The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-03-25
@T EDWARD MARSf1ALL
FPOW w OF GEORGEM.C CONAN

nineteen, near twenty.
"She's a mighty pretty girl, judge"
Wallace commented, with fervor.
We'll, we're proud Of her" The
Judge made a gesture as If. warning
them to listen carefully, and then
dropped his voice, almost to a whisper.
This was the homecoming of a Jones,
and this was Jonesville. 1t should, he
held, be celebrated in something
stronger than lemonade. With an eye
upon the door, he pulled a flask out or
his pocket. 81 thought maybe you
boys would like a little drop Of some
! thing, so 1 brought home this flask.
Can't I fix you up a drink, Broadway"
Jackson guessed it's quality, and
though his system yearned, for alco-
hul, rejected the mere thought. mot
>tsw, thanks"
"Mr. Wallace7"
Taking his cue from Jackson, Wal
lace shook his head. "A little later,
Judge"
The Judge put the flask back in his
pocket. well, don't say anything
about it. Mrs. Spotswood would raise
thunder If she thought I breught 1t in
the house. She's an awful temperance
crank"
Not a word from me, judge" Broad
way assured him.
Nor from me-" said Wallace.
They were wondering why he did
not begin to discuss business, but he
soon explained. wait till you see
Sammy, you won't know him." he be-
gan, beaming upon Broadway. Hell
be here directly. I sent him to the Of
flee for some papers. want you to
see a copy of that will"
Eyes; I'd like to, just as soor as pos
sible," Broadway admitted.
The judge turned to Wallace. "You
knew very few people imagined that
this boy would come in for it all?"
Il can't understand it myself" said
Broadway.
"Of course I knew" said the Judge
complacently.
"But I always supposed, Judge. that
the old gentleman hated me-"
mo, street" exclaimed the Judge.
"Of course he didn't like the idea Of
your going to New York as oon as you
grew up and not taking hold of the
business as your father had. But he
never would have bought you out If
he'd not been afraid you'd sell to some
one else.
81 know. I was in his confidence
after/you went away. He didn't want
you to go to New York because he
didn't understand you. He never had
the least idea that you'd take up the
wholesale liquor business down there,
or take up any other business for that
matter. He feared you'd go squander-
ing your money.
II wish he had known the truth be-
fore he died! But he was really very
fond of you, though he didn't always
show it in a way you recognized, per-
haps. Naturally he would be; never
married; no children Of his own.
"He used to feel hurt that you new
| er came to see him; but he always fig
ured that the plant and gum belonged
to you. You didn't understand one an
other-you him nor him you. But he
did not forget it was your father that
first made. the gum a real success
| That was the real reaso he let
20 to the trust" the judge continued;
that and his regard for this COM
munity."
1T must be an immense fortune,
Judge, isn't it" asked Wallace.
"The Consolidated people offered
him twelve hundred thousand dollars
for the plant and trademark"
"Yes; we know that" said Jackson.
"Mr. Wallace e aside from the
gum business"
WELL" said the judge relectively,
you see those trust fellows have been
so anxious to get the Jones Gum that
they've been making business pretty
warm of late. They knew, for instance,
that we had a fund for advertising,
and they killed that fund for us two
years ago with one of their shrewd
business tricks"
Wallace was interested. How was
that?"
well, they sent In such a demand
on us that we added to the size Of the
plant and spent the money for ma
chinery. We thought it vas the pub
lie. We never realized that it was any
thing but a legitimate increase till
the smash came. They quit all their
fake orders. We went back to our nor.
nal business, laid off u extra force
and found ourselves with a lot Of use
less machinery and half a dozen super
1uous packing houses on our hands
and no advertising done at all that
year. Shrewd game, eh?"
Can you beat that?" asked Jackson
of his friend.
Just shows you" Wallace answered.
what chance a little fellows got"
! None at all, unless he's got big CAPT.