LIZBETH.  Court House.

SARBER.  Been an awful hot day. [Exit.

KATE. [In haunted fear.] What have you heard about it?

MRS. VERNON.  Why, it don’t surprise me, Kate.

LIZBETH.  They say Travers is the train-robber—­

KATE.  Lizbeth!

LIZBETH.  Sam Fowler knew him the minute he saw him—­, that’s why
Travers had to shoot—­to git away!

MRS. VERNON.  Not Sam?

LIZBETH.  No, didn’t shoot Sam.

KATE.  There has been some mistake—­these people have never liked Mr.
Travers.

MRS. VERNON.  I knowed he’d bring disgrace on the whole house, Kate. [Getting sun-bonnet.] I’ll go in through Mrs. Clark’s back way—­she’ll know—­come, Kate, I’m your mother, and a mother never deserts her child. [In stage heroics.

KATE. [Recoiling.] I don’t care to go.

LIZBETH.  Take me, ma.

MRS. VERNON.  Come on, [Exit with LIZBETH.

KATE. [In wild-eyed panic.] Oh, how dreadful!  This is what I have felt coming all the day.  It is my fault, too.  If I had said ‘yes’ last night, or only gone with him this morning—­it couldn’t have happened.  How horrible!—­killed a man!  They didn’t tell me whom.  I—­I wonder if my name was mentioned?  They said—­Lizbeth said—­a train-robber—­[She leans on table for support.] That letter!  Jim thought the writing looked like his.  Jim—­Jim has told others his suspicion—­Yes—­Jim Radburn has done it!  I see!  I see!  Jim hated him—­they have persecuted him for me—­Oh! oh!  Why did I not go last night?

Enter TRAVERS, pale and breathless—­revolver in hand.  He closes the door behind him.

TRAVERS.  Kate!

KATE.  Oh!

TRAVERS.  Who’s there? [Points toward shop.

KATE.  No one.  What is the matter?  Tell me what you did—­that pistol!

TRAVERS.  In self-defence—­they would have killed me if they could.

KATE.  You shot him?

TRAVERS.  Yes. [As she hides her face.] Kate!  Kate!  I can’t come in front of the window—­where can I go?

KATE.  They will find you here. [He turns, facing door with pistol, left hand holding door shut, menacingly.] No,—­not that—­you wouldn’t shoot again!  My father may come here!

TRAVERS.  Kate!  Do you believe me?

KATE.  Yes.

TRAVERS. [Pleading.] In self-defence—­they were ten—­ten to one.

KATE.  You are bleeding!

TRAVERS. [Covers hand.] The window cut me—­give me a drink—­I’m parching. [She gets water in a dipper from bucket on bench. TRAVERS drinks with the tin rattling on his teeth.  Noise of a galloping horse passes.  He drops the dipper.] I don’t think they saw me come in here.

KATE.  Why did you come?

TRAVERS.  Where else?  I ran—­turned every corner till I lost them.  If I can hide or get a horse!