Waiter.  ‘Komm’ gleich’!

American.  A little more, and he will join George Washington!  I was about to remark when he intruded:  In this year of grace 1913 the kingdom of Christ is quite a going concern.  We are mighty near universal brotherhood.  The colonel here [He indicates the German] is a man of blood and iron, but give him an opportunity to be magnanimous, and he’ll be right there.  Oh, sir! yep!

     [The German, with a profound mixture of pleasure and cynicism,
     brushes up the ends of his moustache.]

Little man.  I wonder.  One wants to, but somehow—­[He shakes his head.]

American.  You seem kind of skeery about that.  You’ve had experience, maybe.  I’m an optimist—­I think we’re bound to make the devil hum in the near future.  I opine we shall occasion a good deal of trouble to that old party.  There’s about to be a holocaust of selfish interests.  The colonel there with old-man Nietch he won’t know himself.  There’s going to be a very sacred opportunity.

     [As he speaks, the voice of a railway official is heard an the
     distance calling out in German.  It approaches, and the words
     become audible.]

German. [Startled] ‘Der Teufel’! [He gets up, and seizes the bag beside him.]

[The station official has appeared; he stands for a moment casting his commands at the seated group.  The Dutch Youth also rises, and takes his coat and hat.  The official turns on his heel and retires still issuing directions.]

Englishman.  What does he say?

German.  Our drain has come in, de oder platform; only one minute we haf.

     [All, have risen in a fluster.]

American.  Now, that’s very provoking.  I won’t get that flash of beer.

[There is a general scurry to gather coats and hats and wraps, during which the lowly woman is seen making desperate attempts to deal with her baby and the two large bundles.  Quite defeated, she suddenly puts all down, wrings her hands, and cries out:  “Herr Jesu!  Hilfe!” The flying procession turn their heads at that strange cry.]

American.  What’s that?  Help?

     [He continues to run.  The little man spins round, rushes back,
     picks up baby and bundle on which it was seated.]

Little man.  Come along, good woman, come along!

     [The woman picks up the other bundle and they run.]

     [The waiter, appearing in the doorway with the bottle of beer,
     watches with his tired smile.]

Curtain

SCENE II