Yardsley (grasping him by the arm and pushing him out). Here it is;
this is the ex-strap, just what we wanted. (Aside to Bradley.) Go
down to the drug-store and get a bottle of Pond's, will you? [Exit.
Mrs. Perkins (walking to window). She can't be long in coming now.
Bradley. I guess I'll go out to the corner again. (Aside.) Best
bicyclers always smashing ankles, falling off, taking headers! If I
ever get hold of Emma again, I'll see whether she'll ride that--
[Rushes out.
Mrs. Perkins. It seems to have made these men crazy. I never saw
such strange behavior in all my life. (The telephone-bell rings.)
What can that be? (Goes to 'phone, which stands just outside parlor
door.) Hello! What? Yes, this is 1181--yes. Who are you? What?
Emma? Oh dear, I'm so glad! Are you alive? Where are you? What?
_Where_? _The police-station_! (Turning from telephone.) Thaddeus,
Mr. Barlow, Mr. Yardsley. (Into telephone.) Hello! What for?
What? Riding without a lamp! Arrested at Forty-second Street! Want
to be bailed out? (Drops receiver. Rushes into parlor and throws
herself on sofa.) To think of it--Emma Bradley! (Telephone-bell
rings violently again; Mrs. Perkins goes to it.) Hello! Yes. Tell
Ed what? To ask for Mrs. Willoughby Hawkins. Who's she? What,
_you_! (Drops the receiver; runs to window.) Thaddeus! Mr.
Yardsley! Mr. Barlow!--all of you come here, quick.
[They rush in. Perkins with shawl-strap about his waist--limping.
Barlow has large air-pump in his hand. Mrs. Perkins grows faint.
Perkins. Great heavens! What's the matter?
Barlow. Get some water--quick!
[Yardsley runs for water.
Mrs. Perkins. Air! Give me air!
Perkins (grabbing pump from Barlow's hand). Don't stand there like
an idiot! Act! She wants air!
[Places pump on floor and begins to pump air at her.
Barlow. Who's the idiot now? Wheel her over to the window. She's
not a bicycle.
They do so. Mrs. Perkins revives.
Perkins. What is the matter?
Mrs. Perkins. Mrs. Willoughby Hawkins--arrested--Forty-second
Street--no lamp--bailed out. Oh, dear me, dear me! It'll all be in
the papers!
Perkins. What's that got to do with us? Who's Mrs. Willoughby
Hawkins?
Mrs. Perkins. Emma! Assumed name.
Barlow. Good Lord! Mrs. Bradley in jail?
Perkins. This is a nice piece of--ow--my ankle, my ankle!
[Enter Bradley and Yardsley at same time, Bradley with bottle of
Pond's Extract, Yardsley with glass of water.
Bradley. Where the deuce did you fellows go to? I've been wandering
all over the square looking for you.