The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-12-19
rests bis nead 10 bis nands and bis el-


bows on the desk before him
Dick pets him and talks to him, evil
IDENTIFY trying to cheer him, but with
out success. Then the son brings his
fathers hat. coat and cane, helps him
on with the coat, hands him his cane
puts his arm affectionately through
his, and they leave the Office.
Act IVAN Office desk is at the
window where stood the typewriter.
and it is occupied by Dick. Before
him are bundles Of papers. In the
adjoining Office sits his father. much
broken Most of the time he reads a
newspaper or looks istlessly out of
the window.
Dick is seen alternately at his desk.
in the general Office and with his ia
ther The clerks, who are now fewer
than formerly. begin to put away their
books and papers and one by one leave
for the day. When they are all gone
Dick goes into his fathers Office and
hands the old man his hat and coat
But the father demurs. and Dick lays
the hat and coat on chair. Then he
goes to his desk, picks up pile of let
tiers and sits down to prepare the even
ing mail.
While Dick is tipping he stops, turns
his head and half rises from his seat
Some one has entered. but / can't see
who it is. Dick disappears to the
front of the Office, but soon reappears
accompanied by lady richly dressed
Since the cleaning is coming on,
cannot make out her features. but
Dick turns on the electric lights, and
Laura stands beside him.
She and Dick sit down together and
begin to talk. though Dick most of the
time listens. Laura speaks with great
earnestness. Dick shakes his head,
pointing toward his fathers Office. Lau.
ra takes from her reticule a package,
unfolds it and exposes what looks like
mortgage bonds. At any rate. they are
securities of some kind She looks at
Dick appealingly. He, forgetting un-
der a powerful impulse. that the win
dow shades are not drawn, takes her
hand and kisses 1t passionately.
Both start Some one has entered
Dick and Laura rise and face this
newcomer. I know who he is. for |
have seen the old man in his Office
take up bis hat and coat and leave it.
He has come in to where his son is,
and / can see him slowly advancing
toward Dick and Laura with a sur
prised expression on his face. Then
Dick speaks. How tantalizing that !
cannot hear word he says. His man.
ner is impressive. He points to the
bonds in Laura's hands, while he tells
his father about them. Laura stands.
her head bent, her eyes resting on the
floor
Dicks words are few. Indeed. they
are but single sentence. When 1t is
finished all three stand for q. few mo-
ments in silence-Dick erect, pointing
to the securities; Laura's eyes still
bent on the floor: the old man locking
from one to the other In evident amaze-
ment Then, advancing toward Laura.
he encircles her in bis arms and kisses
her on the forehead Reaching for
Dicks hand, he holds it for a moment
while one arm encircles Laura. then
Joined his sons hand with hers.
Curtain.
l have seen these actors often since
the close of the play. and they are all
happy. The old man has frightened
up, but leaves the business In his sons
hands. though he goes to bis Office as
Of yore. / have taken pains to go and
look at the firm name on the Office door
and have noticed that there has been a
change from John D. to John D. & Co.
infer that Laura. or. rather, young
Mrs. D., is the company.
But she has nothing to do with the
management Of the business-indeed.
her attention is taken up in another di-
rection. Only yesterday she came upon
the Office stage attended by a nurse
carrying little chap much resembling
his father and grandfather.