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/■^ 
 
 
 FLASH OF LIGHTNING 
 
 A DRAMA OF LIFE IN OUR DAY, 
 
 IN FIVE ACTS. 
 
 AUGUSTIN DALY. 
 
 FIRST PRODUCED AT THE BROADWAY THEATRE (LATE 
 
 WALLACE'S), UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MR. 
 
 BARNEY WILLIAMS, JUNE. 1868. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 PRINTED, AS MANUSCRIPT ONLY, FOR THE AUTHOR. 
 
 . 1885. 
 

 Copyright, 1868, By Augustin Daly. 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS AND ORIGINAL CAST. 
 
 ME. GAEKY FALLON, American by choice, Irish by birth, 
 
 and the master in his own house Mk. John Jack 
 
 JACK EYVEE, Fresh from Julesburg on the Pacific Eailroad, 
 
 Mr. J. K. Mortimer 
 FEED, CHAUNCEY, Descendant of an old family— resolved to 
 raise up a new one: A young heart, notwithstanding the 
 
 antiquity of his blood Mr. McKee Eankin 
 
 SKIFFLEY, Of the Metropolitan Detective Police Force— an 
 
 arm of the Law Mr. Garden 
 
 SAM PIDGE, The gentlemanly and obliging clerk of the Steamer 
 
 Daniel Doo Mr. J. C. Williamson 
 
 BOB, One of Uncle Sam's Postmen — not to be caught, 
 
 Mr. Geo. C. Jordan 
 BENEDETTO, The Keeper of an "All Night" cellar in the First 
 
 Ward Mr. Geo. F. Brown 
 
 TEEEY Mr. Frank H. Murdock 
 
 THE ENGINEEE of the Steamer Daniel Doo . . . Mr. H. C. Eyner 
 
 THE CAPTAIN of the Steamer Vonderbilt Mr. Jordan 
 
 THE NEEVOUS PASSENGEE from the opposition boat, 
 
 Mr. W. H. Beekman 
 PATSY, A Savoyard boy performing on the First violin, 
 
 Master Hearne 
 
 DAVY, Another — performing on the Harp of Eleven Strings . . 
 
 EBEIOSUS, A Fireman on the North Eiver Steamer . . Mr. J. Moore 
 
 NED, Another Mr. Peck 
 
 Officers of the Force ; Steamboat hands ; Passengers ; Savoyard boys, etc. 
 
 BESSIE FALLON, The Beauty without Ambition, 
 
 Miss Blanche Grey 
 EOSE FALLON, Graduate of the Spinster Institute for Young 
 Ladies, on Fifth Ave. With an aim in Life, 
 
 Miss Kitty Blanchard 
 MES. FALLON, The humble wife of the Greenwich St. Aristo- 
 crat Mrs. G. H. Gilbert 
 
 ANN, The Domestic — whose back war "contin'ally broke," 
 
 Miss Ann Turner* 
 MES. DOWDEEEY, From Castle Garden . . . Miss Amelia Harris 
 SUE EAELIE, One of the Spinsters of the Institute 
 ANNIE KEMP, Another 
 
ACT I. 
 
 Scene 1. — The house of Mr. Garry Fallon, in Greenwich Street, 
 New York. An apartment on the ground floor. Afire-place 
 at R. Grate and mantle above it. On mantle a ^ncture, 
 a clock, and cheap ornaments. At l. of scene an enclosed stair- 
 case leads from l. of c, to an U2')per story. In c. of flat an open- 
 ing which leads along an enclosed passage or hall-tmy to the front 
 door. Fanlights and sidelights to door; also bolts and lock. 
 A rack at each side of this passage; hats on one, an old coat 
 and shawl hanging on the other. Old-fashioned lamp hanging 
 from the hall ceiling. An opening in flat at r. of this passage 
 leads to an apartment in which there is a window looking out 
 upon the street. On xcindow-sill arefloiver-jyots. Old-fashioned 
 furniture about. A low door down left. A door at r. l. e. 
 
 At rising of curtain a group of immigrants is discovered 
 partly in the hall-way, and partly in the room. This consists 
 o/Mrs. Dowderry, an old woman, sitting on a chair; Terry, 
 her son, a young fellow, who is at the back; Ted, a boy, who 
 carries a baby in his arms, and Nell, a small girl. These 
 latter are huddled together, standing; beside them are some 
 boxes and bundles. Ann, a raiv servant-maid, is crossing 
 stage from door L. to fire, which she fills with coal from a scuttle 
 that she has brought in. 
 
 Ann. [Crosses from l. to r. Stopping and turning toivards 
 immigrants.'] An' th' Missis told ye to come here herself? 
 
 Mrs. Dowderry. [c] She did, herself. 
 
 Ann. [r.] Where did she find ye's? 
 
 Mrs. p: We were standing at the street-corner, for all the 
 world like a flock ov geese on a road turniu' — not knowin' 
 whether to go on, go back, sit down or stand still, and the very 
 legs droppin' off us, we were that tired. 
 
 Ann. [Brushing the hearth and raking fire.] Ah, poor cray- 
 thurs! [Stopping.] Sure, ye're not long over? 
 
 3£rs. D. We came from shipboard only yesterday. 
 
 Ann. Look at that now ! But it's green ye are. [ Goes on 
 working.] 
 
 Mrs. D. An' how long must we be in Ameriky till we wear th' 
 green off? 
 
 Ann. That depinds. Some wear it on a mortal time. Some 
 
6 A PLASH OP LIGHTNING. 
 
 drop it aisy, aisy like, till ye'd niver know. There's Missis now ! 
 Mrs. Fallon! 
 
 Mrs. D. .The Lord be good to her; she's got a kind heart. 
 
 Ann. She has the green in it, though her two eyes niver saw 
 the land it grows in. She does be always bringin' in th' poor immi- 
 grants, and giving thim a bite and a sup, although my master, 
 Misther Garry Fallon — 
 
 Mrs. D. [ With effusion.'] Ah ! The saints make his bed in 
 glory ! 
 
 Ann. Do ye know him, now? 
 
 Mrs. D. No, sure. 
 
 Ann. Thin don't ye trouble yerself to make his bed, till ye 
 know where he's going to lie. 
 
 The hall door opens and Mrs. Fallon enters. She is dressed very 
 neatly and has a basket on her arm, as if just from market; 
 also an umbrella. Mrs. D. goes towards her, and all curtsey. 
 
 3Irs. Fallon. \_Down l.] Well, good folks, you did come! 
 I'm right glad. Here, Ann, take the basket. And there's the 
 baby! Bright as a new pin! Stop, Ann! [Takes ajyple from 
 basket and gives it to child.'] Have you given them something to 
 eat. [^Takes off bonnet and shawl.] «^ 
 
 Ann. Yes'm. \_Takes basket to table in apartment, R.] 
 
 Mrs. F. Has Mr. Fallon gone out yet? 
 
 Ann. No'm. 
 
 Mrs. F. Oh, well ! Go up very quietly apd bring down that 
 bundle of clothes, those old trowsers and things, in my roo4n. 
 But be careful he doesn't see you. 
 
 Ann. [^Taking up scidtle of coal and going towards staircase, 
 L.] All right 'm ! But you know, he's a deej) 'un. \_Exits up 
 staircase, L.] 
 
 Terry, [r.] Sure, ma'am, it's an angel ye are, and I hope 
 I may yet be able to repay you for your kindness to my old 
 mother and the children. 
 
 Mrs. D. [c] Ah ! But this Ameriky is heaven's own spot, 
 ma'am, and there's no denyin' it. An' sure there's a place made 
 ready in Albany state for Terry, and sure he'll' arn enough to 
 kape us all, and wid the blessin' of heaven he'll be an alderman 
 
 yet. 
 
 Mrs. F. [l.] Industry will do everything here. My hus- 
 band was very poor once, but he set his face to making money, 
 and has succeeded. And yet, don't let that be your only aim 
 in life. In the race for riches, happiness is the first thing we 
 leave behind. 
 
A PLASH OF LIGHTNING. 7 
 
 Ann comes down precipitately, but triumphantly, with a bundle. 
 
 Ann. [ Out of breath.'] Here they are, ma'am, and lie never 
 saw me once. 
 
 Mrs. F. [ Giving the bundle to Mrs. D.~\ Take these and fix 
 them to suit your wants. You'll find something even for the 
 baby, for dear little baby. [ Taking its face in her hands^ It is 
 so much like my Bessie was a little while ago, and now she's as 
 big as me. 
 
 Mrs. D. Bessie, ma'am? That's your youngest? 
 
 Mrs. F. Yes. 
 
 Mrs. D. And you love her best, ov coorse. What mother of 
 us doesn't? and the reason is because the young est 'r&mm^s, us so 
 much of the first. 
 
 Fallon appears at stairs, slowly ind suspiciously. He pauses on 
 stairs, puts on glasses and looks at group. 
 
 Ann. {^Indicating him to Mrs. F.] Whist, ma'am! 
 
 Fallon comes down. The group skulk together. Mrs. F. looks 
 at him timidly. Ann exits, r. 1 e. 
 
 Fallon. [ Quietly but sharply.] What's this ? 
 
 Mrs. F. Only a family just landed, Garry. I found them 
 homeless in the street. 
 
 Fal. \_To immigrants.'] Hem ! you've been fed, I suppose. You 
 look it. Well, if my wife thinks our money ought to go and 
 support strangers, I suppose it can't be helped. 
 
 Mrs. F. Surely we have plenty, Garry; and you know we 
 were poor once. 
 
 Fal. Exactly ; and having had enough of poverty for a life- 
 time, I don't choose to be beggared again. What's that they've 
 got tied up ib your apron there? {Crosses to c] 
 
 Mrs. F. Some old clothes which I have given awaj^ 
 
 Fal. Given away ! and there's Moriarty round the corner 
 stands ready to pay cash down for them. You are a blessed fool, 
 and no mistake. 
 
 Mrs. D. {Blustering up.] An' it would be a chape bargain 
 for you if you could be blessed yoursel' at th' price of bein' a 
 fool, Misther Fallon. 
 
 ^^Fal. What's that ? [Mrs. F. motions for Mrs. D. to be quiet. 
 Terry *and the children 2^luck at her goton to restrain her. She 
 advances a step, highly inflamed.] 
 
 Mrs. D. Mebbe you're proud bekase you come^over before us 
 
8 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 and bad the first pickings of the counthry, Misther Fallon. Sure 
 that^s always the way. The Merrykins axes us to come over, 
 and it's our own that tries to walk over us when we get here. 
 
 Fal. Your own ? You don't call me your own, I hope ? 
 
 Mrs. D. Don't I ! Isn't it a Fallon of Kerry you are ? Sure 
 I know it ; for the Fallon's of Kerry — bad luck to 'em ! — would 
 scrape a shilling on both sides before they paid it out for one 
 an' sixpence worth ov mate any day. 
 
 Fal. Well, are you going to stay here all day? 
 
 Mrs. D. Faith, now we've seen you we're willing to go. 
 
 Mrs. F. Garry, do be gentle with the poor creatures. 
 
 Fal. Gentle ! and they insulting me in my own house, on the 
 strength of me own bread and mate ! 
 
 Mrs. D. [Iromcally.'] Mate ! Ha ! ha ! Look at the rich 
 Amei-ykiu, wid his tell-tale brogue! Mate! Sure I'd be 
 ashamed, though I've just landed, to say mate when I meant 
 mate I 
 
 Sal. [Flaming^ Ann ! 
 
 Enter Ann, r. 1 e. 
 
 Fal. Open that street door ! [Ann flies to obey.'] Now you 
 get out ! and if you meet any of your friends don't advise them 
 to come here. \_All edge their way along the passage.] I mean 
 to keep a dog that hates Irish, to bite 'em. 
 
 Mrs. D. [Bitterly.] A dog that hates Irish ! Th' best ye 
 can get is one that was born Irish but has got fat on Amerykin 
 scraps, he'll bite 'em. 
 
 Fal. \_Passionately.] AVill you get out ! or I'll — 
 
 Skiffley appears at hall door. He looJcs at group, and then 
 comes forward impudently. Dressed flashily ; red side lohis- 
 hers and goatee. 
 
 Skiffley. [l. c. ] Hallo, Fallon ! what's the trouble ? Who 
 are these? Some of your relations from the old country — 
 heard you got rich — come to share ! 
 
 Fal. [To immigrants.] Here's an officer, if you don't get 
 out he'll arrest you. 
 
 Mrs. D. [ Quietly^ I'm going, sir ! Come, childer ! The 
 blessin' ov heaven on you, ma'am ! \_Exit group, c. Mrs. F. takes 
 basket from table and exits, r. c. e.] 
 
 Skif. Irish relations rather troublesome, eh ? 
 
 Fal. I have no Irish relations, 
 
 Skif. Oh, come now ! Where were you born? 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. >) 
 
 Fal. That was accidental. My wife's American, my daugh- 
 ters are American, and my dollars are American. 
 
 Skif. [r.] 0, blow nationality when you talk of money and 
 pretty girls ; they are of no country ; they are gifts from the 
 other world, falling to every clime, like the dew Irelapsing'], only 
 not so plentifully, I'm sorry to say. 
 
 Fal. [Grimly.'] I think not. You're not over flush yourself, 
 young fellow. How does your new profession suit you ? Let's 
 see ! you're on the police, ain't you ? I think that when I told 
 you last month I'd sooner see my Bessie blind, lame and ugly, 
 than your wife, you said you had an opening in the force, or 
 something. 
 
 Skif. Yes, I'm on the Detective force. 
 
 Fal. What do they pay you ? 
 
 Skif. ' Oh, the salary's nothing. That wouldn't wash my 
 shirts. It's the chances that foot up. You see, I am detailed to 
 work up a case. I do it— slowly. The anxious party, who is 
 interested, quickens me with a little present: I work like a 
 horse. By and bye — dead stop — stand still: insurmountable 
 obstacle. Anxious party comes down again, and I surmount the 
 Misurmountable, discover wonders. Just at the climax of dis- 
 covery, I report an impassable difficulty; he comes down again, 
 and I pass the impassable. 
 
 Fal. But suppose the anxious party don't come down? 
 
 Skif Then I treat him as a mean-spirited hunks. I sell out 
 to the party I'm detailed to watch ; he does the handsome, and 
 I report that I can't surmount the insurmountable, nor pass the 
 impassable, so the game goes up. 
 
 Fal. I congratulate you — you'll make your fortune. 
 
 Skif. And when I do, I'll come back to a certain kind parent 
 that I know, tell him, I've got a snug little sum, and — ha! ha!— 
 and ask him for his daughter again. 
 
 Mrs. Fallon appears in the room, r. 
 
 Fal. And he'll tell you, he'll see you and your fortune in — ! 
 
 Skif That'll do! Don't say it out! 
 
 Fal. The fact is, I don't sell anything in my house. I 
 wouldn't sell you the old cat in the kitchen. 
 
 Skif. But why? What puzzles me is— why you refuse me 
 when I ask for Bessie — when it's common gossip that you don't 
 care a cent for the girl, and that Rose is your favorite. 
 
 Fal. Does that puzzle you ? Well, I'm rich enough to indulge 
 in puzzles. 
 
 Mrs. Fallon. [Coming forward.] Why not tell him your 
 
10 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 reason, Garry, and not let Mr. Skiffley suppose you have none. 
 [To Ski/.} Bessie has been promised long ago. 
 
 Fal. [ Quickly.} No, she hasn't — \_pause] if you mean young 
 Ey ver ! 
 
 Mrs. F. I do mean young Ryver. 
 
 Fal. I never promised him. 
 
 Mrs. F. He understood it so. You said that night, no man 
 should have your daughter 'till he earned her, and Jack started 
 the next day with all he had in the world — the clothes on his 
 back — to try his fortune at the \Vest. You know he wrote us 
 he had been employed on the railroad, and that every mile of it 
 was so much in his pocket. Don't act like a monster, and break 
 his heart when he comes back. 
 
 Fal. A man that works on the railroad gets too precious 
 tough, to break anything about him easily. You believe Jack 
 Ryver will come back rich? I don't. In the first place, he 
 loves company too much, then he loves liquor too much. 
 
 Mrs. F. Now, Garry, don't say another word ! It was you 
 that first asked him to drink, and then laughed at him, because 
 his head was too light to stand it. 
 
 Fal. [^As if relishing the recollection.'] Ha! Ha! Ha! You 
 should have seen him, Skiffley ! A perfect infant in liquor. 
 
 Skif. Where is he now? 
 
 3Irs. F. When we last heard of him, he was at Julesburg, on 
 the Pacific Railroad. 
 
 Skif. Julesburg is a good place for a young man who is fond 
 of company. But where is Miss Bessie, and how is Miss Rose? 
 
 Fal. Rose! Aha! She's coming home to-day. She's done 
 with schooling. She's learned all they can teach her : French 
 on the tip of her tongue, planner at the ends of her fingers, 
 arithmetic in her head, and her eyes a geography wdiere you 
 *can see worlds mapped out! I've sj^ent a power o' money 
 on that gal, but she's worth every cent of it as she stands. I 
 love her like — like a man will love, that's saved up his affections 
 for twenty years, to lay it out in one investment. [Looking at 
 clock.] Why, Mary ! Look at the time ! She ought to be here 
 now. 
 
 Skif. Well, she'd better get under cover soon, if you don't 
 want your favorite drenched. There's a big storm brewing. 
 
 Fal. \_To Mrs. F.] Has she got an umbrella? 
 
 Mrs. F. \_Ooing to door, to look out.] You know, she never 
 •will carry one. 
 
 Fal. I recollect ! She told me that everything about a young 
 lady should be in harmony ; her hat, her boots, her gloves — but 
 an umbrella never harmonizes. Why the devil can't they invent 
 
A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 11 
 
 harmonious umbrellas! Mary, get me my coat. [Mrs. F. to^e« 
 coat off hook and comes forward.'] 
 
 Sk^. Well, I'll be off. Going my way? 
 . Fal. Which way is that? 
 
 Skif. Up. 
 
 Fal. No! 
 
 Skif. By the way, I've an errand down too. 
 
 Fal. \_Abruptly.'] I'm going across. 
 
 Skif Oh, very well ; good morning ! [Goes to door and opens 
 it — it is immediately slammed by .the wind. Wind heard.'] Phew ! 
 its blowing up ! \_Exits, c] 
 
 Fal. [ Getting his coat on, assisted by Mrs. F.'] That girl will 
 get wet. 
 
 Mrs. F. Perhaps some one will see her home. You know 
 Mr. Chauncey has come with her two or three times. 
 
 Fal. \_Stopping short] Did he ever come in ? 
 
 Mrs. F. Oh, yes ; he's been quite friendly ; once or twice he 
 came in and had a chat with us. 
 
 Fal. With whom? 
 
 Mrs. I'. Bessie, Rose and me. 
 
 Fal. He's a rich fellow — very rich, and one of the old sort — 
 aristocratic ! So he comes home with old Fallon's daughter, eh ? 
 to Greenwich street ! He's smitten with her, damned if he ain't! 
 Warn't I right to send her to the aristocratic school where she'd 
 get in with that kind ? He's smitten — he's a gone aristocrat ! 
 damn him ! he's a sensible fellow ! " None of your high blood 
 for me ! " that's what he says. I like him already. [Suddenly.'] 
 You never told him I was one of his father's porters once, did 
 you? 
 
 Mrs. F. [Brushing coat] I told him nothing. 
 
 Fal. That's right ! not that I'm ashamed of it, but he might 
 be. Come, hurry with that brushing. I'm going for that gold 
 chain I ordered for Rose. Wait till he sees that ! Solid gold ! 
 I told the jeweller to have the weight stamped on it. 
 
 Mrs. F. You never buy anything for Bessie. 
 
 Fal. Why should I ? she never asks for anything — spiritless, 
 vulgar little toad ; she'd never bring a rich man's son home after 
 her. 
 
 Mrs. F. She'd be frightened at the thought of any one speak- 
 ing to her, unless she met him at her own home. 
 
 Fal. How's Rose to get into society if she don't scrape into 
 it herself! I don't know any, you don't know any, and I want 
 her to rise— she's made for it. [Going, then stops.] You bi'ing up 
 Bessie your way — your vulgar, grubbing way; but I tell you 
 one thing, you don't bring any vulgar grubs here to court her. 
 
12 A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 
 
 Rose shan't have to be ashamed of any brother-in-law, that's 
 flat ! [Exit c. — door slams ; wind heard.'] 
 
 Mrs. F. Oh, dear, dear ! who would be a mother ? Where'i 
 
 Bessie appears above on stairs. 
 
 Bessie. Here, mother ! [She comes down ; has her dress tucked 
 up behind, handkerchief tied on head, broom in hand.] I've been 
 sweeping Rose's room, and fixing it just as papa would like to 
 see it on her birthday. [Kisses her mother.] 
 
 Mrs. F. Then make haste and fix yourself; you know he 
 hates to see you that way. 
 
 Bess. It plagues him, and I rather like that. He insists that . 
 it is very low and vulgar, not a bit like Rosie's style. 
 
 Mrs. F. I declare, I don't blame your father ! 
 
 Bess. Now, mother ! I didn't expect that of you. [ Trying to 
 kiss her.] 
 
 Mrs. F. Don't be foolish. You don't please your father, and 
 you ought to. Look at the presents he gives Rose, and you 
 might have just as good, if you liked. 
 
 Bess. But I don't want them. 
 
 Mrs. F. That's the very thing that angers him. You ought 
 to try and make believe you do. 
 
 Bess. Well, ma, you may think it right to trick father out of 
 his affection, but it's not needed. 
 
 Mrs. F. Ah ! I'm afraid you are building too many hopes on 
 Jack's return — that's the trouble. 
 
 Bess. No, I'm not. I never think of Jack [turning aside], at 
 least, not in the way you suppose. 
 
 Mrs. F. Why do you change color, Bessie ? You are not for- 
 getting the poor fellow, are you ? 
 
 Bess. Please don't ask me anything, mamma. Don't speak 
 to me of Jack any more. 
 
 Mrs. F. Why ? you havn't found another you love better ? 
 
 Bess. [Pleadingly ^j^acm^ her hand on her another's arm.] 
 Don't ask me. 
 
 Mrs. F. Daughter ! it's not doing the right thing to let the 
 lad go ofi" full of hopes, to risk life and limb in gaining a few 
 dollars to marry with, and then turn your back on him when he 
 comes to claim you. 
 
 Bess. When Jack comes to claim me, I shall satisfy him, 
 mamma ! I will speak to him, and tell him — 
 
 Mrs.F. Tell him what? 
 
 Bess. What I have to tell him, and what he must hear. 
 
A PLASH OF LIGHTNING. 13 
 
 Mrs. F. {^Sole^nnly.'] Bessie, child ! pause before you trifle 
 with a good man's heart ! 
 
 Bess. O, mother, promise me one thing — promise that you 
 will not forsake me ! Don't ask me to marry at all. Let me 
 live with you, that is all; let us two live one life together! 
 [ Throws herself on her mother's shoulder.^ 
 
 Bumbling of wheels heard outside. The scene grows gradually 
 darker from this time. Ann runs in from R. 
 
 Ann. There they are, ma'am. Miss Rose an' the illigent 
 gintleman. He's brought her home in a grand coach. 
 
 Mrs. F. Quick ! let them in ! [ A.nn opens the door; a carriage 
 is seen in the street.'] Bessie, dry your eyes — go to the fire! 
 [Bess, goes to mantle, r.] 
 
 Fred Chauncey assists Rose from carriage, and both enter. 
 Wind strong. Door slams, pulling Aim with it. 
 
 Mrs. F. I hope you did not get wet? 
 
 Fred, [r, c. at fire.] Oh, it don't rain yet, but we'll have 
 a storm presently. [Mrs. F. offers him a chair.] 
 
 Bose. Somebody do take ofi" my things I [Ann comes forward.] 
 Go away, you dirty thing! Bessie, why don't you help me? I'm 
 sure it's the least you can do. \_Her mother makes an offer.] Oh, 
 ma! you are so clumsy ! [Bess, comes /orioarc^.] 
 
 Fred. \_Bising.] Sister Bessie looks sad to-day. \^He puts 
 out his hand, Bess, takes it after hesitation, her face averted.] 
 
 Bose. Bessie, something's caught my hat, do unfasten it. 
 [Bess, assists Bose.] 
 
 Mrs. F. Dinner is waitin' for you, dear. 
 
 Bose. Don't say waitin', ma! "Waiting, mind your G's. I 
 don't want any dinner. 
 
 3Irs. F. [l.] Don't want any dinner! why, my dear, your 
 
 Bose. Where is pa? Oh yes, out, I suppose. I'm so sorry, 
 Mr. Chauncey, you'd like papa. 
 
 Mrs. F. Oh, yes, for Mr. Fallon likes you, Mr. Chauncey, 
 very much. 
 
 Fred. [Coolly, at fir e-jjlace.] Does he, really? What a good 
 sort of soul he must be. 
 
 Bess. [r. c] Oh, no ; he isn't that sort of soul at all. He 
 don't like every one. 
 
 Fred. Better and better ! Then I'm an exceptional favorite, 
 I declare ! I regret his absence exceedingly. How long is he 
 likely to be gone ? 
 
14 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Mrs. F. Only a little while. He's went to get a surprise for 
 Kose. 
 
 Rose. \_Aside to Mrs. i^.] He's went ! ! Do, for goodness 
 sake, speak correctly, ma! Don't say, he's went — say he has 
 gone. \_Aloud.'\ What is the surprise, ma? 
 
 Mrs. F. Oh, I wouldn't dare to tell you. Wait till your 
 father reveals it himself. But I must go and look after dinner. 
 Excuse me, Mr. Chauncey. Perhaps you'll stay and dine with us. 
 
 Fred. You are very kind. But I fear, I will intrude. 
 
 Ann. [ Coming down, R.] Oh no, you won't intrude. Sure, 
 we've sot an extra plate for ye, Sir. [ Great embarrassment. Fred 
 eyes Ann with glass.'] 
 
 Mrs. F. Ann, go to the kitchen, this instant ! \_Exits, driving 
 Ann, E. C. E.] 
 
 Rose. [Rising, petulantly.'] Oh, pshaw ! What's the use of 
 waiting? Pa isn't here. Besides, I have to go to Sis Sewell's, 
 and invite her to come to my party to-morrow. Do you want to 
 go ? You can, if you promise to be good. Just wait 'till I get 
 my black jockey. I don't want to ruin this hat. [Going, -L.] 
 
 Bess. I'll get the hat. for you, Rose. [Talces bonnet from 
 Rose and exits up staircase. Fred looks after her with admiration. 
 She glances back as she is disappearing.] 
 
 Rose, [l.] Don't look too hard at the room, Mr. Chauncey. 
 I've begged pa 'till I'm tired, to move to one of his up-town 
 houses, but he tvill live here. 
 
 Fred. [Still looking off.] I can't suffer you to decry the 
 casket that contains such a jewel. 
 
 Rose. I declare, that's the first pretty compliment I ever 
 heard in this house. 
 
 Fred. What an unimpressible set of visitors you must have 
 had then. 
 
 Rose. We havn't had any. 
 
 'Fred. No beaux? 
 
 Rose. No. 
 
 Fred. And your father's friends ? 
 
 Rose. Bless you, he hasn't any. When he'^does invite any 
 gentlemen here, the next thing we know, he puts them in jail. 
 
 Fred. That's the most remarkable instance of close friendship 
 I ever heard of 
 
 Rose. It's not friendship, it's debt. [Fred laughs.] Funny, 
 isn't it? But he took a fancy once to a young man who saved 
 our house, when there was a fire next door. 
 
 Fred. A fireman, eh? That's the stuff for a hero. 
 
 Rose. Oh; Jack wasn't a bit of a hero ; he used to get his 
 hair singed off regularly once a month, going into blazing build- 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 15 
 
 ings after baibies and other things that people forgot to throw 
 out of the windows. And you know, heroes never have their 
 hair singed off. 
 
 Fred. No, their fiery dispositions don't often afiect them 
 that way. 
 
 Rose. Well, Jack used to come here and be funny for us by 
 the hour. At last they began to put out fires with horses instead 
 of men, and he went out West to seek his fortune; and now he's 
 doing something to the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 Fred. Bless me ! that's bad for the Ocean. 
 
 Rose. No! no! not the Ocean — the Pacific Railroad. He's 
 fireman on the railroad. I wonder what they want a fireman 
 for on a railroad! Is there anything to put out on a railroad? 
 
 Fred. Nothing but the passengers, I suppose. Perhaps he 
 has to rush in and save the sleepers on the road. 
 
 Rose. Oh, you tease ! So you see, having no friends here, 
 pa sent me to the Institute. 
 
 Fred. An admirable resort — for there a girl acquires the art 
 of adding to her acquaintances, subtracting from her timidity, 
 multiplying her accomplishments, and dividing her time between 
 dress, deportment and love. 
 
 Rose. You torment. 
 
 Fred. I'd like to get an idea of the rudiments of love. 
 
 Rose. Nothing easier. As to the geography of love — it is 
 bounded by marriage ; has two capitals — a house in town and a 
 country seat; its principal productions: jealousies, elopements, 
 and the Divorce Court! 
 
 Fred. You'd make an excellent master. What will you charge 
 for a course of lessons ? 
 
 Rose. Terms cash, payable at the commencement of the 
 course — in gold! \^Holds up ring-finger, then laughs heartily. 
 Bess, comes down stairs ivith haf] Here's my hat. Where's 
 the glass? Of course, I ought to know better than look for any 
 conveniences here! I suppose, I must go up-stairs to see myself. 
 I'll be down in a minute, Fred. [She takes the hat and runs 
 up stair-case. Bess, has arranged her own dress.'\ 
 
 Fred. Why, how charming you look. 
 
 Bess. Rose is the belle, Mr. Chauncey, and has a right to all 
 the flattery. 
 
 Fred. Exactly, and that which is not flattery belongs to 
 Bessie. Admiration, sincere and true, this belongs to Bessie. 
 
 Bess. Ah, sir, I don't seek them, indeed. They are making 
 Rose for praise and admiration. I'm to be contented here. I 
 fear it is because I seem so confused and ignorant that you take 
 pity on me. 
 
16 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Fred. Why, human nature is like a harp : touch it with a 
 bold and hardy finger, and it answers boldly; but press it with a 
 timid hand, and it is gentle too. [Taking her hand.'] This is the 
 timid hand evokes the kindness you wonder at. 
 
 Rose. \_Ahove.'\ I shan't be long. 
 
 Fred. [Starting.'] Rose ! [ Quickly, to Bess.] Can you keep a 
 secret if I tell you one? 
 
 Bess. O, I fear — 
 
 Fred. There's no time now ; but when you are alone you'll 
 find it here [gives her letter enclosing a pair oj jewelled ear-rings']. 
 Quick, hide it! 
 
 Bess. Hide it, why ? 
 
 Fred. What! a secret, and not hidden? 
 
 Fred goes quickly to fire-place and assumes an indifferent air. 
 Bess, hides the letter, as Rose comes down. 
 
 Rose. Now we're ready. Bessie, tell pa I'll be back soon. 
 
 She goes to front door; Fred follows her, turns, presses his 
 fingers upon his lips to Bess. Rose opens the door, as she does 
 so a flash of lightning almost dazzles her. She starts back 
 with a scream. 
 
 Fred. Had you not better defer the call? 
 Rose. No, I'm not afraid of a little rain. 
 
 Ann enters, r. u. e., as the door is opened again; wind heard 
 loud, and Rose and Fred exit, shutting the door. Ann 
 takes off shoe and flings it at door. The carriage is heard to 
 drive off. 
 
 Ann. Good luck go wid yee's both ! 
 
 Bess. O, Ann, how you startled me! 
 
 Ann. They'll meet wid some kind of luck in such a storm as 
 is comin' up. Faith, the sky is like a great cloud ov smoke on 
 all sides. [Bess, goes to flre-j)lace.] Sure there's something the 
 matter wid you. Miss Bessie! [a flash.] 
 
 Bess. No ! go away, Ann, leave me ! [Thunder heard.] 
 
 Mrs. Fallon enters, r. u. e. 
 
 Mrs. Fallon. Ann, come up stairs and close the windows, 
 the rain is falling now. It will be a fearful storm. [Ann 
 exits up stairs.] I wish your father were home. Hurry, Ann ! 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 17 
 
 The thunder rumbles loiv. Mrs. F. exits up stairs. A furious 
 ring at the bell heard, and as Bessie is running to open the 
 door, Fallon flings it open, and dashes in, shutting it quickly; 
 his umbrella is torn, and he has lost his hat. Bessie closes 
 the door. 
 
 Fallon. [Coming forward.'] Phew! curse the wind. Spoiled 
 me au umbrella I've had for nine years, and lost rae a hat. 
 
 Bess. Father, the door won't catch, what's the matter ? 
 
 Fal. I suppose I've spoiled the lock in ray cursed rage. I 
 broke the key; put a chair against it. [iJe kicks one towards 
 her.] War'nt that Rose went away in a carriage? 
 
 Bess. Yes, sir. 
 
 Fal. ^Angrily.] What the devil did you let her go for? 
 
 Bess. \_Surprised.'] Why, father — 
 ■ Fal. Don't answer me! You envious little wretch. Look at 
 this! [takes case from pocket, and displays an enormous gold 
 chain.'] Feast your eyes on it, you jealous little devil. It's hers. 
 You shan't put me out of conceit with her by your sly dodges. 
 Did that young fellow come with her? 
 
 Bess, [r.] Yes, sir. 
 
 Fal. Grind your teeth at that, too ! She'll have a rich young 
 spark, while you'll content yourself with a devilish poor mechanic. 
 Where's your mother? 
 
 Bess. [Turning slowly away to R.] Up stairs, sir, in Rosie's 
 room. 
 
 . Fal. Then I'll go up and put this on her table, so it shall be 
 the first thing she sets her eyes on when she enters. Ha, ha! ray 
 little queen ! but there's gold enough here [kissing the chain^ to 
 make a crown for you! [Calling at foot of stair-case.] Mary! 
 
 Mrs. Fallon appears at the head. 
 
 Mrs. Fallon. Well? 
 
 Fal. Come down and get dinner. I won't wait any longer. 
 [Mrs. F. descends ; Fallon goes up and exitsP^ 
 
 Mrs. F. [As she is crossing to r.] Ain't you coming to din- 
 ner, Bessie? 
 
 Bess. No, father doesn't want to see me, 
 
 3frs. F. You'll wear my life out with this constant worry. 
 [Bess, sits by the fire, her head resting on one hand.] Moping 
 there like a child. [Exit, R. u. E.] 
 
 Bess. Oh! if I hadn't this! [Takes letter froyn her 'pocket 
 and presses it to her bosom.] It weighs so heavy ! 
 2 
 
18 A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 
 
 Fal. \_Ahove.'\ There, just the thing! \_Appears, pushing 
 Ann before him. She comes dotvn and goes towards r., he after her.'] 
 Go to the kitchen! I don't trust anybody that's poor; its-expect- 
 ing too much of 'm. [Ann exits, r. c. e.] There's too much 
 money in that chain, and its easy carried off. [Stops a moment 
 to look at Bessie, then exits, R.] 
 
 The lightning flashes, and there is a louder roll of thunder. The 
 Viind and rain heard. 
 
 Bess. [Solus.'] His face changed, when he gave me this. 
 Why, there's something in it. What can it be? [Opiens and 
 takes out pair of ear-rings.] Jewels ! [Disappointedly.] A birth- 
 day present for Rose. Everything is for Rose, and I — [ Wind 
 heard. She reads letter by light of /re.] " Dear Bessie : Keep 
 these little jewels ; I chose them for you." Forme! [Delighted.] 
 "If you do not dare to wear them openly, put them on when 
 alone, and say to yourself, they are the offering of a sincere and 
 loving friend." [Rising.] They are for me, and not for Rose! 
 I, too, have my gifts, my jewels, my friends. All are not harsh 
 to me. One, at least, thinks of me. [Kisses the jewels.] Oh, you 
 darlings! They sparkle like his glance. Yes, I will wear you. 
 [Looks arou7id.] I am alone. 
 
 As she puts the ear-rings on, the chair is pushed away from the door 
 a%d it opens. Jack Ryver enters quietly. Sees Bessie. Starts. 
 Replaces the chair; comes forward and watches her as she 
 fastens in the jewels. 
 
 Jack. Bessie ! 
 
 Bess. [Turns.] Jack! [She seerns overcome with emotion and 
 surprise.] 
 
 Jack. [CJieerily.] Why, Bessie, darling! you never expected 
 me, did you? Here I am, come nine hundred miles on a run to 
 surprise you. [Holds out his hands. She goes to him constrainedly. 
 He does not seem to notice it, and draws her to him, then holds her 
 off.] Handsomer than ever. Fatter, too, and just the sort of 
 angel to meet on entering that paradise — a home! 
 
 Bess, [l.] You, Jack — returned! I thought — 
 
 Jack. [ Gaily, standing by fire and shaking hat] You thought 
 I was on the wilds of the West with the snorting locomotives, 
 didn't you? Bless your heart, I've slept with 'em, ate with 'em, 
 and played with 'era, until I'm a sort of locomotive myself. 
 Don't I act as if I had a full head of steam on ? Phew ! what a 
 storm ! [Loosening a wrapper from his neck.] It's gathering 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 19 
 
 again, and we'll have some damage done, or I'm no prophet. 
 How are the old folks? 
 
 Bess. Father and mother are well. 
 
 Jack. Don't call them ! I shan't show myself noto ! The old 
 boy would laugh at me! "This your riches?" he'd say. By 
 Jingo! I'd have to come back in a coach to make him glad to 
 see me. I know him. No, I only came to see you ; to tell you 
 that I'm fighting for money, and I'm bound to win ! 
 
 Bess. Poor Jack! poor Jack! 
 
 Jack. Not a bit of it. Why, Bessie, I Avould have been a 
 rich man now, if it wasn't fox' — what do you suppose? — if it 
 wasn't for you. 
 
 Bess. For me. Jack? 
 
 Jack. Just listen: You know out West where I've been, on 
 the borders of the world, I think the people are not the sort of 
 people you see here. I don't believe there's a decent fellow 
 among 'em. No homes, no love, no women ! — and where there's 
 not a woman, men are no more than brutes. Cheating, swindling, 
 murder! I've had ten thousand dollars offered me just to look 
 out "one door in the mail train, while a few honest fellows were 
 busy at the other. 
 
 Bess. Oh, Jack, and you? 
 
 Jack. I thought of you, darling, and kicked 'em out. Then 
 they bullied me. Ha! ha! that wouldn't do with a New Yorker, 
 would it? But they did get a pop at me after all. I was stretched 
 out by a revolver slug, but I thought of you and got over that I 
 Give me a kiss, Bessie! only one — just to make up for it. [Bessie 
 averts her head.'] Why, Bessie! Look at me, Bessie! Have I 
 come back too soon — or have I come back too late f 
 
 Bess. Jack ! 
 
 Jack. Have you had time to forget me? 
 
 Bess. {^Trying to smile.] Why, you saw I had not forgotten 
 you. 
 
 Jack. Your eyes remembered me — that's true. But I fear 
 your heart is strange. 
 
 Bess. [Head doion.'] No, my heart is not strange. 
 
 Jack. [Taking her hand.] But you don't look at me. 
 
 Bess. tLooking up.] I'm not afraid to do so. 
 
 Jack. iDro2)pi7ig her ha7id.] Who spoke of fear? Bessie, 
 don't be hard on me, because I'm poor still. I know I promised 
 to come back rich, and fit to wed you ; but that was a rash 
 promise: / learned it soon enough. Those that have the dollars, 
 keep them with a closed hand. I couldn't force them — that's dis- 
 honest. But I'll toil yet — and toil 'till the fingers loosen of them- 
 selves and drop the money into mine. Just say it's all right — say 
 you havn't changed — 
 
20 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Bessie turns aside, and with both hands motions Mm away. Jack 
 sees the jewels and points to them. 
 
 Jack. Who gave you those? 
 
 Bess. [^Covers her ears with hands."] These? 
 
 Jack. I feared it. Your father gave you the choice between 
 Jack Ryver or a handful of jewels, and I went cheap. Oh, your 
 father knew his own blood. 
 
 Bess. You wrong him — he did not give them — [ Checks herself.'] 
 
 Jack. No! Who did? {^She retreats.] You shall answer me. 
 [Catches her arm. Lightning flashes and the thunder rumbles dis- 
 tantly. Bessie shrinks at Jack's feet.] 
 
 Bess. Oh, Jack, have pity ; you frighten me ! 
 
 Jack. You will not give his name? 
 
 Bess. You must not ask me ! 
 
 Jack. Farewell! [Going, c] 
 
 Bess. At least forgive me ! 
 
 Jack. [Lifting her up.] I do forgive you ! [Presses her fore- 
 head and takes one of the jewels secretly from her ear.] But not 
 him. Good-bye! and if you wish to think of me, remember 
 what I might have been — an honest man ! What I shall be, is 
 your work. 
 
 Rushes to the door. Fearful flash of lightning and instantaneous 
 peal of thunder. Bessie falls on her knees. Jack about to 
 go to door, darts back and flies up staircase, dropping the 
 jewel near door, c, as Rose enters. Fallon, and Mrs. 
 Fallon, and Ann run in from r. u. e., all simultaneously; 
 but no^ one sees Jack. 
 
 Rose. [Throwing herself in Fal.'s arms.] O, pa. 
 
 Fallon, [c] Rose, my pet ! 
 
 3Irs. Fallon. [ Crossing to Bess.] Bessie, dear ! 
 
 Ann. [r. c] Sure we'll all be murdered by the thunder. 
 
 Fal. Bah ! it's all over in a second. What a precious flock 
 of fools you are. [Tenderly.] There! [Places Rose in chair by 
 fire, then crossly to Bessie, who is weeping in her mother's arms^ 
 Now look at that ! one would suppose she never saw a storm 
 before. 
 
 Rose. [Laughing.] It's all over now ; but I was scared ; I 
 would come home in the cars, and had to run from the corner. 
 Well, pa ! don't look so cross. Where's my present ? I'm dyiug 
 to see it ! 
 
 Fal. [r. c] Ah, you rogue ! kiss me ! Wait a moment ! 
 and I'll make your eyes dance. [ Goes up staircase.] 
 
A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 21 
 
 ^ 3frs. F. Why, Bessie, darling, you are trembling and feverish. 
 You have been crying. [Ann tries to shut doorJ] 
 Bess. 0, mother, I'm so miserable. 
 
 Fallon is heard to cry out "Damnation ! " All start, and look 
 towards him as he comes down staircase with the empty jewel- 
 ease in hand. 
 
 Fat. I've been robbed — it's gone ! 
 All. Bobbed ! 
 
 Skiffley appears in doorway, c, pushing Ann aside. 
 
 ' Fal. I placed it on the table up there ! the case has been torn 
 open ; the chain is stolen. 
 
 Mrs. F. Nonsense ! who could have done it — who knew of it? 
 
 Fal. No one! I placed it there myself; yes, Bessie, you saw 
 me. You have been here ever since. [Bess, almost faints, as he 
 advances towards her.'] 
 
 Mrs. F. She is going to fall. 
 
 As Mrs. F. is going to catch Bess., Fal. pushes her aside and 
 clutches the girl's arm. 
 
 Fal. Stop! Answer me! You were here! Where is the 
 chain ? 
 
 Bess. [Aside, ivith deep emotion.'] O, Jack ! God forgive 
 you! 
 
 Fal. Answer me ! has any one been here ? 
 
 Bess. No one. 
 
 Fal. It's a lie ! 
 
 Eose. [Stepping forward.] O, father! 
 
 Fal. [ Waving 'her back] This is no business of yours ; if no 
 one was here, you must have the chain. Come, give it up ! 
 
 Mrs. F. You shall not speak to her in that way ! 
 
 Fal. Silence ! she is my child, and I have the right. 
 
 Mrs. F. And she is my child, and I have some right. Bessie, 
 darling ! [ Going, l.] 
 
 Skiffley. [Advancing, c] I beg pardon ! take care how you 
 step, or we shall have this pretty jewel crushed ! [Picks up the 
 ear-ring, which Jack had dropped in his exit] I suppose it's 
 yours, Miss Rose. 
 
 Bose. I never saw it before. 
 
 Skif Ah, it is Miss Bessie's then. The mate is in her ear. 
 [Advancing to give it] 
 
 Fal. [To Bess. Taking jewel from Skif] Where did you 
 
22 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 get these? You won't answer ? {_Turning round heatedly.'] I hope 
 you are satisfied. She is a thief. But we know how to deal 
 with those people. Skiffley ! 
 
 Sklf. [^Briskly.l Enough said ! you give her in my charge ? 
 
 3frs. F. For heaven's sake, Garry, what are you about to do ? 
 
 Fal. She has brought it on herself! 
 
 Bose. Father have some mercy ! 
 
 Fal. Well, I will have some mercy. Let her give me back 
 the chain, or find a home there ! [ Points to street.'] 
 
 Curtain Falls. 
 
 Fal. 
 Rose, Skif., 
 
 appealing. by bannister, smiling 
 
 triumphantly. 
 
 Ann, Bessie, 
 
 crying. in 
 
 Mrs. F. 
 
 arms. 
 
 L. 
 
a' FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 23 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 Scene 1. — Fifth Avenue, near the Spinster Institute. On l. is the 
 Institute partly painted in perspective, and brought forward 
 on set piece. On R. iving is part of Reservoir railings, gar- 
 den, and lamp-post with letter-box. 
 
 Mrs, Fallon and Rose enter, r. 1 e. 
 
 Rose, [r.] There, don't come any farther, ma. You know, 
 I don't waut to have you seen by the girls at the school. 
 
 Mrs. Fallon, [l.] Yes, dear. But you will return home, 
 won't you? You won't desert your sister and me at this cruel 
 time ? 
 
 Rose. The fact is, ma, I'm disgusted. I don't mind the chain, 
 but I hoped to have had such a nice birthday-party; and now 
 I've got to make apologies to all the girls I've invited. It's too 
 mean of pa. What shall I tell them? What can I tell them? 
 
 Mrs. F. Tell them the truth, dear, it's easy. 
 
 Rose. Tell them the truth ! Excuse me, ma — but you must 
 be crazy. 
 
 Mrs. F. Why, you can tell them that somebody broke into 
 the house and stole the chain. 
 
 Rose. For them to laugh at me? Why, if those aristocratic 
 girls had half their houses emptied by thieves, they'd never think 
 of disappointing their friends. It looks so mean in pa — that's 
 what troubles me. Why should he go on so? 
 
 3£rs. F. You know, his rage is always ungovernable when 
 opposed; and now he believes Bessie is defying him. 
 
 Rose. Oh, it's always the way; just as I try to rise — to get on 
 some sort of footing with better people — something happens; pa 
 gets into a passion — down tumbles my plan, and I've got to go to 
 work again to build another. It's hateful. I've got to tell four- 
 teen girls that they needn't come to-night. Ugh! it looks so 
 cheap. 
 
 Mrs. F. Oh, Rose, dear, try and forget your own troubles in 
 poor Bessie's. If she doesn't manage to have the chain back to- 
 day, she sleeps to-night with strangers. Your father is merciless. 
 
 Rose. Then "Avhy don't she and you do what any person of 
 sense would — tell pa what she told you and me — that it must 
 have been Jack, and then let the police ferret him out. 
 
24 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Mrs. F.' No. Bessie told us that under a solemn pledge of 
 secrecy, and said, Jack must not be harmed. There is something 
 that we do not understand. She accuses herself, too, as the cause 
 of all the trouble. 
 
 Rose. Well, ma, I'm going to stay in school all the week, 'till 
 the trouble's over. I'm sorry Jack took the chain — I'm sorry 
 for Bessie, if she caused him to take it. [Takes letter from pocket 
 and goes towards letter-box, and drops it in as she speaks. At the 
 same moment Skiffley appears, unseen by the others, at k. He is 
 wholly changed in appiearance, being made up to represent a soldier- 
 messenger.'] And I'm sorry that I should have had a birthday, 
 so that pa should have got a chain for Jack to take. Ha! ha! 
 ha! it's so like the house that Jack built, that I must laugh, 
 though I suppose I ought to cry. 
 I Mrs. F. For heaven's sake. Rose, don't be so heartless. 
 
 Eose. Heartless! Who ever heard of one's heart existing for 
 one's sister ! I thought that was to be reserved for one's beaux. 
 
 Mrs. F. I won't hear anything more of beaux. I knew, some 
 judgment would come upon us for having you try to marry above 
 your station. That young man shan't come to the house again, 
 mind that! 
 
 Hose. [Suppressing anger.'] Very well, ma! try to make me 
 as miserable as Bessie! Do! but you shan't! If Mr. Chauncey 
 is not to come to our house, why then — [Stops.] 
 
 Mrs. F. [Severely.] What then ! Take care, daughter! Take 
 care what you do! What letter was that you put in there? 
 
 Eose. That's my affair. [Looks at watch.] It's time for me 
 to go to school. Good-bye, ma. [Going, L.] 
 
 Mrs. F. [Following her and changing tone.] Rosie, dear, 
 don't go away and leave me so. 
 
 Rose. Don't, pray, ma, don't come right up to the school door. 
 You know, you're not dressed this morning, and the girls will 
 wonder who you are. I don't like to say you're the cook, so 
 please don't come. [Mrs. F. turns away sadly.] There, don't 
 take it so much to heart. [Tui'ns to assure herself that no one is 
 tvatching.] You know I love you and all that. But we must 
 sacrifice our feelings, if we want to rise in the world. [After 
 ringing the bell and having the door opened for her, she exits into 
 school.] 
 
 Mrs. F. Well, I suppose it is right, for she must see how the 
 others act. Oh, if Bessie could only feel as lightly, she might 
 never have become so miserable. 
 
 Skiffley. [Advancing from l.] I beg pardon! 
 
 Mrs. F [Looking ^ip mechanically.] Sir! Oh, Mr. Skiffley, 
 I didn't know you in that dress. 
 
A PLASH OF LIGHTNING. 25 
 
 Skif. Disguise is a necessity of my profession. Do you know 
 that there's the very mischief to pay down at your house? 
 
 3fi's. F. O, Mr. Skiffley ! can there be any deeper misery than 
 that I now sutTer? 
 
 Skif. Why, Bessie has fled, and the old man is raving like a 
 lunatic at her escape. Why, he has even applied for a warrant 
 for her arrest, and I've got it here. How foolish of her to run 
 away. Flight has convinced him, more than anything else, of 
 her guilt. 
 
 Mrs. F. But she is not guilty, Mr. Skifiley. [Looking round 
 cautiously and anxiously^ O, if I thought I could rely on 
 you, I— 
 
 Skif. Now, if there's anything which pains me, it is want of 
 confidence. Take away confidence, and I might as well shut up 
 shop. 
 
 Mrs. F. Bessie is suffering for the fault of another. [Skif. 
 very attentive.'] Now, why should she suffer, if she is not guilty? 
 And if I have given her a pledge, as her mother, I'm to judge if 
 her safety i-equires me to keep her secret. 
 
 Skif. Exactly so. When people exchange their own silence 
 for another's pledge, they must take the consequences of fluctua- 
 tions in the new security [ Very mysteriously and knoivingly.'] She 
 didn't take the chain, somebody else did ! I suspected there was 
 something like this. Now, who does she say took it? 
 
 Mrs. F. Jack Ry ver ! 
 
 Skif. [Aside, surprised.'] Jack Ryver ! [Aloud.] Ha, ha ! 
 Jack Ryver! come, that's good. 
 
 3Irs. F. [Nervously and frightened.] Why, what do you 
 mean ? 
 
 Skif. Don't it strike you, that this Jack Ryver must have a 
 very long arm to reach from Colorado to New York? 
 
 Mrs. F. But Jack returned yesterday, in the great storm : he 
 has come back to New York. 
 
 Skif. Did you see him ? 
 
 Mrs. F. No ; but Bessie says he did, and she has never told 
 me a falsehood from her cradle. 
 
 Skif. My dear Mrs. Fallon, you know how deep my admira- 
 tion for your daughter is ; I would do anything to rescue her 
 from this impending ruin. I will do everything to discover the 
 real thief; but I must not be blinded. Now, I can't believe it 
 was Ryver, for Ryver is not in New York. If he had returned, 
 I would have known it. 
 
 Mrs. F. [Tearfully.] What can I. think? What shall I do? 
 I am bewildered. • Ah, who would be a mother! 
 
 Skif. I don't think you need fear for Miss Bessie's safety. 
 
26 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 The warrant which her father has given me, couldn't be in kinder 
 hands, 
 
 3I7-S. F. I don't fear for Bessie's safety, Mr. Skiffley, for I 
 more than suspect she may try and go to my sister's in Albany, 
 'till her father relents. 
 
 Skif. lAside.} Ah! that's worth knowing, [Aloud.'] As 
 long as you believe her to be in no personal danger, go home 
 peacefully, and leave the rest to me. It's not a matter of business, 
 its a matter of friendship and afiection now with me, to rescue 
 her. 
 
 Ifrs. F. God bless you for your kindness, Mr. Skiffley — God 
 you ! [Exit, r. 1 e,] 
 
 Skif. [Sohis.'] The game's easy. I couldn't have got her out 
 of the house without a warrant, and then she'd go to jail instead 
 of coming to me. Last night I pretended to remonstrate with 
 her father. He gives her four-and-twenty hours' grace, in which 
 to find the chain, or reveal the thief. This morning she runs 
 away, and he gets out the warrant, I do nothiug. I simply 
 avail myself of circumstances. Now I seek her ; I arrest her ; I 
 imprison her! I'm judge, jury and jailor! and the term she 
 serves out with me, shall be for life. [As he is aboid to go off the 
 Postman enters l., and goes to box r., opens it and takes aid letters^ 
 By jove ! that letter from Rose ! it has something to do with this 
 Ry ver business, or I'm a fool ! Bessie must be lured to some 
 den, in expectation of meeting the fellow ; but it is I, that must 
 manage the correspondence. [Approaches postman.] I say, my 
 lightning express friend ! 
 
 Postman. [Busy tvith letters.'] Well, my tulip. 
 
 Skif. Could you oblige me with a look at the addresses of 
 those letters ? 
 
 Post. Not any. 
 
 Skif. But there's one in the box I think is for me. 
 
 Post. [Putting letters in hag.] Quite a mistake ! all the let- 
 ters in that box are for me. All them as I have, are for the post 
 office; after that office gets 'em, then xjou have your chance. 
 
 Skif. Very well put ! but really [showing official shield inside 
 his coat], matter of business, you know. Fact is, I'm on a trail, 
 and want to see the address on a letter you have. 
 
 Post. [Locking his hag.] O, is that all ? 
 
 Skif. Yes, that's all. 
 
 Post. O, that's easy. You just write to the Postmaster-Gene- 
 ral at Washington, and ask his permission ; when he gives it you, 
 take it to the Secretary of State and get him to approve it; then 
 you get it passed through both houses of Congress, and bring it 
 to me, and I'll show you all you want to see. [ Off R,] 
 
A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 27 
 
 Shif. Curse his smartness ! The country's going to the devil, 
 when a man can't get a favor even from a postman. What's the 
 next move ? she must be trapped ; but which is the safest spot, 
 let me see \_looks over mem. boolo]. I can use Ryver's name as the 
 bait! 
 
 Patsy and Davy enter from r. 2 e. and go to Institute, l. They 
 are little brown Italian lads, of the kind usually seen in New 
 York streets. They carry a small harp and violin. They 
 look up at Institute, and commence to play and sing, "Not for 
 Joseph." At the first sound, Skiffley starts, endeavoring to 
 proceed with his notes — then shuts up his book. 
 
 Skif. Here, I say, cut that ! 
 
 Patsy. No, we won't ! Go on, Davy ! \_They recommence^ 
 
 Skif. I've seen these little monkeys somewhere. O, yes ! they 
 belong to Benedetto's tribe — useful fellows, if occasion comes. 
 [_Butto7is up his coat and is going aivay, when he looks off the scene 
 and starts back^ Eh ! luck ! luck ! and no mistake. The very 
 runaway ; but who's that with her ! What is she doing up here? 
 O, I remember [looking up at Institide'], her sister's there. Here 
 you ! \to boys.'] 
 
 Patsy. [Advancing with cap.] Give me penny ! 
 
 Skif. [Fumbles in his jyocket in order to lure boy on. Patsy 
 approaches, when Skif. suddenly seizes Mm.] I've a mind to 
 take you up for vagrants ! [Both boys commence to blubber.] 
 
 Patsy. We ain't vagrants ; wot we does is better nor stealing. 
 
 Skif. I believe you, my infant. What boy is that — any rela- 
 tion of yours ? 
 
 Patsy. Him ! — yes, his mother married my father afore either 
 of us was born : that's how I came to be intimate with him. 
 Don't you cry, Davy. [Gives Davy a tap on the head ivith 
 fiddle.] 
 
 Skif. Where's your kennel ? 
 
 Patsy. Jacob's Ladder — with old Benedetto. Benedetto's the 
 old fellow with only one eye; he wore the other one out trying to 
 see wot was the matter in a row one night. 
 
 Skif. Do you want to earn a ten cent stamp ? 
 
 Patsy^ How long will it take to do it ? 
 
 Skif. All the afternoon, perhaps. 
 
 Patsy. Can't be did. We's got to carry home a quarter a 
 piece every night, or Benedetto wallops us. Shut up, Davy ! 
 [Davy stops crying.] 
 
 Skif. Well, I'll make it a quarter for you. 
 
 Patsy. And one for Davy ? 
 
 Skif. O, I don't want him. 
 
28 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Patsy. Yes, but I do. Come now, make it half a dollar and 
 it's a job. Dry up, Davy ! 
 
 Skif.- Well, say half a dollar. 
 
 Patsy. Don't say half a dollar — fork it over ! [Skif. takes out 
 money — Patsy holds out hand.^ 
 
 Skif. Here. 
 
 Patsy. Now, what's the game ? 
 
 Skif. \_Pointing, R. 2 E.] Do you see those two ladies there, 
 just comiug up ? Mark the one on the inside. 
 
 Patsy. Yes. 
 
 Skif I want you to give her a message. 
 
 Patsy. From you ! 
 
 Skif. The deuce, no ! Can you remember a name ? 
 
 Patsy. Yes, if it ain't too long. 
 
 Skif. It's Jack Ryver, try it — say Jack Ryver. 
 
 Patsy. Jack Ryver. 
 
 Skif Say it again ! 
 
 Patsy. [ Quickly'\ Jack Ryver ! Jack Ryver ! Jack Ryver ! 
 
 Skif. That'll do. Now come with me, quick. 
 
 All exit quickly, R. 2 E., as Bessie and Ann enter, r. 1 e., without 
 perceiving them. 
 
 Ann. Sure, Miss Bessie, don't be frighteued ! She's your 
 sister, and she'll be glad to help you, for she has got plenty of 
 pocket money. 
 
 Bessie, [r.] O, Ann, I'm afraid to ask her. She will tell me 
 that I must give up the search for Jack and return home, and I 
 cannot do that ! 
 
 Ann. But ye can't be walking the streets all day and at 
 night — millia, raurther ! what'll ve do then ? 
 
 Bess. I don't know. But heaven will not suffer me to come 
 to harm, for at least I have not offended It. 
 
 Ann. Lord betune you and evil ! But I'll go to Miss Rose, 
 if you want. Just hide here a minute till I ax the schoolmarm 
 to let me have a word of her. 
 
 Ann goes to Institute; rings hell. Bess, leans against letter-box. 
 A file of girls enter from R. 1 E. and cross to Institute*the door 
 of which is opened. 
 
 First Girl (Sis Sewell.) [Looking at Bess.'] "What a pretty 
 girl. 
 
 Second Girl. (Anne Kevip.) Yes, but wretched taste. [^First 
 girl slips letter in box.] 
 
 Second Girl. Oh, I saw you ! Who's it to ? [All laugh.] 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 29 
 
 Rose appears at door of Institute. 
 
 Second Girl. Oh, Rose, when did you come back? 
 
 Rose. Oh, just now. [^Aside, after recognizing Bess ?^ I can't 
 talk to her while all the girls are here. [Ann advances and 
 nudges Rose, who pushes her aside.'] Do get out of the way, 
 woman! {_AU the girle exit into house with Rose.] 
 
 Ann. The mean — proud — stuck-up thing! 
 
 Bess. No ! no ! don't scold her, Ann ! Misfortune and Rose 
 have nothing in common. 
 
 Ami. But what'll ye do. Miss? 
 
 Bess. Oh, I'll manage bravely enough. You go home, Ann. 
 Mother is all alone — there — there! [Ann cries.] It'll be all 
 right, when I find Jack. One word with him, and then I can 
 return to father fearlessly. There, go. [Pafe Ann on shoidder, 
 dries her eyes and sends her offn.; bursting out afresh.] Oh, if I 
 could but see Jack! [^Leayis against the post wearily.] If J had 
 not wronged him, I might be happy. What shall I say to him ? 
 Yesterday he would have fallen at my feet for a kind woid : to- 
 day he will laugh at me for casting off an honest man and seeking 
 for a thief. But he is repentant, I know. I will show him the 
 way of reparation — 'I will save him. 
 
 Scene 2. — Street view. Along the Avenue. 
 
 Enter Fred, l,, reading Rose's letter. 
 
 Fred. " Say papa sent for me, or anything else you please, 
 invent any excuse — only rescue your Rose from pining to death." 
 {^Folding letter.] What an extraordinary girl ! I'm delighted 
 with the idea of a holiday — in such excellent company. 
 
 Se turns and perceives Bessie, who enters sloivly, r,, loohing back 
 timidly. 
 
 Fred. Why, that looks like her little sister. \^Puts letter in 
 pochet] How pale she looks. That reminds me that I juay be 
 the cause. Pshaw I I wish I hadn't written that letter until after 
 my tete-a-tete with Rose, during the storm. Hang it ! I have 
 been a fool. 
 
 Bess., drying her eyes, is about to cross to l., and sees him. 
 
 Bessie. [^Delighted.] Oh, Mr, Chauucey, is it you ! Heaven 
 has surely sent you here. 
 
30 A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 
 
 Fred. I don't exactly feel certain of that, Miss Bessie. 
 
 Bess. Oh, but I do, for I was so miserable, so sad ; and when 
 I saw you ray heart gave a leap, as if it recognized a friend. 
 
 Fred. I'm afraid it was a case of mistaken identity, Bessie. 
 It is I, that have caused you all your trouble, is it not? 
 
 Bess. Oh, no, indeed ! All night long I have thought over 
 your words, your dear kind words. And yet I have done wrong, 
 and don't deserve you should ever think of me. 
 
 Fred. Done wrong!— impossible! 
 
 Bess. Yes, it was wrong, because it made me forget myself. 
 Here— here {taking letter and jewels from her pocket hurriedly, and 
 giving them to Am.] Here is your lettei*and your present. Oh, 
 do take them I 
 
 Fred. You scorn them ? 
 
 Bess. Oh, no ! no ! \_kisses them] for they — made me happy — 
 but they are not for me — take them ! See, I do not give back 
 your present, ycfii know, I only give you something in return. 
 Think of it that way, and it will all be well — will it not ? 
 
 Fred. [Aside ; full of admiration.'] By Jove! She's an angel 
 worth winning. [Aloud] Bessie, you shall not leave me in that 
 way. 
 
 Sktpfley appears in background idth the hoys, stooping down and 
 pointing out Bess, to them, then disappears. Patsy advances. 
 
 Patsy. [In a lotu tone, pulling Bess.'s dress.] I say, Miss I 
 
 Bess. [iStarting.] What do you wish ? 
 
 Patsy. [Mysteriously.] I've got a message for you. 
 
 Bess. [Amazed and shrinking towards Fred.] For me I from 
 whom? 
 
 Patsy. [After looking around cautiously.] From Jack Ryver. 
 
 Bess. [Joyfully.] From Jack ! Where is he ? Quick, tell me ! 
 
 Patsy. Follow me and I'll take you to him. He's hiding, you 
 know. 
 
 Bess. At last ! I knew it would be well at last. 
 
 Fred. Bessie, what is all this ? What have you to do with 
 these people? 
 
 Bess. It is hope — it is honor — it is life I [Stopping suddenly.] 
 But yoQ do not know. You must not know. [ To Patsy.] Come ! 
 
 Skifpley enters, e. 
 
 Fred. Who is this Jack Ryver ? 
 
 Bess. Oh, Mr. Chauncey, be merciful — don't ask me. [To 
 boys.] Come I 
 
A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 81 
 
 Sktffiey [c] You see, she dou't explain. Perhaps you'd better 
 ask me. 
 
 Bess. [Startled, to Fred."] No — no — no ! ask him nothing 1 
 
 Skif. Why, sir, this young girl ia the victim of a monstrous 
 outrage: a low young fellow, whom she loved, has stolen — -[Bess. 
 who has been jjleading humbly with Skif., at this point turns with 
 a cry of agony and shame.'] 
 
 Bess. [To Fred.] Oh, sir, don't listen to him — don't listen 
 to him. [E.vit, with boys following, the latter exchanging signifi- 
 cant glances tvith Skif] 
 
 Fred. Now, sir, what is all this ? 
 
 Skif Merely that this lover of Bessie Fallon's — this Jack 
 Ryver — broke into her father's house, and robbed it. Suspected 
 of being the thief, she was turned into the street. Now the girl's 
 trying to find this Ryver— they'll vamose together. You'll per- 
 ceive, sir, that's not the sort of person for you to be intimate with 
 —not at all. 
 
 Fred. Enough ! I wish to hear no more. [Skif. crosses l.] 
 And I had almost loved her ! Well, it serves me right for being 
 traitor to Rose for a minute. She'll be waiting for me. [Exits, e.] 
 
 Skif All's safe in that quarter. She may go to the devil for 
 all he cares. Bessie goes to Benedetto's den. We secure her in 
 a nest of thieves. There's but one escape for her, from degrada- 
 tion : and that's to smile on me. I think she'll smile I [Exit, L.] 
 
 Enter Rose and Fred, r. 
 
 Rose. [Delighted.] I was so afraid you wouldn't get my letter, 
 or that you couldn't come; and I should have moped all day. 
 You mustn't mind if I should be wild to-day, for this is my 
 birthday-party! Where are we to go to? Somewhere that I've 
 never been before, mind ! It's so delightful to start out for no- 
 where in particular, and bring up anywhere. 
 
 Fred. Oh, leave all to me. But you havn't told me what 
 the reason is, you've given up your party at home. Has Bessie 
 anything to do with it? 
 
 Hose. Oh, its Bessie, and pa, and ma, and I don't know Avho 
 besides. 
 
 Fred. Jack Ryver, perhaps. 
 
 Hose. Why, where in the world did you hear of him? Never 
 mind, I'll tell you all about it as Ave go. Bless us and save us ! 
 don't let's stay here so near the school. If they should see how 
 happy I look, they'd run out and bring me back. 
 
 Fred. Then off we go. Mind, you are not to ask me where 
 we go. 
 
32 
 
 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Rose. No. 
 
 Fred. Nor when we shall get there. 
 
 Rose. No, nor when we're to get back. It's so like an elope- 
 ment, isn t It? If we read this in a novel, we wouldn't believe it, 
 would we? Let's make a romance out of it ! [Mock heroic.'] I 
 am a dismal damsel whom you have rescued from yonder dun- 
 geon ! We haste from our pursuers— [r^owi^] and if they overtake 
 us — we get into an omnibus. 
 
 Fred. \Moch heroic.'] And we are saved I 
 
 Rose. IDelighted.] Exactly I [They run off laughing, -l.] 
 
 Scene S.— Jacob's Ladder. An all-nighfs lodging cellar A 
 resort for sailors, and immigrants of the poorer class, and 
 thieves. A circular staircase at l. c. of stage leads from ground 
 to an aperture in ceiling. At back a row of steps lead to a 
 low door set high up in the wall. On r. and l. are rows of 
 bunks of a squalid character. Stove R. c. in a sand-tray, pipe 
 leading off e. Kettle on stove. Low stools near it The 
 street-lamp u supposed to shed a p>ale light throunh the aper- 
 ture m the ceiling. 
 
 The bunks are all occupied on the l. A sailor is in the 
 upper one, front. The Dowderry immigrant party are huddled 
 about dove at the R. The boy and girl are in one bunk at r. 
 Mrs. Dowderry is preparing the baby for bed, and Terry 
 IS standing by. Benedetto is sitting by stove, c, smoking a 
 short pipe. 
 
 Mrs Dowderry. Just lift the baby into bed, Terry. [Ter. 
 
 vCtrC€8 Cilllci,\ 
 
 Benedetto. You pays before you turns in. 
 Mrs. p Here's the money, sir! ten cents aich, and how much 
 for the baby? 
 
 Ben. De baby is noting. Dere is four of you, dot is forty 
 
 Sailor. [ Gruffly.] Hallo I is there a baby there ? 
 Mrs. D. iBristling.] There is, and what of it? 
 Sailor. If I hear a howl from it this night, I'll throw it over- 
 board. 
 
 Mrs D. I'd like ye to offer to lay a finger on me child 
 ^ bailor. ITo others in bunks.] They're going to bunk a baby 
 in here, mates ! o o j 
 
 All. [In bunks.] Put the baby out— no babies. 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 33 
 
 Mrs. D. Shame on ye, for onmanly devils ! "] i '^ ,^"i g 
 Were ye niver babies yerselves? If it was decent "^ H. § a; h 
 ye were, ye wouldn't be talkin' to a poor widow 1 "'^ ^ | •§ Q 
 woman that way. [ ;:| o^-g '^ 
 
 Terry. Sure the baby's no harm, and mother'll ' .i!;! "^ "g -^ f§ 
 take care of it herself. J "^ J 'I I ^ 
 
 Ben. iHammerinq, with a dub beside him on the floor.'] 
 Will you be quiet? {Rising and going with club to sailors' bunki] 
 If you says anoder vord I make babies of you ! Dis is my 
 house [turning to others']. I lets a hundred babies in, if I likes. 
 You pays for a bed — by Gar, I no sells de sleep. You get him 
 if you can. [All silent] Dere! now don't let me hear a visper. 
 
 [sk:] 
 
 Mes. D. sits smoking, r. Ter. sits on berth and tries to sleep. 
 Jack is seen descending the staircase, c. 
 
 Jack. [Looking around^ Is this old Maggit's place? 
 
 Ben. Dis is my place. 
 
 Jack, [c] Why, it was old Maggit's, three years ago. He 
 used to tell me, if I were ever hard up, I could spend a night 
 here and welcome. I never thought I'd have to come to it, but 
 here I am. ^ 
 
 Ben. I am de successor of old Maggit. 
 
 Jack. What! has he gone to another cellar? 
 
 Ben. [Knocking a^hes from pipe^ He has gone furder down 
 den de cellar. 
 
 Jack. Dead I 
 
 Ben. [Abrujitly.] You want a bed, young man? 
 
 Jack. [Shuddering.]. Thank you, no ; I preler to sit up. 
 
 Ben. De charge is de same if you sit up or if you lie down. 
 
 Jack. [Taking seat by stove.] Who's aboard to-night? 
 
 Ben. All honest folks what mind der OAvn business, and don't 
 trouble derselves about oders. 
 
 Mrs. D. Sure and the good man's right, mavourneen ! It's 
 poor we are, but honest. I can't say as much for the spalpeens 
 asleep yonder, for they hate the babies ; and thim that hates the 
 only innocent things in human kind, will stand a little watching 
 themselves. 
 
 Jack. Why, that's an honest voice [twrning and rising], and 
 that's an honest face. A party of emigrants, too. 
 
 3frs. D. Yes, sir ; we're going to Albany to-mozTow night. 
 
 Jack. Why, so am I. 
 
 Ter. I'd rather go West, 
 
 3 
 
34 A FLASH OF LIOHTNINO. 
 
 Mrs. D. O, if he could only go out on the Pacific railroad, 
 sir ! They say there's goold and silver to be picked up there. 
 
 Jack. Take my advice and don't. 
 
 Mrs. D. Why, they told us that the West was the poor man's 
 promised land. 
 
 Jack. So it is, but the railroad is not all of it. I've tried it, 
 and 1 know. If you will go West, seek the spot where you can 
 hew the forest, till the land, and rear your own home in the wil- 
 derness. The western farmer lives like a king — the laborer on 
 the railroad like a slave. The one works for himself and rears 
 his children among the laughing meadows, and within the shade 
 of his own plantations. The other toils in the railroad ditch, till 
 the ague seizes on his vitals, and he drops into the grave he has 
 dug. I have seen them ! strong, lusty, young and vigorous — 
 iiill like logs. They sleep where the rail tracks cover them, 
 and the thunder of the engines will never wake them more. 
 
 Confused babbling outside, and a crowd of liftle Italian boys clatter 
 down the staircase, with their harps and violins, led by Davy. 
 
 Ben. Ah, ha ! my little monkeys ! You have come, eh ? Dat 
 is right. ]^ow, let's see what moneys you have got! [He goes 
 among them and collects from each.] Seventeen cents ! you is a 
 very dull boy. My heai't is broke wiz you. Tree^hilling! Dat 
 is a goot leettle boy. You will make your fortune — or mine, vich 
 is all de same ting, so long as you is too leettle to help yourself. 
 Five cents ! ah, you leettle debbil ! [cuffing him.'] You have 
 spent it for candy. You vill go to de hangman viz dat candy. 
 
 Sailor. [Sitting iip.'] What's all this rumpus ? My eye, if 
 they ain't the Italian monkey boys ! 
 
 Ben. Dey is my apprentices. 
 
 Sailor. I say, Frenchy ! What'll you take to set 'em going ? 
 If I'm to be kept awake all night, it might as well be with 
 music. Here, old grampus! — here's a dollar to see 'era caper. 
 [ Throws money.] 
 
 Ben. [Picking up money.] Get up you young debbels and 
 amuse his highness. 
 
 Sailor. Start along ! 
 
 The Boys play, sing and dance. Jack lies on floor, l. While 
 they are dancing, Skiffley, disguised in police uniform, 
 heavy beard, and other officers in uniform come down staircase^ 
 
 Ben. Sh, boys! de police! [they stop.] How do you do, sare ! 
 Skiffley. [Gruffly, looking round.] Well, Frenchy, full to- 
 night? 
 
A PLASH OF LIGHTNING. 35 
 
 Ben. Yes, sare. Hope dere is no one here you want, sare ? 
 
 Skif. O, only a little case of robbery. Keep your pulse 
 down [goes round the bunks leisurely with lantern']. Who's here! 
 sailor, eh? [To another']. Here, turn round, do you hear ? o[ 
 drunk, eh ? What's this ? Party of emigrants ! So that's all' 
 is it ? [Aside.] She's not come yet. 
 
 Ben. Dere is one more down dere [pointing to Jack]. 
 
 Skif. I thought he was one of the emigrants. Well, young 
 fellow, who are you ? 
 
 Jack. Well, old fellow, what business is that of yours? 
 
 Skif. Where do you come from ? 
 
 Jack. Everywhere, * 
 
 Skif. Look here, my buck, I think you'll bear watching. 
 
 Jack. There you're mistaken— I can't bear to be Watched. 
 
 Skif. Humph ! [Aside, taking Benedetto c] Do you know 
 who he is? 
 
 Ben. I never see him before. 
 
 Skif. I don't want any strange people here to-night, for I've 
 a little trap to spring on a young woman. One of your boys 
 will bring her here. When she's safely in, I'll return and make 
 the arrest. , 
 
 Ben. O, dat is all right. 
 
 Skif. She expects to find her lover here, that's the bait. Once 
 in, you must keep her till my men come. Remember ! if that 
 felloAv interferes, knock him on the head. 
 
 Ben. O, he's a poor debbel, he won't hurt anybody. [Skif. 
 goes up staircase at back, followed by officers.] 
 
 Ben. [ When they are all up.] Now, boys ! get to your beds, 
 and if you sleeps too much in de mornin', you don't gets your 
 breakfast till supper time. [Boys go to bunks, scrambling in. 
 Ben. sits by stove.] 
 
 Jack. [Starting up.] What can all this mean ? Pshaw ! its 
 impossible that it can concern me. And yet that man's words 
 went through me like a knife. IHe goes up and sits on steps at 
 back. Music] 
 
 Bessie enters by staircase, preceded by Patsy. She is hesitating 
 and pale. 
 
 Bessie, [c] O, what a fearful place. Could they have told 
 me the truth ? [Pat. goes to Ben.] 
 
 Jack. [Comijig fro7it.] Bessie! 
 
 Bess. [IVith a burst of joy.] O, Jack ! dear Jack ! [She falls 
 senseless in his arms.] 
 
 Jack Quick ! water there, some of you ! [Teery runs about 
 
S6 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 in search for some. Bessie recovers and tvithdraws timidly from 
 Jack's arms.] 
 
 Bess. O, Jack, I have walked all day, through miles and 
 miles of streets, to find you. 
 
 Jack. To find me ! was it really to find me ? [brushing tears 
 from his eyes.'] You didn't mean then what you said last night ? 
 You do care for me I Yes, you must, or you wouldn't come to 
 seek me ! 
 
 Bess. Jack, don't you know why I've come to you ? It's to 
 ask you to give me back my peace — my father's love — my honor! 
 [Holding forth both hands to him.] 
 
 Jack. Why, Bessie, I'd die a hundred times over for you. 
 What am I to do ? 
 
 Bess. I don't ask you to die for me, Jack. What I ask of 
 you is only to make amends for a fault I know you have 
 repented. 
 
 Jack. When? How? 
 
 Bess. Oh, Jack, don't mock me! Don't make light of that 
 dreadful crime. 
 
 Jack, [laking her hand intently^ Bessie! 
 
 Bess. You went into my sister's room — and the chain, the 
 gold chain that was on the table — 
 
 Jack. Chain ! I saw no chain. 
 
 Bess. Father had put it there but a moment before — and no 
 one entered there but you. It was Rosie's birthday-gift. 
 
 Jack. [Dropping her hand.] And they accuse me of having 
 taken it! 
 
 Bess. No — they accuse me. 
 
 Jack. You ! 
 
 Bess. I wished to shield you, and I told them no one had 
 entered there but I. Father has called me a thief — has turned 
 me from his door. Oh, Jack, think of my misery! It is my 
 own fault, I know. You were angry, yesterday— but why give 
 up a life of honesty for a moment of revenge. [Ben. goes silently 
 to back^ 
 
 Jack. And you thought I had stolen it ! Oh, Bessie, Bessie ! 
 Well, perhaps poverty is next door to crime — but there's a stout 
 wall between them still. May I perish scorned by you, and \\o\iid- 
 less for myself, if I have done this deed. To no one else would 
 I volunteer such an oath. [Bitterly.] But it seems that I must 
 justify myself in your eyes. 
 
 Bess. Oh, Jack, I believe you. [Giving him her hand ^ Who- 
 ever has committed the theft, thank Heaveu, it is not one whom 
 I love! 
 
 Jack. Whom you love — 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. o7 
 
 Mrs. D. \^Ajyproaching, and whispering.'] Sh ! Sure, I don't 
 think the old man is up to anny good. [^Points to Ben., who has 
 been fastening the door at back, putting key in pocket, and is watch- 
 ing them.] 
 
 Jack. Ah ! the police ! I remember ! 
 
 Bess. The police! Don't let them — don't let him touch me. 
 That man is bitter and relentless, the more because he once pre- 
 tended to love me and I rejected him. 
 
 Jack. Of whom do you speak ? 
 
 Bess. The detective ! I fear him ! 
 
 Jack. There was a time that you were not afraid when I was 
 by. Let us try to live that happy hour over again. Come! In 
 half an hour you shall be safe. [JEfe takes her hand; they go 
 towards staircase. Ben. has planted himself before it. Mrs. D. 
 rolls up her sleeves for jight] My friend, 1 wish to pass! 
 
 Ben. Not so fast ! You must wait for the police ! 
 
 Bess. Oh, Jack, save me! 
 
 Ben. [^Brandishing dub.] Stand back! \jS a.c}L draws dirk.] 
 
 Mrs. D. Stand back yerself ! 
 
 Mrs. D. approaches from behind, clutches his arm^, throws Ben. off 
 and takes key from his pocket Bess, runs up the staircase. 
 Jack follotving. A low whistle is heard, and as they begin to 
 ascend, the Police, led by Skiffley, still in disguise, begin to 
 descend. All the occupants of the bunks peer out. 
 
 Skiffley. [Midway.] Frenchy, throw down the staircase! 
 
 Ben. escapes from Mrs. D., runs to staircase. Jack throtvs aivay 
 his knife, clutches Bess., and as Ben. ptdls a rope which 
 breaks away the whole lower half of the staircase, Jack seizes 
 the centre post and slides down with Bess, in his arms, leaving 
 Skip, and Officers midway above raging and cursing. 
 
 Jack. Ha ! ha ! too late, old boy ! Terry, take care of that 
 fellow ! 
 
 Ter. picks up Jack's dirk and menaces Ben. Mrs. D. has run 
 to steps at back, and opened door with the key she had taken 
 from Ben. Jack and Bess, advance that way as the 
 
 Curtain Falls. 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 Scene 1. — A section of the main deck of Hudson river steamer 
 Daniel Doo. The fiat represents side of steamer next the 
 dock. A wide opening r. c, shows the' dock, which is above 
 the level of the deck, and is reached by a gang-plank. At l. 
 of the opening is the entrance to the captain's office ; in fiat by 
 opening is the clerk's window or ticket-office. At e. from 2 to 
 4 E. are the doors leading to ladies' saloon. At l.. 3 e. the 
 scene represents the midway stairs leading to upper decks. 
 The other wings at L. picture stored goods of all sorts. The 
 dock is stored with barrels, bales, etc. 
 
 At rising of curtain to lively music, porters vdth trucks, etc., 
 are loading the steamer from the dock, passing in from c. and 
 going off l., and returning. There is a queue of passengers 
 by the clerk's window, which is lengthened as others arrive and 
 form it. On the dock are orange womefl, newsboys, etc., offer- 
 ing their wares to those who pass in and out. Skiffley, dis- 
 guised as a peddler of oranges, is among them. Sam Pidge, 
 the clerk of the boat, is sitting on barrel, L., with freight and 
 receipt book, checking off freight, and signing receipts, as the 
 porters truck it in. Noise and confusion. Tlie last bell of the 
 steamboat, and also another, but distant bell, is heard as the 
 curtain goes up, and until music stops. 
 
 Sam Pidge. \_Checking off.'] Smith & Co., 14 bbls, potatoes; 
 for'd. Baxter Bros., butter, 10 firkins — all right! Now then, 
 Pat, easy with them eggs. Hurry up, boys ! Ten minutes to six. 
 We must get out before the opposition steams up. Two boxes 
 and a keg for Harris & Sons, Albany ; for'd. 
 
 Passenger knocking at office-window. 
 
 Passenger. Hurry up and open this place, will you ! Tickets ! 
 Tickets ! 
 
 All the Passengers. Wake up — wake up — tickets ! 
 
 Sam. [Smoking.] Don't get excited ! you'll get your tickets 
 soon enough. One would think you were knocking for supper. 
 
 Skiffley. Oranges ! nice oranges ! [ Comes down among passen- 
 gers.'] Oranges, sir ! Shilling a dozen, and six to the dozen. 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 39 
 
 Buy some oranges, sir ! [To Sam.'] There aint a sweet tooth in 
 the whole boat. I wonder if they think I'm selling onions. 
 
 A Nervous Passenger comes forward from office-windoiv. He is 
 of a mild and peaceful manner; has a carpetbag and umbrella. 
 
 Passenger. Will you be good enough to tell me [to Savi] if 
 your boat goes as soon as the opposition ? 
 
 Sam. [Not minding Pass, and speaking to Skif.'] How much 
 are your oranges? 
 
 Skif. Shillin' a dozen ! [Sam coolly takes one and smells of it] 
 
 Pass. I beg your pardon, sir, can you tell me — 
 
 Sam. [Not noticing him, to Skif] Pretty good ! How's trade 
 to-day ? 
 
 Skif Not extra, [Sam puts orange in his pocket] 
 
 Pass. Sir! Sir! I asked you — 
 
 Sam. [To Skif] Well, get off the boat — get on the dock. 
 
 Skif First I'll take three cents for that orange. 
 
 Pass. Young man, will you — 
 
 Sam. [Bites orange, then gives it to Skif] Three cent's, eh ? 
 'taint worth one. Come, get on the dock. [Skif, goes off among 
 passengers.] 
 
 Pass. [Plucking at Sam's coat] Sir, I again ask you — 
 
 Sa7n. [Turning sharply around.] I say, what do you mean by 
 dragging onto me that way ! Have you got another coat in your 
 trunk to give me, when you've pulled this to rags ? 
 
 Pass. Confound your impudence, sir ! 
 
 Sam. No impertinence, sir ! You musn't bully here, we don't 
 allow it. 
 
 Pass. I am not bullying, sir. 
 
 Sam. You are, sir ! You are one of those people who' act like 
 tyrants wherever they go, and try to bully the lives out of fellows 
 as is trying to do their duty. But we won't have any swearing 
 around here. What do you want, anyway? 
 
 Pass. I want to know — 
 
 Sam. Why couldn't you say so right off. like a gentleman, 
 instead of walking in here to abuse me ! What have I done to 
 you ? I never saw you before, sir. 
 
 Pass. 'Pon ray life, this is cool. 
 
 Sam. Now don't try to create any disturbance, for we won't 
 have it. [Pass, retires up, bewildered.] 
 
 Sam. [Continues, solus.] They think a steamboat cler-k has 
 nothing to do but take their impudence. [To porters.] Look 
 out there! Mind your eye with those boxes! [Goes up and 
 
 off, L.] 
 
40 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 The DowDERRY immigrant party enter over gang-plank. Skip. 
 comes forward. 
 
 Skif. Not a sign of her yet ! Can I have been tricked ? No ! 
 The old man swore that she hadn't ventured home, and I know 
 from his mad temper that he'd turn her into the streets again, if 
 she had done so. She's not with Jack Ryver, for I've watched 
 him in the stages of a drunken orgie all day. Albany is her 
 only hope of safety. Ha ! ha ! I don't despair of capturing my 
 pretty thief yet. Oranges! nice, sweet oranges ! {^Goes up offer- 
 ing fruit to immigrant party, which comes forward as 
 
 Sam re-enters from l. 
 
 Mrs. Dowderry. [To Sa7n.'] Is this the Albany boat, sir? 
 
 Sam. Yes, all right — that way. [Pointing l.] 
 
 3Irs. D. I want to see the captain, sir. 
 
 Sam. He's gone up the mainmast with his telescope to look 
 out for squalls. 
 
 Mrs. D. And when will he come down, sir, can you tell me? 
 
 Sam. He'll come down at eight bells to eat his supper with 
 the midshipmen. 
 
 Mrs. D. Sure, we've got a letter for him. 
 
 Sam. Let's see it. 
 
 Mrs. D. [Suspiciously.'] Are you the captain's son, young man ? 
 
 Sarn. Yes, I'm the youngest but thirteen — all brothers but me. 
 
 Mrs. D. Sure it's the Irish Emigrant Society has given us a 
 paper to show the cap'n for him to give us a sail to Albany. 
 
 Sam. Emigrant Society, eh? Let's see! [Takes pap) er.] Pass 
 Mr. Dowderry and family — [to Mrs. i).] Are you Mister Dow- 
 derry ? 
 
 Terry. Sure I^m Mister Dowderry. 
 
 Sam. Oh. are you ? You kept so quiet I didn't see you at first. 
 
 Mrs. D. You must be a verry young puppy, indade, to be so 
 blind as that. Whin ye're nine days old, ye'll have both eyes 
 open. 
 
 Sam. Hem ! go for'd ! 
 
 Mrs. D. Go which ? 
 
 Sam. [Shouting.'] Go for'd ! There ! [Points L.] Get out I 
 
 Mrs. D. Oh, thank you, sir ! You're a very polite young 
 man, only no one would find it out by talkiu' wid ye. 
 
 Sam. Hang your impudence! You've come to America to 
 learn mauners, I hope. 
 
 Mrs. D. Yis, sir ! And now we've larnt as much manners as 
 you can tache us, I'll trouble you to send us to a higher class. 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. * 41 
 
 All the Pass, laugh, and when Sam turns angrily on them, they 
 hammer at window and call: "Tickets!" ''Here clerk!" 
 " Open the window !" 
 
 Sam. Oh, bother your row ! [ Goes up and enters office, throivs 
 •up windoiv, and commences to sell tickets; Passengers pass off lu. 
 as they get them^ 
 
 Mrs. D. Faix, I guess he'll not open his mouth again till he 
 gets his supper. 
 
 All off L., with their bundles and boxes, leaving one in c. The 
 steamboat bell, as a warning, rings half a dozen strokes ; some 
 ladies enter c. and go off R. Bessie apjiears on dock, and 
 h>KiF. follows. Bess, comes c, and Skif. steals offi.., lower 
 entrance. 
 
 Bessie. I wonder if this can be the right boat ! thej' told me on 
 the wharf that there were two. 
 
 Terry re-enters for his box. 
 
 Terry. Sure, is that you, Miss? 
 
 Bess. O, yes, indeed ; but what are you doing here? 
 
 Ter. I might ax you that. Miss, for sure we saw you safe at 
 your father's home, after Ave got away from that den, last night. 
 
 Bess. Ah, ray poor friend, you do not know why I have no 
 longer a home with my father. 
 
 Ter. And didn't he go mad wid joy at seein' ye agin? 
 
 Bess. He did not see me ! I did not dare to show him a face 
 which he despises. My mother hid me all day until he went 
 out, and I am to go to our friends who live away in ihe country 
 where I will never see the dreadful city again. 
 
 Sam entering from office. 
 
 Sam. [Aside.'] Deuced good looking little piece. [To Ter.] 
 I say, Irish, be off with you ! If you dare show yourself out 
 of the steerage, I'll chuck you overboard. 
 
 Ter. Thank ye, sir! Good-bye, Miss. [Exit, j.., ivith box.] 
 
 Bess. Is this the Albany boat, sir? 
 
 Sam. Yes, Miss, you are all right! 
 
 Bess. But are there not two ? I should not like to be mis- 
 taken. 
 
 Sa7n. There is another boat— a sort of ricketty old concern 
 that bursts her biler reg'larly once a week. This is the Daniel 
 Doo, A 1, leaves before sundown, and arrives befoie daylight. 
 
42 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Bess. I am all alone, sir. I wish to have a stateroom. 
 
 Sam. All right, ma'am — have your key in a moment. [Goes 
 up as Skiffley a2ypears watching from behind goods, L.] 
 
 Bess. How long will it be before the boat leaves ? 
 
 iSam. Five minutes ! Do you expect any one ? 
 
 Bess. [Looking round timidly.^ No, no ! but I should like to 
 go away from here. 
 
 Sam. Certainly, Miss. [Aside."] She's a runaway. I must 
 make her acquaintance before we get to Albany. [Exit into 
 office.'] 
 
 Bess. Every moment I dread to see that hateful face behind 
 me. Skiffley will never give up pursuit. He will be more per- 
 sistent because he has been foiled so often. O, how lonely I am. 
 Every one seems so busy. I see so many young girls about me 
 who look as though there were no such thing as misery or me. 
 Even Rose has time to love and be loved. Alas ! till this cloud 
 is cleared, there is no reviving sun of love for my heart. 
 
 Sam. [Returning uith key.] Here's your key. Miss, state- 
 room 122. Shall I — hem! — show you the way? 
 
 Bess. Thank you, if you please. 
 
 Sam. [Ojienirig door u.] With pleasure. Just step into the 
 saloon and wait until the boat starts. I'll be with you in a 
 moment. [Bess, exits.] Deuced good looking and green — O, so 
 jolly green. I must get acquainted. [Turns and confronts Skif- 
 fley,. who has come forward.] 
 
 Skif. What was the number of the stateroom ? 
 
 Sam. [Flurried.] Whose ? 
 
 Skif. That young girl's ? 
 
 Sam. What the dickens is that to you ? She don't want any 
 oranges, and if she does — 
 
 Skif. You'll take 'em to her yourself. [Sam cocks his hat 
 and winks. Skif. pokes him in the side.] 
 
 Sam. [ Offended.] Get out, or I'll have you -chucked over- 
 board. [Enters office quickly.] 
 
 Skif Luck! luck! I've just the pick of every good fortune, 
 and when I'm down flattest, luck lends a hand, and I'm up 
 again. She's here! alone! not a fi'iend — no Chauncey, no 
 Ryver, no interference ! I've got the warrant safe in my pocket, 
 and when we're afloat she'll be safe in my power. 
 
 He is going up c, when Fred and Rose appeUr on the dock. 
 
 The devil ! What's this ? That fellow and the other sister ! 
 They'll spoil all! I must mix in tjiis somehow. [Stands L.] 
 Hose. [Coming down. Fred following.] Don't say a word, 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 43 
 
 it's too bad ! not a trunk — not a box — not a si^n of expressman. 
 What can be the matter ? 
 
 Fred. We'll have to go on and telegraph from Albany. 
 They'll reach us at Saratoga. Don't be out of spirits, my 
 darling. The truant trunks will return in safety, and the lost 
 band-boxes will be restored. 
 
 SMf. Oranges, sir ! — nice and sweet ! 
 
 Fred. [Disgusted.'] No, no ! [Looks at Skif. with glass.'] 
 
 Rose. Are you one of the boat hands ? 
 
 Skif. Hem ! yes'm ! 
 
 JRose. Where are our trunks ? we sent them by express and 
 we can't find them. 
 
 Skif. [Aside.] Good! I have it! [Aloud.] Can't be pos- 
 sible they're gone to the other boat. 
 
 Eose. [Aghast] Other boat! You miserable creature, is 
 there another Albany boat ? 
 
 Skif. Another ! I should think so ! a rival — goes out at the 
 same hour — fights with us for the same channel — races with us 
 all the way, and when it can't get our passengers, steals the 
 trunks. 
 
 Base. O, good gracious, Fred ! did you ever ! 
 
 Fred. The greasy but honest man may be right. How far is 
 the other boat from here ? 
 
 Skif. Just one pier down. 
 
 Rose. Fred, I'm going after those trunks ! [Skif. delighted.] 
 
 Fred. But, my dear Rose ! 
 
 Rose. Now, Fred, don't say any more. I can't run away 
 with only one suit of clothes, and that on. What was the use of 
 making you buy an outfit, if we are to leave it all behind ! O, 
 dear, did any one ever hear of such a misfortune! [Turns to go. 
 Fred about to follow.] Don't you come, stay and get the 
 tickets. [Rose goes up gang-planks.] 
 
 Skif. Better let the lady have her own way, sir. I'll go and 
 show her the pier. [Follows Rose up.] 
 
 Fred. Get out, fellow ! 
 
 He is about to follow Rose, when Bessie appears at the door, r. 
 They see each other for a moment, and Bess, disappears 
 instantly. 
 
 Fred. Bessie here ! What can she be doing ? Who is with 
 her ? [ Goes up, looking after Rose ; then comes down^ I must see 
 her — see where she goes, and with whom ! Rose and she must 
 not meet! not just yet, at least. [Exits, r.] 
 
44 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Jack appears on the dock, slightly tipsy, and comes over gang- 
 plank. 
 
 Sam. ^Entering from office.'] There's Jack Ryver, at last! 
 and tight ; now that's too bad. Look out there, Jack, or you'll 
 chuck yourself overboard. 
 
 Jack. I'm in time ! I knew I'd be in time ! 
 
 Sam. In time! Yes, and in condition, too ! Do you expect 
 to be able to tend to the furnaces in that state? You'll blow us 
 up before morning. 
 
 Jack. Well, what if I do ? What's worth living for, I'd like 
 to know! 
 
 Sam. Is that the way you go back on a feller that's got you a 
 place ? 
 
 Jack. Sam ! I'm no more a man than if I walked on four 
 legs, instead of two. I deserve your anger ; but you don't know 
 what it is to — \_Stops, looks at him, and turns off laughing wildly.] 
 
 Sam. To what? 
 
 Jack. To be in love — madly in love — to think that you are 
 loved again ; to wring half a promise from her lips in a moment 
 of danger, when your aid is wanted, and then to have her say, 
 when its all over — " Good-bye, Jack, God bless you for what 
 you've done, but try and forget me ! " 
 
 Sam. [Sympathizing and indignant'] Well, all I've got to 
 say is, that any girl who'd do that — 
 
 Jack. [Savagely.] You've got nothing to say about it. 
 
 Sam. Oh, deuce take it! If you're as drunk as that, I'll 
 have you chucked overboard to sober you down. 
 
 Jack. Where's- my station ? Where's the engine room ? 
 Where's the furnace? It's lime to go to work — [taking off coat, 
 and throwing it down] and I'm ready for it ! Fire up there ! 
 
 Sam. [Nervous.] He'll scare all the passengers! Now, Jack, 
 come. Lie down for an hour — just to take the fever down. Then 
 you'll be fresh and wide awake. 
 
 Jack. I am fresh. 
 
 Sam. [Aside.] I should say you were. [Aloud and soothingly.] 
 Oh, yes, I know — all right, old boy ! Now come with me. [Steam 
 ivhistle heard.] There's the starter. [Leads Jack off, L., and 
 returns.] Now then, all aboard! All ashore that's going ! 
 
 People saunter in l. Boat-hands come from dock, and prepare to 
 haul in gang-plank. 
 
 Sam. Now then, boys, lively ! Haul her in ! 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 45 
 
 The plank is hauled in and flung upon the stage. The engineer's 
 bell is heard to strike. The rope is hurled in frovi the dock, 
 and laborers coil it. Fred enters from r. The dock com- 
 mences to pass away as a panorama, slowly, from L. to r. 
 
 Fred. She's nowhere to be seen 1 Concealed herself, no doubt. 
 But where is Rose? Hello! Here I I say — there! I must 
 get off! 
 
 Sam. Too late, sir 1 
 
 Fred. Confusion ! What will become of Rose I 
 
 Skiffley. [ Outside.'] Hallo-o-o ! Stop her ! Stop her I [Sam 
 returns to gang-plank, and looks off, R.] 
 
 Sam. There's that inevitable last man ! Never left the dock 
 yet that he didn't come along. [Hands all jeer and laugh at 
 Skif., who appears r., running. He is deeply disguised as an old 
 gentleman, with broad hat, umbrella, and ca^yet-bag.] 
 
 Skif. [^Blowing and puffing.'] Hi ! hi ! Stop for me ! [^Flour- 
 ishes his bag and umbrella.] 
 
 Sam. Go it, old one! Jump for it! Look out, bo3's ! [Hands 
 all laugh. The boat appears to move more quickly, and Sktf. 
 makes a wild jump, his hat flying, his bag and umbrella swing in 
 the air. All shout ayid laugh as tableau closes to 
 
 Scene 2.- — View of section of Grand Salon of steamboat, showing 
 three state-rooyns, those R. and L. used. They are numbered 
 from R. to L.: 122, 124, 126. The panels and doors are 
 handsomely gilded. 
 
 Sam Pidge enters, followed by Bessie. 
 
 Sam. [At No. 1.22.] This is your room, Miss. Just let me 
 have your key, and I'll open it for you. [She gives him key.] 
 You see, I've taken good care of you. You're just aft the wheel, 
 and the safest place in the boat. [ Opens door.] 
 
 Bess. Thank you, air. When shall we reach Albany ? 
 
 Sam. Five o'clock in the morning, Miss. It'll be tiuo<]-tide, 
 and we shan't be stuck. Is there anything I can do for you ? 
 
 Bess. [Entering room.] Nothing, thank you. 
 
 Sam, [Aside.] She don't seem disposed to give a fellow a 
 bit of encouragement. [Aloud.] Hem ! I say. Miss ! 
 
 Bess. [At door, with bonnet and shawl off.] Well ? 
 
 Sam. Of course you'll want supper? They'll souud the gong 
 as soon as it's ready, and then — 
 
 Bess. No, I shall not take any supper. [Retires.] 
 
46 A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 
 
 Sam, {^Aside.li Brought sandwiches in a bag, I suppose. How 
 confoundedly selfish ! If she'd only let me take her to supper now. 
 
 Bess, [^Re-appearing.'] You are forgetting to leave me the 
 key. 
 
 Sam. I beg pardon ! so I did !— there {^puia key in door out- 
 mde'\ now it's all right ! 
 
 Bess. [Taking key from outside and putting it inside of door.] 
 Now it's all right. [Betires.'] 
 
 Sa7n. [Aside.] She's a regular flirt. • She wants to draw me 
 on. [Aloud.] Miss, I say. Miss I 
 
 Bess. Oh, are you there yet? Well? 
 
 Sam. You'll sit up, of course. No one goes to bed 'till ten 
 o'clock. It's moonlight, too. I can get you a nice arm-chair on 
 the deck. 
 
 Bess. Thank you, I can enjoy the moonlight from my win- 
 dow, here. 
 
 Sam. So you can, and your window looks out on the prome- 
 nade. In an hour I shall be disengaged, and I can walk around 
 to your window. 
 
 Bess. Ah, I'm glad you told me, for then I'll know when to 
 shut it. 
 
 Sam. [Faintly.] Hal ha I That's good! I say — [The door 
 is shut and locked.] She's rather good looking, but not a bit of 
 style — not a bit. Very stupid, too. Not a bit bright — oh I no ! 
 [Exits, L.] 
 
 Fred enters, r. 
 
 Fred. Her room's in this saloon, I know. I saw her 
 led here by the clerk — but that confounded tipsy-looking fellow 
 kept w^atching me so intently that I was afraid to follow, [^ooks 
 off.] The deuce ! There he is again I Ah ! some one has stopped 
 him I I never saw him before — who can he be? Oh, pshaw! 
 
 Bessie opens her door cautiously, and looks out, at the instant that 
 Fred is turning hack to go L. She recognizes him, and closes 
 the door instantly. He appears to recognize her. 
 
 Fred. That was her dress! [Rmis to the door.] Bessie! 
 [Knocks.] Bessie — it is 1 1 
 
 Bessie. [ Opening the door.] Why do you seek me ? 
 
 Fred. Because I find you alone and unprotected — and I would 
 befriend you. 
 
 Bess. I w^as alone and unprotected yesterday, and you turned 
 from me in contempt. 
 
 Fred. But here, evidently courting a concealment which — 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 47 
 
 Bessie. IBltterly.'] Which is very natural for a thief 1 
 
 Fred. No ! I find it impossible to believe what I have heard. 
 
 Bess. I thank you for those words, INIr. Chauncey, although 
 I have not tried to justify myself to you, nor to anyone. I have 
 been accused — I shall not try to excuse myself. 
 
 Fred. Who accuses you ? 
 
 Bess. I have no wish to say. 
 
 Fred. But your father — 
 
 Bess. It is he that I fear the most. 
 
 Fred. Your lover then — 
 
 Bess. I have no lover. I do not love anyone. Oh, sir, I am 
 not worthy to be the wife of any man. Two days ago my heart 
 was capable of all tenderness, of all devotion. I might have given 
 it to Jack then, but there was a moment that I thought — [turning 
 axoay.'] I cannot speak it. No— no — no I it is too late. I have 
 told Jack it is too late, and he hates me. 
 
 . Fred. [Partly aside."] I have been unwise to trifle with this 
 gentle heart ! [ To Bess.'] Bessie, it is I that have been criminal, 
 but I can repair my fault, and I will — 
 
 Bess. No, you must not feel a single self-reproach. [Resting 
 her hands on his arm.'] It is all my error — and yet we do not 
 lead our hearts — we follow them I 
 
 Fred. You shall yet be re-united to that honest heart which 
 beats for you. 
 
 > Jack appears at l., and starts back on seeing them. 
 
 Fred. Dear Bessie ! I cannot see a life but just begun, ended 
 in this gloom ! All the joy, all the love for which you are designed, 
 you shall possess. 
 
 Jack. [Inferposing.] She shall— but not with you 1 
 
 Fred. [Coolly.] Who is this? 
 
 Jack. The man whom you must answer, rich as you are I 
 
 Fred. Answer what? 
 
 Jack, [c] I loved this girl with all my heart. I left her 
 Avith her last kiss wet upon my cheek, to strive for foi-tune and 
 the right to marry her. I came back— to find her — how ? The 
 eye that was so loving turned away, the clasp that was so warm 
 grown cold. 
 
 Fi-ed. I see. You are Jack Ryver. 
 
 Jack. And you — you are the rich Chauncey, who found this 
 humble beauty please your fancy — and made her false to me. 
 
 Fred. Now come, my good fellow, your declamation is entirely 
 thrown away on me, for I decline to become your rival. 
 
 Jack. It is a lie 1 
 
48 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Fred. [Irritated.'] Stop 1 You are going too far 1 
 
 Jack. Then why do I. find her here, flying from her father's 
 home with you ! Her hand upon your arm, your tongue painting 
 the happiness you pretend to give her. 
 
 Fred. That may be explained. If in a moment of folly — 
 
 Jack. A curse upon that folly of the ricli, which works such 
 misery to the poor I 
 
 Fred. I can make reparation— 
 
 Jack. Give me back the love you have destroyed 1 
 
 Fred. That must be another's gift. 
 
 Jack. But there ia a recompense you shall yield — your treach- 
 erous blood ! 
 
 Bess. [Kneelinrj.'] Jack I For Heaven's sake — I only am 
 guilty ! 
 
 Fred. [Raising her^ Stop, Bessie I let the consequences and 
 the blame be mine. 
 
 Jack. Dispute between you for the honor of having wronged 
 me — but I will right myself I You were bold enough to lay your 
 hands on all that poverty could spare me — an innocent Jove — ■ 
 are you bold enough to answer for your act? 
 
 Fred, What is this ? A challenge 1 Really I didn't know 
 there were such things in these days. 
 
 Jack. Call it what you please. I am a desperate man. Life 
 without her love is valueless to me. You have taken the one — ■ 
 I mean to offer you the chance of taking the other. 
 
 Fred. Will you listen to me — 
 
 Bess. [Inter ceding.'] Oh, Jack I 
 
 Jack. I will listen to nothing. Only tell me how I can lash 
 you into courage. What insults I can heap on you to stir your 
 coward heart. 
 
 Fred. [Rushing at him.] Insolent rascal ! 
 
 Jack. Aha I (^Meets him and they close.] I have touched 
 you, then 1 [Bess, shrieks and runs to r.] 
 
 Bess. Help! Help I 
 
 Sam entering , l. 
 
 Sam. Hello I Oh, here Jack ! What the deuce are you up 
 to now? Oh, confound it, let go of the man, or I'll chuck you 
 overboard. [He separates them. Jack is furious.] 
 
 Fred, I am exceedingly obliged to you. [Arranging his collar 
 and cuffs,] 
 
 Bess. Mr. Chauncey, please go away. 
 
 Jack. You are safe ! but don't think you have escaped me 1 
 
 Sam. Come I you don't know what you are doing. 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 49 
 
 Jack. "We have twelve hours before us, caged together in this 
 boat ; if you elude me, still there is a lifetime to seek and find 
 you in. Our next meeting shall be the last for one of us on 
 earth, remember ! I swear it ! [.He is hurried off by Sam.] 
 
 Bess. Avoid him ! Promise me to have no quarrel with him. 
 
 Fred. Sleep in peace, Bessie ! Whatever shall result; — it is 
 the curse of Providence on that thoughtlessness which men like 
 me so often suffer to mislead us. [He kisses her hand tenderly.'] 
 Good night! {He leads her to the door No. 122.] Good night! 
 
 Bess. Good night ! \_JExits into rooin.] 
 
 Fred. Now, if Rose were only here, she'd set this matter 
 right, and persuade that fool of a fellow not to enjoy with suclv 
 satisfaction the idea of spilling blood. By George! I wonder 
 how Rose likes our separation ! Hang this fellow's fighting pro- 
 pensities ! it comes of his running about with fire engines, I sup- 
 pose, and punching people's heads [lights a cigar]. I suppose I 
 must find him and try to explain this affair — that is, unless he 
 cuts the matter short by " chucking me overboard," as our friend 
 here says. 
 
 As Fred is passing out, l., Sam enters with Skiffley, disguised 
 as in preceding scene, 
 
 Sam. [To Fred.] It's all safe, now, sir. I've had our 
 friend taken down stairs, and he'll be perfectly quiet after 
 awhile. 
 
 Fred. Ah, very good. [Exit, r.] 
 
 Skiffley. [Imitating senile dribble.] He ! he ! young men fight- 
 ing, eh ! 
 
 Sam. Yes, about a young lady in this room. If they com- 
 mence it through the night again, don't be frightened. Let's 
 see the number of your room [looks at key in Skif.'s hand], 126 ! 
 Here you are [icnlocks and opens door, l]. Now you're all right. 
 
 Sklf. Stop, young man! [Takes him by coat as he is going 
 away.] 
 
 Sam. Well, what now ? 
 
 Skif. Is this room perfectly safe ? 
 
 Sam. Perfectly ! — right over the boiler. 
 
 Skif. Then I waut another. 
 
 Sam. Can't get it — all taken. 
 
 Skif. But I've never been used to sleeping over the boiler. 
 
 Sam. Time you began then — old man like you. It's all right 
 
 [pushing him in]. If you're blown up you can sue us for 
 
 damages [shuts door on him] — if you ain't too much damaged to 
 
 do it. I must look after that girl. I knew she was a case. 
 
 4 
 
50 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Wonder who she is? Wouldn't speak to me, and flirting with 
 that swell ; tried to pump Jack, but you might as well try to get 
 an explanation from a soda water bottle, he's so full of pop ! 
 {Exit, E.] 
 
 The instant he goes off, Skiffley protrudes his head from door 
 126, undisguised, as in Act 1st. 
 
 Skiffley. He's gone. Tricked 'em all [steps out']. And now 
 for the last strike ! Ha, ha ! quarreling among themselves, were 
 they, as to who should protect her! /say nothing, but attend 
 to the whole matter myself. Nyw's the time! [Takes out hand- 
 cuffs and handkerchief, and steals to Bessie's door. Listens, and 
 then knocks.] 
 
 Bessie opens it instantly, and is about to step out, when she stands 
 paralyzed at sight of Skiffley, who grasps her wrists and 
 handcuffs her in a moment. 
 
 Skif. Don't cry out, or I'll gag you ; besides, raising an alarm 
 won't help you. 
 
 Bess. What do you intend to do ? 
 
 Skif. Only take you next door, to a temporary jail. You're 
 in custody mind, under a warrant. No one can take you from 
 the hands of the law. 
 
 Bess. Then heaven has deserted me. 
 
 Skif. [Leading her to 126.] No, Skiffley 's got you, that's all. 
 I'll just bring you in here, and for fear you should hammer at 
 the door and disturb any one, I'll fasten you to the bed [takes her 
 in]. There ! [Comes out, closes door and locks it] Victory ! [Sees 
 Bess.'s door open.] Ah ! I mustn't forget to lock that too [fas- 
 tens door 122]. Now I can go to supper. It's astonishing how 
 hungry a man becomes when his mind is once easy. [Exit, l.] 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 51 
 
 Scene S.— Section of Steamer Daniel Doo, showing the engine- 
 room, the furnace room and part of the steerage. The flat 
 represents the side of the boat in which the furnace room is. 
 This compartment is fully seen in a recess, R. c, in which is 
 shown the great furnace, its double doors, with coal bin, 
 shovels, etc. On l., from 2 to S entrance, is the engineer's 
 room. A part of machinery is seen working. On K. are 
 stacks of freight. As the curtain rises, and through the scene, 
 is heard the regxdar sound of engine and maclmiery. A 
 couple of firemen are standing smoking short pipes by the fur- 
 nace. The Engineer is seated in his room reading. Jack 
 is lying in front of the furnace room. 
 
 Fireman. Pretty well up to the mark ? 
 
 Engineer. Ail the way up. She oughtn't to carry more'n 
 twenty, and we've got to that, with only three to spare. 
 
 Fire. The other boat's gaining on us. 
 
 Eng. Can't help it, if she was neck and neck with us. This 
 boat is at the top of her speed now [reswwes paper"]. 
 
 Enter Mrs. Dowderry and the group of emigrants, r. u. e. 
 
 Mrs. Dowderry. Sure there's no harm in our creeping near 
 the fire a bit. It's cowld, this night [to Engineer]. I'd be axin' 
 ye, sir, if we might sit here a bit, near the fire ? 
 
 Eng. Why certainly. Is that your family ? 
 
 Mrs. D. Every one of 'em, sir. 
 
 Eng. You can fix yourselves comfortably over there. [Fire- 
 man rakes fire and it emits flame.'] 
 
 Mrs. D. Sure that's the fire to cook supper wid, isn't it ? 
 
 Eng. Ha, ha ! well, yes, to cook supper for the engine here. 
 
 Mrs. D. Murther, now \ and does that thing ate ? and sure 
 what does it ate, anyhow, sir ? 
 
 Eng. Well, hem ! I don't know that it devours anything 
 but time and space. 
 
 Mrs. D. And you're there to see that it don't make a hog of 
 itself and take too much ? 
 
 Eng. You've hit it. If the boiler were to get the indigestion 
 we'd all feel pretty sick before morning. [liesumes paper. Terry 
 and children go up c] 
 
 Mrs. D. Murther, now ! and thim young men's watching the 
 kittle. [Goes up c, sees 3 A.CY. on floor]. Look at him now, fast 
 asleep by the fire wid the glare upon him. [Jack starts up to sit- 
 ting posture.] Sure it's the lad we saw at that den. 
 
52 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Jach. [JLs if wahing from a dream.'] Bessie ! ah, where am I? 
 
 Mrs. D. Where are ye? why sleeping in the blaze of the fire, 
 for all the world — Lord between us and harm — like a divil in 
 mortial blazes. 
 
 Jach. Well, I am a sort of devil, I half believe. I dreamed 
 just now I dragged a man into the seething lake, and though the 
 fiery bubbles shrivelled up my heart strings, I saw him writhe in 
 agony, and was happy, 
 
 Mrs. D. The Lord be merciful ! 
 
 Jack. It was but a dream, I woke and recollect that he 
 sleejDS safely, with his crime unpunished, my hate unsatisfied and 
 powerless to harm. 
 
 Mrs. D. \_To Evg.] It's out of his mind, he is. [Jack 
 throws himself clown, c] 
 
 Eng. Crossed in love, they say. Well, I'm not so old but I 
 remember when for a woman's smile I'd walk through fire, and 
 for her kiss I'd stay in it, 
 
 Mrs. D. [2'o Tee,, who comes dotvn with girl.'] Terry, 
 acushla ! give us a bit of a tune, my son. The poor lad's trou- 
 bled within, but there's nothing evil can come to him when the 
 voice of the heart is heard, 
 
 SONG, by Terry, 
 
 Young Larry stood upon the deck, his Mary on the strand, 
 
 A long farewell, a parting kiss, a pressure of tlie hand : 
 He's gone across the sea to work, she's stayed at honje to weep ; 
 
 Until the emigrant returns, his plighted word to keep ! 
 America beholds his toil, while Erin sees her tears ; 
 
 'Tis hard to fight for fortune, and 'tis hard to wait for years ! 
 But Heaven blesses energy, and watches over love. 
 
 He comes at last to seek his bride, his constancy to prove ! 
 
 But not alone he sails for home, and anchors in the tide — 
 
 The soldiers of the Union are a' standing by his side ; 
 Bold lads that in America had set the bondmen fiee, 
 
 Now draw the sword for Ireland, 'gainst Britisii tyranny ! 
 Alas! the tale is known of how they nobly fouglit and feil, 
 
 And broken-hearted Mary comes to Larry in his cell. 
 'Twas glory in another's land for liberty to cry ; 
 
 But for fighting for old Ireland the patriot must die. 
 
 At end of song, a loud shout of triumph is heard without, and the 
 engineer's hell rings three times. Sam enters, r. u. e, 
 
 Sam. I say, Tom, look a here! the Vonderbilt is gaining 
 on us! 
 
 Eng. Then the Vonderbilt will burst up, that's all I've got 
 to say. 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 53 
 
 Sam. l^To emigrants.'] Here you ! go to the steerage. [_They 
 exit, Pv. u. E.]. See here, Tom [to Eng., confidentially], there's 
 no shutting it out o' sight, this here's a race! The passengers 
 are crowding on the decks of both boats, shouting and going on 
 like mad, as either of us seems to shoot ahead or drop down. It's 
 a question now of win or lose — we must win ! 
 
 Eng. If we can. 
 
 Sam. I tell you we must win ! The opposition are almost 
 making our time, they're getting our passengers — they're getting 
 our freight. They mean to pass us to-night, and if they do — 
 
 Eng. What does the captain say ? 
 
 Sam. He says we must not be left behind. 
 
 Eng. But the pilot knows we are at the top of our speed, look 
 at the dial. 
 
 Sam. How much margin have we ? 
 
 Eng. If I was to leave this place, or drop down dead, and 
 you let that index reach 25, why you'd get to kingdom come 
 before you got to Albany ! 
 
 Sam. Why, it's past 21 now. 
 
 Eng. I must let her off. 
 
 Sam. [Interposing.] Stop ! 
 
 Eng. You're mad ! [Bell heard, three times.] What ! more 
 " I 
 
 Sam. I tell you what, old buck, you're behind the age. This 
 is the day of fast riding, fast sailing, fast steamboating. [Shout 
 heard outside.] Listen to that ! it's the passengers. We've gained 
 on the opposition, and they're delighted. What scares you — 
 what's the danger ? 
 
 Eng. This is the danger — the boat is old, the engine is old, 
 the furnaces are patched in a dozen places ; come here [goes to 
 furnace]. Do you see that plate up there? 
 
 Sam. It looks solid enough. 
 
 Eng. If you add twenty degrees to this heat that plate will melt. 
 I know the iron, and I know the parsimony that placed it there, 
 instead of better. 
 
 Sam. Well, that's not the boiler, 
 
 Eng. No ; but the woodwork is not a foot from it. 
 
 Sam. We'll have the hose ready. Go to your engine. 
 
 Eng. Remember, there are two hundred souls on board this 
 boat ! 
 
 Sam. I know there are two hundred heads aboard, into which 
 I don't intend to let the idea creep that we are the beaten boat in 
 a race. 
 
 Eng. [Looking at dial.] By Jerusalem, 23 ! she's run up 
 again. [Pulls out valve — noise of escaping steam heard]. 
 
54 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Smn. You'eg letting the steam escape. 
 
 Eng. I'm guarding the lives of the people in ray care. 
 
 Sam. But they will pass us ! [Shouts and (/roans outside.'] You 
 hear ! our people are furious. {Bell strikes rapidly, three or Jour 
 times.] Shut off the valve ! 
 
 Eng. Not while I'm engineer here. 
 
 Sam. If I had another man to take your place, you shouldn't 
 be engineer ten seconds longer. 
 
 Eng. Here, men ! put this puppy out ! [Sam turns and sees 
 Jack.] 
 
 Sam. Let 'em try ! Hallo, Jack I you're just the man ! You 
 can manage an engine, can't you ? 
 
 Jack. Well, what of that ? 
 
 Sam. Come, take this old woman's place ! 
 
 Eng. If he does I'll brain him ! 
 
 Jack. [Struggling with Eng.] Don't be foolish. Go and set- 
 tle this matter with the captain. [Jack shuts off steam.] 
 
 Sam. [Contemptuously to Eng.] You're too conscientious for 
 a North River steamboat. You ought to be engineer on a canal 
 tub somewhere. 
 
 Eng. Young man, will you take a place from which an honest 
 man has been cast out, to let in hazard or death ? 
 
 Jack. What does it matter to me, I have sported Avith both. 
 [Eng. going, r., passes his hands across his eyes, with emotion.] 
 
 Sam. [Looks at him amazed.] Well, if you ain't soft. [Three 
 bells heard.] Fire up 1 don't you hear that order ? 
 
 Firemen open doors and skovel coal into furnaces. 
 
 Sam. Now, Jack, you keep her to it, and I'll go and chuck 
 this old grampus overboard. 
 
 Eng. [Pleading to Jack.] Mate, we've a hundred lives in 
 our hands. There are men and Avomen about us, lying down to 
 sleep in peace, because they believe they can trust to you and to 
 me. There are little children, whose innocent prayers have gone 
 up there to-night, in expectation of a happy morrow — shall we 
 destroy them ? 
 
 Jack. [Deeply moved.] Not a hair on one babe among them 
 shall be harmed. 
 
 Sam. [ Uneasy.] I say, Jack, you are not going back on us, 
 are you ? 
 
 Jack. There's one man aboard this boat with whom I'd jump 
 into that furnace, or sink beneath the sea. Were he and I alone 
 upon this plank, I'd send him to destruction, and fear no man's 
 judgment on my deed. But I will not seek to reach him through 
 so many innocent hearts ! 
 
A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 55 
 
 Sam. Why, this is rank mutiny! I'll see about you two 
 fellows. [Exit, hastily, r. u. e.] 
 
 A murmur is heard above. A slight smoke appears in woodwork 
 R. oj furnaces. 
 
 Eng. [To Jack.l Mate, your hand! while we drive this 
 engine, with power of life and death in the movement of a finger, 
 we can afford to spare a thousand enemies ! 
 
 The 7nurmurs grow louder. All look off r. The emigrant party 
 run in. Terry, carrying the baby and leading the girl, Mrs. 
 DowDERRY leading the boy. 
 
 Mrs. Dowderry. There's something mighty quare going on 
 above. [T/ie bell is heard to ring once.'] 
 
 Eng. There's the order to stop the engines ! [looks round and 
 sees smoke.'] Great heaven ! look at that smoke. Get the hose! 
 come men ! the water! [Eng. and firemen exit, l.] 
 
 Mrs. D. Murthur, sir! what's the matter? 
 
 Jack. Matter ! don't you see ! [a tongue of flame follows smoke.] 
 The boat is on fire ! 
 
 Mrs. D. Fire ! what will become of us ! God be merciful to 
 us all this blessed night! O, murtha! murtha! [Exit with 
 emigra7it jmrty, l. u. e.] 
 
 Sam re-enters, r. u. e. 
 
 Sam. Jack! Jack Kyver! what is wrong? The saloon is 
 filled with smoke ! 
 
 Jack. [Running and opening the furnace doors.] Save your- 
 selves ! we are burning ! 
 
 Sam. Well, this is a pretty mess! Water there! [calling 
 off L.j Where's the water ? [Exit, l. u. e.] 
 
 Fred runs in, r. 1 e. 
 
 Fred. The boat is on fire ! [Sees Jack.] Madman ! what are 
 you doing? 
 
 Jack. Ah, you have come! [Springing towards Fred.] I 
 have waited for you ! 
 
 Fred. This is no time for such a quarrel. We shall be burnt 
 alive ! 
 
 Jack. Then we will die- together. [Fred is borne down.] 
 
 Fred. Help ! help ! [Fireman and hands enter l.] 
 
56 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Fireman. Hallo! I say, let go of that man ! [They make a 
 movement to pull Jack off.'] 
 
 Jack. Mates, one word ! This man belongs to me ! he robbed 
 me of my love, and then deserted her for another. Now I have 
 him under my foot! Will you stand between us? l_3fen take off 
 their hands.] 
 
 Fred. Will you desert me? 
 
 Fire. Every one for himself, that's my motto. \_They go off, 
 E. u. E., sullenly shaking their heads.] 
 
 Jack. Now for your last of earth ! [Drags him tip to furnace.] 
 
 Fred. What would you do ? 
 
 Jack. Give you to a fire as fierce as that which you have 
 kindled in my breast! 
 
 Fred. Hold ! if not for my sake, then for the girl who is still 
 dear to you? 
 
 JacL Don't name her — 
 
 Fred. She is helpless ! will you let her perish ? 
 
 Jack. [Stops.] Perish! Bessie helpless! God! I forgot! 
 [Throwing him off.] Take your miserable life ! I give it you — for 
 hers ! [Exits, r. u. e., and Fred rises on one knee, clutching the 
 coal mallet, as scene closes.] 
 
 kScENE 4. — Section of saloon, as before. Stage dark. Red glare 
 throion from the R. The murmurs are still kept up. Several 
 boat hands and the two firemen enter, R., carrying bundles, 
 coats, etc., in disorder. They are very noisy. 
 
 Fireman. Ha, ha ! boys, come along ! Here's another door, 
 see what's in there ! 
 
 Ned. [Trying door 122.] It's locked ! 
 
 Fire. [Drinking from bottle.] Locked, is it? 
 
 Ned. Yes, let's burst it open ! 
 
 Fire. Burst away! [They force door and drag out Bessie's 
 things; her shawl falls in the doorway, one half out] Hurry, 
 there's no time ! if we don't make haste we'll be cut oflf from 
 escape. Woman's fixin's, eh ? I don't want 'em. 
 
 Ned. Nor I, Where's the whiskey ? 
 
 Fire. [Giving bottle.] Draw it mild, now. [It is passed 
 among the others.] 
 
 Ned. Let's go ! 
 
 Fire. Well, I've got all the pickings I can carry. 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 57 
 
 ' Sam entering, r. 
 
 Sam. Hurry boys ! the fire's catching up to our heels. Have 
 you got everybody out ? 
 
 Fire. O, the decks are clear. 
 
 Sam. [Pointing to bundles.'] What's that you've got there? 
 
 Fire. What's that to you ? 
 
 Sam. How dare you answer me that way ? Obey orders, or 
 I'll have you chucked overboard. 
 
 Fire. How dare we? Don't you know when the ship's sinking 
 or burning, the first thing " chucked overboard " is order. Come 
 mates ! [All go off, l. 1 e., noisily, pushing Sam aside.] 
 
 Sam. Well, this is a first class, A 1, pretty how-de-do, and no 
 mistake. Drunk, every one of 'em. Broke into the bar-room 
 the first thing, and now they're going through the other rooms to 
 pick up what they can. [Calling off L.] Here, you — you there! 
 get out of that ! put down those trunks ! 
 
 Nervous Passenger. [Inside, E.] Here — I say, I say ! 
 
 Sam. [Turning.'] Eh, what ? 
 
 Nervous Passenger enters r., with a broken life preserver. 
 
 Nervous Passenger. My good sir, my dear sir ! 
 
 Sam. What's the matter? you are all right, you've got a life 
 preserver — tie it round your waist and chuck yourself overboard. 
 
 Nerv. Pass. But I can't tie it, it won't tie, its broken. O, what 
 shall I do — what shall I do ! 
 
 Sam. [Takes it] Look here, its not blown up. 
 
 Nerv. Pass. Dear me, no ! [takes it a7id blows frantically.] It 
 won't blow up, 
 
 Sam. [ Gh-asping it.] You've got no bellows ; let me try it. 
 I can blow. [Tries to blow it, but it won't expand ; they in turn tear 
 it from each other, and try to blow it up, in a state of nervous 
 excitement; at last, when Sam is blowing, the Nerv. Pass, takes 
 hold of the other end and exclaims :] 
 
 Nerv. Pass. The wind all comes out of this end — it's broken ! 
 
 Sam. Eh ? so it is ! Hang the boat ! the engine blows up, 
 and the life preserver won't. Go get another, I can't be bothered, 
 get out ! [About to go l. Nerv. Pass, clutches his coat-tail with 
 both hands.] 
 
 Nerv. Pass. Don't leave me — I can't swim ! 
 
 Sam. [ Calling off.] Here, Jim ! [A big boat hand enters 
 drunk, L.] chuck this old rooster overboard ! Points to Nerv. 
 Pass., and exits, R. Boat hand throws Nerv. Pass, over his 
 shoulder and staggers out l.] 
 
58 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 The murmurs heard. Jack enters, r. 1 e., hurriedly. 
 
 Jack. Not a sign of her ! all the passengers have taken to the 
 boats. Bessie must have fled. She could not sleep with all this 
 uproar about her [a distant cheer heard']. They are going ! they 
 are saved ! I am left alone ! But I must find her ; there is but 
 one way to do, door by door, to burst them in till I find her. 
 \_Sees shawl on floor, half in and half out of door.] Ah, what's 
 this! luck! it's her shawl ! [pws/mi^ ope?i door.] Empty! [clos- 
 ing it and falling on his knees, kissing the shawl.] She is saved ! 
 she has dropped this in her flight. Now life is precious to me, 
 since I can share it with her! [As he goes of, Bessie is heard to 
 give a piercing scream. The scene draws and discloses 
 
 Scene 5. — View of the broadside of the burning steamboat ; she 
 is lying motionless in the river. The sky and waves lit up 
 with lurid reflections, The entire stern and portion of wheel- 
 house, smoke chimneys and cabins seen, and the htdl of boat 
 continues off at l. A row of closed windows of staterooms seen. 
 The fire is burning from l. to R. From window next to L. 
 flames issue. The upper deck is burning also. 
 
 Fred is seen in a small boat which floats in front of burning 
 steamer, towards r. He is much disordered. 
 
 Fred. Bessie is not aboard. She must have escaped in the 
 the other boats. Now I can face Rose with a clear heart. 
 Jack. [ Within.] Help ! one moment ! help ! 
 Fred. What voice is that ? 
 
 Jack appears on deck from l., with a fire-axe in his grasp — his 
 appearance smeared and burned. 
 
 Jack. Help ! all the boats are gone freighted to the water's 
 
 Fred. Jack Ryver, there is no room in this boat for you! 
 Jack. I can perish! Fire has been my toy, I don't fear it- 
 but for her ! 
 Fred. Who? 
 Jack. Bessie ! She is there within a wall of flame. 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 59 
 
 A scream is heard. Bessie dashes her manacled hands through the 
 window under Jack's feet, as a tongue of flame bursts from 
 the next window. 
 
 Fred. Great Heaven! She is imprisoned in the state-room — 
 she is lost! 
 
 Jaclc. Not while this heart beats ! 
 
 Jack cuts through the deck on which he stands to reach 
 
 Fred propels his boat to the stateroom window, and dashes it 
 in as flames shoot out. Jack draws Bessie out of the opening 
 he has made. 
 
 Curtain Falls. 
 
60 A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 Scene. — The chamber of Rose in Falloti's house. It is an attic, 
 with deep-set roofed window. This is supposed to he the room 
 in which the robbery had taken place. A window in c, in re- 
 cess, opening on view of housetops. An easy chair l. of win- 
 doiv, a small table near it, in front of window, overturned. A 
 flower-pot on floor near table with a withered branch. Another 
 flower-pot with bright flowers on the l. of window-sill. A neat 
 bed against flat L. of window. R. H. a grate fire-place, with 
 shovel, tongs, etc., on the tipper side. On lower side a match- 
 box on floor full of burnt matches. An old-fashioned nursery 
 fender in front of fire-place. A bell rope hangs .by fire-place 
 on fiat, R. {The fire-place and this back wall must be close to- 
 gether.) Bits of the broken bell-wire trail along the wall at the 
 top into the recess, and then pass down under the window and 
 off L.; the main piece attached to the rope falls to the tongs, etc., 
 to which it is carelessly hitched. There is a door, R. 2 E. On 
 flat, R., there is a broken p)icture-cord, which dangles loosely. 
 The picture, broken, with a piece of the cord, lies on the floor, l. 
 of door, beside a chair. There are two doors at L. on flat, 
 and one 3 E., which leads to the passage, and is the only entrance 
 to the apartment; the other leads to a small closet. 
 
 At ris9 of curtain, music, as of quiet and peace after the 
 storm and passion. Mrs. Fallon is discovered kneeling by 
 the door, r., as if conversing with Bessie, who is supposed to 
 be inside. 
 
 Mrs. Fallon, [r. by door.'] Try to sleep, my darling. It must 
 soon be over. Your father is not as he used to be. \_Rising.'] 
 Heaven be praised ! she has been spared to me. 
 
 KosE enters, l. u. e., dressed in a pretty morning robe. 
 
 Rose. Dear mother, hoAV is poor Bessie ? 
 Mrs. F. Fretting still, but I don't wonder at it. 
 Rose. "Won't father see her yet ? Have you spoken to him 
 this morning ? 
 
 Mrs. F. I can get nothing from him but the old story : " If she 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 61 
 
 is innocent it will come out — if she's guilty, it will be found out." 
 And he has locked her in her room 'till one or the other is proved. 
 Rose. He acts like a brute. He won't even listen to me now, 
 or I might reason with him. But, thank goodness, we shall have 
 an end of all this morning. Fred says he has seen the detectives 
 and they are to make their inspection. 
 
 Ann enters, l, u. e., carrying a bushel-basket of coal. 
 
 Ann. [Putting down basket by door, and fanning herself] 
 Phew ! Me back's broke wid it, an' that's the truth. 
 
 3frs. F. Carry it to the grate, Ann ! [Ann crosses to r.] 
 
 Bose. Why, what in the world is she doing ? 
 
 Ann. It's carrying coal I am like a dray-horse. I'll waut.my 
 wages raised if I'm to carry coal from the corner grocery, down 
 the street, and up all these stairs another day. 
 
 Rose. And why should you do that ? Isn't the coal in the 
 cellar. 
 
 Ann. An' isn't it the masther has locked it up and kapes 
 it as if it was lumps of gold. [Has taken coal to fire-place and 
 lights the fire, then dusts about the hearth.] 
 
 Mrs. F. I fear, child, that your father's brain is turned. He 
 has taken a most extraordinary fancy about the coal. It only 
 came to him the morning after the robbery. First he locked up 
 the scuttle which was lying there by the fire — then he went down 
 to the cellar, brought up some lumps from the bin, went out in a 
 twitter of excitement, and, when he came back, forbade us to touch 
 any coal we had in the house. 
 
 Rose. Then, that accounts for his nonsense last night about the 
 coal stocks, and coal mines, and coal speculations ! He's crazy ! 
 Pa's certainly crazy, ma ! I'll speak to Fred about it. 
 
 Ann.. Won't I put the room to rights now, Miss Rose — Mi's. 
 Chauncey, I mane ? 
 
 R^se. No, no. Nothing must be disturbed, Fred and pa say 
 so. Everything in the room must remain as it was found on the 
 evening of the robbery, so that the detectives may examine and 
 clear up the mystery. 
 
 Ann. AVell, it's quare anyway. I think the place might be 
 made dacent at least, and strange men coming to look at it. [Exit 
 with basket, L. u. e.] 
 
 Fred passes in. Rose runs to meet him. 
 
 Fred. Dear Rose! [Kissing her.] You see, I've hurried! 
 Good morning, mother! [Crosses, c] I've learned to call you 
 
62 A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 
 
 that already. I was motherless — and though, in law, nothing 
 that belongs to my wife, belongs to me, I mean to claim her 
 mother for my own. 
 
 Rose, Well, have you found a house ? 
 
 Fred. Found it and leased it. If you like it, I'll buy it. It's 
 not a stone's throw from the Institute. The school-girls pass it 
 every day. 
 
 Rose, [l.] Did you select the location for the sake of the 
 girls going to school ? 
 
 Fred, [c] Why not ? They will always recall our first meet- 
 ing — our sudden elopement — and the marriage, of which it was 
 the happy cause. 
 
 Mrs. F. [r.] Well, now-a-days girls do everything in their 
 own way ; but why you should have run away to do it, when we 
 were all so willing — 
 
 Rose. Oh, ma ! '[Crosses to Mrs. F.^ 
 
 Fred. The detectives are to be here at ten. It's near that 
 now — and who do you suppose has the matter in charge ? Guess 
 who ! Skifiley ! SkifQey, the vagabond ! 
 
 3frs. F. He still ! 
 
 Fred. So it appears, but it was impossible to prevent him. 
 They say at headquarters that no one else can interfere. It's his 
 job — yes — that's what they call it. It's embarrassing, isn't it, to 
 have one's sister-in-law called a job? 
 
 Rose. Bessie will owe her life again to you ! Now, ma, isn't 
 he a darling I 
 
 Fred. Oh, give the credit where it is due — to Jack ! She be- 
 longs to him, and I shall be the first to persuade her to think so. 
 
 Mrs. F. [Crosses to l., at back.'] Some one's on the stairs. 
 It's your father. Oh dear, he'll be in another tantrum. He for- 
 bade any one to come into this room 'till the detectives had fin- 
 ished with it, and here we are. 
 
 Rose aiid Mrs. F. go up l., Fred following. Fallon enters, l. 
 U. D., in a brown study, dress careless, vest unbuttoned, necktie 
 loose, hands in his pockets. He kicks open the door. " Fyes on 
 ground. Comes upon Fred at c. 
 
 Fallon. Mornin' to you, sir. [Looks around and sees others.] 
 Mary, what are you doing up here? Go down stairs, both of you. 
 
 Rose. Did you ever see such a bear I Come, Fred. 
 
 Fal. I want Fred. Go along with you. [Mrs. F. and Rose 
 exeunt, l. u. e. Then after seeing them out, catdiously to Fred.] 
 You know all about stocks — now — bonds, stocks and that kind 
 of thing, dont you ? 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 63 
 
 Fred. Well, slightly. 
 
 Fal. Do YOU know anything about coal stocks ? 
 
 Fred. [c.J Coal company stocks? A little. 
 
 Fal. About coal mines ! Where they dig coal ! [Fred looks 
 at him surprised.'] Damn it, they do dig coal, don't they ? 
 
 Fred. They do. There's no doubt about it. 
 
 Fal. {^Mysteriously.'] Did you ever hear of a gold-mine being 
 near a coal-mine? 
 
 Fred. I don't think I ever did. 
 
 Fal. [^Impressively.] Did you ever hear of a mine where gold 
 and coal were mixed ? 
 
 Fred. Never. 
 
 Fal. But there might be gold in a coal-mine — or near it — or 
 a gold-mine and a coal-mine might get mixed, eh ? 
 
 Fred. I hardly know. Gold is the most universal metal, ex- 
 isting almost everywhere, but not always in sufficient quantities 
 to pay for mining. 
 
 Fal. ^Turning l.] Ah! ^Reflecting.] Well, that's all. 
 [Turns atvay.] 
 
 Fred. And now will you permit me a word, Mr. Fallon, about 
 Bessie? 
 
 Fal. [Orossly.] What about Bessie? 
 
 Fred. Her extraordinary sufferings and perils must surely 
 have softened your disposition. 
 
 Fal. Softened! And havn't I softened? Three days ago I 
 forbid her my house — but didn't I, like an amiable parent, let 
 her be brought here yesterday from the steamboat, and havn't I 
 consented to let her stay 'till this investigation is over ? Upon my 
 life, I think I've been softened to no end of a degree. 
 
 Fred. Yes, you've behaved like a tender parent, we all know. 
 You have locked her in that room, and threatened her through 
 the keyhole, that she musn't think you had forgiven her. 
 
 Fal. And wasn't that right ? There's this one fact yet — a 
 chain that cost me four hundred dollars is gone — that we know 1 
 There is another fact — somebody took it — who, we douH know 
 and that's to be found out. 
 
 Fred. And the sooner the better ! [Crosses fo l.] 
 
 Fal. As you say, the sooner the better. Good morning I 
 
 Fred. [Sharply.] Good morning ! [Exits, l. u. e,] 
 
 Fal. [Locking door after him.] Good luck to you I You're 
 rich ! Your father was rich before you. Bilt I'm richer than you 1 
 Eose shall inherit enough to make her your equal. [Looks around 
 carefully, takes paper from his pocket, tmwraps it, and discovers some 
 pieces of partly gilded coal.] Gold ! Rich, shining gold ! In 
 lumps ! What a wonderful thing to dig out of the bowels of the 
 
64 A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 
 
 earth! I've found the dealer that sold us the coal. I've bought 
 his whole stock out. I've found out the company that mines the 
 coal. I'm in treaty for their stock. To-day I'll investigate the 
 cellar. If the rest is anything as richly ored as that in the scuttle, 
 I've got a fortune even in the house. \_Goe8 to closet in fiat, l., 
 and unlocks it ivith key from his jwcket Looks around cautiously, 
 then takes oid the coal-scuttle filled with gilded coal. There is a 
 fissure in lower part of scuttle and its side is bulged.'] Not dis- 
 covered yet! What a mortal blessing that that servant is a raw 
 bumpkin and didn't know the difference between gold and coal. 
 Here it is ! \_Tur)iing over tuio or three pieces of the coal jmrily 
 gilded.] I've had it analyzed! Gold, they say! Pure gold! 
 lOider bell is heard.] Who's that? {_PiUs aivay scuttle, turns key 
 in door, but forgets to remove it] It's the police. [ Goes to Bessie's 
 door, R.] Here are the officers, you degenerate girl ! Oh ! Cry 
 away! If they prove you guilty, you'll have something more 
 to cry for. [ Unlocks door, L. u. E.] 
 
 Jack enters. 
 
 Fal. Oh ! it's you, is it? Come expecting to be thanked for 
 having saved Bessie's life, I suppose? 
 
 Jack, [l.] No ! at least not by you. I did not save her for 
 you. 
 
 Fal. And for whom, then ? 
 
 Jack. Myself 
 
 Fal. The devil you did! And when you used to save women 
 and children from fires, did you always consider they belonged 
 to you ? 
 
 Jack. Let all that pass! Heaven creates honest love and 
 protects it ! For three days it has directed me to the very scene 
 and very spot to save Bessie from death or worse. I loved her 
 long ago, as you know. I love her still, and when I bore her 
 from the burning boat she took my hand and kissed it, though 
 she uttered not a word. I asked her then if she could love me 
 as she used to do, and I swore to her that, good luck or bad luck, 
 riches or poverty, I would love her now and forever — and be a 
 better man! I've come to ask you for her. 
 
 Fal. What? while she's suspected — 
 
 Jask. A thousand times more on that account. 
 
 Fal. And what will you do with her? You can't support 
 her. 
 
 Jack. Why, I've a good trade, and since I went away I've 
 studied, and now I've got a profession. 
 
 Fal. A profession? Which? Profession of coals and cin- 
 ders? 
 
A FLASH OP LIGHTNING. 65 
 
 Jack. Of civil engineering. 
 
 Fal. Veiy good, then, Mr. Civil Engineer, you can't engineer 
 your little plan here! No girl of mine weds a poor man, no mat- 
 ter what he professes, nor how civil he may be ! [ Crosses to L.] 
 
 Jack. Then, I'll do without your consent. [^Door-bell ringsJ] 
 
 Fal. You will? You dare! [Gets c.'] 
 
 Mrs. Fallon enters, l. u. e, 
 Mrs. Fallon. Garry, here are the officers. 
 
 Skiffley and another officer enter. Skif. is dressed with great 
 care, the other very jauntily. Also Rose, who goes behind her 
 mother, and Ann enters and stands by door, L. Jack crosses 
 to the E. — Fal. c. 
 
 Skiffley. [Down l. c, the other officer remaining at door above.} 
 Good morning! good morning, ladies! [they shrink from Mm]. 
 Humph! Ah, Ryver! Not run away yet, eh? Very good, if 
 you stay in the city much longer I'll have to find you a suitable 
 lodging. [To Fal.'] Your daughter is still in your custody? 
 
 Fal. Yes, in that room — her room ! 
 
 Skif. And now, if you please, I should like to see the apart- 
 ment from which the chain was stolen. 
 
 Mrs. F. This is the room. Just where you stand. 
 
 Fal. It has not been disturbed since the robbery. 
 
 Skif. In no particular ? 
 
 Fal. In no particular. 
 
 Skif. And these things overturned? 
 
 Fal. I found them so, as I entered after the robbery. 
 
 Skif. And what time elapsed between your placing the chain 
 here and your discovery of the theft? 
 
 Fal. Hardly ten minutes. 
 
 Skif. [In c, to officer who is writing in note-book] Got that 
 down? [Officer nods.] All right. [Importantly to all.] You 
 see it's plain the thief must be some one who knew that you had 
 the jewel, and the exact spot that you put it. Now show me 
 where you placed the chain. 
 
 Fal. [ Going up.] This table, which you see overturned, was 
 standing before and close to the window. I laid the chain 
 upon it. 
 
 Mrs. F. [Up c] And this flower-pot was on the window- 
 sill. 
 
 Skif. [c] I see ! I see ! [going up leisurely.] Now let's look 
 at the window. [ Goes to it, examines it, looks out, Fal. follomng 
 5 
 
66 A FLASH OF LIGLHTNING. 
 
 him about. Mrs. F. and Rose come down r. to Jack, all observ- 
 ing Skip]. Thirty feet from the yard. No one could climb 
 that. Alley on each side of the house — no connection with any 
 other building. It's plain the thief doesn't enter there. 
 
 Rose. We all know that. How could he? 
 
 SUf. \_Not heeding.'] Now for the fire-place [crosses r.]. A 
 grate, eh? [Goes to if] 
 
 Ann. "lis, and dirty as blazes. I'm like to be choked with 
 soot every day. 
 
 Skif. Very good? The thief couldn't have got in there. 
 
 Rose. What are you trying to find out by all this? 
 
 Skif. The thief! Your mother says that it is some robber 
 who obtained access to the apartment unperceived. / say it's 
 some one that lives in the house. But I'm willing to be con- 
 vinced. Now let us see. This is your daughter's room. [Rap- 
 ping on Bess's door.] Is there any egress or ingress except 
 through here? 
 
 Rose. None. Bessie always passes through my room. 
 
 Skif. [c, crosses to L,., followed by Fal.] So much for that. 
 Now what door is over there? [^indicating closet] 
 
 Fal. [Hiding nervousness^ A dark closet, that's all. 
 
 Skif. Then it's plain the thief must have come through the 
 door by which we all entered — the door which leads directly 
 into the room below, and which your daughter Bessie was watch- 
 ing the whole time of the robbery. 
 
 Fal. Well. 
 
 Skif Did any one hear a noise, as of a man running about 
 at the time of the robbery? 
 
 Ann. [l. corner^ Sure we couldn't hear anything but the 
 thunder and lightning!- 
 
 Fal. The girl is right. The storm was raging so as to drown 
 every noise, and the Lightning nearly struck me blind! 
 
 Skif. Now, I've had a little experience in these matters, and 
 it guides me to a pretty straight conclusion. This robbery was 
 committed by a woman. 
 
 Jack. [ Comes down.] You have said that from the first. The 
 victim of your persecution is in yonder room. We are waiting 
 to see your proofs. 
 
 Skif They are all around you. [To Fal.] Excuse me — 
 do you understand anything about female nature? 
 
 Fal. Well, hem ! I've been married. 
 
 Skif. Exactly ! Now the first thing about women that leads 
 to their detection when they commit a criipe is — they always 
 take too many precautions. They wish to hide their tracks — 
 they hide them too much ! 
 
A PLASH OP LIGHTNING. 67 
 
 Fal. And you mean to ascribe such artfulness to Bessie ! — a 
 young girl scarcely eighteen years old ! 
 
 Skif. Bless you, some women are sly from their cradle. 
 You'll pardon me, ladies ! I speak of psychological facts. 
 
 Fal. Go on and never mind the ology. 
 
 Skif. Now, let us suppose a young girl, dazzled by the beauty 
 of this chain — or, if you please, jealous of her sister possessing 
 it — determines to possess it herself! The first idea in her mind 
 is to deceive everybody as to the real thief. 
 
 Rose. But Bessie attempted to deceive no one. She never 
 uttered a word when she was accused. 
 
 Skif. I don't mean by words, I mean by circumstances. The 
 deception here is very clever. She wishes to give the idea of a 
 man-robber ! — a big, burly, boisterous, swash-bucklering robber ! 
 for young girls forget that thieves who enter houses to steal, 
 tread like cats, and move noislessly as the air ! Well, what does 
 she say to herself? " If I make a great disturbance, it will cer- 
 tainly look as if a man had been here. I will pretend that he 
 got in by the window, and got out by the window. If he gets in 
 by the window, he will certainly knock over the flower-pots." So 
 she throws one of them down, as you see ! [indicates flower-pot on 
 floor.^ Then she says : " This big, burly robber will, of course, 
 as he is a big, burly fellow, overturn the table," — so, bang, over 
 she turns the table, — and, as robbers always fear interruption, 
 she cuts the bell-wires [showing hanging wire near window, 
 crosses c] 
 
 Fal. I see ! I see ! 
 
 Skif. [c] Then she looks about and she says to herself — 
 " This isn't enough damage for a robber to commit," and she 
 pulls at the picture on the wall, breaks the cord and down it 
 comes. [Goes up, takes picture to tvhich apiece of the cord hangs, 
 and comes down c, all around him.'] 
 
 Jack. But this cord is not broken ! 
 
 Rose. [ Crosses to Mrs. F.] No, nor cut ! 
 
 Skif. Of course it is not cut ! Observe, if you please, this 
 cord is burnt ! There was a very easy way to fix it. She lit a match, 
 got on this chair and burned it through. See if there are any 
 matches there ! [Ann goes up, r. mantel, and picks match-box 
 from floor beside it] 
 
 Ann. [ Crosses to L. c. and to L.] Sure here's the box on the 
 flure, and all the matches in it burned ofi" at the top. 
 
 Skif. Exactly ! in her haste to set fire to all of them, she was 
 young, you see, and nervous. All young girls are more or less 
 nervous, particularly about Matches. 
 
 Fal. [l. c] It seems clear enough. 
 
68 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Shif. Now mark the difference. If it had really been a thief 
 from the outside, he could have entered cautiously from the door 
 below ; but your daughter would have seen him, and she says she 
 saw no one ! He would have taken the chain from the table with- 
 out disarranging so much as a pincushion near it ! Look at this 
 Eretended disorder ! No, no ! it was a woman, artful, intelligent, 
 ut inexperienced, and if you ask me to name her, I say it was 
 the young woman who is imprisoned in that room, whom I found 
 in a low den where thieves resort to sell stolen property, the night 
 after the robbery, and who, if justice is to be done, should go to 
 jail. \_Crosses L.] 
 
 Fal. [c] It is enough ! I knew it would be so ! [ Going 
 to Bessie's room, Mrs. F. and Rose kneel before Am.] Stand 
 aside ! No thief dwells in my house — 
 
 Jack [^Vehemently, k.] Stop! 
 
 Fal. What's the matter with you? 
 
 Jack. The matter is, that you are an easily gulled man, de- 
 ceived by a tissue of nonsense. And a hot-headed man about to do 
 an act of infamy ! [Skif. smiles and looks aivay.'] 
 
 Rose. [Crosses to Jack.'] I thank you for that. 
 
 Jack. [Crosses to c] The matter is that this fellow [Skif. 
 turns savagely'] with his clever detective art, his suppositions and 
 his tricks, is an ass. 
 
 Ann. [r. c] Begorra, I thank ye for that, Misther Jack ! 
 
 Fal. You insolent pauper ! 
 
 Jack. [Dignified and calm.] One word, sir, before you do 
 anything wrong. I also have inspected this room and I have 
 formed my opinion. 
 
 Skif. And pray, what is your opinion ? 
 
 Jack. That you don't know what you are talking about. 
 You say no man entered this room or leaped from that window ! 
 I say that there was such a man. 
 
 Skif. Your proof! 
 
 Fal. Yes, the proof! 
 
 Jack. I am the man. [Fal. falls back with Skif. Mrs. F. 
 and Rose delighted. Ann wp l.] 
 
 Rose. [To Mrs. F.] I knew he'd not suffer Bessie to be in- 
 jured in order to save himself. 
 
 Jack. In the middle of the storm I came here [To Fal.] to 
 see your daughter. [To all] I found her in the room below. 
 I did not wish to be seen. Rose's entrance prevented me from 
 leaving by the front door. I knew the house well, ran up-stairs 
 and sprang through that window. That leap was nothing to a 
 fireman of the old force. In my flight I must have overturned 
 this table. 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 69 
 
 Fal. Then, you rascal — you stole my chain ! [^Makes a rush 
 at him.'] 
 
 Jack. Easy, easy ! It doesn't follow that because I jumped 
 through the window I carried anything with me. 
 
 Sk^. Pooh ! It's an evasion. He wishes to save the girl by 
 accusing himself. 
 
 Jack. I do wish to save an innocent girl, but I do not accuse 
 myself. 
 
 Fal. It won't do ! Arrest him ! [Skif. crosses to Jack, the 
 other officer advances also.] 
 
 Jack. Hold off a bit ! Suppose, before you arrest anyone, we 
 look for the real thief? 
 
 Fal. You mean to say — ? 
 
 Jack. I mean to say, that in order to oblige Skiffley and his 
 mate here, I intend to find a thief for thetn to arrest. 
 
 Skif. [ Taking out a pair of handcuffs from his pocket.'] Proceed ! 
 
 Jack [Up by window.] /see certain tracks here, which you, 
 with all your cunning, left unnoticed. 
 
 Skif. I should like to see them. [Music, tremolo.] 
 
 Jack. First, it did not strike you that there is something re- 
 markable about these flower-pots. [Picks the one from floor.] 
 In yonder one [points to the one in window] the leaves are fresh 
 ancl green, the flowers are blooming. In this nothing but a 
 withered stump remains. 
 
 Bose. It was my beautiful geranium. 
 
 Jack. And when you saw it on the day of the storm ? 
 
 Mrs. F. It was green and flourishing that very morning. 
 [Fal. takes flower-pot and examines it critically.] 
 
 Jack. Fact number one ! Now here is another mystery, which 
 my clever friend did not try to penetrate. 
 
 Fal. What is that? [Following him up attentively.] 
 
 Jack. The bell-wire! You see it is broken here [pointing, r.] 
 as well as by the window, and here is a piece carried — why it's 
 carried away over here and twisted over the tongs and shovel. 
 [Goes quickly to fire-place.] 
 
 Mrs. F. [Grossing \<.] We found it so that night. [Jack w 
 tracing some imaginary line, and Fal. and the rest are watching.] 
 
 Skif [Sneeringly^ Pooh! That's nothing! 
 
 Fal. Shut up! Don't interrupt! 
 
 Skif Oh, very well. 
 
 Jack. [On his knees, examining hearth.] No trace. Yes! 
 here in the soot, and then down through the hearth, and into the 
 flue and so down. 
 
 Fal. [Dropping on both knees, almost into grate.] Down — 
 down what? 
 
I 
 70 A FLASH Ot' LIGHTNING. 
 
 Jack. [Rises, yet still pre-occupied.'] But a link is missing — 
 something has been removed. [To all.'] Something must have 
 been standing here [indicates floor near tongs, etc.,! which has been 
 removed. Do any of you know what it Avas ? [Fal. confused.'] 
 
 Ann. Sure, there was the coal scuttle ! 
 
 Jack. The coal — yes ! Where is it ? 
 
 Fal. [Bises, confused.] It's gone — taken away. 
 
 Mrs. F. Why it's in the closet. [Jack ruiis to closet. Fal. 
 tries to interpose. Jack unlocks closet and takes out scuttle.] 
 
 Fal. [r. c] Stop ! stop ! 
 
 Jack, [c] Here ! [Holds scuttle up and looks at bottovi.] I 
 have found it. 
 
 Ann. The thief? 
 
 Jack. Well, no. But the place where he got out. [Points to 
 hole.] 
 
 Skif. Oh, come ! 
 
 Fal. You are making fools of us! I should like to see the 
 thief that could get out there ! 
 
 Jack. You shall see him in the moving clouds ! His time for 
 work is in the tempest, and his mission is swift, sure and terrible ! 
 You wish to know his name — it is the Lightning ! 
 
 All. The Lightning ! 
 
 Jack. While you shuddered at the thunder, his aim was ac- 
 complished. In the turning of a thought, this robber came and 
 was gone! Mark his footstep ! See how it shrivelled up the leaf 
 in one vase, while it spared other — cut with its sword of fire the 
 cord on the wall and severed the wire of the bell — then, con- 
 ducted by the path it had made, [indicates wire that reaches from 
 the wall to the tongs] attracted by the iron and steel, it struck this 
 [points to scuttle] and, passing through the hearth into the flue — 
 was gone. 
 
 Fal. [Stupefied.] The Lightning ! But the chain ? 
 
 Jack. [Turnimg up the gilded coal.] Look here! Your 
 chain pleased the lightning, my friend — which took it up, fash- 
 ioned it to suit it's own fancy — and dropped it here ! 
 
 Fal. If this be true — 
 
 Eose. [ Who has been examining the coal.] Here is a little 
 piece of pearl! 
 
 Fal. [ Taking it] There was a pearl clasp to each end of it, 
 and this is one. 
 
 Jack. See the proof! 
 
 Fal. [Suddenly remembering.] Oh, Lord! Four hundred 
 dollars worth gone! — and I, like an infernal fool, bought up a 
 whole coal yard and dreamed of a gold-mine! But I'm glad! 
 Here, Bessie! Bessie, forgive your brute of a father! [Buns, 
 
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 71 
 
 unlocks door, r., and opens if] Bessie — empty ! — gone. [Rose 
 runs off, R. D.] 
 All. Gone? 
 
 Rose re-appears with letter. 
 
 Rose. She has lowered herself from the window, and this is 
 all she has left. Oh ! [ Cryiiig,'] Sister Bessie — somebody read 
 this. ICfives it to Fal., l. of Mrs. F.} 
 
 Fal. [Beads.'] " I have no other resource but death ! Father, 
 God forgive you ! Tell Jack!" [^Drops paper and sinks on chair 
 weeping.] 
 
 Mrs. F. [Crosses to him.] Oh, Garry, Garry! What has 
 |)ecome of her? 
 
 Jack. Your cruelty has done its final work. Old man, you 
 have driven her to the grave. [A low murmur outside.] 
 
 Fal [Starting up.] What sound is that? 
 
 Skif. [At xvindow.] It is a crowd, bringing a body here. 
 
 Mrs. F. [Runs to door, l.] My child ! My Bessie ! where is 
 she? 
 
 Music. — Two or three men and women appear, then Fred, 
 bringing in Bessie insensible. She is placed in chair, c. 
 Jack kneels at r. Mrs. F. takes Bessie's head to her breast. 
 Fred, k. c, vnth Rose. Fal. and Skif. arid Ann at back 
 with crowd. 
 
 Fred. She is only insensible. Thank heaven, it was no worse. 
 I was just in time. 
 
 Rose. Where did you find her? 
 
 Fred. I saw her just as she escaped from the house. In 
 another moment it would have been too late. 
 
 Mrs. F. She wakes softly ! Bessie, darling ! 
 
 Fal. Bessie, can you forgive me ? I have been a brute — but 
 I am punished in my own heart. 
 
 Bessie. And Jack? 
 
 Fal. Here he is ! Jack, damn it, why don't you speak to 
 her? 
 
 Jack. Bessie, darling, we shall never be parted again ! [She 
 places her hand feebly on his shoulder. All surround the group.] 
 
 Skif. [Down L.] Well, my friends, as there is no possibility 
 of doing any good here, I suppose I ought to withdraw. I would 
 have been happy to have captured the thief that took the chain, 
 but, although the Metropolitan police stop at nothing, the light- 
 ning is one of those vagrants it can't arrest. Good morning! 
 and a happy wedding. [Fxits, followed by officer.] 
 
72 A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. 
 
 Jaclc. Bessie — once more snatched from death — promise me 
 to live now for me ! [^She smiles.'] There — don't speak ! That 
 smile tells me I may hope — don't speak! 
 
 Bess. If you don't let me speak — how can I say "yes?" 
 
 Fred. Jack. Mrs. Fallon. Crowd. 
 
 Rose. Bessie. Fallon. Ann. 
 
 Curtain. 
 
A 
 
 FLASH OF LIGHTNING 
 
 A DRAMA OF LIFE IN OUR DAY, 
 
 IN FIVE ACTS. 
 
 AUGUSTIN DALY. 
 
 FIEST PRODUCED AT THE BROADWAY THEATRE (LATE 
 
 WALLACE'S), UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF ME. 
 
 BARNEY WILLIAMS, JUNE, 1868. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 PRINTED, AS MANUSCRIPT ONLY, FOR THE AUTHOR. 
 
 1885. 
 
C 32 89 '^f 
 
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