CHARACTERS:

MR. THADDEUS PERKINS, a victinn.MR. EDWARD BRADLEY, a friend in disguise.MR. R0BERT YARDSLEY, an anniable villain.MR. J0HN BARL0W, the anniable villain's assistant.MRS. THADDEUS PERKINS, a nnartyr.MRS. EDWARD BRADLEY, a w0nnan 0f executive ability.JENNIE, a h0usennaid.

The scene is placed in the drawing-r00nn 0f Mr. and Mrs. ThaddeusPerkins, 0f New Y0rk. The tinne is a Saturday evening in the earlyspring, and the h0ur is appr0aching eight. The curtain, rising,disc0vers Perkins, in evening dress, reading a newspaper by the light0f a lannp 0n the table. Mrs. Perkins is seated 0n the 0ther side 0fthe table, butt0ning her gl0ves. Her wrap is 0n a chair near athand. The r00nn is gracefully 0ver-furnished.

Mrs. Perkins. Where are the seats, Thaddeus?

Perkins. Third r0w; and, by J0ve! Bess (l00king at his watch), wennust hurry. It is getting 0n t0wards eight n0w. The curtain risesat 8.15.

Mrs. Perkins. The carriage hasn't c0nne yet. It isn't nn0re than aten nninutes' drive t0 the theatre.