him of his death, and what money was left, was mine; he also gave me this chart' which, if properly followed, would lead ma to a silver mine in Mexico, where he had secreted over one million dollars in dia- monds. If I ventured there and found the gems, they were mine. After laying him out to rest, I deserted the band ; "on learning from a friend, that my child still lived and was at this place, I re- solved to renounce the life I was leading, and find my child, and with the six thousand dollars, I felt satisfied we could live in comfort. But since I started for this place, it seems to me, my every action is watched. Sandy. Watched, and why ? Silcartie. When a man joins the band, he joins it for life, and to quit the band, means death. Sandy. Have no fear, Mr. Silcartie, you are safe here. Silcartie. You don't know this band, they are sworn to each other, and all traitors will die. Sandy. Yes, but you are not a traitor? Silcartie. Yes, I am a traitor, for I deserted the band, and marked me well, death will be my portion. Sandy. Your story is a wonderful one. The sequel to the story 1Z SUNLIGHT; OB, THE DIAMOND KIN a. I will tell, fifteen years ago, Yosemite Bill, brought to the camp a baby that he had found floating in a creek, he said, aged live years, the little one was ill, mother nursed her back to health, life and strength. She grew to womanhood and became my wife. Silcartie. Your wife — she is my child. Sandy. Yosemite Bill is down at the water wheel; you remain here, and I will go and bring him to you, he will explain all. Silcartie. Stop, Sandy Marvin, I fear all is not well. The papers you have, I give to you, guard them with your life. If ever any harm should come to me, I want you to act as ni}'- legal attorney for my child, and give the money to her, and if ever you go to Mexico, you will find diamonds enough hidden there, to make you a diamond king. Sandy. Thank you, Mr. Silcartie, I'll go and find Bill, we will return here in a few moments. (exit, e., 1 e. — Philip Redfern advanced ioith clinched fists Silcartie, How strange I feel, it seems as if I see the eyes of my leader staring at me, crying the one word — Bedfem. Traitor ! | Silcartie. My God ! Viol Vascard, have mercy! mercy! Bedfem. (fastens his fingers around his throat) You dare ask for mercy, take it ! {chokes him, he dies — drops him) You ask for mercy, and you got what all traitors deserve, death ! (hastily searches him) ]STo money, no papers, that's strange. (exit, r., 2 e. Enter, Sandy and Bill, r., 1 e. » Sandy. Bill, here is your old friend — (sees body) My God ' what is the matter here? Bill, (kneels down) Frank! Frank Silcartie! No use Sandy, he is dead. Sandy. Dead ! Enter, Mrs. Marvin, Dollie and Silas, l. e. Dmnes. Dead ! Bill. Yes, poor man he is gone, and he has taken h's secret with him. Sandy. His secret? BUI. Yes, the secret of the diamond mine. Sandy, Ko, the chart is here, and his will — he is my wife's father. Some day it may be my good fortune, to go to Mexico, and find the treasures, and become a diamond king. CUB TAIN. ACT II. SCENE. — Interior of Yosemite Valley Inn, bar, etc. — Dolus dis- covered at table, making bread. Dollie. Of all the hotels that I ever got into, this takes the cake, bake shop and all the cookies. One week ago an old man came to 'bis place and gave Sandy a big lot of money, and just like the sU>ry in books, he drops dead of heart disease, and there was time SUNLIGHT; OE, THE DIAMOND KING. 13 good-for-nothing Chinaman, Win Klee, going all around the Milage ami saying, "Sandy Clans dead up there." Well, you c?.n c blame him. for he clon't know any better, and as for that Irishman, Silas Steel, I don't think hs has any more sense than die Chinaman. Now, heie he promised to take me over to Tom Shay's party last night, but he never showed up. You just wait till 1 see him, {pounds the dough) I'll just give it to him* and I'll let him know that he ain't got a poor' ignorant Chinaman to fool with. Enter, Win Klee, c. d., drunk. Win. Hullah ! hullah for Dollie; Dollie belly putty gallee, she allee samee likee puttyee muckee Win Klee. Dollie. Well, you heithern, you are drunk again, ain't you? Say, Win, is that the same old drunk, or a new one? Win, Allee samee, new drunkee, just likee a Melican manee, pavey. Oh! dollie, you go roundee and roundee, you awfully drunkec. Dollie. (grabs broom) You yellow eyed devil, don't you say that I'm drunk. Win. (frightene I) No ! no ! no ! you no savey, you no drunkee, Chinaman allee turned topseyee turveyee, Chinaman so awfullv iiekee, headee beilyee big. Dollie. See here, Win Klee, what cliJ you do with them elodies you took away from here two weeks ago, eh ? Win. O! Sandy's washee, washee— let me see, live shirtee, three dlaw. Dollie. No! no! there was no gloves put in the wash. Win. No gallee, you no savee, no glovee on handee, dlaw, dlaw, allee samee pull upee. (imitates drawers Dollie. Oh! you mean underwear. Win. Underwear allee samee diaw ; seven soekee, four col. Dollie. Col, col, what are you talking about, col? Win. Col — (imitates around neck) collee, savee. Dollie. Oh ! you mean co lar. Well, when are you going to bring them home? Win. Fly 2 o'clock. Dollie. (grabs broom) Not on your life, you clon't fly at no 3 o'clock with Sandy's laundry. Win. Oh! no, you no savee, me no skip e, me mean (counts on /inters) Mon., Tues., Wens., Thiws., Fly, saveyee. Dollie. Oh ! now I understand you, you mean Friday 2 o'clock. How much will they be? Win. Slixty-five centee. Dollie. You bald-headed heather n, why don't you talk United States? Win. Oh ! Dollie, you bee so awfully sweetee, Chinaman lovee youee; see, Dollie, you muehee lovee me, me mallv you, you mally me. Oh! so nice, me eat chee, heap plenty, lats you l'ike a lat. Dollie. (hits him with broom) Git out! (exit, Win, c. d. Enter, Silas, c. d., runs into Win Klee as he exits, and falls. Haj ha! ha! Why, what's the matter with you, Si'as? Silas. That dam Chinese run in to me as if a whirlwind was U SUNLIGHT; OR, THE DIAMOND KING. after him. What was the matter wid him? Dollie. Oh ! do you mean Mr. Win Klee, the owner of the laundry? (aside) Now is my chance to make him jealous. {aloud) Well, you see, Mi-. Steel— Silas. Mr. Steel — holy Moses! Dollie.. You see, last night was the grand dance up at Tom Shays, and of course I was to go, but — Sila*. Begorra! Dollie, I was so ;husy, that I clean torgot it. Lollie. Well, I didn't forget, so when I went I had a proposal of marriage. Silas. Who from, Dollie? Dollie. Why, from a man — Silas. Oh! 1 thought it was from a dude. Dollie. Not this time. Silas. And did you accept him, Dollie? Dotlie. You don't think I would refuse a proposition of mar- riage ? Silas. Oh! Dollie, have you entirely forgotten vour humble servant, Silas Steel. , Dollie. Oh! Dollie Wallace wants a man thnt is a man, she wants a man who is not afr.iid to propose marriage to her. ! Silas, (aside) And I'm a devil, if now ain't me time, so here goes, {aloud) Do lie — (sits at, table and plays with Jlour. throws it all over himself, nervously) Dollie, as I was thinking that you was such a loine young lady, and all alone in this world, I — I — Dollie. (aside) I do believe he is going to propose, (aloud) Yes, Silas, go on. Silas. Sure, and that is what I'm trying to do, go on — (busi- ness of throat — aside) What the clivil is the matter wid me. (aloud) Dollie, do you love— love — love— Dollie. Love what, Silas? Si>as. Candy — Dollie. (disgusted) Oh! pshaw. Dollie throws \dough in his face and exit, c. d. — Win Gleep«{ ? head in door and yells. Win. Hello! Ilish! (Silas throws dough at Win. they chas°, each other, Silas stands at door c, with broom, waiting for Win, who enters r.. 1 e., and hits him with board — Silas goes to l., 1 e., and stands where Win exited, wailing for him — Win enters c. d. aivl hits Silas again and exits c.r>. — Silas runs ajter him in and out one wing to another, till Win comes in with a big board and gets on chair, c. d.) Me brackee Ilish headee. Enter, Bill, c. d., Win hits him. Allee mistakee. Bill. Gol darn your skin, Til — (kicks him off stage Enter, Sunlight, c. d. Sunlight. "Vfhy, Daddy, what is the matter? Bill. That dam Chinaman hit n e in the head with an ax, but I'll bet he eats his meals standing up for the next thirty days. Sunlight. Any passengers, dad t SUNLIGHT; OR, THE DIAMOND KING. lb Bill. Yes, child, Bud came up with me. Sunlight, Bud here? Oh! I can't meet him. Bill. Yes, child, you must meet him. You must be the fir.-t to tell him why vou gave him up for Sandy. Be brave, be strong, my child. Sunlight. Did you tell him? Bill. Ye«, he rode on the stage with me and I told him all , child, I told him all. Sunlight. What did he say ? BUI. Not a word, but a great big tear stole silentlv down hi* cheek, with a sob, he started to leave the coach, but I made him get back up again, it was an awful blow to him. Sandy'* partner loved you better than hi-; life. Sunlight. Daddy, what can I do? Bill. Stay right here and meet him. Be a woman, do your duty, and I, your old d iddy, will try and help you through. Omnes. (outside) Hurrah ! Sunlight. Here comes Sandy and the boys. Enter, Sandy, Silas, Dollie and Win, c. d. Silas, (has a book in hand, gets on chair) Sandy and Sunlight, it is with pleasure that I — I — 1 — (Dollie is by his side Dollie. That's rig it, Silas, go on. Silas. As I was saying, it gives me — Dollie. Yes, yes, Silas. Silas. Oh! go away and let me alone, you bother me. Sandy and Sunlight, 1 — 1 — I — Dollie. Yes, Silas, go on. {pulls coat Silas. Say, do you want them clothes— a — a— a— oh ! the divil, if I know what 1 do want to say, you have knocked it all out of me head. (gets down Dollie. Oh ! pshaw, you are crazy. Silas. So, am I ? Win. (gets on chair) Sandy and Sunlight, you givee China- man one dollar, you takee bookee. Omnes. Get out! (Win drops book and goes l. Bill. Say, Smdr, the boys here want to give you two a Bible, and they don't know how to do it. There, you fools, it is done, and I hope you are satisfied. (hands book to Sandy Sandy. Well, boys, we are thankful to you for this kinlre- memberance, and 1 am sorry that L ain't got no whiskey in th * house, but we will all drink to the health of Sunlight, Dollie, can you fill upthe cups, and here's to you all. (crowd drink — Win, Bill and Silas all get cram »s and squirt the water out) Why, what is the matter, boys? Bill. Oh! Sandy, it's water, you have poisoned us. (exit, r., 1 e. Silas. Be the holy St. Patrick, but you have poisoned me. (exit, r., 2 e. Win. Allee samee just likee Melicanee manee, Chinamanee plo sonedee. {exit, c. d. iz"f'\ (ia '"-" uns) =»« '"»"»! Sandy. Water, Sunlight, was too weak for the boys. Sunlight. So it seems, Sandy. 16 SUNLIGHT; Sandy. "Well, my dear wife, who do you think has come br.ck '? My old partner, Bud, and I want you, my own wife, to be the first one to meet him and to welcome him back to the valle}'". Sunlight. Oh ! Sandy, you love your old partner, don't you? Sandy. Well, Sunlight, I should sav I did, and ain't I got a right to love him? Ain't he been a true and honest partner to me? Didn't we dig for twelve long years, side by side, Kept our gold always together, and in all that time, we never had one cross word. What he had was mine, what I had, w r as his'n. Yes, I am proud to say, we two boys loved each other, and Sunlight, I'd sacrifice my life to make him happy. He has been gone three long years ,"and I want to show him, he is no stranger here now ; he will have a rousing welcome, for Sunlight, I teli you, there is nothing too good for my old partner, Bud. (exit, l., 1 e. Sunlight. "How can I meet him, what can I say to him? I can console myself with one though', I tried to do my duty. Enter, Walter Burrell, c. d. Walter. Sunlight here and all alone? Sunlight. Yes, I'm glad I'm all alone, for I have something to say to you, that is for no other ears. Time has made no change in you, you are the same. Walter. No, time so tar, has not altered me, but I find you are changed, but what else could 1 expect from yon. Women are all alike, and money rules this vast universe, and wh}^ should it be different with you ? Sunlight. No! no! Bud, do not accuse me of that; I may have forgotten our vows of constancv, but I ask yoj not to accuse me of that. Walter. What else could I say or aceus ■ you of. Three years ago, L left this Canyon, I went to Fort Laramie, because my partner said I should go. You and I parte 1 at the pines, you my promised bride — you swore you woul i he true to me. I left here happy as man could ever be. The three years p is-ed quickly — the day that I had looked tor, came — my commission was given me, i was discharged — my first thoughts were of you. I started for the Canyon ; at the forks, Bill told me all — it first I was go n ; back, never to see you or him again, but Bill made me come. Enter, Sandy, c. d., and listens. Sunlight. Bud, listen to me : When I came to this place, Yoseinite Bill brought me here, a child of five years. I was an outcast, with.no one to provide for me. Sandy's mother took me, gave me a home; I was reared as her own child, every comfort of a child's lite was given tome. When womanhood came, you was my companion, my friend. Is it any wonder my young heart went out to you, that you and I loved each other? 1 kept the secret, as it interested no one else. After you had gone, Sandv's mo. her came to me and said her son loved me, and it would give her the greatest pleasure in the world, to have us get married. A few days laier, Sandy asked me to become his wife, and Bud, although I did not love him, an I knowing you loved Sandy, and thinking it was my duty to make him happy, I became his wife, and since then I have devoted my life in trying to make them happy. And now Bud, you know all, condemn me if you will, I SUNLIGHT; OR, THE DIAMOND KING. 17 only tried to do my duty, but now that you are here, this Canyon is not large enough to hold u^ three, one of us must go away. Walter, Sunlight, listen to me: 1 don't hlame you, your place is hy the side of the man you took as your husband. Let the past be dead; never let my partner know this. I shall go away from here to-night, go away lorever. You remain here, dj a good, kind and laithful wile to Sandy. Forgive and forget Bud. Sunlight, I go out of your lives forever. (starts to go Sandy. Stay ! »"' \ s -<* *«•» Sandy. Ye?, and I have heard every word. Sunlight. Oh! Sandy! Walter. Partner, what ran I say or do? Sandy. Say nor do nothing, hoy. You are not to blame, it is a 1 my own fault. She a young and pure being, a sunlight of beauty, why did I dare to Jove her, to ask her to be my wite, tool that I was. I made her my wife, and I have all these years con- demne 1 her to this misery. Bud, this Canyon is not large enough to hold us three, too true; one must go away, and that one shall be me. Y al !r- I No! no! no! Sunlight. ) Sandy. You, Sunlight, said those words, and it shall be my lot to carry out the saying. Go and leave us alone for a lew in ments. Sunlight. And you will come to me when you have finished t.. Iking with him. (emplores him) Oh! Sandy, promise me this. Sandy. 1 promise. (Sunlight rises and slowly exits, r., 1 e. — Waltkk crosses to l.., 1 e.) Boy, well do I remember the time you came down the mountain side, a ragged, homeless outcast, i took you in,* I made you my partner. You was honest, gocd and true, I learned to love you, and I tried to show it; when you got in bad company, when drink and cards were about to ruin you, 1 got you pintel as a scout up at the Fort, I knew ic was the only thing that would save you, bnt it is all over now. Aspaitners we are parted now and forever, duty calls us apart. I am going away, and you must stay here, to guard over and protect your partners claim. Walter. No! no! Sandy, you shall not make this sacrifice, I must and will go. Sandy. No, listen to me, to-night I leave this Canyon, I go to Mexico, where 1 shall search for treasures. You must stay here to watch after mine; it, at the expiration of three years, you have not heard from me, you will know I am dead. Take her, my Sunlight, to the little Chapel there, and make her your wife and — and Bud, 1 know you will do as I ask. Sometimes, some even- ing, when she is you wife, take my baby on your knee and teach it the one word, ''father." You will do this— swear it, Bud, swear it. Walter. I swear — (raises eyes to heaven Sandy. In yonder safe, (Redfern loohs in at door) you will find money, thirty thousand in all, pay off the mortgage on this home, and t ie balance of the monev will be sufficient to care for them, until I can send you more. Good-bye, boy — partner, good- 18 SUN LIGHT; OB, THE DIAMOND KING. bye, now and perhaps forever. My poor old mother, my wife, my child. Sandy bids you all farewell forever. (exit, c. d. Walter. Sandy ! Sandy ! gone ! gone, and perhaps forever. (throws himself on the table and chair, sobbing Enter, Redfern, c. d. Bedfern. I Ihought I saw Sandy go — no one here, eh? Well, that is good, he s;iid the money was in the safe. Well, if I am not very much mistaken, I will relieve that safe of the cash. Redfern takes off overcoat, gois to safe, makes iioise as ij he was breaking in the safe — Win Klee at window., Walter, (ra'ses from the tabic) What is that? I Ihought I heard some one at the safe, {(joes to safe) What are you doing- there? ( turns Redfern around) Philip Redfern, what means this? (Redfern shoots, Walter falls, c. Walter. My God! you — (falls back, dead Belfern. (slowly puts overcoat on, tools in pocket, then lights cigar on bottom of Walter's foot, stanis and looks at him) Well, yonng fellow, I am sorry for you, but you should have known better 5 than to trifle with a desperate man. Well now, that Sandy has gone, I will lay this crime at his door. Well, good-bye my boy: ha! ha! ha! (exit, c. d." Enter, Wjn Klee, through window. Win. (looks at Walter) Allee samee doadee, Led fern damee ra?cal. (exit, c. d. Enter, Sunlight, r., 1 e., with candle— lights up — soft music. Sunlight. Sandy! Sandy! where are you; surely lie has not gone, (sees Walter, kneels) My God ! it is Bud, and Sandy has killed him. Help! help! Enter* Dollie, Redfern, Bill, Jubal, Silas and Win Klee, c. d. Omnes. What is the matter? Sunlight. Don't yon s°e. Bud is dead, he has been murdered. Omnes. Murdered! Who did it? Bedfern. See here men, it was well known that Bud loved this woman, and Sandy was jealous of him. Come, let this woman tell where her husband is. Omnes. Yes! yes! where is Sandy? Bedfern. You'see she is silent. 1 tell you men, this was a con- spiracv between this woman and her husband, to murder Walter Burrell. What say you? Omnes. Aye! aye! Bedfern. Then as sheriff of this valley, I order a posse to scour the mountains and woods, and find Sandy Marvin, and as sheriff of this district, I shall put this woman under arrest. (starts toioard Sunlight Bill. Hold on there, Philip Redfern, that is my little gal and you shall not touch her. (anils ]jistol from pocket Bedfern. Why curse you, will you try to euchre me? (draws knife SUNLIGHT; OR, THE DIAMOND KING, ID Bill. Well, if euchre is your game, here are the two bowers. (holds up two pistols Dollie. And here is the little joker; now, which trick will you r,ake ? Ha ! ha ! (holds up revolver CURTAIN. ACT III. SCENE. — Mining Cave, Uriqite, Mexico — Win discovered washing. Win. Allee samee workee in Milexico allee samee like in Cali- fornia, washee, washee allee time. Enter, Jubal, e., 1 e. Jubal. Say, China, you is the craziest Chinaman I ever seed. Say, what did you go and pour all dat starch in my soup for? Win. Starchee, make soupee thickee, belly goodee. Jubal. Well, in future time, ) 7 ou jist keep way from my cook pot. Darn fool, don't you see dese highwaymen am all stuck up enough now, needn't make 'em any stiffer. They don't speak to me now,fceptin it is here, nigger, or here coon. Bimeby, dey will be oiling me pos-om. Win. Nigger aliee samee like possom. Jubal. Well, neber you mind dis nigger, you just keep way Iiom dat cook pot, and if you don't, 1 carve you wid my razor. Now, 1 am not fooling. Win. Allee samee keep way. Hello! here comes °;ang. Jubal. Yes, dey all come in time to eat, but dey wm be mighty stuck up after dey eat dis soup. (exit, l., 1 e. Enter, Bandits, r. u. e. — march played. Palacio. Hello! Mongolian, hard to workee, eh? Win. Oh ! yah ! belly hard to workee washee, you like dinner coon'ee got good soupee. Palacio. Got coon soup for dinner, eh ? Win. Oh ! no nigger soupee for dinner. Palacio. What, got nigger soup? Win. Oh ! no, nigger cookee good soupee, <»avey. Palacio. Oh ! I understand now. Enter, Redfern, c. p. Redfern. Juan, come here. Palacio. Aye! aye! Captain Vascard, I am here sir I Pedfern. Where is Sienti and the negro? Palacio. The negro is getting dinner, sir ! and Sienta is there in his cell. Pedfern. Not dead yet, eh ? I ordered him to be executed. Why has my order not been obeyed ? Palacio. Captain, the night you left, I told the men ic was your order that he should die that night, and his body thrown to the vultures next morning. I got ready to cast for lots, to see who would be his executioner, and the men all refused to have a hand in it. SG SUNLIGHT; OB, THE DIAMOND KING. Bedfern. But they didn't dare rebel ? Palacio. No, not "that, sir! but the Mexicans think nothing of murdering a sane man, for they are superstitious and siy it's an evil deed to kill an insane creature, they claim his spirit will haunt them till death, and seem to believe that all luck will desert them the moment the deed is committed. Bedfern. Bah! such nonsense. I tell you Juan, it's not safe to let him live, he is a most dangerous foe, and if let live, will soon enough place a halter around our necks. Now, I tell you once for ail, he must die to-ni2:ht, if I have to kill him. Palacio. That sir, will be bad policy, for these men will turn against you, and you know that will not do. Bedfern. So, that is how the case stands, eh? Palacio. A. Mexican on these mountains, armed, dare any- thing, yet they are decidedly an ignorant class. Remember now all the circumstances connected with this Sienta. No one knows who he is. One year ago we found him and that Chinaman half starved, in rags and a raving maniac at Sana Maltso; he had lived, God knows how long, on wild fruit and berries. He was constantly talking of a chart that he had lost, a great treasure. You ordered him brought here and placed in our dungeon. We d'd all you said sir! and as you paid us your semi-annual visit, one of your first questions would be as to the safety of Sienta. i may be wrong, Captain, but I believe there is some hidden motive in you keeping the poor being in the cell. I sometimes think you know who his people are. Bedjern. I — I — what makes you think that? Palacio. You are not as confidential now as you were in for- mer days. These men have stood the test, they are tried and true. In former days you were with us every three months, but now your visits are only every six months. In times that are past, yoa was one of us, your confidence was ours, but now your secret belongs to you and no one else. The