Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 159, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1914 — BROADWAY JONES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BROADWAY JONES

FROM TfiE PLAY OF GEORGE M.COfIAF(

by EDWARD MARSHALL

krm photographs nw mnd in the play iM9,ar avr.atiirrcnAneoft/TJtv

16 1 ' - SYNOPSIS. Jackson Jones, nicknamed "Broadway" because of bls continual glorification of New York’s great thoroughfare, is anxious to get away from his home town of Jonesville. Abner Jones, Iris uncle, is Very angry because Broadway refuses to settle down and take a place in the gum factory in which he succeeded to his father’s Interest Judge Spotswood informs Broadway that $260,000 left him by his father is at his disposal. Broadway makes record time in heading for his favorite street in New York. With his New York friend. Robert Wallace, Broadway creates a sensation by his extravagance on the White Way. Four years pass and Broadway suddenly discovers that he is not only broke, but heavily in debt He quietly seeks work without success. Broadway becomes engaged to Mrs. Gerard, an ancient widow, wealthy and very giddy. Wallace learns that Broadway is broke and offers him a position with his father’s advertising firm, but it is declined. Wallace takes jcharge of Broadway's affairs. Broadway receives a telegram announcing the death of his .Uncle Abner tn Europe. Broadway Is his ■ole heir. Peter Pembroke of the Consolidated Chewing Gum company offers Broadway $1,200,0r0 for his gum plant and Broadway agrees tn sell. Wallace takes the affair In nand and Insists that Broadaway hold off for a bigger price and rushes him to Jonesville to consult Judge Spotswood. Broadway finds his boyhood playmate, Josie Richards, In charge of the Plant and falls In love with her. Wallace is smitten with Judge Spotswood’s daughter, Clara. Josie points out to Broadway that by selling the plant to the trust he will ruin the town built by his ancestors and throw 700 employes out of work. Broadway decides that he will not sell. Broadway visits the plant and Josie explains the business details to him. He decides to take hold of the work at once. Broadway makes a speech to his employes who, in their enthusiasm, carry him around the plant on their shoulders.

CHAPTER Xll—Continued. “We’re just waiting for Pembroke,” Baid Wallace. "Pembroke! Ob, yes; some of the men told me that he Is in town. What’s he coming here for?” “To try to give us. a whole lot of money," Wallace "answered. “But we’re not going to take It.” He grinned up at Broadway. ‘We don’t need it, do we?” Jackson looked at him with mournful eyes, recollecting all the bills he had left behind in New York city. .“Don’t make me laugh. I didn’t sleep well.” The judge saw his young friend’s Increasing discomfort. “You’ve made the people of this town very happy today, my boy. You ought to sleep well after this. They owe you a great debt.” Jackson passed the compliment, but winced. “Please don’t talk about debts! Let’s get on a cheerful subject” With a sickly effort to relieve his mind he turned to Wallace. \ “How’s the barber?" 7 The judge seized this opportunity to extol a local genius. “Ain’t he a nice fellow, thought* “Yes,” said Wallace dryly, "he cut Taft’s hair once." - /'“I shouldn’t be surprise," the judge assented heartily. “He’s from Hartford.”

His remarkable appreciation of the dignity and glories of the little cities was a continual joy to the two friends, who smiled across his nodding head at one another. Wallace looked around appreciatively. “The old gentleman had pretty nice offices here.” **¥es,'' the judge agreed. He nodded toward the desk at which Broadway had carelessly taken his position. "Seems strange not to -see- hfa- sitting at that desk.” He sighed. “First, old Oscar Jones sat there, and he died; then John sat there, and lie died; then Andrew sat there, and he died; now—” Broadway, who had listened to the brief but tragical recital with expanding orbs, got up, and, as he edged away from the too fatal piece of office furniture, eyed it with suspicion and distaste. “That’s the last time I’ll sit there,” he declared. But Judge Spotswood had not seen -the byplay and did not hear the youth’s resolve. He was launched on reminiscence. “Every man in the plant loved the old gentleman. They all feel mighty bad. s Just think—he was alive 78 hours ago, add now the whole town’s In mourning!” It was at this juncture that Higgins, a new and happy Higgins, entered, sap In hand, respectfully. He was smiling genially. “Excuse me, Mr. Jones, the men want to know If you have any objection to their celebrating tonight” He bowed respectfully to Josie, who entered at that moment r . “They’re thinking of having a torchlight parade and fireworks in honor of your taking sap things at the Works. Is it all right?” The judge beamed happily. What could be more significant of the'new day which had dawned on Jonesville than this speech from Higgins, erstwhile the dissatisfied, the complain er? “That’s a bully idea!” he exclaimed enthusiastically. ■ ■ —-1 Wallace and Jackson Ipoked at one another In a pleased appreciation. It was Josie who Instinctively saw the taw which had escaped the horde of workmen in the shops and which now escaped the tour there in the office.

“Why, Judge!” said she, shocked and scandalized. “What’s the matt4r?” But Josie would not even look at him. In a reproachful voice she turned to Higgins. “Tell the men to do nothing of the kind,” she said with emphasis. “Don’t they realize what has happened? How can they forget so quickly?’’ Now a light burst, even upon Higgins. “Oh, that’s so. I’ll have to remind them of that!” Wallace was still puzzled, but Broad--way was beginning to understand. “By George,” said the judge, “I forgot all about it myself!” A bright light bursting upon Wallace, he went to Jones and slapped him on the back. “The king is dead,” he quoted, “long the king!”

Jackson winced. He reflected that this showed the .gratitude, the cherishing regard of the workingmen. His uncle had just gone to his reward and now, because he, the heir, in a moment of decent impulse, had done the square thing by them, the faithful laborers were quite content to follow their old friend’s obsequies by torchlights borne in glory to the new one while brass bands played ragtime! Josie had looked up the correspondence with the Empire Advertising Agency, and now the letters she had found to Wallace.

He looked at them, frowned, shook his head and bit his lip, very much astonished, very much annoyed. “It’s the Empire, all right,” he was forced to admit But before he had a chance to read the letters, Sam came in, tramping like a little elephant, threw back his massive head, half closed his eyes and roared: “Mr. —Pembroke—and—Mr.—Leary— to —see —Mr.—Jones.”

“Tell them to come right in,” said Broadway. His neck thrust this way and \that —two thrusts in honor of big business. V Wallace smiled. “.Judge,” he said, “did you ever see a man refuse to take a million and a half?*’ “Not yet” “Well, watch the little professor, over there.” He nodded toward Broadway. Then, to the man of whom he had been speaking: “Sit at that desk and look business-like.” "In that chair?** asked Broadway with determination. "Not after what he said! ‘And then he sat there, and he died? No, I’ll die standing up.” “Shall I go?” asked Josie. “No; please don’t” Then Pembroke entered, trailed by a sallow person, young in years, old in expression, and bearing in his hand a new stenographer’s notebook and a little group of finely sharpened pencils, he carried as if they might have been small, very deadly weapons, to be used in time of need upon his master's enemies. "How do you do, Mr. Pembroke,”

said Broadway with what he conceived to be great dignity. "Mr. Jones,” said Pembroke, bowing formally, Broadway waved him to the fatal chair. “Sit right down here,” he urged. “No, thank you," Pembroke countered. “He’s on!” Broadway whispered to Wallace. « Gravely Pembroke bowed to all the others of the party, murmuring, as he did so, their names. But as he bowed to Wallace he said “Wilson.” K “ ’Wilson?’ ” said the judge and Josie in astonishment and concert Bob winked at them. .“Yes; that’s right,” he hissed. That’s my name.” This over, Pembroke turned to his stenographer, who had found a seat upon an office stool. “Take the entire conversation, John,” he directed* This feazed Broadway for an Instant but he recovered quickly. Was he to be outdone by this emissary of the Gum Trust In presenting evidences of suspicion? Not if he, Broadway Jones, was kept informed of what was going on, be wasn’t He pointed to a youth whom he had seen about the

. 1 office frequently, and asked Josie: “Stenographer, la he?” Shenodded. “What’s his name?" asked Broadway, in a whisjjer. “Henry.” Broadway was content With a grand air and several protrusions of the neck, he ordered: “Take the entire conversation, Henry.” Outdone by anyone like Pembroke! He thought not! L?r '“Are we to talk in the presence of all here?**. asked Pembroke calmly, coldly, disapprovingly. He was very cautious. ' 7 “I’m satisfied, if you are,” Broadway answered. “Sit down, judge.” “Very well, Mr. Jones,” said Pembroke gravely. "Mr. Jones, I am not in the habit of doing business through hirelings.” He cast a scornful glance at Wallace, who smiled sweetly in return. “Your Mr. Wilson, your secretary as he represents himself to be, and whose impertinence, by the way, is beyond description, has had the audacity to state that I should have to do business through him or not at all.”

“Those were my instructions.” Jackson answered, never wavering. “I should like to understand the reason for so unusual an arrangement” ' ; “Well,” said Jackson, “you want to buy something that I own. He’s the salesman, that’s all.” He paused, wondering at his own great brilliance. “John Wanamaker owns a store, but he doesn’t wait on the customers, does he?” _ This was unanswerable. It dumfounded Pembroke; it delighted all the other hearers, saving only the two secretaries, who were bent above their tasks with nervous diligence. . Broadway himself laughed Outright. “How was that?" he asked Wallace in a whisper. “You’re immense, on the square,” said Wallace, with intense appreclar tion.

Pembroke was not thus impressed. He was offeh'ded. He was evidently ready for offence from any quarter. “You are flippant, sir,” he said with a grave scorn. "You gave me your word that the deal would be consummated at two o’clock yesterday afternoon. The price was settled and agreed upon by both, of us.” Jackson sat in silence, regarding him with an innocent, unwavering at, tention which very greatly disconcerted him. “I returned by appointment to your New York apartment, with my lawyers and papers ready to sign, and upon inquiring from an insolent butler as to your whereabouts I received the information that you were on your way to Egypt” “Good old Rankin!” muttered Broadway, and decided, then and there, to raise his butler’s wages once more.

"He said the only word that you had left for me was a profance request that I go to—er —well, well not repeat it.*' “I’fl make that raise a twenty, not a ten," Broadway reflected. "Believing you to be a man of integrity,” Pembroke went 0n,,, “unfortunately for me I had no witnesses present at our closing of the bargain.” Broadway continued to smile expansively. "Still,” said Pembroke, "I ask you, as man to man, is your word worthiest” / ■ Broadway looked at him with an intensity of gaze which required three stretchings of the neck to bring about "When I’m doing business with unscrupulous people, yes,” he answered.

Pembroke, shuddering, turned to his stenographer. “Have you got that, John?” And John nodded. “Got that, Henry?" Broadway demanded of his man. And Henry nodded. Then Broadway walked the floor, keeping the astonished Pembroke fixed with a glittering eye. That careful, able, very modern business person was rather notably surprised by the young man. Somehow he seemed to have developed since the hour, so short a time before, when first he had encountered him in New York city. “When I fell for your rush football business methods yesterday and agreed to sell.” said Bfoadway, his voice assuming an extraordinary singsong, to, his friends unusual, to himself astonishing, to Pembroke disconcerting, and, In later years, a celebrated thing, “I wasn't aware of the low, contemptible tricks to which your company had stooped In order to put my poor old uncle out of business.” His voice thrilled with feeling when he used those touching words "my poor old uncle.” His ‘jpoor old uncle” would have been emphatically surprised had he been there to hear that thrill. ”1 didn’t k-n-o-w it was the result of the business blows you’d dealt him that sent him to his g-r-a-v-e.” (I am endeavoring, by means of hyphens, to Indicate the lingering, scathing emphasis which Broadway, this day saturated in the soul of oratory, was giving now to certain words.) “I didn’t k-n-o-w It was the purpose of the concern with which I was dealing to throw out of work hundreds of men that owed to that thing I was selling their very means of livelihood, food for their babies, education for their growing sons and Even Wallace looked at him amazed. The tremolo, the emphasis, the feeling which Broadway was putting Into this extraordinary line of talk to the trust agent were all new and beautiful to ..him. "Lots of things I didn't know yesterday, Mr. Pembroke," said the young man in conclusion, “but Fve found them out* since then, and that Is why I’ve broken my word.” Pembroke's impassiveness was ruffled; there was not the slightest doubt of that

On Josie’s face there was a look of admiration which was balm to Broadway’s soul; the judge, had listened with a mouth continually opening wider; Wallace was frankly triumphant “You didn’t think that I could talk that way, did you?” asked Broadway of his adversary. Then,,to Wallace: “How was itr* “Great!” ■ “Great?” said Jackson. “It was wonderful! I never knew it was in me.” He was completely satisfied with Broadway Jones. ,He whirled again on Pembroke. "Go on, say something else.” But Pembroke kept a stony silence. “Tell you what I’ll do,” cried Broadway, “I’ll talk you for a thousand dollars a side.” ~ Pembroke scorned this proposition. Plainly he was not a sport “Then I am to understand the price Is —” “The‘salesman will state the price. Fm the owner.” “I don’t consider any commercial trade-mark worth a million and a half of dollars,” Pembroke said with emphasis. “Neither do I,” said Wallace cheerfully. “Still,” said Pembroke slowly and coldly, “even in business we sometimes desire to satisfy our pride. It has always been the ambition of our company to control this output. For ten years we have tried to absorb it into the Consolidated without success. I have communicated with my people in Ohio, and, while we feel and know the price to be highly exorbitant, we have decided to take it over. I am prepared tt> buy.” -

“Well, we are not prepared to sell,” said Wallace slowly and emphatically. “What! I’ve agreed to your own terms!” “I heard everything you said.” “I don’t quite gather your meaning.” “No; and you’re not going to gather our chewing-gum either. We’re not going to sell. We’re going to fight.

You haven’t a tottering old man to deal with now, but a young man—full of fire and fight, of energy and ambition! Bob himself knew this to have been a fine flight. He pointed with a gesture full of drama at Broadway, who did the best he could to meet the situation with an attitude which might have broken Pembroke’s gravity had he been less absorbed and Incensed. “We have an article which, on Its own merits, has stood up under almost Impossible competition,” Wallace continued in a tone of triumph. “We have the goods to deliver, and we’re going to fight and beat y6u at your own game. We’re going to make you take your own medicine, Mr. Pembroke. We're going to make you compete with us. We’re going to advertise as no article was ever advertised before. We’re going to post and plaster from one end of the country to the other. We’re going to snow you under, that’s what we’re going to dp, and we’re In a position to dp it.”

Broadway was as proud of Wallace as he had been of himself. "What do you think of that?” he asked the startled Pembroke. Pembroke smiled. He had a well trained face. He also was an egotist both for himself and for his company.

"We spend a million dollars annually in advertising, Mr. Wilson.” "No you don’t," said Wallace promptly. “I know what you spend better than you do yourself. And my name is not ‘Mr. Wilson,’ and I’m not Mr. Jones* secretary." He pulled a card out of his pocket "Here’s my name and here’s my business.”

Pembroke took the card, looked at it, and was really affected. As far as he was capable of showing real uneasiness he showed it then.

“You mean the Empire Advertising company is behind this business?" The Empire Advertising company, it must be remembered, was the largest in the world.

Wallace had not thought of that He had not meant to say the Empire was actually behind Jones* Pepsin gum. But now that Pembroke had suggested it it seemed to him to be a good idea, and, without taking into consideration the Important fact that his father, not himself, was president of the Empire Advertising company, be took the plunge. Just what I mean, and we’re going to do five times as much advertising as you ever did, and at onetenth the cost”

“Then my people do no more business with the Empire.” “All right,” Wallace positively sneered, “then let’s see how much outdoor advertising you get this side of the Rocky mountains.” Pembroke rose. He was not happy, but he did his level best to hide his worry.

“Very well, I’ll take the 11:40 back to New York. Come, John.” He turned, then, to Broadway, and spoke ominously. ‘You mark my word, Mr. Jones, you’ll be glad to do business with us before another year has passed.” “All right,” Broadway answered, "come around and see me in about twelve months. I may want to buy your company.” “Come, John,” said Pembroke without answering. ; " p.-; v, - "Say, John, take down that last one I said,” Broadway called after him. “I thought it was a corker.” The Judge rose from the chair in which he had been sitting in a sort of joyous trance. “I’d give ten years of ,my life rather than have missed that” Josie, who, as spellbound, had been watching from the side, sighed happily: "It was all wonderful!” Wallace smiled at her. "Have the stenographer make carbon copies of all that Pembroke said —the entire conversation. We may need them.” “Incriminating, nearly every word of it,” the Judge agreed. “Didn't I tell you I’d scare the life out of him?” Wallace asked in boastful tones. » “Did you?” said Broadway. "I wasn’t so bad myself, was I?” The judge grinned at him in commendation. Then*. “I'll tell Higgins that Pembroke has gone about his business. Perhaps they’ll raise another cheer. It will make them all feel Just a little better —if they could feel any better. He’ll spread the news in a Jiffy.” - "Well, what did you think of itr* Wallace asked of Jackson. “How about it, now that it’s all over?” Broadway was a little dubious. “It’s a good plot, but how are.we going to play It?” he inquired, reverting to theatrical slang of that street he had loved and lost so much on. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

“We’re Not Going to Sell. We’re Going to Fight.”

"I Think You Can Catch Him If You Hurry.”