Middletown transcript., 1914-02-07
FROM nHffPLAY OF GEORGTM.COHAN

he said, respectfully, "but, you see
you've always lived in Jonesville-
great drain on a mans vitality.
didn't mean to say a word to bothel
you"
But the old man was not to be paci
fed; his face continued stern. '"It ii
less your words than what seems to bt
your disposition which annoys me, I" hc
burst forth. els there nothing serious
in your"
Il guess I'm pretty young to settle
down. Perhaps that's what's the mat
ter"
Il had settled down and had com
plete charge Of the bookkeeping depart
ment of this great enterprise before
was eighteen. You might begin tc
take life seriously"
You can't take 1t any other way in
JonesYille.
Il 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
'Pm 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
it said nothing. A careless mouth
might have remarked that his old
uncle was a pretty solid shadow, for
he weighed close upon two hundred
pounds.
Your father" said this very robust
invalid, had some tendencies which
now see in exaggerated in you,
Jackson. He, too, was frivolous; he,
too, longed for the hesh-pots of New
York.
81 never did, sir" he said, gravely.
'T wish I might feel sure of that, "
said Abner Jones. 'F should feel surer
OF the safety OF the gum.
Il 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"
''Yes, sir, rye heard Of It."
1t would have been remarkable If 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 l am gone they will endeavor
to secure our factory and business" +"
Abner Jones went on. 81 shall never
let them have it. You must never let
them have it. OF your pride in the
Jones gum"
It's surely been a handsome little
money maker" Broadway granted.
Il do not like your language" said
his uncle, "but the meaning of your
words is accurate enough. 1t has made
money. 1t still continues to make
money-as an Independent gum. It"
Broadway was getting fldgetty. The
Spotswoods were waiting supper for
him. Mrs. Spotswood was a plump
and cheerful housewife, who dotted on
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't
it, if it lost it's independence? he in
quired.
''The plan Of the trust is to take it
from the market. They have not
thought Of continuing it as an indi-
vidual product. They merely wish to
eliminate it utterly. This would free
their other products of its 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
market so that it no longer will affect
their"
yes, I've heard" He had-a thou
sand times.
THAT is the reason 1 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, 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 helped to make it? That
worries me. The gum must be pro
tected. leave it to you, uncle. +"
jackson, you are frivolous. You
are a tremendous disappointment to
me. You"
Il don't want to be disappointment
but I'd almost rather be disappoint-
ment than gum-maker. I'd"
Col" said his uncle angrily. Il
But Jackson did not hear the re-
mainder Of the sentence. He had
needed its first word.
4-01"-"-"-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
L