Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-21
ROADWAY JONES ::
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red fire talk out of you. | suppose you've
been Cabling so much you've got them
all excited over nothing. The trust isn't
going to buy this plant. It isn't for sale.
and you 90 and tell the men | said So"
Twirline his hat in his hands Higgins
hunbly apologized to Josie. Then he ex-
claimed:
TN tell the boys what you say, Mr..
Jones What relief it will be to them
all. It's made different man out of me
already"
Tears were in Higgins eyes and began
to roll down his cheeks
We'll, what are you crying about?"
asked Jones, gruffly but kindly at heart.
Because I'm happy. It's the first time
I've been happy in twenty years." bub-
bered Higgins, and went out the door.
Broadway grinned.
Can you beat that" said he. He
cries when he's happy I wonder when
he laughs He's a nice, cheerful little
party. I'd like to be around him a whole
lot"
did you have a good nights rest?
asked the girl.
with groan Broadway replied;
My back is broken Who named that
hotel the Grand? There are men in
prison for doing less than running hotel
like that"
Broadway grew bolder as he found that
the girls eyes did not produce that dazed
state of mind and heart in which he had
spent the latter part of the previous even
ing Now there seemed in her face moth
ing hostile, nothing bitter, only real
friendliness and a desire to be helpful
After q time Josie asked quietly:
Have you thought Of what We talked
over last night?"
Broadway laughed.
Have I thought of it," he returned
Then, becoming grave in moment, "Au
dreamed about was poverty stricken
families crying out for food. Thousands
OF men, women and children passed me
through the streets, out of the town and
into wild forest where there were moth
ing but chewing gum trees. l could
have slept this morning, but the F,lks
started to rehearse for their minstrel
show in the parlor; 50 l got up and or
dered breakfast. Oh, breakfast at the
Grand"
Josie laughed and offered the new
owner her financial statement. He didn't
want 1t, he said, as Wallace had prom
ised to look after that part of the bust
ness. Wallace would be in very shortly,
but he had gone to the barber shop.
THANK heaven. l shave myself" con-
cluded Broadway.
The girl asked about the presence in
the town of Pembroke, and Broadway
explained that Wallace had given him
until II o'clock and had named a price
of million and half.
Almost the old look came into the
girls eyes
But you sent word to the men"
she began.
Broadway treasured her:
Don't you be afraid, I meant Just
what I said to Higgins l don't mind
telling you when I came here yesterday
my intention was to sell this business
and get it OFF my hands at any price or
sacrifice. but Carnegie couldn't buy il
this morning if he offered me every dol
lar he's got in the world Wallace and
sat up talking about 1t till in the
morning. l told him all you said, and
you've convinced not only me but Wal
lace, too, and he's some business man
He thinks with you-and me Broad
way almost blushed at this juXtaposition
of the two personal pronouns- that the
right thing for me to do is to stick right
here and put up fight for these people
the same as my uncle did"
There was a warmth Of feeling in
Josie's low tone as she said;
SHE SMILES.
~ knew you would Mr.. Jones"
And then she smiled. Broadway was
almost dumfounded. Her smile of the
previous evening had aroused very
definite renorse in him. Nov il seemed
a different smile-a promise that the
girl would believe in him. did believe in
him, and at the same time an intima-
ton that she felt that he was acting
solely from his own better nature, with
out outside pressure Of any sort. But
It was not entirely the effect of that
new smile that made Broadway STAN
mer and hesitate as he foundered on:
'I don't know anything about bust
ness-and don't know anything
never did a days work In my life, for
the simple reason that I never had to.
| The only thing that I've entered into
in the last five years is a contest to see
who could stay up the latest / never
did anything good, because / never had
ANYTHING good to do What I've needed
all along was a--what I've needed was
Broadway was now frantically fumbIing
at one Of the side pockets of his coat,
the pocket which bulged out a little.
| centive-something to spur me onto
force me to "a realization that an in
centive was needed to bring about
realization-tha an incentive would rea-
lie" Josie was now watching him in
wonder. for It was apparent that EN-
barrassment had not caused this strange
wallowing verbally I've needed
Broadway stopped abruptly, then added:
what the duce have | needed? Can you
beat that! l knew that thing by heart
when I left the hotel Won't you read
the rest of it,
And he threw upon the table before
the girl the paper which he had been
struggling to draw from his pocket
For moment both laughed, and then
suddenly the girls face became grave
as she realized Broadway's anxiety to
make an impression upon her had gone
so far that he had committed it to mem
DRY. She blushed, and then put the
thought from her
eft took me three hours to write that