ey--Mr. Barlow--Mr. Perkins--do stop
him!

[By this time all are gazing out of window, except Perkins, who is
nursing his ankle.

Perkins. I guess not. I'm not going to lie down in the road, or sit
in the road, or stand in the road to stop him or anybody else. I
don't believe I've got a sound bone left; but if I have, I'm going to
save it, if Bradley kills himself. If his lamp's out the police will
stop him. Why not be satisfied with that?

Bradley (passing the window). For Heaven's sake! one of you fellows
stop me.

Yardsley. Put on the brake.

Barlow. Fall off. It hasn't got a brake.

Bradley (despairingly, in distance). Can't.

Mrs. Perkins. This is frightful.

Perkins (with a grimace at his ankle). Yes; but there are other
fearful things in this world.

Mrs. Bradley. I shall go crazy if he isn't stopped. He'll kill
himself.

Yardsley (leaving window hurriedly). I have it. Got a length of
clothes-line, Mrs. Perkins?

Barlow. What the dickens--

Mrs. Perkins. Yes.

[She rushes from the room.

Mrs. Bradley. What for?

Yardsley. I'll lasso him, next time he comes around.

Perkins (with a grin). There'll be two of us! We can start a
hospital on the top floor.

Mrs. Perkins (returning). Here--here's the line.

[Yardsley takes it hurriedly, and, tying it into a noose, hastens
out.

Perkins (rising). If I never walk again, I must see this. [Limps to
window.

Mrs. Bradley. He's coming, Mr. Yardsley; don't miss him.

Barlow. Steady, Bob; get in the light.

Mrs. Perkins. Suppose it catches his neck?

Perkins. This beats the Wild West Show.

[A crash.

All. He's got him.

[All rush out, except Perkins.

Perkins. Oh yes; he learned in a minute, he did. Easy! Ha, ha!
Gad! it almost makes me forget my pain.

Enter all, asking. "Is he hurt? How do you feel?" etc. Yardsley
has rope-end in right hand; noose is tied about Bradley's body, his
coat and clothing are much the worse for wear.

Mrs. Bradley. Poor, dear Edward!

Bradley (weakly kissing her). Don't m-mind me. I--I'm all right--
only a little exhilarated--and somewhat--er--somewhat breathless.
Feel like a bird--on toast. Yardsley, you're a brick. But that
pavement--that was a pile of 'em, and the hardest I ever encountered.
I always thought asphalt was soft--who said asphalt was soft?

Perkins. Easy to learn, though, eh?

Bradley. Too easy. I'd have gone on--er--forever--er--if it hadn't