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  Title: The Second-Story Man

  Author: Upton Sinclair

  Release Date: July, 2002 [Etext #3302]

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  THE SECOND-STORY MAN

  by UPTON SINCLAIR

  CHARACTERS

  JIM FARADAY: the second-story man. HARVEY AUSTIN: a lawyer. HELEN

  AUSTIN: his wife.

  SCENE: Library of the Austin home.

  Time: 2 A.M.

  [The scene shows a luxuriously furnished room. In the centre is a

  table with a lamp. To the right is the entrance into the front hall,

  the front door of the house being visible. In the corner is a cabinet

  of curios. In the rear is a large window opening on the street. Open

  fire-place. There are two entrances at the left. There are book-

  shelves, several easy-chairs, etc., in the room.]

  [At rise: The stage is empty, and the room is darkened except for the

  fire in the grate. Sounds of breaking wood are heard at the window.]

  JIM. [A roughly-dressed young fellow with a patch over one eye, enters

  through window, stands gazing about nervously, looks into the hall,

  etc., then flashes a dark lantern.] This looks pretty good.

  [Goes to mantel, takes silver cup and puts it into bag which he

  carries; then exit left.]

  AUSTIN. [Enters at front door without much noise. Hangs up coat and

  hat, and then stands in entrance. He is a smooth-faced young man in

  evening dress.] All gone to bed, hey?

  [Takes out cigarette case and is about to light one, when a crash is

  heard off left, as of a vase falling. He starts, then runs to table,

  opens drawer, takes out revolver, and examines it, and steals off

  through the other entrance at left, saying, "That noise seemed to come

  from downstairs."]

  JIM. [Enters panic-stricken.] God! What a thing to do! [Gazes into

  hall and upstairs--long pause.] Don't seem to have waked them.

  [Proceeds to examine room, stopping now and then to listen. After

  placing several articles in bag, he goes to cabinet and tries to open

  it. This takes some time, and while he is crouching in the shadow,

  with his back to the entrance right, MRS. AUSTIN appears.]

  MRS. AUSTIN. [She is young and beautiful, and wears a night-robe and

  dressing- gown. She stands looking about anxiously, and then goes to

  centre of room, when she hears a sound from JIM, and starts wildly.]

  Oh!

  JIM. [Leaps to feet, lifting revolver.] Hold up your hands! [She

  starts back in terror.] Hold up your hands!

  MRS. AUSTIN. [Half complyingly.] I'm not armed.

  JIM. Never mind. [Long pause while they stare at each other.] I don't

  want to hurt you, lady.

  MRS. AUSTIN. [Calmly, after first shock.] No, I suppose not. You only