Schmidt. Excited?  I get excited if I please to get excited!  Vot you got for business to tell me if I get excited?  I show you vot I get! (Rushes to door.) Police!  Police! (Rushes back.) If I did not vant a police, he stand by my door and hold out his hand for sandwiches!  If you have to steal food, why you don’t go by Schnitzelman on der next block—­he haf a big place, und I can yust mein expenses not make.

Jack. I’m sorry, truly.  But what could I do?

Schmidt. I dunno vot you do, but you keep out from mein place.  Dey comes me somebody every veek und plays me dot trick, und den tells me I get dem arrested! (Rushes to door.) Find me a police!  I keep dis man here till I find a police!  Help!  Police! police! (Exit shouting).

Jack (to Belle). God knows I’m sorry.  But I can’t help you.  You see, I can’t even help myself.

Belle. Are you really as bad off as you said?

Jack. I am clean down and out.

Schmidt (rushes back). All right!  Now I got a police!  I show you!  You come und rob a man!  I show you!

Policeman (enters Center; a big red-faced Irishman). An’ phat’s this, now?

Schmidt. Policeman, you arrest him und you take him to jail.  He comes by my place und he eats my food und den he tells me he don’t pay me.

Policeman (to Jack). Phat’s the matter wid yez?

Jack. Officer, I had to have something to eat—­I was starving.  I have walked the streets for two days, begging for a job, and I’ve not been able to earn a penny.  I was desperate.

Policeman (grasping Jack). Where do yez live, young divvil?

Jack. I’ve come from—­a long way off.  And I’ve been unfortunate—­lost my money.  I’ve tried my best.  I’m willing to work——­

Policeman. Why didn’t yez ask him for work?

Schmidt. I don’t vant his vork.  I vant his money, or you takes him to jail.

Policeman. An’ phat might his bill be?

Jack. Thirty-five cents.

Policeman (to Schmidt). Do yez think I’ve no more to do than arrestin’ people for thirty-five cents?

Schmidt (excitedly). Can I feed all the tramps on dis Avenue by my place?  I say you arrest him!

Policeman. Well, all right—­if that’s it.  Come along here.

Belle. Mr. Schmidt.

Schmidt. Hey?

Belle. Let me pay what he owes you.

Schmidt. Hey?

Jack. No!

Belle. Let me pay it.  He’s a friend of mine, and I don’t want him arrested.

Jack. No, no—­I won’t have it.

Belle. You can pay me back.  You’ll get a job soon.  Mr. Schmidt, will you take it out of my next wages?

Jack. I say no!

Belle. You can’t help it.  Just take it out of my wages, and let him alone—­that’ll settle it, won’t it?