d Leary says: "Dis is a nine-day town. If yez kin stand de
gaff for nine days, ye're all right!" We'll stand the gaff!

HEGAN. I'm tired of standing it.

GRIMES. Yes, we all get tired now and then. But this afternoon it'll be
Murdock that's tired. Think of him, Hegan... try to realize him a bit!
You've got him where you want him at last! Remember what he did to you
in the Brooklyn Ferry case! Remember how he lied to you in the Third
Avenue case! And he told Isaacson, only last week, that he'd never let
up on you till he'd driven you out of the traction field!

HEGAN. Did he say that?

GRIMES. He did that! And only yesterday he said he was getting ready to
finish you! He's as sure of this Court decision as I am of the sunrise!
I'm told he's short already over a quarter of a million shares!

HEGAN. But his judges'll get word to him... he'll buy!

GRIMES. Of course! But that's just why you ought to be busy! Buy first,
and make him pay... damn his soul!

ANDREWS. [Knocks and enters.] Mr. Stevens is here, Mr. Hegan.

GRIMES. Henry Stevens? We'll see him. [ANDREWS exit.] Come on, man!
We'll go over to your brokers and take the orders. It'll give you a
smell of the powder smoke.

LAURA. [AS HEGAN Starts to follow.] Father, you are going with him?

HEGAN. My dear child, what can I do?

LAURA. But think of the disgrace... the shame of it! You will carry it
with you all your life!

HEGAN. I can't help it. I am bound hand and foot.

LAURA. Father! [She rushes to him, and flings her arms about him.] Do
you realize what you are doing? You are driving me away from you!.. .
You are casting me off! And all for a few more dollars!

HEGAN. My dear, it is not that. My word is pledged.

LAURA. You are trampling me in the dust. You are spurning all that is
best in your life!

GRIMES. Come, come, man! The game is called

HEGAN. Let me go, my dear.

LAURA. Father!

HEGAN. No! No! [He gently, but firmly, puts her arms from him.]
Good-bye, dear.

LAURA. Father! [HEGAN and GRIMES go out centre; she sinks by the
table, and buries her face in her arms, sobbing; after a considerable,
interval, a knock on the door, centre.] Come in!

MONTAGUE. [Enters.] Well?

LAURA. I have failed. [Rises and stretches out her arms.] Failed! He has
gone with Grimes!

MONTAGUE. I saw him go, Miss Hegan.

LAURA. [Swiftly.] And yet... I have not failed utterly. I have failed
to turn back the decision... to save him from this disgrace. But