Theft Part 41

I haven't them.

{Starkweather}

What's to be done, Hubbard?

{Hubbard}

She has them. She has as much as acknowledged that they are not elsewhere in the room. She has not been out of the room. There is nothing to do but search her.

 

{Starkweather}

Nothing else remains to be done. Dobleman, and you, Hubbard, take her behind the screen. Strip her. Recover the papers.

(_Dobleman is in a proper funk, but Hubbard betrays no unwillingness._)

{Chalmers}

No; that I shall not permit. Hubbard shall have nothing to do with this.

{Margaret}

It is too late, Tom. You have stood by and allowed me to be stripped of everything else. A few clothes do not matter now. If I am to be stripped and searched by men, Mr. Hubbard will serve as well as any other man. Perhaps Mr. Rutland would like to lend his a.s.sistance.

{Connie}

Oh, Madge! Give them up.

(_Margaret shakes her head._)

(_To Starkweather._) Then let me search her, father.

{Starkweather}

You are too willing. I don't want volunteers. I doubt that I can trust you any more than your sister.

{Connie}

Let mother, then.

{Starkweather}

(_Sneering._) Margaret could smuggle a steamer-trunk of doc.u.ments past her.

{Connie}

But not the men, father! Not the men!

{Starkweather}

Why not? She has shown herself dead to all shame.

(_Imperatively._) Dobleman!

{Dobleman}

(_Thinking his time has come, and almost dying._) Y-y-yes, sir.

{Starkweather}

Call in the servants.

{Mrs. Starkweather}

(_Crying out in protest._) Anthony!

{Starkweather}

Would you prefer her to be searched by the men?

{Mrs. Starkweather}

(_Subsiding._) I shall die, I shall die. I know I shall die.

{Starkweather}

Dobleman. Ring for the servants.

(_Dobleman, who has been hesitant, crosses to desk and pushes b.u.t.ton, then returns toward door._) Send in the maids and the housekeeper.

(_Linda, blindly desiring to be of some a.s.sistance, starts impulsively toward Margaret._) Stand over there--in the corner.

(_Indicating right front._)

(_Linda pauses irresolutely and Margaret nods to her to obey and smiles encouragement. Linda, protesting in every fiber of her, goes to right front._)

(_A knock at right rear and Dobleman unlocks door, confers with maid, and closes and locks door._)

{Starkweather}

(_To Margaret._) This is no time for trifling, nor for mawkish sentimentality. Return the papers or take the consequences.

(_Margaret makes no answer._)

{Chalmers}

You have taken a hand in a man's game, and you've got to play it out or quit. Give up the papers.

(_Margaret remains resolved and impa.s.sive._)