Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-21
T.: BROADWAY JONES =:
Bqou George NJ COhanS Play NoqO Running IN NeO York


| going to buy this plant. II Isn't for sale,
and you 90 and tell the men said So"
TWlrling his hat in his hands Higgins
humbly apologized to Josie. Then he ex-
claimed:
TN tell the boys what you say, Mr..
Jones. What a 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 about2"
asked Jones, gruffy but kindly at heart
Because I'm happy. It's the first time
I've been happy in twenty years" blub-
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 a groan Broadway replied:
My back is broken. Who named that
Motel the Grand? There are men in
prison for doing less than running q hotel
like that"
Broadway grew holder 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 a real
friendliness and desire to be helpful.
After time Josie asked quietly:
Have you thought of what we talked
over last night?"
Broadway laughed.
Have I thought of it?" he returned
] Then. in,
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. could
nave slept this morning, but the Elks
| started to rehearse for their minstrel
show in the parlor; SO I got up and or
dered breakfast Oh, a 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
Used 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, I 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 price
of a million and a 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 / said to Higgins. l don't mind
| telling you when l came here yesterday
! my intention was to sell this business
| and get 1T off my hands at any price or
| sacrifice, but Carnegie couldn't buy it
this morning if he offered me every dol
| lar he's got in the world. Wallace and
sat up talking about it till in the
morning. / 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 iuxtaposition
of the two personal pronouns-"that the
right thing for me to do is to stick right
here and put up a 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. ,a
II knew you would, Mr. Jones"
And then she smiled Broadway was
| almost dumfounded. Her smile of the
previous evening had aroused a very
definite remorse in him. Now it 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
1t was not entirely the effect of that
new smile that made Broadway stam-
mer and hesitate as he floundered on:
II don't know anything about bust
ness-and I don't know anything-I
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. I never
did anything good, because I never had
anything good to do. What I've needed
all along was a--what I've needed was"
Broadway was now frantically fumbllng
at one Of the side pockets of his coat.
the pocket which bulged out q little.
what I've needed all along was an in
centive-somethng to spur me onto
force me TO a realization; that an in
centive was needed to bring about
realization-that an incentive would rea-
lie" Josie was now watching him in
wonder, for II was apparent that EN-
barrassment had not caused this strange
wallowing verbally. I've needed
Broadway stopped abruptly then added;
What the duce have I needed? Can you
beat that I 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.
at took me three hours to write that
thing" said Broadway, who apparently
did not realize what his act had signified,
land I knew I'd forget it,
Then a moment later he himself blushed.
He was still staring at the girl, and the
imperious eyes Of the night before had
dropped under his gaze when a tremen-