Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-02-19
THE MAN FIRST
BY

up" a play manuscript.
THE Man FIRST
EVELYN HOPE
Characters-Molly, a servant; Detective
Nelson. Mrs. Harvard.
Parlor set. Door down r. Door, up
left. French window back G, Fireplace
down L. Large easy chair in front OF
fire. Table r. c., chair on either side OF
table. Sofa back r. Piano back L.
Chair below door 1; Chair below door
r.. Large easel with baby's picture be
tween window and piano..
seated by the fire in deep mourning.
Molly enters. panses. looks at Mrs. Har-
ward. crosses softly to herr.
Molly-Won't you please have a bite oil
supper ma'am?
Mrs; H;-No. thank you, Molly.
Molly-Nothin' at all?
Moliy-Yon didn't eat a bite of dinner,
ma'am.
Moliy-An' won't you have somethin'
Mrs. HI couldn't eat It, Molly.
Molly--Well, then, won't You go to
Mrs. H.MWhat time is it?
Molly-Why. it's just lackin, a few min,
utes to midnight, maam Please let me
take you to your room.
Mrs. HI couldn't sleep.
sMM n 2 starts c r; stops sq fSst Make YOU
a cup of tea. ma'am?
Mrs. H.-No, Molly. no.
Molly-Well, couldn't I Just make you
q little bit of chicken salad?-
Mrs. H.-No, Molly, I couldn't eat.
Molly-Well, you can't live without
eatin'. ma'am, and You haven't slept a
wink since Mr.. Harvard's been dead; !
Mrs. H.-Don't. Molly. don't,
Molly-Grievin' yourself to death over
drunk all the time. Or, maybe it's the
little baby you're grievin'. over. ma.am.
] can't bear to see you Ike this. Now,
tasty. such as no one but Molly could fix
Mrs. H.-No, Molly, no. I know you
Moliy-Yes ma'am. Won't You have a
little clam broth. to tone you up like?
Molly gives it up and starts to exit R,
when there is a loud ring Of the door
and ,iio Starts sur to exit ea 'i ieft. ' Mrs.. Harvard q
rises and crosses to intercept herr.
Mrs. H.-Wait a minute, Molly.
Molly-It must be that Detective Mel
son., ma'am. 1t couldn't be no one else at
this hour. Perhaps he's found a new
cluei
Mrs. H,-A new clue! (she staggers and
IS about to fall, when Molly catches herr.
Molly-My. what's the matter, ma'am?
You look ready to faint.
Molly-You can't see no one tonight;
ma'an1. Go TO your room and I'll tell
you're shakin' like a leaf. Go TO your
room quick. I'll talk to him..
(Mrs. Harvard crosses to door r and
pauses, listening. Molly exits L.).
Detective N. (outside)-Good evening.
Molly (not too cordially)-Come in.
There is a sound of a closing door and
Mol1y-Come in.
Detective Nelson enters. lioks at
Molly as il he expected her to take his
hat Sha dnnc not dn en- 60 hn nninfly
places it on a chair below door l.. re-
moves his coat very deliberately and
trr VOW d il across qs m the PACK J o Of sna 3nsne ecmes
Of left half # room. Molly Comes down
right OF table and stands directly oppo-
her directly in the eyer.
Molly-Did you want to see someone,
sir?
Detective N.-Yes, Mrs. Harvard, If you
MoIly-well, you can't see her.
Detective NJ must.
Molly-It's too late.
Detective NJ have some news for her.
Molly-You can tell it to me and I'll tell
It to her in the mornin'.
1t concerns Mr.. Harvard's death.
Molly-She knows too much about it
now.
Detective N.-Oh. does she?
Molly-Yes, she does
Detective Must what does she know?
Molly.EnoaWgh to worry her sweet life
Detective N.-well, of course, I'm very
sorry for her, and / dislike very much to
disturb dnS t her FER rest ms ~ but 1T its tp aitS this c i%a
until I have an interview with Mrs. Har-
ward; so, without further argument,
Molly, please tell your mistress thai I
DETECTIVES N. sits in chair by fireplace.
Molly goes up r and sits on sofa). Ode,
tective n. looks round, sees her and
Defective Nt.Ecan I impress it upon YOU
that It is very important for me to see
Molly rising)-I don't know whether
it's important. or not, but I do know it's
mighty annoyin' to have yon comm here
the missus to bed, an after two hours
coaxin'.
gagged to work on this case. and propose
to follow every clew until the murderer
Of lin Harvard is brought to earth 40
Detective N.-Yes, I have.
Molly--Another clue! You come here
three times a day. and every time You
Detective N.-Well, this time it's the
Detective N.-Yes. it is. Now. call Mrs.
Molly-Sit down and wait then.
Detective N.-That sounds more like it.
CHe comes down and sits in chair l. of
NAitor fDetect1Ve nelson is seated Molly
comes down and sits in chair r OF tablet
her?
Molly-In the mornin'.
Detective N.-(Rising and starting to
her myself.
notwithstanding him hurriedly). Wait
a minute, wait a minute. I'll call her.
lShe crosses. to door, looks back. Ill call
her. I'll call her. Gle starts back toward,
the chair, but pauses and looks at her