SAM.  And they having me locked up in a hotel.

EM’LY.  I should say so.

SAM. [Reading:]—­“been absent.  And we can guarantee your regular employment in our offices here or at any other station you may prefer.  Yours very truly, etc.,—­Superintendent.”

EM’LY.  Well, what do you think?

SAM.  Not much—­Bollinger says we can get twenty thousand dollars.

EM’LY.  I know—­that’s what he told Jim too—­he wanted us to put off the wedding.

SAM.  Jim?

EM’LY.  No—­Bollinger—­

SAM.  Why?

EM’LY.  He said it would make a stronger case.

SAM. [Resenting the idea.] Well, see here, Em’ly—­

EM’LY.  I’m only telling you what Bollinger said.

SAM.  Put off our wedding?

EM’LY.  He said for about two months.

SAM.  What’s he take me for?

EM’LY.  Jim heard him.

SAM.  What did Jim say?

EM’LY.  He said—­why, he said that was about ten thousand a month, just for waiting.

SAM.  No, sir-ee.

EM’LY.  An’ Bollinger, tryin’ to encourage me, said he’d let his wife go that long for half the money.

SAM.  Well, do you think it’s right?

EM’LY.  What?

SAM.  Why, this postponing for damages.

EM’LY.  Not if you don’t—­only Bollinger said it wouldn’t hurt any to wait.

SAM.  See here, Em’ly—­seems to me you ain’t any too anxious you’self.

EM’LY.  Well, how can a girl be, Sam—­I can’t just up and say I won’t wait—­especially when they’re your damages—­I haven’t got any right to say I’m worth ten thousand dollars a month.

SAM. [Embracing her.] Well, you bet your life you are.

EM’LY. [Acquiescing.] Well—­

Enter DAVE and LIZBETH.

DAVE.  Hello, Sam.

SAM.  Hello.

LIZBETH. [Pleased with the example of SAM and EM’LY.] Dave!

EM’LY.  Why, how do you do?

DAVE.  Where’s Jim?

SAM.  In the house.

LIZBETH.  Isn’t it awful, Em’ly. [She and EM’LY go to the little porch.

SAM.  What’s the matter?

DAVE.  People don’t understand it.

SAM.  What do you mean?

DAVE.  Why, Jim; lots of ’em thinks he did it.

SAM.  Did what?  Shoot Travers?

DAVE.  No, give him that horse—­

SAM.  Give to him?  Git out.

DAVE.  Well, you bet they said so, and Bollinger and Sarber and Cal and lots of them think so.

SAM. [Astonished.] Git out!

DAVE.  Yes, sir-ee.

SAM.  They better not say that to me.

DAVE.  Why, they’d say it to Jim—­you ought to hear them talking at the convention—­

SAM.  Is this the day of the convention?

DAVE.  ’Tain’t come to order yit, but they’re all up to the Court House,—­one feller nailed the telegrams on a bulletin where everybody could read them.