"Swat the Fly!": A One-Act Fantasy

“SWAT THE FLY!”

A ONE-ACT FANTASY

_By_

ELEANOR GATES

AUTHOR OF “THE POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL,” “WE ARE SEVEN,” “THE BIOGRAPHY OF A PRAIRIE GIRL,” “THE PLOW-WOMAN,” ETC.

COLORED JACKET BY EVERETT SHINN

[Illustration]

THE ARROW PUBLISHING COMPANY 116 WEST FIFTY-NINTH STREET NEW YORK

_Copyrighted April 17, 1914, as a dramatic composition by ELEANOR GATES._

_Copyrighted April, 1915, by THE ARROW PUBLISHING COMPANY._

_All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian._

_This play may be publicly read without further permission, but the acting rights are reserved by the author._

TO THE TROOPER

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

THE DOCTOR THE WOMAN INSPECTOR THE BOY THE DOG THE CAT THE HORSE THE MONKEY THE RABBIT THE FLY

“SWAT THE FLY!”

_A garden in the rear of a laboratory for animal experimentation. A high red-brick wall encloses the garden, into which, at the upper right-hand corner, juts the granite laboratory building. The interior of the laboratory is brilliantly white. From it a door opens upon the garden. Beside the door, hanging from a wrought-iron bracket, is a globe in which are electric bulbs. The lights are turned on by pressing a button in the framework of the door._

_In the garden wall, at left, is a wide door leading to a city street. In the rear wall is a square, window-like opening through which can be seen the Horse’s standing-stall. The Monkey’s house is in the lower right-hand corner of the garden. Directly across from it is the kennel of the Dog. The Rabbit’s hutch is placed against the rear wall, close to the square opening. The front of the hutch is screened with wire netting._

_The garden is covered by a lawn. Flowers grow against its walls, as well as in the corners made by the meeting of wall and building. Vines climb the bricks on either side of the street door. Above the walls, on every side, bend the branches of trees. At the center of the garden is a low stone bench._

_It is late evening. The garden is only star-lit. Out of the gloom come the sleepy bark of the Dog, the crunching and stamping of the Horse, as he feeds, and the cross chatter of the Monkey. The tiny bell, which the Cat wears on her collar, tinkles faintly._

_Suddenly the street door opens, and the flash of a pocket search-light is turned upon the garden. The Woman Inspector appears in the doorway. She wears a coat-suit, a neckpiece formed of the skin of a fox, and a hat trimmed with pheasant feathers. She throws her light upon the Monkey’s house: upon the door of the laboratory: upon the opening in the rear wall. The back of the Horse appears above the sill of the opening. The light travels to the Rabbit’s hutch, disclosing a mound of snow-white fur._

_The Inspector enters quickly and goes to the Dog, who is lying down, his back curved against the entrance to the kennel. The Inspector turns her light upon him. He moves._

Inspector. (_Leans to peer into the kennel._)

Here! Let me look at you. A bandage! Oh, poor fellow! That Doctor’s been torturing you! (_The Dog growls._) There! There! (_Pats the Dog, and goes to the hutch._) A rabbit! (_Makes a brief examination; goes to the opening in the wall and looks through at the Horse, flashing her light over him. Comes down quickly to the Monkey. He is lying just within the door of his house. She drops on one knee._) Well, monkey! What’s that Doctor been doing to YOU? (_Reaches in._) Been putting a steel gag on you? Oh, the poor foot! (_Soothingly, as the Monkey moves and chatters._) There, now! Lie still!

Doctor. (_Calls from the laboratory._)

Here, Kitty! Kitty! Kitty!

(_The Inspector puts out her pocket-flash, springs up, and hides behind the Monkey’s house. The Doctor enters, and presses the electric button beside the laboratory door. The globe floods the garden with light. The Doctor wears a sack suit, but no hat._)

Doctor. Here, Kitty! Kitty! Kitty! (_Looks about the garden._) Well, how’s everybody? (_Goes to the opening in the wall, and reaches to pat the Horse._) Hello! How’s the nice old boy? (_Turns toward the hutch._) And how’s little Bunny! Eh?

(_The Boy enters from the street. He is wearing pajamas. In his right hand, wrapped in paper, he carries a bone. In the circle of his left arm he has a banana, which he holds against him; in his left hand are an apple and a carrot. He sees the Doctor and halts timidly. The Doctor turns from the hutch and sees the boy._)

Doctor. Good evening, young man! Where did YOU come from?

Boy. I came from my bed. (_Backs a step and puts the bone behind him._)

Doctor. And what are you doing out of your bed?

Boy. I’m feeding your animals. (_Holds out his right hand to show the bone._)

Doctor. Feeding my animals! Why-- --!

Boy. My mother says you starve ’em. So,--here’s a bone for the dog, an’ a carrot for the rabbit, an’ a’ apple for the horse, an’ a banana for the monkey.

Doctor. (_Laughs and accepts the bone._)

All right. (_Goes to the kennel, the Boy following, and looks in._) Hey, dog! Just gnaw on this fine big bone. (_To the boy._) And how did you find your way here, at this time of night?

Boy. I followed my mother.

Doctor. Why, your mother isn’t here!

Boy. Oh, yes, she is. Somewhere. (_Looks behind the kennel._) I saw her come in. Oh, Mother! (_Looks behind the Monkey’s house._) Hello, mother! (_To the Doctor._) Here she is!

(_The Inspector stands up._)

Doctor. Madam, what are you doing in this garden?

Inspector. Examining these animals.

Doctor. Why should you sneak and hide?

(_The Boy goes to his mother._)

Inspector. Let me introduce myself. (_Opens her coat, displaying a metal badge pinned on her breast._)

Doctor. So you’re a spy!

Inspector. I’m an inspector!

Doctor. I’ve seen you before.

Inspector. I’ve been keeping an eye on you.

Doctor. Well, go ahead! What is it you want to know?

Inspector. I want to know what you do to these poor, dumb creatures.

Doctor. I use them to fight the diseases carried by flies.

Inspector. (_Sneeringly._)

Oh, you vivisectionists have a FINE excuse for your cruelty! Flies!

Doctor. Yes, flies! When all the flies are dead, we doctors will be out of a job. For now we know that--

Inspector. Please come back to the animals.

Doctor. (_Shrugs, crosses to the Monkey._)

Well, this monkey here is--(_The Monkey chatters angrily. The Doctor falls back, motioning the Inspector and the Boy to retreat._) Look out! He’s bad-tempered!

Inspector. Ah! You needn’t tell me how you treat HIM! (_The Doctor turns away._) And what about that helpless rabbit?

Doctor. (_Goes to the hutch._)

The rabbit furnishes me with typhoid serum. And the neck of my horse is full of the serum that cures diphtheria. See! (_Takes a small case from a pocket._) I’ll take some serum--just to show you. (_Leans through the opening._) Here, back! Back up! Whoa, now!

Inspector. Oh, don’t! I can’t bear it! Don’t! (_The Horse stamps. She covers her eyes._) Don’t, I say! Oh, I’ll have you arrested for this!

Doctor. There! (_Turns._) You see what THAT amounts to.

Inspector. (_Faces him._)

Oh, don’t try to fool me! You hurt him!

Doctor. Not more than the flick of a whip. (_Puts the case away._)

Inspector. (_Triumphantly._)

There you are! The flick of a whip! What do you doctors care about the agony of your poor victims!

Doctor. I don’t cause pain unless it’s necessary.

Inspector. Necessary! You shouldn’t be allowed to cause an animal ANY pain!

Doctor. Oh! Then, of course, you’re a vegetarian.

Inspector. I am not!

Doctor. Well, I AM! You talk about pain! Do you know how lambs are killed? And cattle? Do you know anything about slaughtering hogs? THERE’S pain for you!

Inspector. We must have meat!

Boy. (_Proudly._)

And my father’s going to bring us some venison.

Doctor. Your father?

Boy. He’s gone to the mountains--to hunt and fish. (_Leans against his mother._)

Inspector. (_To the Boy._)

Hush!

Doctor. (_Triumphantly._)

Ha! Hunt and fish!

Inspector. Yes, hunt and fish. Why not?

Doctor. (_Sarcastically._)

My dear lady, I see that you really ARE interested in animals.

Inspector. (_Angrily._)

Oh, I know what you mean! But let me tell you something: When my husband hunts, he gives an animal a chance for its life. And if he kills, he kills quick. But you--you mutilate in the name of science. You tie down your victims--and torture!

Doctor. I use ether and chloroform. But your husband--when he pulls a trout from the stream, it dies of suffocation.

Inspector. (_To the Boy, irritably._)

Don’t lean against me like that!

Doctor. And when your husband goes shooting, he doesn’t find every bird that he wounds.

Inspector. He finds as many as he can.

Doctor. Ha! As many as he can! But the ones he DOESN’T find! Are they chloroformed? And what about the animals that die in traps? And the birds that are snared? (_He points at the Inspector._) How about that fox? That pheasant?

Inspector. You’re insulting!

Doctor. Madam, you’re a fine Inspector! Here you stand, admitting that your husband kills for pleasure! And you’re tricked out in the skin and the feathers of dumb creatures. Look at that poor head! Those little paws! And yet you spy on a man who causes suffering only to save human life!

(_The Boy coughs, and leans heavily against his mother._)

Inspector. Save human life! With your nasty serums, you mean? Oh, what nonsense!

Doctor. Madam, go home. And take care of your boy!

Inspector. You needn’t worry about my boy. (_She draws the Boy to her._)

Doctor. But, see! His cheeks! He’s got fever.

Inspector. (_To the Boy._)

Do you feel sick, dear?

Doctor. Let ME have a look at him. (_Starts forward._)

Inspector. (_Puts out hand to check the doctor._)

No! Your hands are stained with the blood of the innocent! Don’t you dare to touch him! (_She takes the Boy up in her arms._) I wouldn’t let you treat a dog of mine! (_Crosses to the street door and halts to look back._) You fiend! (_Goes out._)

Doctor. Oh, all right! (_Follows the Inspector to the door, slams it, turns toward the laboratory._) But the poor little chap ought to be home in bed. (_Strikes at the Fly._) Oh, you pest! (_Looks up at the top of the wall, to where the Fly has gone, turns, touches the electric button, putting the garden again in darkness, and closes the laboratory door after him._)

Dog. (_Howls mournfully._)

Woo--oo--oo--oo! (_Pause._) Woo--oo--oo!

(_The Cat meows as if frightened. The Monkey chatters angrily. The Horse snorts. The globe again lights the garden, and the Monkey is standing with one fore-paw on the electric button. The other paw is bandaged. The Dog is outside his kennel. He, too, wears a bandage--about his head. It gives him a rakish expression. The Rabbit is sitting in front of her hutch. She moves her ears nervously._)

Dog. (_Howls._)

Woo--oo--oo--oo!

(_The Cat appears from behind the Monkey’s house. She wears a gay collar to which is attached a small bell._)

Cat. (_Anxiously._)

Dog! Are you sick?

(_The Monkey comes down to observe the Dog._)

Dog. No. Cat, no! (_Howls._) Woo--oo--oo!

Monkey. (_Crossly._)

Well, if you’re not sick, what’re you howling about?

Dog. Oh, somebody’s going to die. Woo--oo--oo--oo!

(_The animals are greatly excited. The Rabbit and the Cat join the Monkey, while the Horse snorts and stamps._)

Rabbit. Oh, Dog, is it I?

Horse. (_Puts his head in at the square opening._)

Or I?

Cat. Oh, I’m scared! (_Puts her paws to her eyes._)

Dog. Don’t worry, Cat. It’s not one of us!

Monkey. Not? Then cut out that howling! Y’ know, I’VE got NERVES.

Horse. Is it the Doctor?

(_The Dog shakes his head._)

Monkey. No such luck!

Horse. Is it the Inspector?

Rabbit. And she defended us! Oh! Oh!

Monkey. (_To the Rabbit._)

Blame that Doctor! It’s HIS fault!

Dog. Rabbit, it’s not the Inspector.

Cat. Then it’s the Boy!

All. Is it? Tell us! Oh, Dog!

Dog. I’m afraid it’s the Boy. Woo--oo--oo--oo!

Cat. The Boy? Meow! Meow!

Monkey. (_To the Cat._)

Oh, shut up! Here I am, that Boy’s own cousin, as you might say, and I’M not crying!

Rabbit. What’s the matter with the Boy?

CAT and HORSE

(_Together._)

Yes! Yes! What?

Monkey. Wasn’t the Boy just here? I tell you, it’s that DOCTOR!

Dog. Oh, poor little Boy! Oh, his throat. Woo--oo--oo!

Horse. Throat! Oh! Dear! Dear!

Monkey. Ah-ha! (_To the Horse._) Didn’t that Doctor give YOU something, in YOUR throat?

All. That’s so! Yes! He did!

Monkey. That’s your proof! (_Sits on the stone bench._)

Cat. Then it’s true?

Monkey. As true as there’s milk in cocoanuts.

Rabbit. Oh! Oh!

Horse. Well, I’m only a horse!

Dog. But the Boy is almost a man.

Monkey. Ya-a-ah! Look at how that Doctor treats ME! And I’M almost a man.

All. Yes. A man. Almost. You are.

Monkey. (_Rises proudly._)

Indeed, I am! I even THINK like a man. (_The animals agree by nods._) And I ought to live in the house with the family. But does that Doctor want me? Oh, I hate him! (_Chatters angrily._)

Rabbit. And _I_ hate him! (_Moves her ears._)

Monkey. My friends, this Doctor is the cause of ALL our troubles. I wish HE were going to die. (_Animals are shocked._) Yes! And for half a banana I’d kill him!

All. Kill him! Oh!

Monkey. Yes, kill him, and set you all free. (_Takes proud attitude._)

All. Free? Free? Could you? (_The Horse whinnies, the Cat plays, the Dog barks, the Rabbit moves her ears._)

Monkey. Could I? Rather! (_Struts to and fro._)

Rabbit. But HOW could you kill him?

Monkey. How? Easy enough! (_To the others._) Now, HOW shall--er--WE kill him?

Horse. I suppose I could kick him.

Dog. And I could bite him. Like that!

Cat. I could scratch his eyes out. Pst! Pst!

Monkey. (_Proudly._)

I could fight him man to man! Come, friends! (_He motions the Rabbit, the Cat and the Dog to him._) We’ll bite him, we’ll kick him, we’ll scratch him, we’ll kill him together.

All. Yes! Yes! We’ll kill him!

Fly. (_Appears on the wall above the Horse._)

Buzz-z-z-z-z-z!

(_Animals look up. The eyes of the Fly glow red._)

Buzz-z-z-z-z-z!

All. The Fly! The Fly! The Fly! (_They go toward him._)

Fly. Hey, all of you! Wait a minute! If you’re going to kill that Doctor, _I_ want to help!

All. Come down! Yes! Help!

(_The Fly descends the wall; buzzing loudly. The others conduct him forward._)

Fly. Ladies and gentlemen, I was fast asleep up there, out of the way of the spiders, when all of a sudden I was awakened by the music of your voices. And I heard your delicious scheme. Oh, I yearn to be a part of it! For I hate that Doctor, too!

All. (_Surprised._)

You? Why? Why?

Fly. Why? Saucers of poisoned sugar-water, THAT’S why! Reams of sticky tangle-foot, that’s why! And did you hear what he said to your friend, the Inspector? And did you see him SWAT at me as he went out?

All. (_Sympathetically._)

Yes! Yes! Meow! Bow-wow! Ee-ee-ee!

Fly. Yes! This same Doctor who tortures you! Look at poor Horse--full of diphtheria!

Horse. Well, of course, it doesn’t hurt!

Fly. If it hurt, he’d do it just the same. (_To the Monkey._) And think how he treats you--you ought to be a member of his household.

Monkey. People are NEVER kind to their poor relations.

Fly. (_To the Dog._)

And, oh, what he hasn’t done to YOU! (_The Dog growls. To the Rabbit._) And you’re full of typhoid. (_The Rabbit gives a little scream. To the Cat._) And you’ll be the NEXT!

Cat. Meow!!

Fly. And so he must die! (_To the Horse._) But if you kick him, his friends will shoot you. (_To the Dog._) If you bite him, they’ll think you’re mad! (_To the Cat._) If you scratch him, they’ll wring your neck. So you’d better let ME kill him!

All. YOU?

Fly. And nobody will ever know! Buzz-z-z! Buzz-z-z-z-z! (_His eyes glow red._)

Monkey. (_Contemptuously._)

How can a mere fly kill a man?

All. Oh, he can’t! Impossible! No.

Monkey. A common fly, too. A common house fly.

Fly. So you doubt it, do you? (_Proudly._) My friends, it is _I_ who am killing that Boy!

All. You? Oh! The Boy!

Fly. Yes, I!

Dog. (_Howls._)

Woo--oo--oo--oo!

Fly. The other day, when he was having his breakfast, I lit on the edge of his glass of milk. (_Darkly._) And I wiped my foot! (_Making a wiping motion with his right front foot._)

All. Your FOOT?

Fly. But what’s one boy! Huh! With the help of my thousand children, I could wipe out this whole town! (_Animals turn away incredulously. The Horse brays like a donkey in derision. The Cat puts a paw over her mouth to hide a smile._) I could, I tell you. (_To the Cat._) Haven’t I the entrée to the best homes?

Cat. (_Nods._)

Oh, meow!

Horse. And to the best stables! (_Stamps._)

Monkey. (_Crossly._)

While I have to stay out in a garden!

Fly. Well, then! At this moment I have six million, six hundred thousand germs on my feet. (_Raises his right front foot._) Here’s my diphtheria!

Horse. Oh, horrible! (_Stamps._)

(_The Dog starts, and stares at the Fly._)

Fly. (_Holds up first left foot._)

And here’s typhoid!

Rabbit. Er--ah!

Dog. Typhoid, too!

Fly. I’m the best little carrier of typhoid the world has ever seen.

Dog. (_Grimly._)

Go on! Go on!

Fly. (_Holds up second right foot._)

Here I keep scarlet fever. (_Holds up second left foot._) And here’s small-pox! (_Holds up third right foot._) And here’s the white plague.

Monkey. (_Falls back, frightened._)

Ee--ee--ee!

Fly. Now, ladies and gentlemen, here I am, germed to the feet! How shall that Doctor die?

Dog. (_Significantly._)

So, Mr. Fly, you carry ALL the diseases?

Fly. (_Proudly._)

I carry them all! All! Even infantile paralysis! (_Laughs._) And let me tell you a little joke! They’ll never get rid of disease as long as I’M alive. Buzz-z-z-z-z-z-z! Buzz-z-z-z-z-z! Buzz-z-z!

Dog. Friends, we’ve been blaming the wrong person!

All. What? You mean--? Tell us!

Dog. It’s not the Doctor. This Fly is our REAL enemy!

All. Enemy! The Fly! (_They fall away from the Fly._)

Fly. (_To the Dog._)

How can you turn on me like that? I’ve tickled your nose. I’ve kept you awake. But--

Dog. Silence! (_To the others._) If this Fly didn’t carry disease, there wouldn’t be sickness. If there wasn’t sickness, the Doctor wouldn’t have to experiment on us.

(_The Horse snorts, the Monkey chatters, the Cat spits, the Rabbit moves her ears._)

Fly. Oh, you ungrateful beasts!

Dog. You bug! You ungrateful bug! If there’s a warm corner in the house, you have it; if there’s a sweet cake in the cupboard, you eat it. And for all the hospitality that’s shown you, what do you do? You carry filth! You carry death! You even murder little babies!

Fly. And what do YOU do? You sit in the laps of women!

Dog. I may sit in the laps of women, but I don’t put my feet in their food!

Cat. Good for you, Dog! (_The other animals show approval._)

Fly. (_To the Cat._)

You little sneak. What have I ever done to you?

Cat. Your relatives fall into my milk!

Monkey. (_To the Fly._)

So YOU carry the white plague? Ee-ee-ee! (_Points a long finger at the Fly._)

Horse. And every time you give somebody diphtheria, the Doctor runs a needle into me. (_Stamps his feet._)

Dog. Friends, I have a plan.

All. What is it? Go ahead! Yes! Hear! Hear!

Dog. It’s this: (_Darkly._) Swat the Fly!

Fly. Oh, Dog! No! No!

Dog. Swat him! He’s worse than a rattlesnake!

Fly. Oh, but you wouldn’t! I’m little! So little!

Dog. It’s only BECAUSE you’re little that you’ve lived so long! (_To the others._) We’ll swat him! We’ll swat him!

Fly. Buzz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z! (_He moves his wings; his eyes glow red. As he attempts to back away the animals form in a half circle and block his retreat._)

All. Yes, swat him! Swat him! Swat him!

Fly. Oh, wait, wait! Oh, ladies and gentlemen!

All. Swat the Fly! Swat the Fly!

Fly. (_Holds up his third left foot._)

Look out! On this foot I carry a disease that’s death to animals!

Rabbit. Oh! Oh! (_Hops aside and covers her eyes with her forepaws. Her ears tremble._)

Monkey. (_Retreats in the opposite direction and cowers in fear._)

Oh! Oh!

Dog. Come on, Kitten!

Cat. Swat him! Swat him!

Horse. Swat him! (_Rears excitedly._)

Fly. Buzz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z! Buzz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z! Buzz-z-z-z-z-z-z!

(_There is a struggle. The Dog growls; the Cat spits. Suddenly the Dog and the Cat separate. The Fly is lying on his back, dead. The Cat and the Dog come down to the kennel. The Rabbit uncovers her eyes. The Monkey regains his brave air._)

Horse. Well, good-bye to one little germ carrier!

Dog. And a thousand little flies are fatherless.

Cat. (_Smoothes her fur._)

Why, that Doctor brought me home when I was starving in the street! Purr-r-r! Purr-r-r!

Rabbit. And he took ME away from a bad little boy! (_Hops to the hutch._)

Monkey. And after all, he’s a relative of mine. And--blood is thicker than water! (_He strolls toward the laboratory door._)

Dog. My friend, suppose, after this, that instead of fighting the Doctor, we fight the flies!

All. Good! Yes! Hoorah! We’ll swat the flies!

Dog. (_Goes to kennel._)

Now, where’s that fine big bone? (_Growls gently; settles down._)

Monkey. (_Yawns._)

Everybody ready for bed?

(_Chorus of sleepy growls, meows, whinnies, and squeaks. The Monkey puts a paw on the push button, and the lights go out._)

(_As the garden goes dark there is the sound of someone running._)

Inspector. (_Calling from the street._)

Doctor! Help! Oh, Doctor! (_She rushes through the door._) Doctor, oh, Doctor, where are you? Oh, Doctor, help!

(_The Doctor throws open the door of the laboratory, enters, and presses the electric button. The Inspector is standing beside the bench, the Boy in her arms. She wears no hat or coat. Beside her, on the lawn, is a cat, wearing a gay collar, to which is fastened a tiny bell. A dog comes from the kennel, a horse looks through the square opening, and a monkey appears out of the monkey-house._)

(_The Doctor is in his shirt-sleeves. He comes down._)

Inspector. My boy! My boy’s dying! He can’t breathe!

Doctor. Here! (_Takes the Boy in his arms, lays him upon the bench, and leans down to him._)

Inspector. Oh, save him! Save him! Oh, I can’t lose my boy! What can you do?

Doctor. Diphtheria! Wait! (_Takes the case out of his pocket._)

Inspector. Oh, not that, Doctor! No! No!

Doctor. (_Brushes the Inspector aside._)

Let me alone! It’s the only thing!

(_The Doctor administers the serum to the Boy._)

Inspector. (_Covers her face; drops to her knees in front of the Doctor, her back toward him._)

Oh, I don’t care WHAT you do--if you’ll only save him!

Doctor. Here! Look! (_The Inspector turns._) Oh, it’s wonderful! See! Already!

Inspector. Oh, my son! My little son!

Doctor. Relieved! (_Straightens up._) But it was a close shave!

Inspector. Doctor, will you forgive me?

Doctor. Come! Get him into his bed. (_Lifts the Boy in his arms and gives him to the Inspector._)

Inspector. Oh, I was wrong! I was wrong!

Doctor. No, you’re right. Vivisection IS cruel. But disease is cruel--and, oh, how cruel is death!

Inspector. Oh, I’m ashamed! Here I was, spying on you, fighting--

Doctor. I’m willing to be watched. But if you trust us doctors with the lives of your children, can’t you trust us with the lives of cats and dogs?

Inspector. Oh, yes! Yes! (_Starts to go; turns._) Oh, how can I ever thank you! You’ve saved my boy!

Doctor. Don’t thank me. Thank your brother, the horse!

(_The Inspector goes out, murmuring to the Boy._)

Well, old fellow! (_The Doctor pats the horse, and gives him sugar._) You saved him. And I WISH you could know it! (_Stoops to stroke the cat._) Ah! Here’s a dead fly! (_Picks up a fly from the floor._)

[Illustration]

NOVELS BY ELEANOR GATES

THE POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL. 50 cents, net.

THE BIOGRAPHY OF A PRAIRIE GIRL. 50 cents, net.

THE PLOW-WOMAN. 50 cents, net.

CUPID, THE COW-PUNCH. 50 cents, net.

THE JUSTICE OF GIDEON. (Short stories). $1.20 net.

PLAYS BY ELEANOR GATES

_In preparation_:

THE WAITING SOUL (one act). A drama of the “twilight sleep.”

WE ARE SEVEN (three acts), stage version.

THE POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL (three acts), stage version.

Also in preparation, a novel

WATCH-MATES

A romance of the China Sea.

By FREDERICK MOORE Author of “THE DEVIL’S ADMIRAL,” etc.

THE ARROW PUBLISHING COMPANY 116 WEST FIFTY-NINTH STREET NEW YORK

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:

Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.