The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-01-28
WITH PHOTOGRAPHS
FROM SCENES IN THE PLAY

he said, respectfully, 'Dut, you see,
you've always lived in Jonesville-a
great drain on a mans vitality.
didn't mean to say a word to bother
you"
But the old man vas not to be paci-
fed; his face continued stern. ut Is
less your words than what seems to be
your disposition which annoys me-" he
burst forth. "Is there nothing serious
in you?"
"I guess I'm pretty young to settle
down. Perhaps that's what's the mat
ter"
II had settled down and had com
plete charge Of the bookkeeping depart
ment of this great enterprise before
was eighteen. You might begin to
take life seriously"
you can't take it any other way in
J%onesville." .,.
81 feel that l should tell you vari'
Gus details of the business, for my
days here may be numbered"
The youth looked ~deprecatingly
around the dull old library, feeling, in
the earnestness of his revolt, that II
his own days in Jonesville were but
numbered it would give him great re-
lief. Even death, he thought +
I'm sorry you're not well, sir"
I'VE are but shadows cast upon the
stream of life. Mere shadows, Jack
son." .
Jackson gazed at him with careful
eyes; that his mouth was also careful
was entirely proven by the fact that
1t said nothing. A careless mouth
might have remarked that his old
uncle was a pretty solid shadow, fol-
he weighed close upon two hundred
pounds. ....r..r.
."Your father" said this very robust
invalid, had some tendencies which
now see in you-exaggerated Id you
Jackson. He, too, was frivolous; he
too, longed for the cfesh-pots Of New
York" .. q
{" never did, sir" he said, gravely.
." wish I might feel sure Of that
said Abner Jones. Il should feel sureI
or the SAFETY OF the gum.
81 shall never harm the gum, sir"
"You must not only never harm It;
you must help it. Let me tell you
Jackson-there is a trust in the gum
business"
Eyes, sir, I've heard Of It."
1t would have been remarkable II he
had not. For two years the air Of
~Jonesville had been full OF timid ru
mors of the gum trust. The whole
town was fearful that the great Jones
factory might be sold to it and closed.
AFTER I am gone they will endeavol
to secure our factory and business
Abner Jones went on. 81 shall never
let them have it. You must neve lei
them have it. Of, your pride IN the
Jones gum"
It's surely been a handsome little
money maker" Broadway granted.
II do not like your language" sale
his uncle, "but the meaning of YOU
words is accurate enough. It has made
money. 1t still continues to. make
money-as al Independent gum. 1t
Broadway was getting fdgetty. The
Spotswoods were waiting supper fol
him. Mrs. Spotswood was a plump
and cheerful housewife, who dotted or
the recipes he brought back from New
York upon the rare occasions when his
uncle let him go there.
1T would make more, uncle, wouldn'
it, if it lost it's Independence" he in
quired.
1.-THE plan Of the trust Is to take II
from the market. They have not
thought Of continuing it as In indi
vidual product. They merely wish tc
eliminate it utterly. This would free
their other products of it's competi
ton" ... ..-. .....'
Did some one of them chew it?'
his nephew inquired earnestly.
Jackson, you should be ashamed!
They merely wish to take it from the
pt = ct so that 1t no longer will affect
the"
Eyes, I've heard" He had-a thou
sand tines
THAT is the reason I am anxious
that you should begin to show some
vital interest in our splendid enter,
prise. 1t must be protected at all haz
ards. 1t should be the pride, as it has
been the fortune, Of the Jones family
Honest, uncle, 1 don't believe
know enough to go into the business
Aren't you afraid that it would spoil
the sale Of the gum If anybody should
find out I helped to make it? That
worries me The gum must be pro
tected. leave it to you, uncle. L"
Jackson, you are frivolous. You
are a tremendous disappointment to
me. YOU"
II don't want to be a disappointment
but I'd almost rather be a disappoint
ment than a gum-maker. I'd"
60" said his uncle angrily. O.
But Jackson did not hear the re
mainder Of the sentence. He had
needed its first word.