SCENE VIII.--_SCROOGE'S Chamber. Same as Scene I, Act I. It is broad

day--the fire is nearly extinguished--the candle nearly burnt down to the socket. The stage arrangement in other respects, precisely the same as at end of Scene I, Act I._

SCROOGE _discovered, sleeping in his chair. He appears restless and uneasy, then starts up, exclaiming._

SCR. Pity me! I will not be the man I have been! Oh, no, no! (_Pauses, and looks around him._) Ah! here! Could it all have been a dream! A dream--ha, ha, ha! A dream! Yes! this table's my own--this chair's my own--this room's my own--and happier still, the time before me is my own to make amends in! I will live the past, the present, and the future! Heaven and the Christmas time be praised for this! I say it on my knees--on my knees! My cheek is wet with tears, but they are tears of penitence! (_Busies himself in pulling on his coat, throwing off his cap, etc., and speaking all the time._) I don't know what to do--I'm as light as a feather--I'm as happy as an angel--I'm as merry as a school-boy--I'm as giddy as a drunken man! A merry Christmas to every body--a happy new year to all the world! Hallo, there! Whoop! Hallo! there's the jug that my gruel was in--there's the door where the ghost of Jacob Marley entered. It's all right--it's all true--it all happened--ha, ha, ha! I don't know what day of the month it is--I don't know how long I've been among the spirits--I don't know anything--I'm quite a baby--never mind, I don't care--I'd rather be a baby! Hallo! Whoop! Hallo, here! (_Runs to window--opens it._) Here, you boy! what's to-day?

BOY. (_Without._) Why, Christmas Day!

SCR. Ah! I haven't missed it! Glorious! I say--go to the poulterer's round the corner, and buy the prize turkey for me!

BOY. (_Without._) Wal-ker!

SCR. Tell 'em to send it, and I'll give you half a crown. He's off like a shot! I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's. How astonished he'll be. (_Coming down._) I'll write a cheque for that society that they called on me about yesterday. Oh, I'll make every one happy, and myself, too! (_Knocks heard without._) That must be the turkey! (_Opens door._) As I live, it's Bob Cratchit!

_Enter BOB CRATCHIT, 2 E. L. H._

BOB. Excuse my calling, sir, but the fact is, I couldn't help it. That worthy gentleman, your nephew, is ruined. I said, ruined, sir----

SCR. I'm glad of it!

BOB. Glad of it! There's an unnatural cannibal!

_Enter FRANK, 2 E. L. H._

FRANK. Oh uncle, you know all! I come not to ask your assistance--that would be madness--but I come to bid you farewell. In three days' time, with my unfortunate family, I shall quit England.

SCR. No, you shan't. You shall stay where you are!

FRANK. You mock me!

SCR. I say you shall stay where you are! (_Writes at table._) There's a cheque for present use--to-morrow I will see how I can make up your losses, and at my death you shall inherit all my wealth--but I don't mean to die yet, you dog!

FRANK. This generosity----

SCR. No thanks. I'll dine with you to-day, Frank--and as for you, Bob, Tiny Tim shall be my care, and your salary's trebled from this hour.

BOB. Oh, this can't be my master! Oh, I'm quite sure it must be somebody else. Yes--it is him, too! He must have gone mad! I've a great mind to knock him down with the ruler, and get Mr. Frank to help me to fit him on a strait waistcoat! Well, I never!

SCR. A merry Christmas, Frank--a merry Christmas, Bob--and it _shall_ be a merry one. I have awoke a better man than I fell asleep. So may it be with all of us! Oh, may my day dreams prove as happy as my night ones? (_As he speaks, the gauze medium is lit up behind, and the GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST, the GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT, and the GHOST OF CHRISTMAS TO COME, with the other characters in the Miser's dream, are seen in separate groups._) Their remembrance haunts me still. Oh, my friends--forgive but my past, you will make happy my present, and inspire me with hope for the future!

THE CURTAIN FALLS.

_THE BAT_

A mystery play in 3 acts. By Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood. Produced originally at the Morosco Theatre, New York. 7 males, 3 females. 2 interior scenes. Modern costumes.

Miss Cornelia Van Gorder, a maiden lady of sixty, has leased as a restorative for frayed nerves, a Long Island country house. It had been the property of a New York financier who had disappeared coincidentally with the looting of his bank. His cashier, who is secretly engaged to marry Miss Van Gorder's niece, is suspected of the defalcation and is a fugitive. The new occupants believe the place to be haunted. Strange sounds and manifestations first strengthen this conviction but presently lead them to suspect that the happenings are mysteriously connected with the bank robbery. Any sensible woman would have moved to the nearest neighbors for the night and returned to the city next day. But Miss Van Gorder decided to remain and solve the mystery. She sends for detectives and then things begin to happen. At one time or another every member of the household is suspected of the theft. The audience is kept running up blind alleys, falling into hidden pitfalls, and darting around treacherous corners. A genuine thriller guaranteed to divert any audience.

(Royalty, twenty-five dollars.) PRICE 75 CENTS.

_THE HAUNTED HOUSE_

Comedy in 3 acts. By Owen Davis. Produced originally at the George M. Cohan Theatre, New York. 8 males, 3 females. 1 interior. Modern costumes.

A newly married couple arrive to spend their honeymoon in a summer cottage owned by the girl's father, who has begged them not to go there, because he claims the house is haunted. Almost immediately after their arrival, strange sounds are heard in the house. The bride leaves the room for a few moments and when she returns, her husband is talking very confidentially to a young woman, who he claims has had trouble with her automobile down the road, and he goes out to assist her. But when he comes back, his wife's suspicions force him to confess that the girl is an old sweetheart of his. The girl is subsequently reported murdered, and the bride believes her husband has committed the crime. A neighbor, who is an author of detective stories, attempts to solve the murder, meantime calling in a prominent New York detective who is vacationing in the town. As they proceed, everyone in the action becomes involved. But the whole thing terminates in a laugh, with the most uproarious and unexpected conclusion imaginable.

(Royalty, twenty-five dollars.) PRICE 75 CENTS.

_LOUDER, PLEASE_

A comedy in 3 acts. By Norman Krasna. Produced originally at the Masque Theatre, New York. 12 males, 3 females. 1 interior scene. Modern costumes.

The breathless and amusing comedy has to do with the efforts of Criterion Pictures to keep one of its stars, Polly Madison, before the public gaze, and Press Agent Herbert White is called in to promote the necessary ballyhoo. He conceives the brilliant but ancient idea of having Polly get "lost at sea" in a motor boat. There is a law making it a punishable crime to fake a false news report to the press, but what is a law to Herbert if he can get over the necessary publicity? He broadcasts the news that Polly has strangely disappeared and is lost at sea. Consequently the forces of the law get busy, the Coast Guard sends out a fleet of airplanes to rescue the lost film star, with the result that the front pages of the papers are loaded with stories of the frantic search for the actress, and the world at large is on its ear. Detective Bailey becomes suspicious of the fake and puts the Criterion staff through a stiff third degree. A prison cell looms up for Herbert White and he has to resort to the most desperate measures to make the fake story appear true.

(Royalty, twenty-five dollars.) PRICE 75 CENTS.

_SKIDDING_

Comedy in 3 acts. By Aurania Rouverol. Produced originally at the Bijou Theatre, New York. 5 males, 5 females. 1 interior. Modern costumes.

A fresh, sincere picture of American family life, showing Marion Hardy, a modern college girl who falls ecstatically in love with Wayne Trenton just as a career is opening up to her, and the difficulties she has in adjusting her romance. Then there are the two pretty young daughters who chose to marry before they finished their education and want to "come home to Mother" at the first sign of trouble. Mother Hardy is so upset at the modern tendencies of her daughters, that she goes on strike in order to straighten out her family. Young Andy Hardy is an adorable adolescent lad with his first "case"--a typical Booth Tarkington part. He keeps the audience in a gale of merriment with his humorous observances. Grandpa Hardy touches the heart with his absent-mindedness and his reminiscences about Grandma; and the white satin slippers he makes for Marion to be married in, have a great deal to do with straightening out her love affair. Humor is blended with pathos and a deliciously garnished philosophy makes "Skidding" more significant than the average comedy. It is life. "Skidding" is one of our most popular plays for High School production.

(Royalty, twenty-five dollars.) PRICE 75 CENTS.

Transcriber's notes:

The line "happy as my night ones? (_As he speaks, the gauze_" was duplicated in the original.

The following is a list of changes made to the original. The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.

_Author of Fair Rosamond, Fairinelli, The Dream of Fate,_ _Author of Fair Rosamond, Farinelli, The Dream of Fate,_

CHRISTAMAS CAROL. A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

_Easy chair Table with candlestick upon it, etc., etc._ _Easy chair, table with candlestick upon it, etc., etc._

(_Binds wrappr round its head once more--slowly_ (_Binds wrapper round its head once more--slowly_

either--nor ony of your family, Bob Cratchit. At either--nor any of your family, Bob Cratchit. At

MRS. C. Sunday! You went to day, then? MRS. C. Sunday! You went to-day, then?