## SCENE 111.

The same as scenes 1 and 2. Afternoon.

Enter Putnam r. and Sam l., simultaneously.

Putnam... Ah Sam!

Sam... What news sir?

Putnam... I have none.

Sam... Is he not here?

Putnam... Then you have not seen him?

Sam... Not since noon. I came here to see him. I thought I was following him here.

Putnam... Oh Sam, what will become of us?

Sam... Where is Betty?

Putnam... In the yard laughing and making light of everything.

Sam... Have you told her what I said?

Putnam... Yes, but it does no good. Nothing is of any use. She will not heed me.

Sam... But have you made her realize the danger?

Putnam... Sam I am desperate! Strive with her, you perhaps can bring her to reason. Think of it Sam! She has even made her will!

Sam... Her will sir? Surely only in jest!

Putnam... No, in earnest. She forced me to help her. All is legal to the smallest detail. ( Putnam crosses.)

Sam... Where are you going sir?

Putnam... To find your uncle and to plead with him. Oh, I wish I had never seen either of you!

Betty... (entering r.) Why father?

Putnam... Why? It's clear enough why, I think.

Sam... How are you feeling, Betty?

Betty... Loose in the head, Sam. I've laughed so much.

Putnam...
Betty listen to me again. Come with me. We must go
and implore him. Come with me and implore him.

Betty... I would rather stay here and read. (she opens her book)

Putnam...
Put down that book! (Betty puts it down.) Betty you
cannot grasp how frantic this town is or else you could
not be so indifferent. Come with me.

Betty...
What would be the use? I would anger him.

Putnam...
If you apologized...

Betty...
And gave him the field -

Putnam...
Yes, yes Betty do it.

Betty...
You had better go alone rather.

Putnam...
Well then I will go. Sam plead with her. (exit Putnam)

Betty...
Well Sam, what do you think of my rather?

Sam...
He is perfectly and accurately right. You are in
grave danger.

Betty...
Good. At least some one agrees with him. What time
is my execution set for?

Sam...
Betty don't talk that way. I hope no time will ever
be set.

Betty...
Thank you. Oh how glad I am I went away to school.
Have you ever been to Boston, Sam?

Sam...
Betty don't go on in this way.

Betty...
Why here in Salem -

Sam...
Betty harken to me.

Betty...
I say here in this place -

Sam...
Betty you must listen.

Betty...
Stop it!

Sam...
I will not stop it until you listen.

Betty...
Well I will not listen until I have finished.

23

Betty...
I say here in Salem where could I have found a division equal to this occasion, but in Boston, Sam there are books, books to please every mood and in them mercaments to disperse any meloncholy.

Sam---
Betty please listen to me.

Betty...
When I am through. Now here Sam is a wondrous funny book. It will cure any spleen. It cured mine. Read it: I recommend it in all seriousness.

Sam......
Though I have stopped my uncle for a moment - and I pray you Betty think of this seriously - he will come again and when he does -

Betty...
Just one more thing. Here it says -and I pray you Sam think of this seriously - that for all our diligence and superstitions the world will end when it will end, in merely merriment, come what may, and mark my word for it, I have read it in a book, it is true! Why Sam, is it not ridiculous to kill a little girl and Sam, a pretty girl for truly she hath put her thumb in her preacher's eye!

Sam......
Be serious, Betty.

Betty...
Serious! Why if I must die I'll meet my end jestingly. Which is called being true to one's disposition.

Sam......
Why are you perverse? I urge you, your father has urged you to go.

Betty...
I have just come home and don't want to go away again so soon.

Sam......
Horses are saddled to take us to the boat, yet you will hear none of it. Why? Betty, why?

Betty...
(laughing) Well if you must have it in so many words it's because I am always sick on the water.

Sam......
We can hide in the forest then.

Betty...
No. But if we must hide let us rather dig a hole and burrow in the earth as proper devils should. I warrant

your uncle's mind will be so taken up with heavenly contemplation he will not think to seek us there.

Sam......
betty, I fear my uncle. We must avoid his anger somehow. This cannot come to a catastrophe.

betty....
be assured, it will not.

Sam......
but we must do something.

Betty...
I have a better plan.

Sam......
What's that?

betty....
To do nothing.

Sam......
Nothing?

Betty...
Yes. What time is it?

Sam.....
Why I don't know. About three I think.

Betty...
Already three! Then I can talk with you no longer.

Sam......
Why betty?

betty....
You forget that I hate you wholesomely. We only played we were in love for half an hour. The time is up. Goodbye. (she turns to go)

Sam......
Where in Heaven's name are you going? Not to the town?

Betty...
To fetch my bonnet, then to the fields to pluck flowers for my grave! (she goes laughing toward the house)

Noyes...
(Enters L. and says in a loud voice) Samuel!

Sam.....
(starting) You here!

Noyes....
You thought you could escape me, eh? Well your horses are in safe keeping, young man.

Sam......
I've sought you everywhere.

Noyes....
Well, now you've found me.

Sam....
I'll pay you everything if you will let her go.

Noyes....
(laughs) You?

Sam......
I know I have no land but I can bind myself to work for you five years or longer, at Gloucester at the

fisheries or anywhere.
Noyes.... It will not do.
Sam...... Then nothing can help her?
Noyes.... Yes, one thing.
Sam...... And that is all?
Noyes.... Yes.
Sam...... Have you set the law upon her yet?
Noyes.... Not yet.
Sam...... Until now you have told no one?
Noyes.... Not yet, not until -
Sam...... (eagerly) Not till when sir?
Noyes.... Not yet I say, you young jackanapes!
Sam...... You're waiting then?
Noyes.... Yes, I'm waiting.
Sam...... What are you waiting for?
Noyes.... Well, what am I waiting for?
Sam...... You are waiting for her to save herself by giving you her land.
Noyes.... You are as much to blame as she.
Sam...... That means my land too.
Noyes.... Save your skin
(Enter Betty unobserved from the house R.)
Sam...... Thank you for the advice. If you accuse Betty you accuse me.
Noyes.... That's your affair not mine. All I say is: win her for your wife by five o'clock and make her sign her land to you or remember! Fire! Burning! Tell her of that. And I warn you, for you shall go as well as she, so look to it - you as well as she - both of you!

Sam...... Yes. Here's your father, just in time. Welcome
Able Putnam.

Putnam... (comes in from the street dusty, hot and dejected) He
will not yield. He will not yield.

Sam...... Sit down! Sit down! We've news for you. (pushing
Putnam toward a chair)

Putnam... Let go my arm; are you mad too?

Sam...... I have a scheme to save us all. Listen.

Putnam... Does he mean to hang me too? for if he does - (rises)

Sam...... (pushing him back into the chair) No! No!

Putnam... What is it then?

Betty.... Yes, Sam, tell us quickly.

Sam...... You have made your will, is that so Betty?

Betty.... Yes.

Sam...... To whom?

Betty.... An uncle in New Rochelle.

Sam...... Is he rich?

Betty.... Yes.

Sam...... Good' Then in all simplicity my scheme is this: not
for me to take Betty's land in my name but to reverse the
order and put my land in betty's name.

Putnam... Hm. I dont see what application that can have in saving
betty. He'll hang her doubly quick and me into the
bargain. No, I say. It will not do.

Sam...... I say it will. It is the land he wants and satisfaction
comes after. If it were not for the land he would have
jailed us both long ago. I know it. If we can tie that
beyond his fingers he'll do our will to reobtain it.
but you must help us sir.

Putnam... No, I say.

Sam... It is our only chance.

Putnam... No.

Betty... Father, do what Sam says.

Putnam... Hugh. What's the matter with you?

Betty... Will you father?

Putnam... Well, what do you want me to do?

Sam... You must make ready a deed of gift.

Putnam... At once?

Sam... Before my uncle will arrive here.

Putnam... I have not time enough. It cannot be done so quickly.

Sam... Is it impossible do you mean?

Putnam... No, not impossible -

Sam... but impossible for you, eh?

Putnam... That is it, in so short a time, yes.

Sam... Never mind then. Merely fold me a large sheet of paper - place upon it a large seal and bring it here quickly - there is no large paper here.

Putnam... But -

Sam... Go - (Putnam goes.) Now Betty any slip of paper will do for us. Is there a pen here?

Betty... Yes, what can I do?

Sam... Sit down and write. I'll dictate. Quickly.

Betty... (prepares to write) Yes.

Sam... Leave room for signatures.

Betty... I will..

Sam... I Nicholas Noyse preacher in the town of Salem in the province of Massachusetts under the seal, hereby duly sworn to pose and say - to wit: In order that these two

hereinafter named may be forearmed against this urgent
and unsettled time, that be they taken, singly or togeth-
er, and accused as witch and wizard, that they are not so
but are by me known to be in faculty whole and not given
to the devil, and shall not by any means be tried as such
or punished. These are, to wit: Elizabeth Putnam and
Samuel Noyes.

Betty.... Amen.

Sam...... Then put"signed"in brackets and under that"witnessed
by"in brackets also. Your father shall be witness.

Betty.... but Sam, ne'll never sign that.

Sam...... Quick! Quick! Here he comes.

Noyes.... (entering 1.) Still here, eh. Where is my paper?

Putnam... (entering r.) Oh preacher Noyes -

Noyes... Silence, father of witches! Well, are you ready Sam?

Sam..... Yes, here sir. (giving the paper Betty has just written)

Noyes.... (reading) What's this? This is not it.

Sam..... Yet read it.

Noyes... (reading) "I Nicholas Noyes, preacher in the town of
Salem - duly sworn - what's this - ? You, Putnam!

Putnam... I did nothing! Do not look at me like that!

Betty... I'll gladly pay all Sam's debts sir, if you will not
accuse him, and I am rich.

Sam...... (stopping her) Betty!

Noyes... Oh you will, eh? Well you will not. Let Putnam tend to
Putnam, Noyes will take care of Noyes. Sam is this all -
this insolence?

Sam...... No, I have still to tell you that all my lands are now
in Betty's name.

Noyes... You mean - ?

30

Sam.... Yes I've given them to her. Able has the deed and when she's gone an uncle now in New Rochelle takes all she dies possessed of.

Noyes.. What! What! Sam you are crazy. Would you kill me?

Putnam. I pray you sir be lenient.

Noyes.. (Pushing him aside) Out of my way you sap head. Sam make me your proposal, we will be reasonable. What do you want? This is impossible.

Sam.... What you already know. To have Betty go free.

Noyes.. Well you shall see how free she goes. Let me see your deed.

Sam.... I will not.

Noyes.. A proof that it is false; you had no time to do it legally. You Putnam before Heaven is this false?

Sam.... Since the -

Noyes.. I say Putnam.

Sam.... Since the -

Noyes.. Putnam! Putnam!

Sam.... Since the contents are but as a blank to him he can-
not help you. Before Heaven Able do you know one word
that's in this document?

Putnam.. (raising hand) No. Not a single word.

Noyes.. Because there's nothing written there.

Sam.... If that's so there's also nothing more to say.
Come Betty.

Noyes.. Let me see it then.

Sam.... I'd tear it into atoms first.

Noyes... Tear it then and I'll let you go free, provided you promise to make no other deed.

31

Sam...... If that is a bargain give us our freedom first. Here
is our paper on which you are to sign us our freedom.
(he spreads it on the table)

Noyes.... (reads the paper slowly and takes the pen in hand to write) It's sign this or Noyse land goes to Putnam. Is that it?

Sam...... In effect, yes.

Noyes.... Sam, you have more sense than I gave you credit for.

Sam...... So it seems.

Noyes.... If I sign this you go free, eh? Well, well, I have
your promise to tear that paper?

Sam...... Yes.

Noyes.... (signs) Now then tear that paper.

Sam...... No, witness first. Sign Putnam. (Putnam signs) Now
Betty tear! (Betty tears the paper into small pieces.)

Noyes.... (smiling blandly) So all is amicably settled. But
remember, and that means all of you, one word of this
in the town and paper or no paper - well I think you know
me by this time. Good-bye. I suppose none of you is
going to the hanging of Sarah Cloyse. (he laughs) well,
you must drop in and see me Able. Good-bye. (he goes)

Putnam... Thank heaven!

Sam...... Yes, let's go away from this place.

Betty.... You go on, father, I have several things of great
importance I must say to Sam.

Putnam... Very well. I'll wait for you indoors. (he goes in)
(Betty and Sam follow slowly.)

CURTAIN.