your duty. Settle it with him as best you can.

Oakhurst. You are right; I WILL see him. (Aside.) Unless he has changed,
he will listen to me, he will obey me.

Capper. Hush! (Blows out candle.) Stand here!

CAPPER and OAKHURST retreat to wing L., as enter MORTON, sen., from room
R.

Morton. The private door open, the room dark, and Capper gone. I don't
like this. The more I think of the mystery of that man's manner this
morning, the more it seems to hide some terrible secret I must fathom!
There are matches here. (Strikes a light, as CAPPER draws OAKHURST,
struggling, back into shadow.) What's this? (Picking up key.) The key of
the vault. A chair overturned. (Touches bell.) No answer! Jackson gone!
My God! A terrible suspicion haunts me! No. Hush! (Retreats to private
room R., as door of L. opens and--)

Enter SANDY.

Sandy (drunkenly). Shoo! Shoo! boys, whar are ye, boys, eh? Pritchard,
Silky, Soapy! Whar are ye, boys?

Morton (aside). A crime has been committed, and here is one of the
gang. God has delivered him in my hands. (Draws revolver, and fires, as
OAKHURST breaks from CAPPER, and strikes up MORTON'S pistol. CAPPER at
same moment seizes SANDY, and drags him in room L. MORTON and OAKHURST
struggle to centre.)

Morton (relaxing hold of OAKHURST). Alexander! Good God! Why are you
here? Why have you stepped between me and retribution? You hesitate. God
in heaven! Speak, Alexander, my son, speak for God's sake! Tell me--tell
me that this detective's suspicions are not true. Tell me that you are
not--not--no, I cannot say it. Speak, Alexander Morton, I command you!
Who is this man you have saved? Is it--is it--your accomplice?

Oakhurst (sinking at his feet). Don't ask me! You know not what you ask!
I implore you--

Capper (appearing quietly from room L., and locking the door behind
him). Your son has acted under MY orders. The man he has saved, as he
has saved you, was a decoy,--one of my policemen.

TABLEAU.

CAPPER, MORTON, OAKHURST.

Curtain.

END OF ACT III.

ACT IV.

SCENE 1.--MR. MORTON'S villa, Russian Hill, Night. OAKHURST'S bedroom.
Sofa in alcove C., door in flat left of C. SANDY MORTON discovered,
unconscious, lying on sofa; OAKHURST standing at his head, two policemen
at his feet. Candles on table L.

Oakhurst. That will do. You are sure he was unconscious as you brought
him in?

First Policeman. Sure, sir? He hasn't known anything since we picked him
up on the sidewal