The Human Drift

J >> Jack London >> The Human Drift


FITZSIMMONS. For you.

MAUD. For me?

FITZSIMMONS. You are not Harry Jones. And not only are you an impostor,
but you are a thief.

MAUD. [Indignantly.] How dare you?

FITZSIMMONS. You have stolen my cigarette case.

MAUD. [Remembering and taken aback, pulls out cigarette case.] Here it
is.

FITZSIMMONS. Too late. It won't save you. This club must be kept
respectable. Thieves cannot be tolerated.

MAUD. [Growing alarm.] But you won't have me arrested?

FITZSIMMONS. I certainly will.

MAUD. [Pleadingly.] Please! Please!

FITZSIMMONS. [Obdurately.] I see no reason why I should not.

MAUD. [Hurriedly, in a panic.] I'll give you a reason--a--a good one.
I--I--am not Harry Jones.

FITZSIMMONS. [Grimly.] A good reason in itself to call in the police.

MAUD. That isn't the reason. I'm--a--Oh! I'm so ashamed.

FITZSIMMONS. [Sternly.] I should say you ought to be. [Reaches for
telephone receiver.]

MAUD. [In rush of desperation.] Stop! I'm a--I'm a--a girl. There!
[Sinks down in chair, burying her face in her hands.]

[FITZSIMMONS, hanging up receiver, grunts.]

[MAUD removes hands and looks at him indignantly. As she speaks her
indignation grows.]

MAUD. I only wanted your cigarette case to prove to my brother that I
had been here. I--I'm Maud Sylvester, and you never took me out once.
And I'm not a black sheep. And I don't dress loudly, and I haven't a--a
tapeworm.

FITZSIMMONS. [Grinning and pulling out card from vest pocket.] I knew
you were Miss Sylvester all the time.

MAUD. Oh! You brute! I'll never speak to you again.

FITZSIMMONS. [Gently.] You'll let me see you safely out of here.

MAUD. [Relenting.] Ye-e-s. [She rises, crosses to table, and is about
to stoop for motor cloak and bonnet, but he forestall her, holds cloak
and helps her into it.] Thank you. [She takes off wig, fluffs her own
hair becomingly, and puts on bonnet, looking every inch a pretty young
girl, ready for an automobile ride.]

FITZSIMMONS. [Who, all the time, watching her transformation, has been
growing bashful, now handing her the cigarette case.] Here's the
cigarette case. You may k-k-keep it.

MAUD. [Looking at him, hesitates, then takes it.] I thank you--er--Bob.
I shall treasure it all my life. [He is very embarrassed.] Why, I do
believe you're bashful. What is the matter?

FITZSIMMONS. [Stammering.] Why--I--you--You are a girl--and--a--a--deuced
pretty one.

MAUD. [Taking his arm, ready to start for door.] But you knew it all
along.

FITZSIMMONS. But it's somehow different now when you've got your girl's
clothes on.

MAUD. But you weren't a bit bashful--or nice, when--you--you--[Blurting
it out.] Were so anxious about birth marks.

[They start to make exit.]

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