The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-02-11
WITH PHOTOGRAPHS
FROM SCENES IN THE PLAY


go in debt to them-he would have far
less than nothing left.
For days he stewed above his fig,
ures in a room of which he kept close
guard upon the key. He told Rankin,
who was curious, that he planned to
write a book.
Indeed, sir? Fiction, sir?"
Fiction? Cad, no! Fact
"a book of travel, sir? I've travelled
quite a bit. Perhaps"
mo. Or yes. Of travel up and down
Broadway"
Splendid, sir, If I may be excused
for taking such a liberty. I'm sure no
gentleman in all New York is more
familiar with the subject, sir. I shall
be glad to read it, sir. I'm sure 1t
will be quite a revelation!"
Rankin" said Broadway earnestly,
"ff L wrote what I really know about
Broadway 1t would be a revelation"
He grew very serious, for him. 1T
would put some men On pedestals, and
they would not be those who now
stand highest. It would put some men
behind the bars, and among them are
some men who now are free to come
and go, with welcomes when they
come and invitations when they leave,
in every place where people gather IN
this town" ~
He burst into a sudden laugh. Great
stuff, eh, Rankin? When you say
Broadway you stir me up. I love 1t,
hate It; 1t always f~ascinates me.
There's no street like it In the world"
,'Tf your book is like that, sir, 1t
will be a big success" commented
Rankin, spellbound. It's going to be
a fine book, MI. Jones"
1T won't interest Broadway. There's
only one kind Of book that Broadway
cares about"
t!"And what is that, sir?" ~
"Check books, Rankin. Now I'm go
ing into-into-" He did not know
Just what to call the room which he
kept locked. ~,
Your study, sir?"
XThanks, Rankin. Yes; I'm going to
my study. Don't let me be disturbed"
It'll not, sir" ~
When he left that "study" he avoid
ed Rankin. His fingers were ink
stained from calculations, his hair was
quite %disheveled, his eyes were wide
and rolling. He could see no hope
ahead.
He wrote a letter to his uncle ex-
planning that investments had gone
wrong and that he needed a small loan
Of fifty thousand dollars for three
months. He, was Jul that If he got
this he would be enabled to find some
way out. By return of mail he had
an answer in an envelope which
strangely bulged. He opened It with
trembling fingers and a package of
Jones' Pepsin Gum fell out. ~
Chew this apd forget it," said the
cheerful note which Uncle Abner had
wrapped round II. It said further:
I'm going to Europe for five years.
Don't bother me again. You've made
you oed, now lie on It," o
That was the last straw. Without
the least idea of what he wished to
do, the frantic Broadway started out
to find some work by which, at least,
he could earn honestly. his board and
keep. s. ,
Wall street offered nothing, for when
he went down to see his friends there
his courage failed entirely and instead
Of asking them to find a place for him
he bought them, one by one, expensive
luncheons. s
He went to neighboring cities, hop
Ing there to find some means Of get
ting food to eat without getting 1t on
credit, and there he had some strange
experiences which lasted several days.
But, while he just escaped the uniform
OF the Salvation Army, he did not find
work and wandered back to Broadway,
the apartment and more debt.
He had no profession, knew no
trade. Half crazed with the obsession
that he must no longer run in debt,
he decided to sell out the fiat, dis
charge the servants and do mental
labor. Running through the list Of
his abilities he decided, with frank
self-contempt, that about the best
which he could do al help in a hotel
as bellboy. He knew too little about
mathematics to keep bEoks; he never
would succeed as desk-clerk. But he
could not bring himself to try to get
a job Of that sort-it would too often
bring him into contact with the folk
he knew.
One afternoon, while wandering in
an aimless funk upon a side street, he
saw a card in front Of an apartment
mouse announcing that an elevator boy
was wanted. He rushed in with alac-
rity and determination-and at the
very threshold met Mrs. Gerard, who
had been calling on a friend there. In
stead Of asking for the job he took
a drive with her.
1t vas while this drive progressed
that the sordid, vicious tempter def
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