MISS GODESBY. [Satirically.] Oh, yes, of course, the next morning when
I wake up Sterling will be gone!  Nobody knows where!

WARDEN.  I’ve had it out with Sterling!  I am here as his representative.  I give you my word of honor Sterling will not run away.  It is under such an understanding with him that I am pleading his case in his stead.  He will stay here and work till he has paid you back, every cent.

[JESSICA enters hurriedly from the house.

JESSICA. [In great excitement.] Mr. Warden, Mr. Warden, Dick has gone!

WARDEN. Sterling?  Gone?

MISS GODESBY. Gone?

GODESBY.  That’s good!

WARDEN.  Don’t be a fool, Godesby.  How do you mean “gone,” Miss Hunter?

JESSICA.  I don’t altogether know.  While I was out this morning, Blanche received a message from mother saying she’d been—­

[She hesitates, looking toward GODESBY and MISS GODESBY.

WARDEN.  They know.  They’re your mother’s guests here.

JESSICA.  She told Blanche they would be glad to have her here at one o’clock for breakfast.  Blanche ordered the sleigh at once and went away, leaving word for me I was to open any message which might come for her.

WARDEN. [To GODESBY.] Has she been here?

GODESBY.  Not that I know of.

MISS GODESBY. [Eager to hear more.] No, no!

JESSICA.  No, they say not.  She probably went first to Aunt Ruth’s. 
Before I got back, Dick, who’d been out—­

WARDEN.  He was at my house.

JESSICA.  Yes.  He came back, questioned Jordan as to where Blanche was, went upstairs, and then went away again, leaving a note for Blanche, which I found when I came home—­

WARDEN. [Eagerly.] Yes?

JESSICA.  It simply said, “Good-by.  Dick.”

MISS GODESBY. [Very angry.] Oh!

GODESBY. [Quickly.] He’s taken a train!  He’s cleared out!

WARDEN.  Do you know if he took a bag or anything with him?

JESSICA.  No, he took nothing of that sort.  Jordan went into his room and found a drawer open and empty, a drawer in which Dick kept—­a pistol!—­

[She drops her voice almost to a whisper.

WARDEN.  Good God, he’s shot himself!

JESSICA.  Perhaps not—­he left the house.

WARDEN.  Yes, if he were really determined to shoot himself, why wouldn’t he have done it there in his own room?

JESSICA.  What can we do?  What can we do?

WARDEN.  I’ll get Mr. Mason; he’s with your mother; he must go back to town at once.

[Going to the house.

JESSICA.  He can go with me; I’d better be at the house.  Some one must be there.

WARDEN.  Good!

[He goes into the house.

[MISS GODESBY and her brother ignore and apparently forget the presence of JESSICA in their excitement.  They both speak and move excitedly.