Theft (eBook)

Jack London (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2018
147 Seiten
Charles River Editors (Verlag)
978-1-5183-0102-5 (ISBN)

Infos

Jack London was an American author who wrote some of the most famous novels of the early 20th century.  London wrote on a variety of topics and is still one of the most read authors today.  This edition of Theft includes a table of contents.

Textauszug

ACT II: ROOMS OF HOWARD KNOX AT HOTEL WALTHAM

..................

Scene. Sitting room of Howard Knox—dimly lighted. Time, eight o’clock in the evening.

Entrance from hallway at side to right. At right rear is locked door leading to a room which dees not belong to Knox’s suite. At rear center is fireplace. At left rear door leading to Knox’s bedroom. At left are windows facing on street. Near these windows is a large library table littered with books, magazines, government reports, etc. To the right of center, midway forward, is a Hat-top desk. On it is a desk telephone. Behind it, so that one sitting in it faces audience, is revolving desk-chair. Also, on desk, are letters in their envelopes, etc. Against clear wall-spaces are bookcases and filing cabinets. Of special note is bookcase, containing large books, and not more than five feet high, which is against wall between fireplace and door to bedroom.

Curtain discloses empty stage.

(After a slight interval, door at right rear is shaken and agitated. After slight further interval, door is opened inward upon stage. A Man’s head appears, cautiously looking around).

(Man enters, turns up lights, is followed by second Man. Both are clad decently, in knock-about business suits and starched collars, cuffs, etc. They are trim, deft, determined men).

(Following upon them, enters Hubbard. He looks about room, crosses to desk, picks up a letter, and reads address).

Hubbard

This is Knox’s room all right

First Man

Trust us for that.

Second Man

We were lucky the guy with the whiskers moved out of that other room only this afternoon.

First Man

His key hadn’t come down yet when I engaged it.

Hubbard

Well, get to work. That must be his bedroom.

(He goes to door of bedroom, opens, and peers in, turns on electric lights of bedroom, turns them out, then turns back to men.) You know what it is—a bunch of documents and letters. If we find it there is a clean five hundred each for you, in addition to your regular pay.

(While the conversation goes on, all three engage in a careful search of desk, drawers, filing cabinets, bookcases, etc.)

Second Man

Old Starkweather must want them bad.

Hubbard

Sh-h. Don’t even breathe his name.

Second Man

His nibs is damned exclusive, ain’t he?

First Man

I’ve never got a direct instruction from him, and I’ve worked for him longer than you.

Second Man

Yes, and you worked for him for over two years before you knew who was hiring you.

Hubbard

(To First Man.) You’d better go out in the hall and keep a watch for Knox. He may come in any time.

(First Man produces skeleton keys and goes to door at right. The first key opens it. Leaving door slightly ajar, he makes exit.)

(Desk telephone rings and startles Hubbard.)

Second Man

(Grinning at Hubbard’s alarm.)

It’s only the phone.

Hubbard

(Proceeding with search.) I suppose you’ve done lots of work for Stark—

Second Man

(Mimicking him.) Sh-h. Don’t breathe his name.

(Telephone rings again and again, insistently, urgently.)

Hubbard

(Disguising his voice.) Hello—Yes.

(Shows surprise, seems to recognize the voice, and smiles knowingly.)

No, this is not Knox. Some mistake. Wrong number—

(Hanging up receiver and speaking to Second Man in natural voice.) She did hang up quick.

Second Man

You seemed to recognize her.

Hubbard

No, I only thought I did.

(A pause, while they search.)

Second Man

I’ve never spoken a word to his nibs in my life. And I’ve drawn his pay for years too.

Hubbard

What of it?

Second Man

(Complainingly.) He don’t know I exist.

Hubbard

(Pulling open a desk drawer and examining contents.)

The pay’s all right, isn’t it?

Second Man

It sure is, but I guess I earn every cent of it. (First Man enters through door at right He moves hurriedly but cautiously. Shuts door behind him, but neglects to re-lock it.)

First Man

Somebody just left the elevator and is coming down the hall.

(Hubbard, First Man, and Second Man, all start for door at right rear.)

(First Man pauses and looks around to see if room is in order. Sees desk-drawer which Hubbard has neglected to close, goes back and closes it.)

(Hubbard and Second Man make exit.)

(First Man turns lights low and makes exit.)

(Sound of locking door is heard.)

(A pause.)

(A knocking at door to right. A pause. Then door opens and Gilford enters. He turns up lights, strolls about room, looks at watch, and sits down in chair near right of fireplace.) (Sound of key in lock of door to right.) (Door opens, and Knox enters, key in hand. Sees Gifford.)

Knox

(Advancing to meet him at fireplace and shaking hands.) How did you get in?

Gifford

I let myself in. The door was unlocked.

Knox

I must have forgotten it.

Gifford

(Drawing bundle of documents from inside breast pocket and handing them to Knox.) Well, there they are.

Knox

(Fingering them curiously.) You are sure they are originals? (Gifford nods.)

I can’t take any chances, you know. If Gherst changed his mind after I gave my speech and refused to show the originals—such things have happened.

Gifford

That’s what I told him. He was firm on giving duplicates, and for awhile it looked as if my trip to New York was wasted. But I stuck to my guns. It was originals or nothing with you, I said, and he finally gave in.

Knox

(Holding up documents.) I can’t tell you what they mean to me, nor how grateful—

Gifford

(Interrupting.) That’s all right. Don’t mention it. Gherst is wild for the chance. It will do organized labor a heap of good. And you are able to say your own say at the same time. How’s that compensation act coming on?

Knox

(Wearily.) The same old story. It will never come before the House. It is dying in committee. What can you expect of the Committee of Judiciary?—composed as it is of ex-railroad judges and ex-railroad lawyers.

Gifford

The railroad brotherhoods are keen on getting that bill through.

Knox

Well, they won’t, and they never will until they learn to vote right. When will your labor leaders quit the strike and boycott and lead your men to political action?

Gifford

(Holding out hand.) Well, so long. I’ve got to trot, and I haven’t time to tell you why I think political action would destroy the trade union movement.

(Knox tosses documents on top of low bookcase between fireplace and bedroom door, and starts to shake hands.) You’re damn careless with those papers. You wouldn’t be if you knew how much Gherst paid for them.

Gifford

You don’t appreciate that other crowd. It stops at nothing.

Knox

I won’t take my eyes off of them. And I’ll take them to bed with me to-night for safety. Besides, there is no danger. Nobody but you knows I have them.

Gifford

(Proceeding toward door to right.) I’d hate to be in Starkweather’s office when he discovers what’s happened. There’ll be some bad half hours for somebody. (Pausing at door.) Give them hell to-morrow, good and plenty. I’m going to be in a gallery. So long. (Makes exit.)

(Knox crosses to windows, which he opens, returns to desk, seats himself in revolving chair, and begins opening his correspondence. ) (A knock at door to right.)

Knox

Come in.

(Hubbard enters, advances to desk, but does not shake hands. They greet each other, and Hubbard sits down in chair to left of desk.) (Knox, still holding an open letter, re-volves chair so as to face his visitor. He waits for Hubbabd to speak.)

Hubbard

There is no use beating about the bush with a man like you. I know that. You are direct, and so am I. You know my position well enough to be assured that I am empowered to treat with you.

Knox

Oh, yes; I know.

Hubbard

What we want is to have you friendly.

Knox

That is easy enough. When the Interests become upright and honest—

Hubbard

Save that for your speech. We are talking privately. We can make it well worth your while—

Knox

(Angrily.) If you think you can bribe me—

Hubbard

(Suavely.) Not at all. Not the slightest suspicion of it. The point is this. You...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 22.3.2018
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Anthologien
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Klassiker / Moderne Klassiker
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• Schlagworte: Adventure • American • Call of the Wild • Classic • Historical • Klondike Gold Rush • people of the abyss • the sea-wolf • White Fang
• ISBN-10: 1-5183-0102-9 / 1518301029
• ISBN-13: 978-1-5183-0102-5 / 9781518301025