The Washington times., 1914-03-07
"In the Old Attic. :"
.Vitragraph

In this tender tale of reconcilia-
ton the child plays the leading role
and plavs it well.
The story begins back with the
aristocratic old gentleman's choice
of a bride for his son, a girl naughty
and unlovable. This plan is de-
feated by the son falling in love with
a charming young singer, and when
y he insists on marrying her his faith
er drives him away from his home.
All of the boys toys and treasures
are slowed away in the attic and the
old man makes no mention of him.
In the passing of time the charac-
ter of the community changes and
the old homes become cheap tene-
ments, Mr.. Morton continuing to
live in his, however. though the street
has become veritab-e annex to
slumland. When fifteen years have
gone he receives a note from his son,
telling of illness and begging that he
be kind to his young son for the sake
of the little boy he once loved. But
the old man steels his heart against
the appeal and ignores 1t.
When the father dies, young Billy
and his mother are in very strait
ened circumstances and they come to
live in an attic room IN a lodging
house adjoining Mr.. Morton'S home.
While the mother is off teaching mu-
sic during the day. Billy amuses HIM
self playing bal on the long row OF
connected roofs. One day his ball
rolls down a skylight, followed by
RjIIy in rescue Here he finds him
self In a regular Ali Baba's cave. for
there Is treasure of all sorts dear 10
boyish hearts. Quickly he slips into
a soldiers uniform he finds and mas
a fine drill with drum, horn, and gun.
He grows tired at last and falls
asleep in a little tent he has rigged
I'm out Of an old carpet.
Old Mr.. Morton is made TO pay the
renalty of living in a slum neigh
borhood. Two ruffians steal In
through his basement entrance, gag
and bind butler. housekeeper. and
valet. make their way to the old
centleman's room. where they over
rover and gag him. drag him up in
the attic. and fling him on 4 heap
of rubbish.
They return then to the dining
room, but in the process of rifiinS
sideboard and safe they lind cigars
and liquors and grow tipsily help
less in their abandoned revel.
I'd in the attis the little boy finally
awakens and sees the helpless old
man and scrambles up the ladder,
spraining his wrist. to go for help.
To the old man this unexpected sight
OF the little boy is supernatural. and
thinking II Is the spirit of his son
he loses consciousness.
The small boy brings policemen.
who release the servants. capture the
robbers. and rescue the old gentle
man. He cannot rest, but tosses
about, begging 10 see the small boy
aGain. Servants and physicians are
at a loss as to what he means.
After the excitement has settled.
Billy remembers that his wrist hurts
much. and he sinks on a neighboring
doorstep holding it and crinStnS
with pain. The doctor. coming out
of MortOn's house. notices he is Suf-
fering and stops to see what the
trouble is Then he notices the SOL
diers uniform.
"Whv. YOU must be the little boy
Mr. Morton is wanting 20 see. Come
OH with me. sonny. and weIl go in
and find out" said the doctor, after
he had put on a bandaCe.
Bil'y's mother had corIe up in the
meantime SO they all went in to SEQ
the old man. and he took the small
boy and the tired widow to his hard
old heart. which was melted into the
semblance OF a human organ again.