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measles。
＇The GERMAN screws himself spasmodically against the arm of the
ENGLISHWOMAN'S seat。＇
ENGLISHWOMAN。 Poor little thing！ Shall I？
＇She half rises。＇
ENGLISHMAN。 ＇Touching her＇ No； no Dash it！
AMERICAN。 I honour your emotion； ma'am。 It does credit to us all。
But I sympathize with your husband too。 The measles is a very
important pestilence in connection with a grown woman。
LITTLE MAN。 It likes my finger awfully。 Really； it's rather a sweet
baby。
AMERICAN。 ＇Sniffing＇ Well； that would appear to be quite a
question。 About them spots； now？ Are they rosy？
LITTLE MAN。 No…o； they're dark； almost black。
GERMAN。 Gott！ Typhus！ ＇He bounds up on to the arm of the
ENGLISHWOMAN'S Seat。＇
AMERICAN。 Typhus！ That's quite an indisposition！
＇The DUTCH YOUTH rises suddenly； and bolts out into the
corridor。 He is followed by the GERMAN； puffing clouds of
smoke。 The ENGLISH and AMERICAN sit a moment longer without
speaking。 The ENGLISHWOMAN'S face is turned with a curious
expressionhalf pity； half feartowards the LITTLE MAN。 Then
the ENGLISHMAN gets up。＇
ENGLISHMAN。 Bit stuffy for you here； dear； isn't it？
＇He puts his arm through hers； raises her； and almost pushes her
through the doorway。 She goes； still looking back。＇
AMERICAN。 ＇Gravely＇ There's nothing I admire more'n courage。 Guess
I'll go and smoke in the corridor。
＇As he goes out the LITTLE MAN looks very wistfully after him。
Screwing up his mouth and nose； he holds the BABY away from him
and wavers； then rising； he puts it on the seat opposite and
goes through the motions of letting down the window。 Having
done so he looks at the BABY； who has begun to wail。 Suddenly
he raises his hands and clasps them； like a child praying。
Since； however； the BABY does not stop wailing； he hovers over
it in indecision； then； picking it up； sits down again to dandle
it； with his face turned toward the open window。 Finding that
it still wails； he begins to sing to it in a cracked little
voice。 It is charmed at once。 While he is singing； the
AMERICAN appears in the corridor。 Letting down the passage
window； he stands there in the doorway with the draught blowing
his hair and the smoke of his cigar all about him。 The LITTLE
MAN stops singing and shifts the shawl higher to protect the
BABY'S head from the draught。
AMERICAN。 ＇Gravely＇ This is the most sublime spectacle I have ever
envisaged。 There ought to be a record of this。
＇The LITTLE MAN looks at him； wondering。 You are typical； sir；
of the sentiments of modern Christianity。 You illustrate the
deepest feelings in the heart of every man。＇
＇The LITTLE MAN rises with the BABY and a movement of approach。＇
Guess I'm wanted in the dining…car。
＇He vanishes。 The LITTLE MAN sits down again； but back to the
engine； away from the draught； and looks out of the window；
patiently jogging the BABY On his knee。＇
CURTAIN
SCENE III
An arrival platform。 The LITTLE MAN； with the BABY and the
bundle； is standing disconsolate； while travellers pass and
luggage is being carried by。 A STATION OFFICIAL； accompanied by
a POLICEMAN； appears from a doorway； behind him。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Consulting telegram in his hand＇ 'Das ist der Herr'。
＇They advance to the LITTLE MAN。＇
OFFICIAL。 'Sie haben einen Buben gestohlen'？
LITTLE MAN。 I only speak English and American。
OFFICIAL。 'Dies ist nicht Ihr Bube'？
＇He touches the Baby。＇
LITTLE MAN。 ＇Shaking his head＇ Take careit's ill。
＇The man does not understand。＇
Illthe baby
OFFICIAL。 ＇Shaking his head＇ 'Verstehe nicht'。 Dis is nod your baby？
No？
LITTLE MAN。 ＇Shaking his head violently＇ No； it is not。 No。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Tapping the telegram＇ Gut！ You are 'rested。 ＇He signs
to the POLICEMAN； who takes the LITTLE MAN's arm。＇
LITTLE MAN。 Why？ I don't want the poor baby。
OFFICIAL。 ＇Lifting the bundle＇ 'Dies ist nicht Ihr Gepack'pag？
LITTLE Mary。 No。
OFFICIAL。 Gut！ You are 'rested。
LITTLE MAN。 I only took it for the poor woman。 I'm not a thief
I'mI'm
OFFICIAL。 ＇Shaking head＇ Verstehe nicht。
＇The LITTLE MAN tries to tear his hair。 The disturbed BABY
wails。＇
LITTLE MAN。 ＇Dandling it as best he can＇ There； therepoor； poor！
OFFICIAL。 Halt still！ You are 'rested。 It is all right。
LITTLE MAN。 Where is the mother？
OFFICIAL。 She comet by next drain。 Das telegram say： 'Halt einen
Herren mit schwarzem Buben and schwarzem Gepack'。 'Rest gentleman
mit black baby and blackpag。
＇The LITTLE MAN turns up his eyes to heaven。＇
OFFICIAL。 'Komm mit us'。
＇They take the LITTLE MAN toward the door from which they have
come。 A voice stops them。＇
AMERICAN。 ＇Speaking from as far away as may be＇ Just a moment！
＇The OFFICIAL stops； the LITTLE MAN also stops and sits down on
a bench against the wall。 The POLICEMAN stands stolidly beside
him。 The AMERICAN approaches a step or two； beckoning； the
OFFICIAL goes up to him。＇
AMERICAN。 Guess you've got an angel from heaven there！ What's the
gentleman in buttons for？
OFFICIAL。 'Was ist das'？
AMERICAN。 Is there anybody here that can understand American？
OFFICIAL。 'Verstehe nicht'。
AMERICAN。 Well； just watch my gestures。 I was saying ＇He points to
the LITTLE MAN； then makes gestures of flying＇ you have an angel
from heaven there。 You have there a man in whom Gawd ＇He points
upward＇ takes quite an amount of stock。 You have no call to arrest
him。 ＇He makes the gesture of arrest＇ No； Sir。 Providence has
acted pretty mean； loading off that baby on him。 ＇He makes the
motion of dandling＇ The little man has a heart of gold。 ＇He points
to his heart； and takes out a gold coin。＇
OFFICIAL。 ＇Thinking he is about to be bribed＇ 'Aber； das ist zu
viel'！
AMERICAN。 Now； don't rattle me！ ＇Pointing to the LITTLE MAN＇ Man
＇Pointing to his heart＇ 'Herz' ＇Pointing to the coin＇ 'von' Gold。
This is a flower of the fieldhe don't want no gentleman in buttons
to pluck him up。
＇A little crowd is gathering； including the Two ENGLISH； the
GERMAN； and the DUTCH YOUTH。＇
OFFICIAL。 'Verstehe absolut nichts'。 ＇He taps the telegram＇ 'Ich muss
mein' duty do。
AMERICAN。 But I'm telling you。 This is a white man。 This is
probably the whitest man on Gawd's earth。
OFFICIAL。 'Das macht nichts'gut or no gut； I muss mein duty do。
＇He turns to go toward the LITTLE MAN。＇
AMERICAN。 Oh！ Very well； arrest him； do your duty。 This baby has
typhus。
＇At the word