WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:06.000 Personality plus by Atna Ferber, Chapter one, Making Good with Mother. 2 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:10.439 When men began to build cities vertically instead of horizontally, 3 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:15.400 there passed from our highways a picturesque figure, and from 4 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:20.719 our language an expressive figure of speech, that oily tongued, persuasive, 5 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:24.280 soft stepping stranger in the rusty Prince Albert and the 6 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:27.559 black string tie, who had been wont to haunt our 7 00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:31.640 back steps in front offices with his carefully wrapped bundle, 8 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:36.320 retreated in bewildered defeat before the clanging blows of steel 9 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:40.200 on steel that meant the erection of the first twenty 10 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:44.200 story skyscraper. As slick, we used to say, as a 11 00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:47.520 lightning rod agent of what use his wares on a 12 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:51.799 building whose tower was robed in clouds, and which used 13 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:55.359 the chain lightning for a necklace. The Fourth Avenue antique 14 00:00:55.399 --> 00:00:59.240 dealer had another curio to add to his collection of 15 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:04.159 andiron knockers, snuff boxes and warming pans. But even as 16 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:07.640 this quaint figure vanished, there sprang up a new and 17 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:11.640 glittering one to take his place. He stood framed in 18 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:15.159 the great plate glass window of the very building which 19 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:18.400 had brought about the defeat of his predecessor, a miracle 20 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:22.239 of close shaving. His face was and a marvel of 21 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:27.959 immaculateness's linen dapper, he was and dressy, albeit inclined to 22 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:31.760 glittering effects, and a certain plethory. At the back of 23 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:36.400 the neck. Back of him stood shining shapes that reflected 24 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:40.840 his glory in enamel and brass and glass. His language 25 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:45.560 was floral but choice. His talk was of gearings and bearings, 26 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:50.120 and cylinders and magnetos. His method differed from that of 27 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:53.319 him who went before, as the method of a skilled 28 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.400 aeronaut differs from that of the man who goes over 29 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:00.480 Niagara in a barrel. And as he multiplied and spread 30 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:05.120 over the land, we coined a new figure of speech. Smooth, 31 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:10.039 we chuckled, as smooth as an automobile salesman. But even 32 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:14.599 as we listened fascinated by his fluid verbiage, there stood 33 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:19.400 within us a certain resentment. Familiarity with his glittering wares 34 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:22.840 bred a contempt of them, so that he fell to 35 00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:27.280 speaking of them as necessities instead of luxuries. He juggled 36 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:30.199 figures and thought nothing of four of them in a row. 37 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:35.479 We looked at our five thousand dollars salary so strangely 38 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.840 shrunken and thin. Now, and even as we looked, we 39 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:42.599 saw that the method of the unctuous, anxious stranger had 40 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:47.960 become antiquated in its turn. Then from his ashes emerged 41 00:02:48.039 --> 00:02:53.520 a new being, neither urger nor spellbinder. He the twentieth 42 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:57.080 century was stamped across his brow and on his lips 43 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:04.000 forever the word service, silent, courteous, watchful, alert. He listened 44 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:08.240 while you talked. His method, in turn, made that of 45 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:11.759 the silk lined salesman sound like the horse hoots of 46 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:15.919 the ballyhou manned at a country fair. Blithely, he accepted 47 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:20.199 five hundred thousand dollars and gave in return a promise. 48 00:03:20.919 --> 00:03:24.280 And when we would search our soul for a synonym 49 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:28.199 to express all that was low voiced and suave and 50 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:33.319 judicious and patient and sure, we began to say as 51 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:38.840 alert as an advertising expert. Jock mc chesney, looking as 52 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:42.280 fresh and clear eyed as only twenty one and a 53 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:45.479 cold shower could make one look, stood in the doorway 54 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:49.879 of his mother's bedroom. His toilet had halted abruptly at 55 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:54.319 the bathrobe stage. One of those bulky gorments swathed his 56 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:57.960 slim figure, while over his left arm hung a gray 57 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:02.039 tweed Narfolk coat. From his right hand dangled a pair 58 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:06.599 of trousers in pattern. A modish black and white jock 59 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:11.120 eyed the gray garment on his arm with moody eyes. Well, 60 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:13.280 I'd like to know what's the matter with it, he 61 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:17.800 demanded a trifle irritably. Emma mc chesney, in the act 62 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:21.560 of surveying her back hair in the mirror, paused hand 63 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:25.480 glass poised half way to regard her son. All right, 64 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:29.600 she answered, cheerfully. I'll tell you it's too young. Young. 65 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:32.560 He held it at arm's length and stared at it. 66 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:37.439 What do you mean, young? Imma mc chesney came forward, 67 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:41.279 wrapping the folds of her kimono about her. She took 68 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:44.199 the disputed garment in one hand and held it aloft. 69 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:47.199 I know that you look like a man on a 70 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:51.879 magazine cover in it, but Narfolk suits spelled tennis and 71 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:55.959 sea shore and elegant leisure. And you're going out this 72 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:59.639 morning's sun to interview business men. You're going to try 73 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:02.800 to r us the advertising world with the fact that 74 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:07.439 it needs your expert services. You walk into a business 75 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:11.399 office in a Norfolk suit, and everybody from the office 76 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:14.399 boy to the president of the company will ask you 77 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:18.879 what your score is. She tossed it back over his arm. 78 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:22.079 I'll wear the black and white, said Jock resignedly and 79 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:25.759 turned toward his own room. At his doorway, he paused 80 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:29.519 and raised his voice slightly. For that matter, they're looking 81 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:33.160 for young men. Everybody's young. Why the biggest men of 82 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:38.199 the advertising gamer just kids. He disappeared within his room, 83 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:42.279 still talking. Look at mc quirk, advertising manager of the 84 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.839 Combs car company. He's so young he has to disguise 85 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:49.040 himself in bone trimmed eyeglasses with a black ribbon to 86 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:51.560 get away with it. Look at Hooper of the berg 87 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:55.519 Scheider company, pulls down ninety thousand a year, and if 88 00:05:55.560 --> 00:06:00.480 he's thirty five, I'll well, you asked my advice, interrupted 89 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:04.279 his mother's voice with that muffled effect which is caused 90 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:07.079 by a skirt being slipped over the head. And I 91 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:10.920 gave it. Wear a white duck sailor suit with blue anchors, 92 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:13.800 and carry a red tin pail and a shovel. If 93 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.480 you want to look young, only get into it in 94 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:19.319 a jiffy son because breakfast will be ready in ten minutes. 95 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:22.319 I can tell by the way Annie's crashing the cups. 96 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:24.920 So step lively if you want to pay your lovely 97 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:29.800 mother's subway fare. Ten minutes later, the slim young figure 98 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:33.480 in its English fitting black and white, sat opposite Emma 99 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:37.319 mc chesney at the breakfast table, and between excited gulps 100 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:41.920 of coffee, outlined a meteoric career in his chosen field. 101 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:44.959 And the more he talked and the rosier his figures 102 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:49.000 of speech became, the more silent and thoughtful fell his mother. 103 00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:53.439 She wondered if five o'clock would find a droop to 104 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.920 the set of those young shoulders, if the springy young 105 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:01.519 legs in their absurdly scant, modish trouser would have lost 106 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:04.680 some of their elacticity, if the buoyant step in the 107 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:08.879 flat heel shoes would not drag a little. Thirteen years 108 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:12.879 of business experience had taught her to swallow smilingly the 109 00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:17.000 bitter pill of rebuff, But this boy was to experience 110 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:21.120 his first doze to day. She felt again that sensation 111 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:25.759 of almost physical nausea, that sickness of heart and spirit 112 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:28.399 which had come over her when she had met her 113 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:32.879 first sneer and intolerant shrug. It had been her maiden 114 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:35.600 trip on the road for the t a buck featherloom 115 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:39.959 Petticoat company. She was secretary of that company now and 116 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:43.360 moving spirit in its policy, But the wound of that 117 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:47.439 first insult still ate. A word from her would have 118 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:51.399 placed the boy and saved him from kurt refusals. She 119 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:55.879 withheld that word. He must fight his fight alone. I 120 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:58.480 want to write the kind of ad Jock was saying, 121 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:02.399 excitedly that you see him staring at him the subways 122 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:05.560 and street cars and l trains. I want to sit 123 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:09.000 across the aisle and watch their upturned faces staring at 124 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:13.199 that oblong and reading it aloud to each other. Isn't 125 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:17.360 that an awfully obvious necktie you're wearing, Jock inquired his 126 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:21.040 mother irrelevantly. This you ought to see some of them. 127 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:25.319 This is a Quaker stock in comparison. He glanced down 128 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:30.000 complacently at the vivid hued silken scarf that the season's 129 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:34.120 mode demanded. Immediately he was off again. And the first 130 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:37.840 thing you know, missrus mcchestey, ma'am, we'll have a motor 131 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:40.759 truck backing up at the door once a month, and 132 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:44.879 six strong men carrying my salary to the freight elevator 133 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:49.320 in sacks. Emma mc chesney buttered her bit of toast, 134 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:53.679 then looked up to remark quietly, hadn't you better qualify 135 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:56.480 for the trial heats, Jock before you jump into the 136 00:08:56.519 --> 00:09:02.320 finals trial heats? Sneered Jock. They're poky. I want real 137 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:05.720 money now. It isn't enough to be just well to 138 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:10.279 do in these days. It needs money. I want to 139 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:15.000 be rich, not just prosperous, but rich, so rich that 140 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:17.600 I can let the bast soap float around on the 141 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:21.879 water without any pricks of conscience, so successful that they'll say, 142 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:27.480 and he's a mere boy to imagine. And Jock, dear 143 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:32.159 Emma McChesney, said, you still to learn that plans and 144 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:36.039 ambitions are like soap bubbles. The harder you blow and 145 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:40.159 the more you inflate them, the quicker they burst. Plans 146 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:43.279 and ambitions are things to be kept locked away in 147 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:46.519 your heart, son, with no one but yourself to take 148 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:49.960 an occasional peep at them. Jock leaned over the table 149 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:54.159 with his charming smile. You're a jealous blonde, he laughed, 150 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:57.720 because I'm going to be a Captain of finance, an 151 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:02.039 advertising wizard. You're a afraid I'll grab the glory all 152 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:05.919 the way from you. Missus mc chesney folded her napkin 153 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:10.000 and rose. She looked unbelievably young and trim and radiant 154 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:14.039 to be the mother of this boasting boy. I'm not afraid, 155 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:17.120 she drawled a wicked little glint in her blue eyes. 156 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:21.559 You see, they'll only regard your feets and say, hm, 157 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:24.279 no wonder he ought to be able to sell ice 158 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:29.039 to an Eskimo. His mother was Immam Chesney, and then, 159 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:32.919 being a modern mother, she donned smart autumn hat and 160 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:36.320 tailor's suit coat and stood ready to reach her office 161 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.600 by nine point thirty. But because she was as motherly 162 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:43.080 as she was modern, she swung open the door between 163 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:46.639 kitchen and dining room to advise with Annie the adept 164 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:51.480 lamb chops tonight a Annie and sweet potatoes, Jock loves him, 165 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:55.320 and carnal grotten and some head lettuce. She glanced toward 166 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:59.279 Jock in the hallway, then lowered her voice. Annie, she teased, 167 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:03.240 just give us one of your peach cobblers, will you. 168 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:07.000 You see, he's going to be awfully tired when he 169 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:11.240 gets home. So they stepped off to work together, mother 170 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:15.120 and son, a mother of twenty five years before, would 171 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:18.279 have watched her son with tear dimmed eyes from the 172 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:21.840 vine wreathed porch of a cottage. There was no watching 173 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:26.240 a son from the tenth floor of an uptown apartment house. Besides, 174 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:29.440 she had her work to do. The subway swallowed both 175 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:33.080 of them together. They jostled and swung their way downtown 176 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:37.000 in the close packed train. At the twenty third Street station, 177 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:40.720 Jock left her You'll have dinner tonight with a full 178 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:44.639 fledged professional gent. He bragged in his youth and exuberance, 179 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.879 and was off down the aisle and out of the platform. 180 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:52.279 Emma McChesney managed to turn in her nine inch space 181 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:56.279 of train seat so that she watched the slim, buoyant 182 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:00.159 young figure from the window until the train drew away 183 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:03.480 and he was lost in the stairway jam. Just so 184 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.879 Rachel had watched the boy Joseph go to meet the 185 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:11.960 Persian caravans in the desert. Don't let them buffalo you, Jock, 186 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.000 Emma had said, just before he left her. They'll try 187 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:17.720 it if they give you a broom and tell you 188 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:21.120 to sweep down the back stairs, Take it and sweep, 189 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:24.559 and don't forget the corners and if while you're sweeping 190 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:27.600 you notice that that kind of broom isn't suited to 191 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:31.039 the stairs, go in and suggest a new kind. They'll 192 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:36.000 like it. Brooms and back stairways had no place in 193 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:40.360 Jock mc chesney's mind as the mahogany and gold elevator 194 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:43.039 shot him up to the fourteenth floor of the great 195 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:47.159 office building that housed the Berg Shriner Company. Down the 196 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:51.279 marble hallway he went and into the reception room. A 197 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:55.080 cruel test. It was that reception room with the cruelty 198 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.360 peculiar to the modern in business, with its soft shaded lamp, 199 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:04.840 it's two toned rug, its Jacobean chairs, its magazine laden 200 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:09.000 cathedral oak table, its pot of bright flowers making a 201 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:12.159 smart touch of color in the somber richness of the room. 202 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:15.120 It was no place for the shabby, the down and out, 203 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:19.840 the cringing, the rusty, or the mendicant. Jock McChesney, from 204 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:23.200 the tips of his twelve dollar shoes to his radiant face, 205 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:27.480 took the test and stood it triumphantly. He had entered 206 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:30.559 with an air in which was mingled the briskness of 207 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:34.360 assurance with the languor of ease. There were times when 208 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:37.840 Jock mc chesney was every inch the son of his mother. 209 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:44.399 There advanced towards Jock, a large, plump, dignified personage, a 210 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:51.000 personage courteous yet reserved, inquiring yet not offensively curious, A 211 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:56.320 very Machiavelli of reception room ushers. Even while his lips questioned, 212 00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:02.120 his eyes appraised close character conduct. Mister hup, please, said Jock, 213 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:06.000 serene in the perfection of his shirt, tie, collar and 214 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:10.279 scarf pin upon which the appraising eye now rested. Mister 215 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:14.519 mc chesney, he produced a card appointment. No, but he 216 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:18.480 will see me. But Machiavelli has seen too many over 217 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:23.399 confident callers. Their very confidence had taught him caution. If 218 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:27.440 you will please state your er business, Jock smiled a 219 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:31.320 little patient smile, and brushed an imaginary fleck of dust 220 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:34.480 from the sleeve of his very correct coat. I want 221 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:37.039 to ask him for a job, his office boy, he gibed, 222 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:41.360 and answering grin overspread the fat features of the usher. 223 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:44.919 Even an usher likes his little joke. The sense of 224 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:48.600 humor dies hard. I have a letter from him, asked 225 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:51.960 kmy to call, said Jock. To clinch it this way, 226 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:56.000 the keeper of the door led Jock toward the sacred 227 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:59.200 inner portal and held it open. Mister Hups in the 228 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:03.480 last door to the The door closed behind him, Jock 229 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:07.320 found himself in the big, busy, light filled central office. 230 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:10.399 Down either side of the great room ran a row 231 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:15.919 of tiny private offices, each partitioned off, each outfitted with 232 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:20.159 desk and chairs and a big bright window. On his 233 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:23.320 way to the last door at the right, Jock glanced 234 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:28.840 into each tiny office, glimpsing busy men bent upsorbidly over papers, 235 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:32.879 girls busy with dictation. Here and there a door revealing 236 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:36.039 two men are three deep in discussion of a problem, 237 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:41.960 heads close together, Foye's low faces earnest. It came suddenly 238 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:46.039 to the smartly modish, overconfided boy walking the length of 239 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:49.159 the long room that the last person needed in this 240 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:54.600 marvelously perfected and smooth running organization was a somewhat odd 241 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:58.440 young man named Jock mc chesney. There came to him 242 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:02.799 that strained sensation which comes to every job hunter, that 243 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:06.840 feeling of having his spiritual legs carry him out of 244 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:10.159 the room, passed the door, down the hall and into 245 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:13.399 the street, even as in reality they bore him on 246 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:16.960 to the very presence which he dreaded and yet wished 247 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:20.279 to see. Two steps more, and he stood in the 248 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:25.399 last doorway right. No matinee Idol, nervously awaiting his cue 249 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:28.799 in the wings, could have planned his entrance more carefully 250 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:33.000 than Jock had planned. His ease was the thing, ease, 251 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:38.320 bordering on nonchalance mixed with a brisk and business like assurance. 252 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:41.720 The entrance was lost on the man at the desk. 253 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.320 He did not even look up. If Jacket entered on 254 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:50.080 all fours doing a double tango to vocal accompaniment. It 255 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:52.080 is doubtful if the man at the desk would have 256 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:56.120 looked up. Pencil between his fingers, had held a trifle 257 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:59.919 to one side in critical contemplation of the work before him, 258 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:05.359 eyes narrowed judicially, lips pursed. He was the concentrated essence 259 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:10.160 of do it now. Jock waited a moment in silence. 260 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:14.240 The man at the desk worked on his head was semibald. 261 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:17.839 Jock knew him to be thirty. Jock fixed his eye 262 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:21.880 on the semi bal spot and spoke, my name's mc chesney, 263 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:25.599 he began. I wrote you three days ago. You probably 264 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:28.920 will remember, you replied, asking me to call, and I 265 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:34.680 minute exploded. The man at the desk still absorbed. Jock faltered, stopped. 266 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:38.039 The man at the desk did not look up a 267 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:41.359 moment of silence except for the sound of the busy 268 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:45.839 pencil traveling across the paper. Jock, glaring at the semi 269 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:49.960 ball spot, spoke again. Of course, mister Hupp, if you're 270 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:54.960 too busy to see me, hum, a preoccupied hum, such 271 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:57.200 as a busy man makes when he is trying to 272 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:00.519 give attention to two interests. Why I suppose there's no 273 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:04.079 sense in staying. But it seems to me that common courtesy. 274 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:08.240 The busy pencil paused, quivered in the making of a 275 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:12.400 final period, enclosed the dot in a proofreader's circle, and 276 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:17.519 rolled away across the desk. It's work done now, said 277 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:21.480 Sam Hup, and swung around, smiling to face the affronted Jock. 278 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:24.079 I had to get that out there waiting for it. 279 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:27.039 He pressed a desk button, and what can I do 280 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:30.000 for you? Sit down? Sit down. There was a certain 281 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:34.680 abrupt geniality about him. His tartest rimmed glasses gave him 282 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:38.720 an oddly owlish look, like a small boy taking liberties 283 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:43.839 with grandfather's spectacles. Jock found himself sitting down, his anger 284 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:48.160 slipping from him. My name's mc chesney, he began, I'm 285 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:50.599 here because I went to work for this concern. He 286 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:54.720 braced himself to present the convincing reason why arguments with 287 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:58.400 which he had prepared himself, whereupon sam Hup the brisk 288 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:01.640 proceeded to whisk his breath and arguments away with an 289 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:05.240 unexpected all right, what do you want to do? Jock's 290 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:10.960 mouth fell open. Do, he stammered, do why anything? Sam 291 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:15.400 Hup's quick eye swept over the slim, attractive radiant correctly 292 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:19.200 garbed the young figure before him. Unconsciously, he rubbed his 293 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:22.799 ball spot with a rueful hand. Know anything about writing 294 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:27.480 or advertising? Jock was at ease immediately Quite a lot. Yes, 295 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:31.640 I practically rewrote the Gridiron play that we gave last year, 296 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:35.599 and I was assistant advertising manager of the College Publications 297 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:38.799 for two years. It gives a fellow a pretty broad 298 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:44.480 knowledge of advertising. Oh Lord, groaned sam Hup and covered 299 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:48.880 his eyes with his hand, as if in pain. Jock stared. 300 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:54.000 The affronted feeling was returning. Sam Hup recovered himself and 301 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:58.759 smiled a little wistfully. Mc jestney When I came up 302 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:02.279 here twelve years ago, I got a job as reception 303 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:06.400 room usher. A reception room usher is an office boy 304 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:10.359 in long pants. Sometimes, when I'm optimistic, I think that 305 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:13.200 if I live twelve years longer, I'll begin to know 306 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:18.079 something about the rudiments of this game. Oh course, began 307 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:23.200 Jock apologetically, but Hup's glance was over his head. Involuntarily, 308 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:26.400 Jock turned to follow the direction of his eyes. Busy, 309 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:29.559 said a voice in the doorway. Come in, Dudge, come in, 310 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:33.039 boomed up. The man who entered was of the sort 311 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:36.839 that the Boldness might well hesitate to address as Dutch. 312 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:42.519 A tall, slim, elegant figure, vandyked, bronzed mcjestney. This is 313 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:45.920 von Herman, head of our art department. Their hands met 314 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:50.160 in a brief clasp. Von Herman's thoughts were evidently elsewhere. 315 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:53.519 Just wanted to tell you that that cussed model skipped out, 316 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:56.559 gone with the show, just when I had the whole 317 00:20:56.640 --> 00:21:00.440 series blocked out in my mind. He was a wonder 318 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:04.559 no brains, but a marvelful looks and style. These people 319 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:06.960 want real stuff. Don't know how I'm gonna give it 320 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:10.640 to them now, Hup sat Up got too, he snapped, 321 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:14.000 campaign as late as it is, can't you get an 322 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:17.839 ordinary man model and fake the Greek god beauty? Yes, 323 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:21.240 but it'll look faked. If I could lay my hands 324 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:24.039 on a chapel, could wear clothes as if they belonged 325 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:27.640 to him. Up, Rose, here's your man, he cried, with 326 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:30.880 a snap of his fingers. Clothes look at him, he 327 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:34.000 invented them. Why you could photograph him and he'd look 328 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:39.480 like a drawing. Mont Hermann turned surprise, incredulous, hopeful, his 329 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:44.039 artist eye brightening at the ease and grace and modishness 330 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:49.039 of the smart, well knit figure before him. Me exploded Jock, 331 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:53.279 his face suffused with a dull, painful red me pose 332 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:57.960 for a clothing head Well, Hup reminded him, you said 333 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:03.559 you'd do anything. Jock McChesney glared belligerently. Hupp returned the 334 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:07.200 stair with a faint gleam of amusement shining behind the 335 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:11.920 absurd glasses. The amused look changed to surprise as he 336 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:15.799 beheld the glare in Jock's eyes fading for even as 337 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:19.240 he glared, there had come a warning to Jock, a 338 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:23.960 warning scent, just in time, from that wireless station located 339 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.680 in his subconscious mind. A vivid face full of pride 340 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:31.880 and hope and encouragement flashed before him. Jock, it said, 341 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:35.599 don't let em buffalo you. They'll try it if they 342 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:38.119 give you a broom and tell you to sweep down 343 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:43.200 the back stairs. Jock was smiling his charming, boyish smile. 344 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:46.839 Lead me to your north light, he laughed at Von Hermann. 345 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:51.440 Got any Robert W. Chambers heroines tucked away there? Hup's 346 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:54.359 broad hand came down on his shoulder with a thwack. 347 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:59.000 That's the spirit, McChesney, that's the he stopped abruptly say 348 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:03.160 are you related to missus Emma McChesney of the Featherloom 349 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:07.400 Skirt Company. Slightly? She's my one and only mother. She 350 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:12.359 you mean her son, Well, I'll be dorn. He held 351 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:14.680 out his hand to Jock. If you were a real 352 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:17.519 son of your mother. I wish you'd just call the 353 00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:20.079 office boy as you step down the hall with Von 354 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:22.880 Herman and tell him to bring me a hammer and 355 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:26.039 a couple of spikes. I'd better nail down my desk. 356 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:29.000 I promise not to crowd you for a year or two, 357 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:32.319 grinned Jock from the doorway, and was off with the 358 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:36.799 pleased von Herman, pass the double row of beehives, again 359 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:41.279 into the elevator, out again, up a narrow iron stairway, 360 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:46.920 into a busy, cluttered, skylighted room. Pictures, posters, photographs hung 361 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:51.039 all about. Some of the pictures Jock recognized as old 362 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:55.160 friends that had gazed familiarly at him from subway trains 363 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:59.480 and street cars and theater programs. Golf clubs, tennis rackets, 364 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:03.839 walking sticks, billiard cues were stacked up in corners, and 365 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:06.960 yet there was a bare and artily look about the place. 366 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:10.799 Two silent shirt sleeved men were busy at drawing boards. 367 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:15.279 Through a doorway beyond, Jock could see others similarly engaged 368 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:18.160 in the next room. On a platform in one corner 369 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:20.680 of the room posed a young man in one of 370 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:24.240 those costumes, the coat of which is a mongrel mixture 371 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:28.039 of cutaway and sack. You see them worn by clergymen 372 00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:32.079 with unsecular ideas in dress, and by the leaders of 373 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:36.160 the counterfeiter's gang in the moving pictures. The pose was 374 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:39.440 that met with in the backs of magazines, the head lifted, 375 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:44.119 eyes fixed on an interesting object unseen, one arm crooked 376 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:47.720 to hold a cane one foot advanced, the other, trailing 377 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:52.160 slightly to give a fifth avenue four o'clock air. His 378 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:56.440 face was expressionless. On his head was a sadly unroned 379 00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:00.359 silk hat. Von Hermann glanced at the drawing, tes to 380 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:02.920 the board of one of the men. That'll do Flynn, 381 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:06.039 he said to the model. He glanced again at the drawing. 382 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:09.359 Bring out the hat a little more mac. They won't 383 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:12.759 burnish it if you don't, to the artist. Then, turning about, 384 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:17.039 where's that girl? From a far corner, sheltered by long 385 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:22.279 green curtains, stepped a graceful, almost childishly slim figure in 386 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:26.279 a bronze green Norfolk suit and close fitting hat from 387 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:29.640 beneath which curled a fluff of bright golden hair. Von 388 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:32.440 Herman stared at her. You're not the girl, he said, 389 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:35.839 You won't do you sent for me? Retorted the girl. 390 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:40.240 I'm miss Michelin, Gelda Michelin. I posed for you six 391 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:42.839 months ago, but i've been out of town with the show, 392 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:47.839 says then Von Herman, frowning, opened a table drawer, pulled 393 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:51.200 out a card, index ran his long fingers through it 394 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:54.279 and extracted a card. He glanced at it, and then 395 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:59.839 the frown deepening read it aloud. Michelin Glinda telephone Bryan 396 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:05.000 four seven five nine, brunette, medium build, good neck and eyes, 397 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:09.319 good figure, good clothes. He glanced up. Well that's me, 398 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:13.359 said miss Michelan calmly. I've got the same telephone number 399 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:17.480 and eyes and neck and clothes. Of course my hair 400 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:21.640 is different and I am thinner, but that's business. I'd 401 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:23.880 like to know what chance the fat girl would happen 402 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:28.759 the chorus these days. Von Hermann groaned, I'll pay you 403 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:31.920 for the time you've waited in for your trouble. Can't 404 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:35.680 use you for these pictures. Then, as she left, he 405 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:39.440 turned a comically despairing face to the two men at 406 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:42.920 the drawing boards. What are we going to do? We've 407 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:45.319 got to make a start on these pictures, and everything 408 00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:49.680 has gone wrong. They want something special two figures, young 409 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:53.720 man and woman said expressly. They didn't want a chicken, 410 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:57.559 No ropping curls and none of that eyes and lips 411 00:26:57.599 --> 00:27:01.000 fool girl stuff. This Chap's ideal for the man, he 412 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:05.160 pointed to Jock. Jock had been staring fascinated at the 413 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:09.559 shaded zigzag marks which the artist, dark skinned velvet eyed, 414 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:12.920 foreign looking youth was making on the sheet of paper 415 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:17.240 before him. He had scarcely glanced up during the entire scene. 416 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:21.759 Now he looked briefly and coolly at Jock. Where did 417 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:25.400 you get him, he asked, with a precise annunciation of 418 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:29.200 the foreign born good figure. And he was his clothes, 419 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:33.200 not like a cab driver as the others do. Thanks 420 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:37.480 drawled Jock, flushing a little, then boyous curiosity getting the 421 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:40.720 better of him, say tell me, what in the world 422 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:43.960 are you doing to that drawing? He of the velvety 423 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:48.799 eyes smiled a twisted little smile, his slim brown fingers 424 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:51.880 never stopping in their work of guiding the pin in 425 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:55.640 its zig zag path. It is look, he sneered, to 426 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:59.160 delight the soul of an artist. I am now engaged 427 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:02.839 in the police of putting the bones in a herring 428 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:07.160 bone suit. But Jock did not smile. Here was another man, 429 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:10.119 he thought, who had been given a broom and told 430 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:14.440 to sweep down the stairway. Von Hermann was regarding him, 431 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:18.319 almost wistfully. I hate to let you slip, he said, then, 432 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:22.839 his face brightening by jove. I wonder if miss Galt 433 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:25.440 would pose for us, if we told her what a 434 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:28.599 fix we were in. He picked up the telephone receiver. 435 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:32.559 Miss Galt, please, he said, then aside, of course, it's 436 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:35.160 nerve to ask a girl who's earning three thousand a 437 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:37.160 year to leave her desk and come up and pose 438 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:40.880 for hello. Miss Galt. Jock, seated on the edge of 439 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:45.039 the model's platform, was beginning to enjoy himself. Even this 440 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:49.240 end of the advertising business had its interesting side, he thought. 441 00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:53.240 Ten minutes later he knew it had. Ten minutes later 442 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:58.079 there appeared Miss Galt. Jock left off swinging his legs 443 00:28:58.119 --> 00:29:01.880 from the platform and stood up. Miss Galt was that 444 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:06.319 kind of girl. Smooth black hair parted and coiled low 445 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:10.240 as only an exquisitely shaped head can dare to wear 446 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:14.720 its glory crown, a face whose expression was sweetly serious 447 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:18.079 in spite of its youth. A girl whose clothes were 448 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:21.599 the sort of clothes that girls ought to wear in offices. 449 00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:24.319 And don't this is mighty good of you, Miss Galt, 450 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:28.440 began von Herman. It's the cool Comfort Clothes Company's summer 451 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:32.079 campaign stuff. We'll only need you for an hour or 452 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:36.400 so to get the expression and general outline poster stuff. Really, 453 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:39.359 then this young man will pose for the summer Union 454 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:43.960 suit pictures. Don't apologize, said Miss Galt. We had a 455 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:47.400 hard enough time to get that cool comfort account. We 456 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:50.519 don't want to start wrong with the pictures. Besides, I 457 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:55.160 think posting's real fun. Jock thought so too. Quite suddenly, 458 00:29:56.119 --> 00:30:00.680 just as suddenly Von Herman remembered the conventions and introduced them, 459 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:05.359 mc chesney repeated Miss Cult crisply, I know a missus 460 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:10.440 mc chesney of the Ta Buck my mother proudly your mother? 461 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:15.680 Then why she stopped? Because, said Jock, I'm the royest 462 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:19.000 rookie in the berg Shriner company, and when I begin 463 00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:23.200 to realize what I don't know about advertising, I'll probably 464 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:26.680 want to plunge off the palisades. Miss Cult smiled up 465 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:30.079 at him, her clear, frank eyes meeting his. You'll win, 466 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:35.559 she said, even if I lose, I win now, said Jock, suddenly, audacious, 467 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:41.279 HI hold that pose, called Von Herman. Happily. End of 468 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:48.039 chapter one, Chapter two personality Plus. There are seven stages 469 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:51.759 in the evolution of that individual whose appearance is the 470 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:55.480 signal for a listless Who do you want to see 471 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:59.880 from the white, bloused, drabhaired, anemic little girl who sits 472 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:04.480 in the outer office forever reading last month's magazines, the 473 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:10.960 badge of fear brands. The novice standing had in hand, nervous, apprehensive, gulpy, 474 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:15.119 With the elevator door clanging behind him and the sacred 475 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:19.000 inner door closed before him, he offers up a silent 476 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:25.000 and paradoxical thank Heaven at the office girl's languid not in, 477 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:28.839 and dives into the friendly shelter of the next elevator 478 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:33.160 going down. When at that same message he can smile 479 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:37.960 as with a certain grim agreeableness, he says, I'll wait. Then. 480 00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:41.920 Has he reached the seventh stage and taken the orders 481 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:46.359 of the regularly ordained Jock McChesney had learned to judge 482 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:51.519 an unknown perspective by glancing at his hall rug and stenographer, 483 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:55.119 which marks the fifth stage. He had learned to regard 484 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:58.839 office boys with something less than white hot hate. He 485 00:31:58.920 --> 00:32:01.240 had learned to let the other fellow do the talking. 486 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:05.319 He had learned to condense a written report into twenty 487 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:08.319 five words. And he had learned that there was as 488 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:12.480 much difference between the profession of advertising as he had 489 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:16.400 thought of it and advertising as it really was, as 490 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:20.359 there was between a steam calliope and a cathedral pipe 491 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:24.799 organ in the big office of the Berg Shriner Advertising Company. 492 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:28.119 They had begun to chuckle a bit over the McChesney 493 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:33.680 solicitor's reports. These same reports indicated that young McChesney was 494 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:37.599 beginning to find the key to that maddening jumble of 495 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:42.680 complexities known as human nature. Big Sam Hupp, who was 496 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:46.640 the pet cage to copyrighting genius of the place, used 497 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:50.839 even to bring an occasional example of Jock's business bandage 498 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:54.240 into the old man's office, and the two with grin 499 00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:58.799 in secret, as when they ran thus pepsin ail manufacturing company. 500 00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:02.839 Mister Bum is the kind of gentleman who curses his 501 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:07.079 subordinates in front of the whole office force very touchy, 502 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:11.400 crumpled his advertising manager. Our chance to get at him 503 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:13.960 is when he is in one of his rare good 504 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:19.720 moods or e V Cress Company Cress, very difficult to reach. 505 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:24.079 Permanent address seems to be in Italy, Egypt and other 506 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:29.440 foreign ports. Occasionally his instructions come from palm Beach, at 507 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:32.359 which there rose up before the reader a vision of 508 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:37.960 Cres himself, backy eyed, cultivated English accent, interested in polo, 509 00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:43.519 fast growing contemptuous of things. American are still another Hodge 510 00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:48.240 manufacturing company. Mister Hodge is a very conservative gentleman, sits 511 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:51.519 still and lets others do the talking. Has gained quite 512 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:55.319 a reputation for a business acumen with this one attribute. 513 00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:59.759 Spent five hundred dollars last year holding his breath preparatory 514 00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:04.319 to taking another plunge. It was about the time that 515 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:07.880 Jock McChesney had got over the novelty of paying for 516 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:11.320 his own clothes and had begun to talk business in 517 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:16.400 a slightly patronizing way to his clever and secretly amused mother, 518 00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:20.599 missrus Emma McChesney, secretary of the t A Buck Featherloom 519 00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:25.679 Petticode Company, that Sam Hupp noticed a rather cocky over 520 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:30.280 assurance in Jock's attitude toward the world in general, whereupon 521 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:34.719 he sent for him. On Sam Hupp's broad flat desk 522 00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:39.440 stood an array of diminutive jars and bottles and tiny 523 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:42.800 pots that would have shamed the toilet table of a 524 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:47.400 musical comedy star's dressing room. There were rows tinted salves 525 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:51.559 and white bottles. There were white creams and rose tinted jars. 526 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:55.159 There were tins of ointment and boxes of fragrant soap. 527 00:34:56.079 --> 00:35:00.800 Jock McChesney, entering briskly, I the array in s some surprise. 528 00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:06.239 Then he grinned and glanced wickedly at Sam Hup's prematurely 529 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:10.639 bald head. No use, mister, Hup, They say, if it's 530 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:14.480 once gone, it's gone, get it to pay. Shut up, 531 00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:18.800 growled Sam hup. Good humoredly, Stay in this game long enough, 532 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:22.800 and you'll be a hairless wonder yourself. Ten years ago, 533 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:25.280 the girls used to have to tie their hands or 534 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:29.199 wear mittens to keep from running their white fingers through 535 00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:33.239 my waving silken locks. And sit down a minute. Jock 536 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:36.920 reached forward and took up a jar of cream. He 537 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:41.679 frowned in thought, then thought, I recognize this stuff. Mother 538 00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:44.920 uses it. I've seen it on the bathroom shelf. You 539 00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:49.599 bet she uses it, retorted sam hup. What's more, millions 540 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:52.159 of other women will be using it in the next 541 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:56.159 few years. This woman, he pointed to the name on 542 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:59.960 the label, has hit upon the real thing in toilet fluff. 543 00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:04.320 She's made a little fortune already, and if she don't 544 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:07.800 look out, she'll be rich. They've got quite a plant. 545 00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:10.440 When she started, she used to put the stuff together 546 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:13.880 herself over the kitchen stove. They say it's made of 547 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:18.880 cottage cheese, stirred, smooth and tinted pink. Well, anyway, they're 548 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:23.000 nationally known now, or will be when they start to advertise. Right. 549 00:36:23.679 --> 00:36:27.760 I've seen some of their stuff advertised somewhere, interrupted Jack, 550 00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:31.679 but I don't remember. There you are, you see, the 551 00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:34.880 head of this concern is a little bit frightened at 552 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:38.000 the way she seems slated to become a lady cold 553 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:42.000 cream magnate. They say she's scared pink for fear somebody 554 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:45.719 will steal her recipes. She has a kid nephew who 555 00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:48.800 acts as general manager, and they're both on the job 556 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:52.159 all the time. They say, the lady herself looks like 557 00:36:52.199 --> 00:36:55.639 the spinster in Abergosh drama. You can get a boy 558 00:36:55.719 --> 00:36:59.960 to look up your train schedule, train schedule across Jock. 559 00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:06.239 But Jestney's mind there flashed a vision of himself, alert, confident, brisk, 560 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:11.079 taking the luxurious nine o'clock for Philadelphia or maybe the 561 00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:15.159 Limited to Chicago, dashing down to the station in a taxi, 562 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:18.360 of course, strolling down the car aisle to take his 563 00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:23.559 place among those other thoroughbreds of commerce men whose shammy 564 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:27.519 gloves and walking sticks and talk of golf and baseball 565 00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:32.360 and motoring spelled elegant leisure, even as their keen eyes 566 00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:36.320 and shrewd faces and low voiced exchange of such terms 567 00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:41.840 as stocks and sales and propositions proclaimed them intent on 568 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:46.960 bagging the day's business. Sam Hup's next words brought him 569 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:50.559 back to reality with a jerk. I'll think you have 570 00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:54.320 to change at Buffalo. It gets you to Tonawanda in 571 00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:59.880 the morning, Rod and train Dona Wanda repeated, Jock, Now, listen, kid. 572 00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:05.440 Sam Hup leaned forward, and his eyes, behind their great, round, 573 00:38:05.559 --> 00:38:10.199 black rimmed glasses were intent on Jock. I'm not going 574 00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:13.360 to try to steer you. You think that advertising is 575 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:16.920 a game, It isn't. There are those who think it's 576 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:20.719 a science, but it isn't that either. It's white magic, 577 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:23.440 that's what it is. And you can't learn it from 578 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:26.320 books any more than you can master trout fishing from 579 00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:30.079 reading the complete Angler. He swung about and swept the 580 00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:32.679 beauty lotions before him in a little heap at the 581 00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:35.360 end of his desk. Here, take this stuff and get 582 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:38.920 chummy with it. Need it, if necessary, Learn it somehow 583 00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:43.880 Jock stood up a little dazed. But what how I mean? 584 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:48.360 Sam Hup glanced up at him, sending you down. There 585 00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:52.159 isn't my idea, it's the old man's. He's got an 586 00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:56.440 idea that you. He paused and put a detaining hand 587 00:38:56.559 --> 00:39:00.039 on Jock muc Chesney's arm. Look here, you think I 588 00:39:00.039 --> 00:39:04.519 I know a little something about advertising, don't you? You laughed, Jack. 589 00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:07.360 You're the guy who put the whitening in the Great 590 00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:13.239 White Way. Everyone knows you worthy. Mum, thanks, interrupted sam 591 00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:16.920 Hup a little dryly. Let me tell you something, young, 592 00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:20.360 and I've got what you might call a thirty horse 593 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:23.840 power mind. I keep it running on high all the 594 00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:26.760 time with the muffler cut out, and you can hear 595 00:39:26.840 --> 00:39:30.440 me coming from miles. But the old man he leaned 596 00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:35.079 forward impressively. The old man boy has the eighty power 597 00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:39.400 kind built like a watch, no smoke, no dripping, and 598 00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:42.920 you can't even hear the engine perr. But when he 599 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:46.320 throws her open, well he can pass anything on the road. 600 00:39:46.599 --> 00:39:49.800 Don't forget that. He turned to his desk again and 601 00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:52.800 reached for a stack of papers and cuts. Good luck 602 00:39:52.840 --> 00:39:55.159 to you. If you want any further details, you can 603 00:39:55.159 --> 00:39:59.360 get him from Hayes. He plunged into his work. There 604 00:39:59.400 --> 00:40:03.599 arose in Jack mcchesney's mind that instinct of a man 605 00:40:03.800 --> 00:40:07.199 in his hour of triumph, the desire to tell a 606 00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:11.079 woman of his greatness. He paused a second outside Sam 607 00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:14.599 Huff's office, turned and walked quickly down the length of 608 00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:18.199 the great central room. He stopped before a little glass 609 00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:23.199 door at the end, tapped lightly, and entered. Gray Skalt, copywriter, 610 00:40:23.400 --> 00:40:27.400 looked up, frowning a little, then she smiled. Miss Scalt 611 00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:31.840 had a complete layout on the desk before her scrap books, cuts, 612 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:36.639 copy magazines. There was a little smudge on the end 613 00:40:36.679 --> 00:40:41.719 of her nose. Gray Skalt was writing about magnetos. She 614 00:40:41.880 --> 00:40:44.719 was writing about magnetos in a way to make you 615 00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:47.840 want to drop your customer, or your ironing, or your 616 00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:51.960 game and go downtown and buy that particular kind of 617 00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:55.840 magneto at once, which is the secretest part of the 618 00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:59.639 wizardry of advertising copy. To look at Gray Skalt, you 619 00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:02.559 would have thought that she should have been writing about 620 00:41:02.599 --> 00:41:06.840 the rose tinted jars in Jock mcchestey's hands, instead of 621 00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:11.360 about such things as ignition and insulation and ball bearings 622 00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:15.239 and induction windings. But it was gray Scalt's gift that 623 00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:19.880 she could take such hard, dry technical facts and weave 624 00:41:19.960 --> 00:41:22.719 them into a story that you followed to the end. 625 00:41:23.400 --> 00:41:27.119 She could make you see the romance and condensers and transformers. 626 00:41:27.639 --> 00:41:30.239 She had the power that caused a reader to lose 627 00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:34.639 himself in the charm of magnetic poles, are ball bearings 628 00:41:34.679 --> 00:41:38.079 and high tension sparks. Just dropped in to say goodbye, 629 00:41:38.360 --> 00:41:41.400 said Jock, very casually. I'm going to run upstate to 630 00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:45.559 see the Athena Company, Tarlette's specialties. You know it ought 631 00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:50.199 to be a big account Athena. Gray Scalt regarded him absently, 632 00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:54.119 her mind still on her work. Then her eyes cleared, 633 00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:58.360 you mean it, Tonawanda, and they're sending you well. She 634 00:41:58.480 --> 00:42:04.079 put out a congratulatey hand. Jock gripped it gratefully. Not bad, eh, 635 00:42:04.280 --> 00:42:09.440 he boasted bad, echoed gracecult Her face became serious. Do 636 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:12.840 you realize that there are men in this office who 637 00:42:12.880 --> 00:42:15.880 have been here for five years, six years or even more, 638 00:42:16.440 --> 00:42:18.559 and who have never been given a chance to do 639 00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:23.800 anything but stenography or perhaps some private secretary. I know it, 640 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:27.239 agreed Jock, but there was no humbleness in his tone. 641 00:42:27.639 --> 00:42:32.360 He radiated self satisfaction. He seemed to grow and expand 642 00:42:32.519 --> 00:42:36.679 before her eyes. A little shadow of doubt crept across 643 00:42:36.800 --> 00:42:41.440 Grace Gult's expression of friendly interest. Are you scared, she asked, 644 00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:45.280 just the least bit. Jock flushed a little, Well, he 645 00:42:45.400 --> 00:42:49.320 confessed ruefully. I don't mind telling you I am a 646 00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:54.679 little good good. Yes, the head of that concern is 647 00:42:54.719 --> 00:42:57.880 a woman. That's one reason why they don't send me. 648 00:42:58.079 --> 00:43:01.760 I suppose I I'd like to say something. If you don't 649 00:43:01.800 --> 00:43:07.519 mind anything you like, said Jock graciously. Well, then don't 650 00:43:07.559 --> 00:43:11.480 be afraid of being embarrassed and fussed. If you blush 651 00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:14.239 and stammer a little, she'll like it. Play up the 652 00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:18.760 Koi stuff. The Koi stuff, echoed Jock. I hadn't thought 653 00:43:18.800 --> 00:43:22.639 much about my attitude toward the uh the lady a 654 00:43:22.679 --> 00:43:27.079 little stiffly. Well, you'd better answered miss Gald crisply. She 655 00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:29.679 put out her hand in much the same manner as 656 00:43:29.679 --> 00:43:32.599 Sam Hup had used. Good luck to you. I'll have 657 00:43:32.679 --> 00:43:35.320 to ask you to go now. I'm trying to make 658 00:43:35.400 --> 00:43:40.039 this magneto sound like something without which no home is complete, 659 00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:43.400 and to make people see that there's as much difference 660 00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:47.719 between it and every other magneto, as there is between 661 00:43:47.760 --> 00:43:50.920 the steam shovels that dug out the Panama Canal and 662 00:43:51.000 --> 00:43:54.639 the junk that the French left there. She stopped, her 663 00:43:54.679 --> 00:43:57.360 eyes took on a far away look. Her lips were 664 00:43:57.559 --> 00:44:01.840 parted slightly. Why that's not a bad idea, that last 665 00:44:02.159 --> 00:44:05.960 I'll use that, I'll she began to scribble rapidly on 666 00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:08.800 the sheet of paper before her. With a jolt, Jock 667 00:44:08.960 --> 00:44:13.039 McChesney realized that she had forgotten all about him. He 668 00:44:13.079 --> 00:44:17.199 walked quietly to the door, opened it, shut it very quietly, 669 00:44:17.599 --> 00:44:21.119 and made for the nearest telephone. He knew one woman 670 00:44:21.159 --> 00:44:23.159 he could count on to be proud of him. He 671 00:44:23.280 --> 00:44:27.199 gave his number, waited a little eager moment, then featherloon 672 00:44:27.239 --> 00:44:32.159 petticoat company missus mc chesney, and waited again. Then he smiled, 673 00:44:32.920 --> 00:44:35.400 you don't need to sound so official, he laughed, Ats 674 00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:39.559 holy you's son, listen I He took on an elaborate 675 00:44:39.679 --> 00:44:43.199 carelessness of tone. I've got to make a little jump 676 00:44:43.239 --> 00:44:46.239 out of town on business. Oh a day or so, 677 00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:49.760 rather important, though, I'll have time to run up to 678 00:44:49.800 --> 00:44:52.400 the flat and throw a few things into a bag 679 00:44:52.880 --> 00:44:55.320 I'll tell you I really ought to keep a bag 680 00:44:55.440 --> 00:44:58.840 packed down here in case of emergency. You know what, 681 00:44:59.320 --> 00:45:03.559 it's the Athena Tarlet Preparations Company. Well, I should say 682 00:45:03.639 --> 00:45:08.039 it is. I'll wire you you bet, thanks my what 683 00:45:08.519 --> 00:45:13.119 oh toothbrush? Now goodbye. So it was that at three 684 00:45:13.239 --> 00:45:17.960 ten Jock mc chesney took himself, his hopes, his dread, 685 00:45:18.519 --> 00:45:22.400 and his smart Walrus bag aboard a train that halted 686 00:45:22.480 --> 00:45:27.320 and snuffed and backed and bumped and halted with maddening frequency. 687 00:45:27.679 --> 00:45:30.360 But it landed him at last in a little town 688 00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:34.400 bearing the characteristics of all American little towns. It was 689 00:45:34.440 --> 00:45:38.079 surprisingly full of six cylinder cars and five and ten 690 00:45:38.199 --> 00:45:42.719 cent stores, and banks with doric columns and paved streets. 691 00:45:43.880 --> 00:45:47.039 After he had registered at the hotel, and as he 692 00:45:47.159 --> 00:45:50.400 was cleaning up a bit, he passed an amused eye 693 00:45:50.519 --> 00:45:55.239 over the bare, ugly, fusty little hotel bedroom. But somehow, 694 00:45:55.440 --> 00:45:58.320 as he stood in the middle of the room, a graceful, 695 00:45:58.480 --> 00:46:03.599 pleasing figure of youth confidence, the smile faded. Towel in hand, 696 00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:07.239 he surveyed the barrenness of it. He stared at the 697 00:46:07.400 --> 00:46:12.039 impossible wallpaper, at the battered furniture, the worn carpet. He 698 00:46:12.199 --> 00:46:16.960 sniffed the stuffy smell of what was that smell anyhow, 699 00:46:17.400 --> 00:46:21.119 straw and matting and dust, and the ghost odor of 700 00:46:21.199 --> 00:46:24.840 hundreds who had occupied the room before him. He came 701 00:46:24.960 --> 00:46:28.199 over him with something of a shock that this same 702 00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:31.599 sort of room had been his mother's only home in 703 00:46:31.639 --> 00:46:34.760 the ten years she had spent on the road as 704 00:46:34.800 --> 00:46:38.840 a traveling saleswoman for the t A Buck featherloom petticoat company. 705 00:46:39.440 --> 00:46:42.280 This was what she had left in the morning to 706 00:46:42.440 --> 00:46:45.559 this she had come back at night. As he stared 707 00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:48.199 ahead of him, there rose before him a mental picture 708 00:46:48.239 --> 00:46:53.159 of her, the brightness of her, the sunniness, the indomitable energy, 709 00:46:53.280 --> 00:46:57.679 the pluck and courage. With a sudden burst of new determination, 710 00:46:58.119 --> 00:47:01.599 he wadded the towel into a moist ball, flung it 711 00:47:01.679 --> 00:47:05.800 at the washstand, seized hat, coat and gloves, and was 712 00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:09.519 off down the hall. So it was, with something of 713 00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:13.079 his mother's splendid courage in his heart, but with nothing 714 00:47:13.119 --> 00:47:16.719 of her canny knowledge in his head, Jock mcchestney fared 715 00:47:16.760 --> 00:47:21.400 forth to do battle with the merciless god business. It 716 00:47:21.519 --> 00:47:24.880 was ten thirty of a brilliant morning just two days 717 00:47:24.960 --> 00:47:29.440 later that a buoyant young figure swung into an elevator 718 00:47:29.480 --> 00:47:32.800 in the great office building that housed the Berg Shriner 719 00:47:32.840 --> 00:47:37.639 Advertising Company. Just one more grain of buoyant swing, and 720 00:47:37.719 --> 00:47:41.360 the young man's walk might have been termed a swagger, 721 00:47:41.760 --> 00:47:46.519 as it was, his walrus bag just saved her. Stepping 722 00:47:46.559 --> 00:47:49.599 out of the lift, he walked as from habit to 723 00:47:49.800 --> 00:47:53.800 the little unlettered door which admitted employees to the big, bright, 724 00:47:53.880 --> 00:47:58.079 inner office, but he did not use it. Instead, he 725 00:47:58.199 --> 00:48:01.280 turned suddenly and walked down down the hall to the 726 00:48:01.280 --> 00:48:04.800 double door which led into the reception room. He threw 727 00:48:04.920 --> 00:48:08.800 out his legs stiffly and came down rather flat footed, 728 00:48:09.119 --> 00:48:12.440 the way George Kohan does when he's pleased with himself. 729 00:48:12.440 --> 00:48:17.800 In the second act, Hello Mack, he called out jovially. Mac, 730 00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:22.880 the usher so called from his Machiavellian qualities, turned to 731 00:48:23.000 --> 00:48:27.000 survey the radiant young figure before him. Good morning, mister 732 00:48:27.039 --> 00:48:31.559 mc chesney, He made answer smoothly. Mack never forgot himself. 733 00:48:31.760 --> 00:48:35.440 His keen eyes saw the little halo of self satisfaction 734 00:48:35.840 --> 00:48:40.280 that hovered above Jack mcchesney's head. A successful trip. I 735 00:48:40.480 --> 00:48:46.280 seeing Jack McChesney, laughed a little pleased, conscious laugh. Well Rather, 736 00:48:47.039 --> 00:48:50.760 he drawled and opened the door leading into the main office. 737 00:48:51.199 --> 00:48:54.079 He had been loath to lose one crumb of the 738 00:48:54.199 --> 00:48:58.760 saber of it. Still smiling, he walked to his own 739 00:48:58.840 --> 00:49:02.239 desk with a nod here and there, dropped his bag, 740 00:49:02.639 --> 00:49:06.960 took off his coat and hat, selected a cigarette, tapped it, smartly, 741 00:49:07.400 --> 00:49:10.159 lighted it, and was off down the big room to 742 00:49:10.280 --> 00:49:13.599 the little cubby hole at the other end. But Sam 743 00:49:13.679 --> 00:49:17.599 Hup's plump, keen, good humored face did not greet him. 744 00:49:17.599 --> 00:49:21.760 As he entered. The little room was deserted. Frowning, Jock 745 00:49:21.920 --> 00:49:25.679 sank into the empty desk chair. He cradled his head 746 00:49:25.760 --> 00:49:29.280 in his hands, tilted the chair, pursed his mouth over 747 00:49:29.360 --> 00:49:33.639 the slender white cylinder, and squinted his eyes up toward 748 00:49:33.639 --> 00:49:37.480 the lazy blue spirals of smoke, the very picture of 749 00:49:37.559 --> 00:49:42.599 content and satisfaction. Hupp was in attending some conference in 750 00:49:42.639 --> 00:49:46.000 the old Man's office. Of course, he wished they'd hurry. 751 00:49:46.480 --> 00:49:49.079 The business of the week was being boiled down there. 752 00:49:49.639 --> 00:49:54.000 Those conferences were great cauldrons into which the day's business, 753 00:49:54.519 --> 00:49:59.400 or the weeks was dumped to be boiled, summered, stirred, skimmed, cooled. 754 00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:02.719 Jock had never been privileged to attend one of these meetings. 755 00:50:03.079 --> 00:50:05.960 Perhaps by this time next week he might have a 756 00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:09.039 spoon in the stirring too. There came a murmur of 757 00:50:09.119 --> 00:50:12.440 voices as a door was opened. The voices came nearer, 758 00:50:12.880 --> 00:50:18.880 then quick footsteps. Jock recognized them. He rose, smiling. Sam Hup, 759 00:50:19.320 --> 00:50:24.840 vibrating electric energy breezed in. Oh hello, he said, surprised, 760 00:50:25.199 --> 00:50:29.199 Jock's smile widening to a grin. You back, hello, hop, 761 00:50:29.360 --> 00:50:32.199 he said coolly. It was the first time that he 762 00:50:32.320 --> 00:50:36.760 had omitted the prefix. You just bet I'm back there 763 00:50:36.840 --> 00:50:41.119 flashed across Sam Hup's face. A curious little look. The 764 00:50:41.159 --> 00:50:44.960 next instant it was gone, well, said Jock, and took 765 00:50:44.960 --> 00:50:47.920 a long breath. Mister Burgh wants to see you. Hup 766 00:50:48.119 --> 00:50:51.719 plunged into his work. Me the old man wants to 767 00:50:51.760 --> 00:50:56.239 see me, yes, snapped Hup sharply, then in a new tone, 768 00:50:56.679 --> 00:50:59.960 Look here, son, if he says, He stopped and turned 769 00:51:00.119 --> 00:51:04.199 back to his work again. Navy says, what nothing? Better 770 00:51:04.239 --> 00:51:07.480 run along? What's the hurry I want to tell you about? 771 00:51:07.800 --> 00:51:12.239 Better tell him? Oh all right, said Jock stiffly. If 772 00:51:12.320 --> 00:51:14.480 that was the way they treated a fellow who had 773 00:51:14.519 --> 00:51:18.960 turned his first real trick, Why very well. He flung 774 00:51:19.079 --> 00:51:21.440 out of the little room and made straight for the 775 00:51:21.519 --> 00:51:26.079 old Man's office. Seated at his great flat table desk, 776 00:51:26.440 --> 00:51:30.199 Bartholomew Burgh did not look up as Jock entered. This 777 00:51:30.639 --> 00:51:33.960 was characteristic of the old man. Everything about the chief 778 00:51:34.079 --> 00:51:38.440 was deliberate, sure, unhurried. He finished the work in hand 779 00:51:38.480 --> 00:51:41.920 as though no other person stood there waiting his pleasure. 780 00:51:42.559 --> 00:51:45.960 When at last he raised his massive head, he turned 781 00:51:46.000 --> 00:51:50.519 his penetrating, pale blue eyes full on Jock. Jock was 782 00:51:50.559 --> 00:51:54.000 conscious of a little trimmor running through him. People were 783 00:51:54.039 --> 00:51:58.159 apt to experience that feeling when that steady, unblinking gaze 784 00:51:58.320 --> 00:52:01.800 was turned upon them. And yet it was just a clear, 785 00:52:02.119 --> 00:52:07.119 unwavering look with which Bartholomew Burg former boy had been 786 00:52:07.159 --> 00:52:10.400 wont to gaze out across the fresh plowed fields to 787 00:52:10.480 --> 00:52:13.679 the horizon beyond which lay the city he dreamed about. 788 00:52:14.119 --> 00:52:17.239 Tell me your side of it, said Bartholomew Burg, urtling 789 00:52:17.840 --> 00:52:21.559 all of it. Jock's confidence was returning till I stop 790 00:52:21.599 --> 00:52:26.679 you well, began Jock. And standing there at the side 791 00:52:26.719 --> 00:52:30.000 of the old Man's desk, his legs wide apart, his 792 00:52:30.159 --> 00:52:33.800 face aglow, his hands on his hips, he plunged into 793 00:52:33.880 --> 00:52:37.760 his tail. It started off with a bang from the 794 00:52:37.840 --> 00:52:40.760 minute I walked into the office of the plant and 795 00:52:41.039 --> 00:52:46.119 met Snyder, the advertising manager. We shook hands and sparked 796 00:52:46.400 --> 00:52:49.360 just like that. He snapped his thumb and finger. What 797 00:52:49.480 --> 00:52:53.119 do you think we belonged to the same frat? He's 798 00:52:53.239 --> 00:52:56.599 ninety three. Inside of ten minutes, he and I were 799 00:52:56.639 --> 00:53:00.679 a sigh washing around like mad. He introduced me to 800 00:53:00.760 --> 00:53:03.119 his aunt. I told her who I was and all that, 801 00:53:03.280 --> 00:53:06.519 but I didn't start off by talking business. We got 802 00:53:06.559 --> 00:53:10.400 along from the jump. They both insisted on showing me 803 00:53:10.599 --> 00:53:14.599 through the place. I well, he laughed a little ruefully. 804 00:53:14.760 --> 00:53:18.519 There's something about being shown through a factory that sort 805 00:53:18.519 --> 00:53:22.239 of paralyzes my brain. I always feel that I ought 806 00:53:22.320 --> 00:53:26.800 to be asking keen alert, intelligent questions like the ones 807 00:53:26.920 --> 00:53:30.599 Kipling always asks are the Japs when they're taken through 808 00:53:30.639 --> 00:53:33.920 the stockyards, But I never can't think of any Well, 809 00:53:34.079 --> 00:53:37.280 we didn't talk business much, but I could see that 810 00:53:37.440 --> 00:53:41.480 they were interested. They seemed to. He faltered and blushed 811 00:53:41.519 --> 00:53:44.960 a little two like me. You know. I played golf 812 00:53:45.000 --> 00:53:48.400 with Snyder that afternoon, and he beat me won two balls. 813 00:53:49.000 --> 00:53:51.519 The next morning. I've found there's been a couple of 814 00:53:51.559 --> 00:53:55.360 other advertising men there, And while I was talking to Snyder, 815 00:53:55.679 --> 00:53:58.000 he was telling me about the time he climbed up 816 00:53:58.000 --> 00:54:01.360 and muffled the chapel bell that fellow Flynn of the 817 00:54:01.679 --> 00:54:05.559 Dowt Agency came in. Snyder excused himself and talked to 818 00:54:05.679 --> 00:54:09.760 him for oh half an hour perhaps, but that was all. 819 00:54:10.119 --> 00:54:13.159 He was back again in no time after that. It 820 00:54:13.239 --> 00:54:17.599 looked like plain ceiling. We got along wonderfully. When I left, 821 00:54:17.679 --> 00:54:21.320 I said, I expect to know you both better, I guess, 822 00:54:21.719 --> 00:54:24.880 interrupted the old man slowly, that you'll know them better, 823 00:54:24.960 --> 00:54:28.639 all right. He reached out with one broad, freckled hand 824 00:54:29.280 --> 00:54:32.800 and turned back the page of a desk memorandum. The 825 00:54:32.840 --> 00:54:36.880 Athena account was given to the Dowed Advertising Agency yesterday. 826 00:54:37.760 --> 00:54:43.199 It took Jock mc chesney one minute, one long, sickening minute, 827 00:54:43.480 --> 00:54:46.480 to grasp the full meaning of it all. He stared 828 00:54:46.519 --> 00:54:50.679 at the massive figure before him, his mouth ludicrously opened, 829 00:54:50.840 --> 00:54:55.239 his eyes round, his breath for the moment suspended. Then, 830 00:54:55.280 --> 00:54:59.360 in a queer, husky voice, do you mean the dowd 831 00:54:59.480 --> 00:55:04.880 But they couldn't. I mean, said Bartholomew Berg, that you've 832 00:55:04.920 --> 00:55:09.119 scored what the dramatic critics call a personal hit. But 833 00:55:09.239 --> 00:55:13.559 that doesn't get the box office anything. But mister Perkh, 834 00:55:13.599 --> 00:55:17.599 they said, sit down a minute, boy. He waved one 835 00:55:17.719 --> 00:55:21.480 great heavy hand toward a nearby chair. His eyes were 836 00:55:21.519 --> 00:55:24.280 not fixed on Jock. They gazed out of the window 837 00:55:24.360 --> 00:55:28.280 toward the great white tower, toward which hundreds of thousands 838 00:55:28.280 --> 00:55:33.360 of eyes were turned daily, the tower, fourfaced, but faithful, 839 00:55:33.920 --> 00:55:37.280 but jesting. Do you know why you fell down on 840 00:55:37.360 --> 00:55:41.760 that Athena account? Because I'm an idiot, blurted Jock. Because 841 00:55:41.760 --> 00:55:45.840 I'm a double barreled, corn fed, handpicked chump. And that's 842 00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:49.679 one reason, drawled the old man grimly. But it's not 843 00:55:49.840 --> 00:55:52.599 the chief one. The real reason why you didn't land 844 00:55:52.639 --> 00:55:58.920 that account was because you're two drned charming. Charming, Jock stared, 845 00:55:59.639 --> 00:56:03.000 just that. Personality is one of the biggest factors in 846 00:56:03.079 --> 00:56:06.760 business today. But there are some men who are so 847 00:56:07.079 --> 00:56:11.599 likable that it actually counts against them. The client he's 848 00:56:11.639 --> 00:56:14.320 trying to convince is so taken with him that he 849 00:56:14.440 --> 00:56:17.960 actually forgets the business he represents. We say of a 850 00:56:17.960 --> 00:56:22.719 man like that, that he is personality plus personality is 851 00:56:22.760 --> 00:56:26.840 like electricity. McChesney. It's got to be tamed to be useful. 852 00:56:27.639 --> 00:56:31.840 But I thought, said Jock miserably, that the idea was 853 00:56:31.880 --> 00:56:34.880 not to talk business all the time. You got it, 854 00:56:35.039 --> 00:56:38.800 agreed Berg. But you must think it all the time, 855 00:56:39.079 --> 00:56:42.119 every minute. It's got to be working away in the 856 00:56:42.159 --> 00:56:45.199 back of your head. You know, it isn't always the 857 00:56:45.199 --> 00:56:49.159 biggest noise that gets the biggest result. The Great American 858 00:56:49.239 --> 00:56:53.159 hen yields a bigger income than the Steel Trust. Look 859 00:56:53.199 --> 00:56:55.920 at miss Galt. When we have a job that needs 860 00:56:55.960 --> 00:57:00.960 a woman's eye, do we send her no? Why because 861 00:57:01.000 --> 00:57:05.440 she's too blame charming, too much personality. A man just 862 00:57:05.599 --> 00:57:09.480 naturally refuses to talk business to a pretty woman, unless 863 00:57:09.480 --> 00:57:14.039 she's so smart that my mother interrupted Jock suddenly, and 864 00:57:14.119 --> 00:57:19.960 then stopped, surprised at himself. Your mother, said Bartholomew Burg slowly, 865 00:57:20.440 --> 00:57:23.599 is one woman in a million. Don't never forget that. 866 00:57:24.079 --> 00:57:27.119 They don't turn out models like Emma mc chesney more 867 00:57:27.159 --> 00:57:30.679 than once every blue moon. Jock got to his feet slowly. 868 00:57:31.039 --> 00:57:35.440 He felt heavy. Old I suppose he began that this 869 00:57:36.159 --> 00:57:40.639 ends my my advertising career? Is it? The old man 870 00:57:40.760 --> 00:57:43.480 stood up and put a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder. 871 00:57:43.719 --> 00:57:46.920 It only begins it unless you want to lie down 872 00:57:46.920 --> 00:57:50.960 and quit. Do you quit, cried Jock mc chesney. Quit, 873 00:57:51.239 --> 00:57:55.840 Not on your white space, good, said Bartholomew Burgh, and 874 00:57:55.960 --> 00:57:58.760 he took Jock mc chesney's hand in his own, great, 875 00:57:58.880 --> 00:58:02.920 friendly grasp. An instinct as strong as that which had 876 00:58:02.920 --> 00:58:06.639 made him blatant in his hour of triumph, now caused 877 00:58:06.719 --> 00:58:10.079 him to avoid, in his hour of defeat, the women 878 00:58:10.119 --> 00:58:13.239 folk before whom he would fain be a hero. He 879 00:58:13.280 --> 00:58:18.039 avoided Grace gult. All that long, dreary afternoon, he thought 880 00:58:18.079 --> 00:58:21.559 wildly of staying down town for the evening, of putting 881 00:58:21.599 --> 00:58:27.559 off the meeting with his mother, of avoiding the dreaded explanations, excuses, confessions. 882 00:58:28.239 --> 00:58:30.840 But when he let himself into the flat at five thirty, 883 00:58:31.159 --> 00:58:34.519 the place was very quiet, except for Annie humming in 884 00:58:34.559 --> 00:58:37.519 a sort of nasal sing song of content. In the kitchen. 885 00:58:38.440 --> 00:58:40.880 He flicked on the light. In the living room, a 886 00:58:40.960 --> 00:58:44.039 new magazine had come. It lay on the table, its 887 00:58:44.119 --> 00:58:48.079 bright cover staring up invitingly. He ran through its pages. 888 00:58:48.719 --> 00:58:51.039 By force of habit. He turned to the back pages. 889 00:58:51.599 --> 00:58:56.280 Ads stared back at him, clothing ads, paint ads, motor ads, 890 00:58:56.800 --> 00:59:02.079 ads of portable houses and vacuum cleaners, and tarlet preparations. 891 00:59:02.519 --> 00:59:06.880 He shut the magazine with a vicious slap. He flicked 892 00:59:06.880 --> 00:59:09.719 off the light again, for no reason except that he 893 00:59:09.760 --> 00:59:12.639 seemed to light the dusk. In his own bedroom, it 894 00:59:12.760 --> 00:59:16.599 was very quiet. He turned on the light there too, 895 00:59:17.119 --> 00:59:20.119 then turned it off. He sat down at the edge 896 00:59:20.159 --> 00:59:23.280 of his bed. How was it in the stories? Oh, yes, 897 00:59:23.760 --> 00:59:28.239 the cub always started out on an impossibly difficult business 898 00:59:28.239 --> 00:59:31.719 stunt and came back triumphant to be made a member 899 00:59:31.800 --> 00:59:35.119 of the firm. At once A vision of his own 900 00:59:35.440 --> 00:59:38.880 rosy in hopes and dreams rose up before him. It 901 00:59:38.960 --> 00:59:42.719 grew very dark in the little room, then all together dark. 902 00:59:43.320 --> 00:59:46.400 Then an imputed square of yellow from a light turned 903 00:59:46.400 --> 00:59:50.039 on in the apartment next door, flung itself on the 904 00:59:50.039 --> 00:59:54.920 bedroom floor. Jock stared at it moodily. A key turned 905 00:59:55.000 --> 00:59:57.840 in the lock, A door opened and shut A quick 906 00:59:57.840 --> 01:00:01.760 step then jock al light flashed in the living room. 907 01:00:02.400 --> 01:00:05.239 Jock sat up. Suddenly he opened his mouth to answer. 908 01:00:05.599 --> 01:00:08.840 There issued from his throat a strange and absurd little croak. 909 01:00:09.400 --> 01:00:14.599 Jock Home. Yes, answered Jock, and straightened up. But before 910 01:00:14.639 --> 01:00:17.880 he could flick on his own light, his mother stood 911 01:00:17.920 --> 01:00:21.719 in the doorway, a tall, straight, buoyant figure. I got 912 01:00:21.760 --> 01:00:25.840 your wire. And why dear, in the dark, what must 913 01:00:25.840 --> 01:00:30.159 have fallen asleep? I guess, muttered Jock. Somehow he dreaded 914 01:00:30.280 --> 01:00:34.079 to turn on the lights. And then very quietly Emma 915 01:00:34.239 --> 01:00:37.320 mc chesney came in. She found him there in the dark, 916 01:00:37.360 --> 01:00:39.960 as surely as a mother bear finds her cubs in 917 01:00:40.000 --> 01:00:42.880 a cave. She sat down beside him at the edge 918 01:00:42.880 --> 01:00:45.840 of the bed, and put her hand on his shoulder, 919 01:00:46.239 --> 01:00:49.960 and brought his head down gently to her breast. And 920 01:00:50.079 --> 01:00:53.239 at that the room, which had been a man's room, 921 01:00:53.360 --> 01:00:57.079 with its pipe, its tobacco jar, its tie rack, filled 922 01:00:57.079 --> 01:01:01.239 with cravats of fascinating shapes and ewes, became all at 923 01:01:01.280 --> 01:01:05.119 once a boy's room again, and the man sitting there, 924 01:01:05.159 --> 01:01:09.280 with straight, strong shoulders and his little air of worldliness, became, 925 01:01:09.440 --> 01:01:14.000 in some miraculous way, a little boy again. End of 926 01:01:14.119 --> 01:01:19.960 chapter two. Chapter three dictated but not read about the 927 01:01:20.000 --> 01:01:23.079 time that Jack mc chesney began to carry a yellow 928 01:01:23.079 --> 01:01:26.920 walking stick down to work each morning. His mother noticed 929 01:01:26.920 --> 01:01:30.679 a growing tendency on his part to patronize her. Now, 930 01:01:30.840 --> 01:01:35.599 missrus Emma mc chesney, successful capable business woman that she was, 931 01:01:36.039 --> 01:01:39.119 could afford to regard her young son's attitude with a 932 01:01:39.199 --> 01:01:44.599 quiet and deep amusement. In twelve years, Emma mc chesney 933 01:01:44.679 --> 01:01:47.840 had risen from the humble position of stenographer in the 934 01:01:47.880 --> 01:01:50.880 office of the T. A. Buck, Featherloon Petticot Company to 935 01:01:51.000 --> 01:01:54.599 the secretaryship of that firm. So in her young son, 936 01:01:55.159 --> 01:01:59.000 backed by the profound business knowledge gained in his one 937 01:01:59.119 --> 01:02:04.519 year with the Berg Shriner Advertising Company, hinted gently that 938 01:02:04.599 --> 01:02:09.800 her methods and training were archaic, ineffectual, and lacking in 939 01:02:09.920 --> 01:02:13.960 those twin condiments known to the twentieth century as pep 940 01:02:14.119 --> 01:02:18.679 and ginger. She would listen, eyebrows raised, lower lip caught 941 01:02:18.719 --> 01:02:22.639 between her teeth, a trick which gives a distorted expression 942 01:02:22.679 --> 01:02:28.480 to the features, calculated to hide any lurking tendency to grin. Besides, 943 01:02:28.760 --> 01:02:32.360 though Emma mc chesney was forty, she looked thirty two, 944 01:02:32.880 --> 01:02:36.719 as business women do, and knew it. Her hard working 945 01:02:36.800 --> 01:02:39.920 life had brought her in contact with people and things 946 01:02:39.960 --> 01:02:44.199 and events, and had kept her young. Thank fortune, missrus 947 01:02:44.280 --> 01:02:47.400 mc chesney often said that I wasn't cursed with the 948 01:02:47.440 --> 01:02:51.599 life of ease. These massage at ten fitting at eleven 949 01:02:51.679 --> 01:02:55.599 bridget one women always looked such hags at thirty five, 950 01:02:56.480 --> 01:03:00.840 but repetition will ruin the rarest of jokes. As the 951 01:03:00.840 --> 01:03:04.800 weeks went on and Jock's attitude persisted, the twinkle in 952 01:03:04.840 --> 01:03:09.679 Emma mc chesney's eye died. The glow of growing resentment 953 01:03:09.880 --> 01:03:13.119 began to burn in its place. Now and then there 954 01:03:13.159 --> 01:03:17.599 crept into her eyes a little look of doubt and bewilderment. 955 01:03:18.079 --> 01:03:22.920 You sometimes see that same little, shocked, dazed expression in 956 01:03:22.960 --> 01:03:26.199 the eyes of a woman whose husband has just said, 957 01:03:26.719 --> 01:03:30.480 isn't that hat too young for you? Then one evening, 958 01:03:30.800 --> 01:03:35.320 Emma mc chesney's resentment flared into open revolt. She had 959 01:03:35.320 --> 01:03:38.679 announced that she intended to rise half an hour earlier 960 01:03:38.760 --> 01:03:41.679 each morning in order that she might walk a brisk 961 01:03:41.800 --> 01:03:45.000 mile or so on her way down town before taking 962 01:03:45.000 --> 01:03:48.400 the subway. But won't it tire you too much? Mother, 963 01:03:48.880 --> 01:03:54.559 Jock had asked, with maddeningly tender solicitude. His mother's color heightened, 964 01:03:54.639 --> 01:03:59.199 her blue eyes glowed dark. Look here, Jock, will you 965 01:03:59.400 --> 01:04:03.960 kindly lean on me? Grandma? Stuff To hear you talk, 966 01:04:04.039 --> 01:04:06.360 one would think I was ready for a wheelchair in 967 01:04:06.519 --> 01:04:11.559 gray woolen bedroom slippers. Why I didn't mean. I only 968 01:04:11.639 --> 01:04:14.760 thought that, perhaps over exertion and a woman of your 969 01:04:15.320 --> 01:04:20.079 that is you need your energy for. Don't wallow around, 970 01:04:20.199 --> 01:04:24.039 and it snapped, Emma McChesney. You'll only sink in deeper 971 01:04:24.039 --> 01:04:27.119 in your efforts to crawl out. I merely want to 972 01:04:27.159 --> 01:04:30.320 warn you that if you persist in this pose of 973 01:04:30.440 --> 01:04:35.559 tender solicitude for your dollaring old mother, I'll I'll present 974 01:04:35.679 --> 01:04:39.960 you with a stepfather a year younger than you. Don't laugh. 975 01:04:40.280 --> 01:04:43.360 Perhaps you think I couldn't do it, good lord mother, 976 01:04:43.920 --> 01:04:47.719 of course you don't mean it, but mean it. Cleverer 977 01:04:47.800 --> 01:04:50.559 woman than I have been driven by their children to 978 01:04:50.760 --> 01:04:55.599 marrying bell boys. In self defense, I warn you that 979 01:04:55.920 --> 01:04:59.599 stopped it for a while. Jock ceased to bestow upon 980 01:04:59.639 --> 01:05:03.079 his muther the judicious advice from the vast storehouse of 981 01:05:03.119 --> 01:05:08.239 his own experience. He refrained from breaking out with elaborate 982 01:05:08.280 --> 01:05:13.239 advertising schemes, whereby the Ta buck, Featherloon Petticoat company might 983 01:05:13.360 --> 01:05:17.920 grind every other skirt concern to dust. He gave only 984 01:05:18.000 --> 01:05:23.079 a startled look when his mother mischievously suggested raspberry as 985 01:05:23.119 --> 01:05:26.880 the color for her new autumn suit. Then, quite suddenly 986 01:05:27.320 --> 01:05:31.639 circumstance caught Emma mc chesney in the meshes, and before 987 01:05:31.679 --> 01:05:35.000 she had fought her way free, wrought trouble and change 988 01:05:35.079 --> 01:05:39.079 upon her. Jock McChesney was seated in the window of 989 01:05:39.119 --> 01:05:42.920 his mother's office at noon of a brilliant autumn day. 990 01:05:43.400 --> 01:05:46.920 A little impatient frown was farming between his eyes. He 991 01:05:47.000 --> 01:05:50.679 wanted his luncheon. He had called around expressly to take 992 01:05:50.719 --> 01:05:54.000 his mother out to luncheon, always a festive occasion would 993 01:05:54.000 --> 01:05:58.320 taken together. But missus McChesney, seated at her desk, was 994 01:05:58.400 --> 01:06:02.199 bent absorbidly over a sheet of paper, whereon she was 995 01:06:02.280 --> 01:06:05.519 adding up two columns of figures at a time, a 996 01:06:05.760 --> 01:06:09.559 trick on which she rather prided herself. She was counting aloud, 997 01:06:09.920 --> 01:06:14.360 her mind leaping agilely. Thus eleven twenty nine, forty three, 998 01:06:14.519 --> 01:06:18.800 sixty sixty nine. Her pencil came down on the desk 999 01:06:19.079 --> 01:06:24.519 with a whack. Sixty nine, she repeated in capital letters. 1000 01:06:25.000 --> 01:06:28.880 She turned around to face Jock sixty nine. Her voice 1001 01:06:29.079 --> 01:06:32.679 bristled with indignation. Now what do you think of that? 1002 01:06:33.440 --> 01:06:35.760 I think you'd better make it an even seventy or 1003 01:06:35.840 --> 01:06:38.519 whatever it is you're counting up, and come on out 1004 01:06:38.519 --> 01:06:42.079 to luncheon. I'm an appointment at two fifteen, you know, luncheon. 1005 01:06:42.719 --> 01:06:45.960 She waved the paper in the air. With this outrage 1006 01:06:46.039 --> 01:06:50.719 on my mind, nectar would curdle in my system. Jock 1007 01:06:50.960 --> 01:06:54.840 rose and strolled lazily over to the desk. What is it, 1008 01:06:55.199 --> 01:06:58.239 he glanced idly at the sheet of paper. Sixty nine? 1009 01:06:58.320 --> 01:07:02.000 What missus mcchae pressed the buzzer at the side of 1010 01:07:02.039 --> 01:07:06.800 her desk. Sixty nine dollars, that's what, representing two days' 1011 01:07:06.840 --> 01:07:11.760 expenses in the six weeks missionary trip that fat admirers 1012 01:07:11.880 --> 01:07:16.159 just made for us, and in Iowa too. When you 1013 01:07:16.360 --> 01:07:20.159 gave that fellow the job began, Jock hotly, I told you, 1014 01:07:20.320 --> 01:07:25.760 and Buck told you that, Missus mc chesney interrupted wearily. Yes, 1015 01:07:26.119 --> 01:07:29.719 I know you'll never have a grander chance to say, 1016 01:07:29.880 --> 01:07:33.320 I told you so. I hired him because he was 1017 01:07:33.400 --> 01:07:35.559 out of a job and we needed a man who 1018 01:07:35.599 --> 01:07:40.159 knew the Middle Western trade. And then because well, poor 1019 01:07:40.199 --> 01:07:44.159 fellow he begged so and promised to keep straight, as 1020 01:07:44.199 --> 01:07:46.840 though I oughtn't to know that a pe nuckle and 1021 01:07:46.920 --> 01:07:50.039 poker traveling man can never be anything but a p 1022 01:07:50.199 --> 01:07:55.039 nuckle and poker traveling man. The office door opened as 1023 01:07:55.079 --> 01:07:58.039 there appeared an answer to the buzzer, a very alert, 1024 01:07:58.159 --> 01:08:02.199 very smiling and very tight office girl Emma mc chesney 1025 01:08:02.280 --> 01:08:06.360 had tried office boys and found them wanting tell mister Myers, 1026 01:08:06.400 --> 01:08:08.840 I want to see him. Just gone out to lunch. 1027 01:08:09.280 --> 01:08:12.840 She turned like a racehorse, trembling to be off, putting 1028 01:08:12.880 --> 01:08:16.000 on his overcoat in the front office. Shall I catch him? 1029 01:08:17.039 --> 01:08:21.119 Listen here, began Jock uncomfortably. If you're going to call him, 1030 01:08:21.159 --> 01:08:25.920 perhaps I'd better vanish to save Ed Myers's tender feelings. 1031 01:08:26.199 --> 01:08:31.399 You don't know him. Fat Ed Meyers could be court martialed, tried, convicted, 1032 01:08:31.520 --> 01:08:35.920 and publicly disgraced, with his epaulets torn off and his 1033 01:08:36.079 --> 01:08:40.159 sword broken, and likely as not, he stooped down, pick 1034 01:08:40.239 --> 01:08:43.359 up a splinter of steel to use as a toothpick, 1035 01:08:43.760 --> 01:08:46.960 and Castle walked down the aisle to the tune with 1036 01:08:47.039 --> 01:08:49.920 which they were drumming him out of the regiment. Stay 1037 01:08:50.000 --> 01:08:54.039 right here, Myers's explanation ought to be at least amusing, 1038 01:08:54.159 --> 01:08:58.279 if not educating. In the corridor outside could be heard 1039 01:08:58.399 --> 01:09:02.000 someone blithely humming in the throaty tenor of the fat Man. 1040 01:09:02.560 --> 01:09:05.880 The humming ceased with a last high note as the 1041 01:09:05.920 --> 01:09:11.199 door opened, and there entered fat admirers Rosy Cherubic, smiling 1042 01:09:11.680 --> 01:09:15.760 his huge frame looming mountainous in the rippling folds of 1043 01:09:15.840 --> 01:09:20.520 a loose hung London plaid top coat. Greetings boomed the 1044 01:09:20.600 --> 01:09:25.039 cheery vision. Raising one hand palm outward in mystic salute, 1045 01:09:25.640 --> 01:09:29.279 he beamed upon the frowning Jock. How's the infant prodigy? 1046 01:09:29.760 --> 01:09:34.159 The fact that Jock's frown deepened to a scowl ruffled 1047 01:09:34.239 --> 01:09:38.359 him not at all. And what went on? He crossing 1048 01:09:38.399 --> 01:09:42.560 his feet and leaning negligently against missus mc chesney's desk. 1049 01:09:43.000 --> 01:09:46.800 And what can I do for thee fair lady for me, 1050 01:09:47.479 --> 01:09:51.800 said Emma mc chesney, looking up at him through narrowed eyelids. 1051 01:09:52.199 --> 01:09:55.720 I'll tell you what you can explain to me in 1052 01:09:56.039 --> 01:10:00.319 what they call a few well chosen words, just how 1053 01:10:00.439 --> 01:10:04.000 you or any other living creature could manage to turn 1054 01:10:04.039 --> 01:10:07.840 in an expense account like that on a six weeks 1055 01:10:08.000 --> 01:10:12.359 missionary trip through the Middle West, dear lady, in the 1056 01:10:12.399 --> 01:10:16.479 bland tones that one uses to an unreasonable child. He 1057 01:10:16.560 --> 01:10:20.520 will need no explanation, if you will just remember to 1058 01:10:20.640 --> 01:10:24.520 lay the stress on the word missionary. I went forth 1059 01:10:24.600 --> 01:10:27.399 through the Middle West to spread the light among the 1060 01:10:27.399 --> 01:10:31.560 benightedskir trade. This wasn't a selling trip, dear lady, it 1061 01:10:31.720 --> 01:10:35.079 was a buying expedition, and I had to buie, didn't 1062 01:10:35.119 --> 01:10:39.319 I all the way from Michigan to Indiana? He smiled 1063 01:10:39.479 --> 01:10:43.800 down at her, calm, self assured, impudent. A little flush 1064 01:10:43.960 --> 01:10:48.840 grew in Emma mc chesney's cheeks have always said. She began, crisply, 1065 01:10:49.520 --> 01:10:54.399 that one could pretty well judge a man's character, temperament, morals, 1066 01:10:54.439 --> 01:10:58.920 and physical make up by just glancing at his expense account. 1067 01:10:59.279 --> 01:11:01.520 The trouble with you is that you haven't learned the 1068 01:11:01.640 --> 01:11:05.479 art of spending money wisely. It isn't always the man 1069 01:11:05.600 --> 01:11:09.159 with the largest expense sheet that gets the most business, 1070 01:11:09.399 --> 01:11:11.800 and it isn't the man who leaves the greatest number 1071 01:11:11.800 --> 01:11:14.800 of circles on the tabletop in his hotel room either. 1072 01:11:15.359 --> 01:11:20.079 She paused a moment, Edmires's smile had lost some of 1073 01:11:20.119 --> 01:11:23.760 its heartiness. Mister Buck's out of town, as you know, 1074 01:11:24.000 --> 01:11:28.279 he'll be back next week. He wasn't in favor of now, missus, 1075 01:11:28.359 --> 01:11:33.520 McChesney interrupted admirers nervously. You know, there's always one live 1076 01:11:33.600 --> 01:11:36.880 one in every firm, just like there's always one star 1077 01:11:37.000 --> 01:11:40.359 in every family. You're the I'm the one who wants 1078 01:11:40.399 --> 01:11:44.439 to know how you could spend sixty nine dollars for 1079 01:11:44.600 --> 01:11:50.239 two days incidentals in Iowa, Iowa. Why look here, Admires, 1080 01:11:50.720 --> 01:11:53.880 I made Iowa for ten years when I was on 1081 01:11:53.920 --> 01:11:58.079 the road. You know that, and you know and I 1082 01:11:58.359 --> 01:12:01.800 know that in order to spend sixty nine dollars for 1083 01:12:02.239 --> 01:12:05.960 incidentals in two days in Iowa, you have to call 1084 01:12:06.000 --> 01:12:08.960 out the militia. Not when you're trying to win the 1085 01:12:09.000 --> 01:12:11.880 love of every skirt fire from Sioux City to Des Moines. 1086 01:12:12.800 --> 01:12:18.079 Emma McChesney rose impatiently. Oh, that's nonsense. You don't need 1087 01:12:18.119 --> 01:12:21.800 to do that these days. Those are old fashioned methods. 1088 01:12:21.800 --> 01:12:25.399 They're out of date. They at that. A little sound 1089 01:12:25.520 --> 01:12:29.840 came from Jock. Emma heard it, glanced at him, turned 1090 01:12:29.880 --> 01:12:33.359 away again in confusion. I was foolish enough in the 1091 01:12:33.359 --> 01:12:36.720 first place to give you this job. For old time's sake, 1092 01:12:37.079 --> 01:12:43.119 she continued, hurriedly. Fat Admires's face drooped dolefully. He cocked 1093 01:12:43.119 --> 01:12:47.479 his round head on one side, fatuously for old time's sake, 1094 01:12:48.000 --> 01:12:52.920 he repeated, with tremulous pathos, and heaved a gusty sigh, 1095 01:12:53.479 --> 01:12:57.479 which goes to show that I need a guardian, finished 1096 01:12:57.520 --> 01:13:02.159 Emma McChesney cruelly. The only old times that I can remember, 1097 01:13:02.600 --> 01:13:05.119 or when I was selling feather looms and you were 1098 01:13:05.159 --> 01:13:08.680 out for the Sands Silk Skirt Company, both covering the 1099 01:13:08.720 --> 01:13:13.039 same territory, and both running a year round race to 1100 01:13:13.079 --> 01:13:15.680 see which could beat the other at its own game. 1101 01:13:16.279 --> 01:13:19.079 The only difference was that I always played fair, while 1102 01:13:19.159 --> 01:13:22.600 you played low down whenever you had a chance. Now, 1103 01:13:22.800 --> 01:13:26.960 my dear missus McChesney, that'll be all, said Emma McChesney, 1104 01:13:27.439 --> 01:13:31.640 as one whose patience is fast slipping away. Mister Buck 1105 01:13:31.680 --> 01:13:35.079 will see you next week, then turning to her son, 1106 01:13:35.199 --> 01:13:38.039 as the door closed on the drooping figure of the 1107 01:13:38.319 --> 01:13:43.640 erstwhile boyant myers, where are we lunch? Jock? Mother, Jock 1108 01:13:43.680 --> 01:13:46.680 broke out hotly, Why in the name of all that's 1109 01:13:46.720 --> 01:13:50.760 foolish do you persist in using the methods of Mathuselah. 1110 01:13:51.279 --> 01:13:55.399 People don't sell goods anymore by sending out fat, old 1111 01:13:55.520 --> 01:13:59.600 extra traveling men to jolly up the trade? Jock repeated 1112 01:13:59.640 --> 01:14:06.279 Emma mc chesney slowly. Where shall we lunch? It was 1113 01:14:06.319 --> 01:14:10.439 a grim little meal, eaten almost in silence. Emma mc 1114 01:14:10.520 --> 01:14:13.439 chesney had made it a rule to use luncheon time 1115 01:14:13.600 --> 01:14:18.119 as a recess, she played mental tag and hopscotch, so that, 1116 01:14:18.479 --> 01:14:21.960 returning to her office refreshed in mind and body, she 1117 01:14:22.000 --> 01:14:25.600 could attack the afternoon's work with new vicar, and never 1118 01:14:25.760 --> 01:14:29.880 did she talk or think business today. She ate her 1119 01:14:29.960 --> 01:14:34.399 luncheon with a forced appetite, glanced about with a listlessness 1120 01:14:34.439 --> 01:14:38.359 far removed from her usual alert interest, and followed Jock's 1121 01:14:38.359 --> 01:14:42.239 attempts to conversation with a polite effort that was more 1122 01:14:42.279 --> 01:14:47.319 insulting than downright inattention dessert mother Jock had to say 1123 01:14:47.319 --> 01:14:51.079 it twice before she heard what, oh, no, I think not. 1124 01:14:51.520 --> 01:14:57.560 The waiter hesitated, coughed, discreetly lifted his eyebrows, insinuatingly. The 1125 01:14:57.640 --> 01:15:02.000 French pastries particularly nice, to madame. If you care to 1126 01:15:02.039 --> 01:15:07.640 try something, Eclaire Madam, peach tart mocha, tart caramel. Emma 1127 01:15:07.720 --> 01:15:12.399 mc chesney smiled. It does sound tempting, she glanced at Jock. 1128 01:15:13.199 --> 01:15:16.359 And we're wearing our gowns so floppy this year that 1129 01:15:16.479 --> 01:15:19.239 it makes no difference whether one's fat or not. She 1130 01:15:19.319 --> 01:15:21.920 turned to the waiter. I never can tell till I 1131 01:15:22.039 --> 01:15:26.119 see them. Bring your pastry tray, will you? Jock mcchestey's 1132 01:15:26.159 --> 01:15:30.399 finger and thumb came together with a snap. He leaned 1133 01:15:30.399 --> 01:15:34.239 across the table toward his mother, eyes glowing, lips parted 1134 01:15:34.279 --> 01:15:40.399 and eager. There you've proved my point point about advertising. No, 1135 01:15:40.520 --> 01:15:44.600 don't stop me. Don't you see what applies to pastry 1136 01:15:44.960 --> 01:15:48.920 applies to petticoats. You didn't think of French pastry until 1137 01:15:49.000 --> 01:15:52.680 he suggested it to You advertised it really, and then 1138 01:15:53.039 --> 01:15:55.880 you wanted a picture of them. You wanted to know 1139 01:15:55.920 --> 01:15:59.000 what they look like before buying. That's all there is 1140 01:15:59.000 --> 01:16:02.520 to advertising. Telling people about a thing, makin em want it, 1141 01:16:02.640 --> 01:16:04.600 and showIn em how it will look when they have it. 1142 01:16:05.000 --> 01:16:09.960 Get me, Emma mc chesney was gazing at Jock with 1143 01:16:10.079 --> 01:16:14.319 a curious, fascinated stare. It was a blank little look, 1144 01:16:14.399 --> 01:16:18.520 such as we sometimes wear when the mind is working furiously. 1145 01:16:19.159 --> 01:16:22.960 If the insinuating waiter presenting the laden tray for her 1146 01:16:23.000 --> 01:16:27.079 inspection was startled by the rapt expression which she turned 1147 01:16:27.119 --> 01:16:30.239 upon the cunningly wrought wares, he was too much a 1148 01:16:30.279 --> 01:16:34.560 waiter to show it. A pause that one, said missus 1149 01:16:34.600 --> 01:16:37.640 mc chesney, pointing to the least ornate. She ate it 1150 01:16:37.880 --> 01:16:40.720 down to the last crumb in a silence that was 1151 01:16:40.800 --> 01:16:45.119 pregnant with portent, she put down her fork and sat back. Jock, 1152 01:16:45.680 --> 01:16:49.479 you win. I I suppose I have fallen out a step. 1153 01:16:49.960 --> 01:16:52.840 Perhaps I've been too busy watching my own feet. T 1154 01:16:53.039 --> 01:16:55.960 A will be back next week. Could your office have 1155 01:16:56.039 --> 01:17:00.239 an advertising plan roughly sketched by that time? Good today? 1156 01:17:00.760 --> 01:17:04.640 His tone was exultant. Watch him. Hup's been crazy to 1157 01:17:04.680 --> 01:17:08.359 make Featherloums famous. But look here, son, I want a 1158 01:17:08.439 --> 01:17:11.840 hand in that copy. I know Featherloums better than your 1159 01:17:11.920 --> 01:17:16.039 Sam Hupp will ever, Jock shook his head. They won't 1160 01:17:16.039 --> 01:17:20.359 stand for that, mother, It never works. The manufacturer always 1161 01:17:20.359 --> 01:17:23.239 thinks he can write magic stuff because he knows his 1162 01:17:23.279 --> 01:17:26.720 own product, but he never can. You see, he knows 1163 01:17:26.840 --> 01:17:31.319 too much. That's it, no perspective, we'll see, said Emma 1164 01:17:31.399 --> 01:17:36.159 McChesney curtly. So it was that ten days later the 1165 01:17:36.239 --> 01:17:40.079 first important conference in the interests of the Featherloom Petticot 1166 01:17:40.079 --> 01:17:44.560 Company's advertising campaign was called. But in those ten days 1167 01:17:44.600 --> 01:17:49.479 of hurried preparation, a little silent tragedy had come about. 1168 01:17:49.920 --> 01:17:52.800 For the first time in her brave, sunny life, Emma 1169 01:17:52.880 --> 01:17:57.399 McChesney had lost faith in herself and with such malicious humor, 1170 01:17:57.479 --> 01:18:01.079 does fate work her will that she chose sam Hup's 1171 01:18:01.239 --> 01:18:05.000 new dictograph as the instrument with which to prick the 1172 01:18:05.039 --> 01:18:09.960 bubble of missus mcchesney's self confidence. Sam Hupp, one of 1173 01:18:10.000 --> 01:18:13.399 the copywriting marvels of the berg Shriner firm, had a 1174 01:18:13.439 --> 01:18:17.760 trick of forgetting to shut off certain necessary currents when 1175 01:18:17.800 --> 01:18:21.760 he paused in his dictation to throw in conversational asides. 1176 01:18:22.319 --> 01:18:26.720 The old and experienced stenographers had learned to look out 1177 01:18:26.720 --> 01:18:30.479 for that, and to eliminate from their typewritten letters certain 1178 01:18:30.680 --> 01:18:35.640 irrelevant and sometimes irreverent sides, which sam Hup evidently had 1179 01:18:35.680 --> 01:18:39.359 addressed to his pipe or the office boy, and was 1180 01:18:39.399 --> 01:18:43.520 not intended for the tube of the all devouring dictograph. 1181 01:18:44.000 --> 01:18:46.439 There was a new and nervous little stenographer in the 1182 01:18:46.439 --> 01:18:50.239 outer office, and she had not been warned of this. 1183 01:18:50.960 --> 01:18:54.520 We think very highly of the plan you suggest, sam Hupp, 1184 01:18:54.560 --> 01:18:58.439 had said into the dictograph's mouthpiece. In fact, then one 1185 01:18:58.439 --> 01:19:02.880 of your valuable copies of questions you. Without changing his tone, 1186 01:19:03.239 --> 01:19:06.520 he glanced over his shoulder at his colleague Hopper, who 1187 01:19:06.600 --> 01:19:09.520 was listening and approving. Let the old girl think the 1188 01:19:09.600 --> 01:19:12.800 ideas her own. She's virtually the head of that concern, 1189 01:19:13.159 --> 01:19:17.000 and they've spoiled her successful and used to being caught 1190 01:19:17.079 --> 01:19:20.560 out to doesn't know her notions of copy are ten 1191 01:19:20.680 --> 01:19:24.199 years behind the advertising game, and went on with his 1192 01:19:24.319 --> 01:19:27.760 letter again, after which he left the office to play golf, 1193 01:19:28.319 --> 01:19:32.840 and the little blond numbskull in the outer office dutifully 1194 01:19:32.840 --> 01:19:36.239 took down what the instrument had to say word for word, 1195 01:19:36.680 --> 01:19:41.079 marked it, dictated but not read, signed, neat initials, and 1196 01:19:41.239 --> 01:19:43.359 with a sigh, went on with the rest of her 1197 01:19:43.399 --> 01:19:47.680 sheaf of letters. Emma mc chesney read the letter next morning. 1198 01:19:48.119 --> 01:19:51.319 She read it down to the end and then again. 1199 01:19:52.039 --> 01:19:56.039 The two readings were punctuated with a little gasp, such 1200 01:19:56.079 --> 01:19:59.039 as we give when an icy douche is suddenly turned 1201 01:19:59.119 --> 01:20:03.640 upon us. And that was all. A week later, an 1202 01:20:03.720 --> 01:20:06.960 intent little group formed a ragged circle about the big 1203 01:20:07.000 --> 01:20:10.800 table in the private office of Bartholomew Burg, head of 1204 01:20:10.840 --> 01:20:17.920 the Berg Schrider advertising Company. Bartholomew Berg, himself massive, watchful, taciturn, 1205 01:20:18.199 --> 01:20:21.680 managing to give an impression of power by his very silence, 1206 01:20:22.279 --> 01:20:25.840 sat at one side of the long table. Just across 1207 01:20:25.840 --> 01:20:29.560 from him, a sleek haired stenographer bent over her notebook, 1208 01:20:29.960 --> 01:20:33.319 jotting down every word that the conference might make business history. 1209 01:20:33.880 --> 01:20:36.960 Hopper at one end of the room, studied his shoe 1210 01:20:36.960 --> 01:20:41.199 heel intently. He was unbelievably boyish, looking to command the 1211 01:20:41.359 --> 01:20:46.640 fabulous salary reported to be his advertising men mentioning his name, 1212 01:20:46.960 --> 01:20:50.800 pulled a figurative forelock as they did so. Near Missus. 1213 01:20:50.880 --> 01:20:54.399 McChesney sat Sam hupp heave of the lightning brain in 1214 01:20:54.439 --> 01:20:59.079 the sure Fire copy. Emma McChesney, strangely silent, kept her 1215 01:20:59.079 --> 01:21:02.319 eyes intent on the faces of the others. T a 1216 01:21:02.439 --> 01:21:08.520 buck interested, enthusiastic, but somewhat uncertain, glanced now and then 1217 01:21:08.640 --> 01:21:12.399 at his silent business partner, found no satisfaction in her 1218 01:21:12.479 --> 01:21:17.319 set face, and glanced away again. Gray Skalt, unbelievably young 1219 01:21:17.520 --> 01:21:20.000 and pretty to have won a place for herself in 1220 01:21:20.039 --> 01:21:23.840 that conference of business people, smiled in secret at Jock 1221 01:21:24.000 --> 01:21:28.119 mc chesney's evident struggle to conceal his elation at being 1222 01:21:28.199 --> 01:21:32.640 present at this his first staff meeting. The conference had 1223 01:21:32.720 --> 01:21:37.079 lasted one hour now. In that time, frethloom petticoats had 1224 01:21:37.079 --> 01:21:40.680 been picked to pieces, bit by bit from him to waistband. 1225 01:21:41.239 --> 01:21:44.760 Nothing had been left untouched. Every angle had come under 1226 01:21:44.800 --> 01:21:48.560 the keen vision of the advertising experts, the comfort of 1227 01:21:48.600 --> 01:21:54.199 the garment, its durability, style, cheapness service which to emphasize 1228 01:21:54.640 --> 01:21:59.039 hm novelty campaign. In my opinion, said Hopper, breaking one 1229 01:21:59.079 --> 01:22:03.520 of his long silent lenses. There's nothing new in petticoats themselves. 1230 01:22:03.560 --> 01:22:07.640 You know, you've got to give them a new angle. Yep, agreed, hup, 1231 01:22:08.000 --> 01:22:11.520 start out with a feature skirt might illustrate with one 1232 01:22:11.520 --> 01:22:15.560 of those freaked drawings they're crazy about now, slinky figure, 1233 01:22:15.840 --> 01:22:19.079 you know, hollow chested, one foot, trailing and all that. 1234 01:22:19.720 --> 01:22:22.960 They're crazy, but they do retract attention, no doubt of that. 1235 01:22:23.760 --> 01:22:28.159 Bartholomew Berg turned his head slowly. Oh what's your opinion, 1236 01:22:28.159 --> 01:22:32.960 missus McChesney, he asked. I'm I'm afraid I haven't any, 1237 01:22:33.319 --> 01:22:37.479 said Emma McChesney listlessly. Ta Buck stared at her in 1238 01:22:37.560 --> 01:22:42.279 dismay and amazement. How about you, mister Buck? Why? Of 1239 01:22:42.720 --> 01:22:46.640 course this advertising game's new to me. I'm really leaving 1240 01:22:46.640 --> 01:22:50.279 it in your hands. I really thought that missus mcchesney's 1241 01:22:50.359 --> 01:22:53.000 idea was to make a point of the fact that 1242 01:22:53.359 --> 01:22:56.600 these petticoats were not a freak petticoat, but skirts for 1243 01:22:56.640 --> 01:22:59.600 the everyday woman. She gave me what I thought was 1244 01:22:59.640 --> 01:23:03.760 a London argument a week ago. He turned to her. Helplessly. 1245 01:23:04.479 --> 01:23:09.520 Missus McChesney sat silent. Bartholomew Burgh leaned forward a little 1246 01:23:09.560 --> 01:23:13.079 and smiled one of his rare smiles. Won't you tell us, 1247 01:23:13.079 --> 01:23:15.560 missus McChesney, we'd all like to hear what you have 1248 01:23:15.640 --> 01:23:19.720 to say. Missus McChesney looked down at her hands. Then 1249 01:23:19.800 --> 01:23:22.520 she looked up and addressed what she had to say 1250 01:23:23.039 --> 01:23:28.600 straight to Bartholomew Burgh. I simply don't want to interfere 1251 01:23:28.640 --> 01:23:31.640 in this business. I know nothing about it. Really. Of 1252 01:23:31.880 --> 01:23:35.880 course I do know featherloom petticoats, I know all about them. 1253 01:23:36.279 --> 01:23:39.560 It seemed to me that just because the newspapers and 1254 01:23:39.760 --> 01:23:44.960 magazines were full of pictures showing spectacular creatures and impossible 1255 01:23:45.000 --> 01:23:49.680 attitudes wearing tango tea skirts, we are apt to forget 1256 01:23:49.840 --> 01:23:53.800 that those types form only a thin upper crust, and 1257 01:23:53.880 --> 01:23:57.960 that down beneath there are millions and millions of regular 1258 01:23:58.119 --> 01:24:03.680 everyday women doing everyday things in regular everyday clothes, women 1259 01:24:03.680 --> 01:24:07.359 who wash on Monday and iron on Tuesday, and bake 1260 01:24:07.439 --> 01:24:10.199 one egg cakes, and who have to harry home to 1261 01:24:10.199 --> 01:24:13.560 get supper when they go downtown in the afternoon. They're 1262 01:24:13.640 --> 01:24:16.560 the kind who go to market every morning and take 1263 01:24:16.600 --> 01:24:19.520 the baby along the go kart. And they're not wearing 1264 01:24:19.680 --> 01:24:23.039 crape de shine tango petticoats to do it in either. 1265 01:24:23.399 --> 01:24:26.079 They're wearing skirts with the draw string in the back 1266 01:24:26.359 --> 01:24:29.600 and the label and the band guaranteed to last one year. 1267 01:24:30.079 --> 01:24:33.880 Those are the people I'd like to reach and hold. Hmmm, 1268 01:24:34.680 --> 01:24:39.199 said Hopper from his corner cryptically. Bartholomewburg looked at Emma 1269 01:24:39.279 --> 01:24:44.479 McChesney admiringly. Sounds reasonable and logical, he said. Sam hup 1270 01:24:44.800 --> 01:24:48.880 sat up with a jerk. It does sound reasonable, he said, briskly, 1271 01:24:49.319 --> 01:24:53.159 But it isn't. Pardon me, won't you, missus McChesney. But 1272 01:24:53.319 --> 01:24:57.520 you must realize that this is at extravagant age. The 1273 01:24:57.680 --> 01:25:01.479 very workmen's wives have caught the spind fever. The time 1274 01:25:01.520 --> 01:25:04.079 has passed when you can attract people to your goods 1275 01:25:04.479 --> 01:25:08.720 with the promise of durability and wear. They don't expect 1276 01:25:08.800 --> 01:25:12.159 goods to wear. They'd resent it if they did. They 1277 01:25:12.239 --> 01:25:15.239 get tired of an article before it's worn out. They're 1278 01:25:15.279 --> 01:25:19.520 looking for novelties. They'd rather get two months wear out 1279 01:25:19.520 --> 01:25:22.239 of a skirt that slashed a new way than a 1280 01:25:22.359 --> 01:25:24.640 year's wear out of one that looks like the start 1281 01:25:24.720 --> 01:25:29.319 that mother used to make. Missus McChesney, her cheeks very pink, 1282 01:25:29.399 --> 01:25:34.279 her eyes very bright, subsided into silence. In silence, she 1283 01:25:34.399 --> 01:25:37.680 sat throughout the rest of the conference, in silence. She 1284 01:25:37.840 --> 01:25:40.760 descended in the elevator with t a Buck, and in 1285 01:25:40.880 --> 01:25:44.720 silence she stepped into his waiting car. T a Buck 1286 01:25:45.039 --> 01:25:49.600 eyed her worriedly. Well, he said, then, as Missus McChesney 1287 01:25:49.600 --> 01:25:53.000 shrugged none, Tomilla's shoulders, tell me, how do you feel 1288 01:25:53.000 --> 01:25:57.159 about it? Emma McChesney turned to face him, breathing rather quickly. 1289 01:25:57.560 --> 01:25:59.840 The last time I felt as I do just now 1290 01:26:00.399 --> 01:26:03.439 was when Jock was a baby. He took sick and 1291 01:26:03.640 --> 01:26:07.079 the doctors were puzzled. They thought it might be something 1292 01:26:07.119 --> 01:26:11.039 wrong with his spine. They had a consultation, five of them, 1293 01:26:11.439 --> 01:26:14.560 with the poor little chap on the bed naked. They 1294 01:26:14.600 --> 01:26:17.600 wouldn't let me go in, so I listened in the hallway, 1295 01:26:18.000 --> 01:26:20.399 pressed against the door with my face to the crack. 1296 01:26:21.039 --> 01:26:24.359 They prodded him and poked him and worked his little 1297 01:26:24.439 --> 01:26:27.840 legs and arms, and every time he cried, I prayed 1298 01:26:27.880 --> 01:26:31.359 and wept and clawed the door with my fingers and 1299 01:26:31.720 --> 01:26:34.680 called them beasts and torturers and begged them to let 1300 01:26:34.720 --> 01:26:37.920 me in. Though I wasn't conscious that I was doing 1301 01:26:37.960 --> 01:26:40.840 those things at the time. I didn't know what they 1302 01:26:40.880 --> 01:26:43.479 were doing to him, though they said it was all 1303 01:26:43.520 --> 01:26:46.560 for his good and they were only trying to help him. 1304 01:26:46.880 --> 01:26:50.039 But I only knew that I wanted to rush in 1305 01:26:50.119 --> 01:26:53.079 and grab him up in my arms and run away 1306 01:26:53.079 --> 01:26:57.479 with him, Run and run and run. She stopped, lips trembling, 1307 01:26:57.600 --> 01:27:00.920 eyes suspiciously bright, And that that's the way I felt 1308 01:27:01.000 --> 01:27:05.520 in there this afternoon. Ta Buck reached up and patted 1309 01:27:05.560 --> 01:27:09.159 her shoulder. Don't, old girl, It's going to work out splendidly, 1310 01:27:09.439 --> 01:27:13.439 I'm sure. After all, those chaps do know best. They 1311 01:27:13.479 --> 01:27:17.359 may know best, but they don't know featherlooms retarded Emma 1312 01:27:17.439 --> 01:27:22.239 mc chesney. True, but perhaps what Jock said when he 1313 01:27:22.359 --> 01:27:25.159 walked with us to the elevator was pretty nearly right. 1314 01:27:25.600 --> 01:27:28.680 You know. He said, we were criticizing their copy of 1315 01:27:28.760 --> 01:27:32.239 the way a plumber would criticize the Parthenon, so busy 1316 01:27:32.359 --> 01:27:34.920 finding fault with the lack of drains that we failed 1317 01:27:34.920 --> 01:27:38.520 to see the beauty of the architecture, Ta said Emma 1318 01:27:38.560 --> 01:27:43.439 mc chesney solemnly t A, we're getting old, old you. 1319 01:27:44.039 --> 01:27:47.760 I ha. You may ha all you like, But do 1320 01:27:47.840 --> 01:27:50.640 you know what they thought of us in there. They 1321 01:27:50.720 --> 01:27:53.880 thought we were a couple of fogies, and they humored us. 1322 01:27:53.920 --> 01:27:57.159 That's all they did. I'll tell you, t A. When 1323 01:27:57.159 --> 01:27:59.800 the time comes from me to give Jock up to 1324 01:28:00.239 --> 01:28:03.680 little pink faced girl, I'll do it and smile if 1325 01:28:03.680 --> 01:28:06.560 it kills me. But to hand my feather looms over 1326 01:28:06.640 --> 01:28:11.199 to a lot of cold blooded experts who well, she paused, 1327 01:28:11.399 --> 01:28:16.680 biting her lip. We'll see, Emma, We'll see they did see. 1328 01:28:16.800 --> 01:28:21.479 The featherloom Petticoat campaign was launched with a great splash. 1329 01:28:21.560 --> 01:28:25.560 It sailed serenely into the sea of national business. Then 1330 01:28:25.760 --> 01:28:29.640 suddenly something seemed to go wrong with its engines. It 1331 01:28:29.720 --> 01:28:33.720 began to wobble and showed a decided list to port. Jock, 1332 01:28:33.840 --> 01:28:37.000 who at the beginning was so puffed with pride that 1333 01:28:37.119 --> 01:28:40.039 his gold fountain pen threatened to burst. The confines of 1334 01:28:40.079 --> 01:28:44.359 his very modestly tight vest, lost two degrees of pompishness 1335 01:28:44.359 --> 01:28:48.439 a day, and his attitude toward his unreproachful mother was 1336 01:28:48.680 --> 01:28:53.319 almost humble a dozen times a week. Ta would stroll 1337 01:28:53.359 --> 01:28:57.199 casually into Missus mcchesney's office. I think it's going to 1338 01:28:57.239 --> 01:29:00.039 take hold, he would ask. Our men say that the 1339 01:29:00.039 --> 01:29:02.640 dealers have laid in, but the public doesn't seem to 1340 01:29:02.640 --> 01:29:05.359 be tearing itself limb from limb to get our stuff. 1341 01:29:05.920 --> 01:29:09.479 Emma mc chesney would smile and shrug none committal shoulders 1342 01:29:09.960 --> 01:29:14.119 when it became very painfully apparent that it wasn't taking hold. 1343 01:29:14.600 --> 01:29:18.399 Ta Buck, after asking the same question, now worn and 1344 01:29:18.520 --> 01:29:22.720 frayed with asking, broke out crossly. Well, really, I don't 1345 01:29:22.760 --> 01:29:25.479 mind the shrug, but I do wish you wouldn't smile. 1346 01:29:25.880 --> 01:29:28.640 After all, you know, this campaign is costing us money, 1347 01:29:28.680 --> 01:29:32.279 real money, and large chunks of it. It's very evident 1348 01:29:32.359 --> 01:29:35.039 that we shouldn't have tried to make a national campaign 1349 01:29:35.079 --> 01:29:39.840 of this thing. Whereupon Missus mcchesney's smile grew into a laugh. 1350 01:29:40.680 --> 01:29:45.600 Forgive me, Ta, I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing because, well, 1351 01:29:45.880 --> 01:29:48.840 I can't tell you why. It's a woman's reason, and 1352 01:29:48.920 --> 01:29:51.960 you wouldn't think it a reason at all. Well, that matter, 1353 01:29:52.039 --> 01:29:55.279 I suppose it isn't. But anyway, I've got something to 1354 01:29:55.319 --> 01:29:59.600 tell you. The fault of this campaign has been the copy. 1355 01:30:00.079 --> 01:30:03.119 It was perfectly good advertising, but it left the public 1356 01:30:03.279 --> 01:30:06.600 cold when they read those ads. They might have been 1357 01:30:06.640 --> 01:30:09.760 impressed with the charm of the garment, but it didn't 1358 01:30:09.800 --> 01:30:13.039 fill their breasts with any while longing to possess one. 1359 01:30:13.319 --> 01:30:16.479 It didn't make the women feel unhappy until they had 1360 01:30:16.520 --> 01:30:18.800 one of those skirts hanging on the third hook in 1361 01:30:18.840 --> 01:30:23.359 their closet. The only kind of advertising that is advertising, 1362 01:30:23.720 --> 01:30:26.359 it's the kind that makes the reader say, I'll have 1363 01:30:26.479 --> 01:30:30.439 one of those ta buck through out helpless hands. What 1364 01:30:30.520 --> 01:30:33.199 are we going to do about it? Do I've already 1365 01:30:33.199 --> 01:30:36.279 done it done? What written? The kind of copy that 1366 01:30:36.399 --> 01:30:39.279 I think feather Looms ought to have. I just took 1367 01:30:39.439 --> 01:30:42.199 my knowledge of feather looms, plus what I knew about 1368 01:30:42.279 --> 01:30:46.239 human nature, sprinkled in a handful of good humor and sincerity, 1369 01:30:46.600 --> 01:30:48.920 and they are going to feed it to the public. 1370 01:30:49.319 --> 01:30:52.319 It's the same recipe that I used in selling feather 1371 01:30:52.359 --> 01:30:55.119 looms on the road. It used to go by word 1372 01:30:55.159 --> 01:30:58.359 of mouth. I don't see why it shouldn't go on paper. 1373 01:30:58.720 --> 01:31:02.920 It isn't classic averavertising, It isn't scientific, It isn't even 1374 01:31:02.920 --> 01:31:07.039 what they call psychological. I suppose, but it's human, and 1375 01:31:07.079 --> 01:31:10.239 it's going to reach that great, big, solid safe spot 1376 01:31:10.319 --> 01:31:14.239 cash mass known as the middle class. Of course, my 1377 01:31:14.399 --> 01:31:17.000 copy may be wrong. It may not go after all. 1378 01:31:17.119 --> 01:31:19.880 But but it did go. It didn't go with a 1379 01:31:19.960 --> 01:31:24.840 rush or a bang. It went slowly, surely, hand over hand, 1380 01:31:25.279 --> 01:31:29.079 but it went, and it kept on going, and watching 1381 01:31:29.159 --> 01:31:32.000 it climb and take hold. There came back to Emma 1382 01:31:32.039 --> 01:31:35.760 mcchesney's eye, the old sparkle to her step, the old 1383 01:31:35.800 --> 01:31:40.000 buoyancy to her voice, the old delightful ring. And now 1384 01:31:40.079 --> 01:31:42.399 when t A Buck strolled into her office of a 1385 01:31:42.439 --> 01:31:46.199 morning with his it's taking hole, missus Mack, she would 1386 01:31:46.239 --> 01:31:48.640 dimple like a girl as she laughed back at him 1387 01:31:49.079 --> 01:31:52.079 with a grip that won't let go. It looks very 1388 01:31:52.159 --> 01:31:54.119 much as though we were going to be millionaires in 1389 01:31:54.159 --> 01:31:56.960 our old age. You and I went on, buck, Emma 1390 01:31:57.079 --> 01:32:02.319 McChesney opened her eyes wide, Old old you, I ha. 1391 01:32:04.680 --> 01:32:09.399 End of chapter three, Chapter four, The Man within Him. 1392 01:32:10.359 --> 01:32:13.920 They used to do it much more picturesquely. They rode 1393 01:32:13.920 --> 01:32:17.479 in coats of scarlet in the crisp clear morning, to 1394 01:32:17.560 --> 01:32:20.359 the winding of horns and the baying of hounds, to 1395 01:32:20.439 --> 01:32:23.680 the thud thud of hoofs and the crackle of underbrush 1396 01:32:23.960 --> 01:32:28.560 Across fresh plowed fields. They went, crashing through forest paths, 1397 01:32:28.880 --> 01:32:34.239 leaping ditches, taking fences, scrambling up the inclines, pelting down 1398 01:32:34.279 --> 01:32:39.880 the hillside helter skelter, until panting, wide eyed, eager, blood hungry. 1399 01:32:40.159 --> 01:32:44.359 The hunt closed in at the death. The scarlet coat 1400 01:32:44.479 --> 01:32:47.640 has sobered down to the somber gray in the snuffy 1401 01:32:47.680 --> 01:32:51.279 brown of that unromantic garment known as the business suit. 1402 01:32:51.680 --> 01:32:55.399 The winding horn is become a goblet, and its notes 1403 01:32:55.439 --> 01:32:58.840 are the tinkle of ice against glass. The baying of 1404 01:32:58.880 --> 01:33:01.960 hounds has harshened to the squawk of the motor siren. 1405 01:33:02.359 --> 01:33:06.560 The fresh plowed field is a blueprint. The forest maye 1406 01:33:06.560 --> 01:33:10.520 a roll of plans and specifications. Each fence is a 1407 01:33:10.560 --> 01:33:15.039 business barrier. Each ditch is of a competitor's making, dug 1408 01:33:15.199 --> 01:33:18.640 craftily so that the clumsy footed may come a cropper. 1409 01:33:19.239 --> 01:33:21.600 All the romance is out of it, all the color, 1410 01:33:22.079 --> 01:33:26.319 all the joy. But two things remain the same. The 1411 01:33:26.399 --> 01:33:29.239 look in the face of the hunter as he closed 1412 01:33:29.279 --> 01:33:31.760 in on the fox is the look in the face 1413 01:33:31.800 --> 01:33:35.680 of him who sees the coveted contract lying ready for 1414 01:33:35.760 --> 01:33:38.800 the finishing stroke of his pen, and his words are 1415 01:33:38.880 --> 01:33:41.840 those of the hunter of long ago. As eyes a gleam, 1416 01:33:42.239 --> 01:33:46.600 teeth bared, muscles still taut with the tenseness of the chase. 1417 01:33:47.119 --> 01:33:49.680 He waves the paper high in the air and cries, 1418 01:33:50.319 --> 01:33:55.920 I've made a killing. For two years, Jock McChesney had 1419 01:33:55.960 --> 01:33:58.800 watched the field as it swept by in its patient, 1420 01:33:59.319 --> 01:34:03.119 davious rule game of hunt the contract, but he had 1421 01:34:03.159 --> 01:34:06.399 never been in at the death. Those two years had 1422 01:34:06.439 --> 01:34:08.960 taught him how to ride, to take a fence, to 1423 01:34:09.039 --> 01:34:11.960 leap a ditch. He had had his awkward bumps and 1424 01:34:12.039 --> 01:34:15.920 his clumsy falls. He had lost his way more than once, 1425 01:34:16.640 --> 01:34:20.520 but he had always groped his way back again, stumblingly 1426 01:34:20.640 --> 01:34:24.720 through the dusk. Jock mc chesney was the youngest man 1427 01:34:24.880 --> 01:34:29.479 on the Berg Shriner Advertising Company's big staff of surprisingly 1428 01:34:29.560 --> 01:34:33.640 young men, so young that the casual glance did not 1429 01:34:33.840 --> 01:34:36.439 reveal to you the marks that the strain of those 1430 01:34:36.520 --> 01:34:40.359 two years had left on his boy's face. But the 1431 01:34:40.439 --> 01:34:45.199 marks were there, nature etches with the most delicate of points. 1432 01:34:45.760 --> 01:34:49.199 She knows the cunning secret of light and shadow. You 1433 01:34:49.359 --> 01:34:52.600 scarcely realize that she has been at work a faint 1434 01:34:52.680 --> 01:34:56.520 line about the mouth, a fairy tracing at the corners 1435 01:34:56.560 --> 01:34:59.880 of the eyes, a mere, vague touch just at the 1436 01:35:00.000 --> 01:35:03.800 the nostrils, and the thing is done. Even Emma mc 1437 01:35:03.880 --> 01:35:07.800 chesney's eyes, those mother eyes which make the lynx seem 1438 01:35:07.840 --> 01:35:12.359 a mole, had failed to note the subtle changes. Then suddenly, 1439 01:35:12.399 --> 01:35:16.239 one night, the lines leaped out at her. They were 1440 01:35:16.239 --> 01:35:19.800 seated at opposite sides of the book littered library table 1441 01:35:19.840 --> 01:35:22.920 in the living room of the cheerful Uptown apartment, which 1442 01:35:23.159 --> 01:35:26.760 was the realization of the nightly dream which missus Emma 1443 01:35:26.840 --> 01:35:29.520 mc chesney had had in her ten years on the 1444 01:35:29.600 --> 01:35:33.680 road for the t a Buck featherloom petticoat company. Jock 1445 01:35:33.800 --> 01:35:37.760 mcchesney's side of the big table was completely covered with 1446 01:35:37.840 --> 01:35:41.840 the mass of copy paper, rough sketches, photographs and drawings 1447 01:35:42.199 --> 01:35:45.439 which make up an advertising layout. He was bent over 1448 01:35:45.479 --> 01:35:49.880 the work, absorbed intent, his forearms resting on the table. 1449 01:35:50.359 --> 01:35:54.000 Iimma mc chesney glanced up from her magazine just as 1450 01:35:54.119 --> 01:35:57.159 Jock bent forward to reach a scrap of paper that 1451 01:35:57.199 --> 01:36:01.279 had fluttered away. The lamp light fell full on his face, 1452 01:36:01.880 --> 01:36:05.560 and Emma mc chesney saw the hand that held the 1453 01:36:05.600 --> 01:36:09.399 magazine fell to her lap. Her lips were parted slightly. 1454 01:36:09.880 --> 01:36:12.960 She sat very quietly, her eyes never leaving the face 1455 01:36:12.960 --> 01:36:16.960 that frowned so intently over the littered table. The room 1456 01:36:17.000 --> 01:36:20.239 had been very quiet before, Jock busy with his work, 1457 01:36:20.359 --> 01:36:24.439 his mother interested in her magazine. But this silence was different. 1458 01:36:24.840 --> 01:36:27.760 There was something electric in it. It was a silence 1459 01:36:27.800 --> 01:36:31.560 that beats on the brain like a noise. Jock mc chesney, 1460 01:36:31.760 --> 01:36:35.439 bent over his work, heard it, felt it, and oppressed 1461 01:36:35.439 --> 01:36:38.680 by it, looked up. Suddenly he met those two eyes 1462 01:36:38.720 --> 01:36:42.239 opposite spooks or is it my god like beauty which 1463 01:36:42.279 --> 01:36:45.560 told you thus? Or is my face dirty? Emma mc 1464 01:36:45.640 --> 01:36:49.199 chesney did not smile. She laid her magazine on the table, 1465 01:36:49.399 --> 01:36:53.920 face down, and leaned forward, her staring eyes still fixed 1466 01:36:53.960 --> 01:36:56.640 on her son's face. And look here, young un, are 1467 01:36:56.640 --> 01:37:01.039 you working too hard me? Now? This uf? You mean? No? 1468 01:37:01.600 --> 01:37:04.600 I mean, in the last year? Are they piling it 1469 01:37:04.680 --> 01:37:08.199 up on you? Jock laughed, a laugh that was nothing 1470 01:37:08.319 --> 01:37:11.239 less than a failure. So little of real mirth did 1471 01:37:11.279 --> 01:37:15.960 it contain? Piling it up? Lord? No, I wish they would. 1472 01:37:16.319 --> 01:37:20.039 That's the trouble. They don't give me a chance, a chance. 1473 01:37:20.560 --> 01:37:24.119 Why that's not true, son, you've said yourself that there 1474 01:37:24.119 --> 01:37:26.119 are men who have been in the office three times 1475 01:37:26.159 --> 01:37:28.720 as long as you have, who never have had the 1476 01:37:28.760 --> 01:37:32.840 opportunities they've given you. It was as though she had 1477 01:37:32.920 --> 01:37:36.279 touched a current that thrilled him to action. He pushed 1478 01:37:36.319 --> 01:37:39.600 back his chair and stood up, one hand thrust into 1479 01:37:39.640 --> 01:37:42.760 his pocket, the other passing quickly over his head from 1480 01:37:42.760 --> 01:37:45.399 brow to nate with a quick, nervous gesture that was 1481 01:37:45.479 --> 01:37:49.520 new to him. And why he flung out, Why not 1482 01:37:49.680 --> 01:37:52.199 because they like the way I part my hair. They 1483 01:37:52.199 --> 01:37:55.079 don't do business that way up there. It's because I've 1484 01:37:55.159 --> 01:37:59.239 made good and those other dubs haven't. That's why they've 1485 01:37:59.319 --> 01:38:02.000 let me sit in at the game, but they won't 1486 01:38:02.079 --> 01:38:05.600 let me take any tricks. I've been an apprentice hand 1487 01:38:05.720 --> 01:38:09.279 for two years now. I'm tired of it. I want 1488 01:38:09.319 --> 01:38:11.479 to be in on a killing. I want to taste blood. 1489 01:38:11.960 --> 01:38:15.000 I want a chance at some money, real money. Emma 1490 01:38:15.079 --> 01:38:19.199 McChesney sat back in her chair and surveyed the angry 1491 01:38:19.239 --> 01:38:23.079 figure before her with quiet, steady eyes. I might have 1492 01:38:23.239 --> 01:38:26.119 known that only one thing could bring those lines into 1493 01:38:26.159 --> 01:38:29.760 your face, son, she paused a moment. So you want 1494 01:38:29.800 --> 01:38:33.199 money as badly as all that, do you Jock's hand 1495 01:38:33.279 --> 01:38:35.760 came down with a whack on the papers before him. 1496 01:38:36.079 --> 01:38:39.399 Want it, you bet I want it? Do I know her? 1497 01:38:39.800 --> 01:38:44.279 Asked Emma McChesney quietly. Jock stopped, sharp in his excited 1498 01:38:44.319 --> 01:38:47.760 pacing up and down the room. Do you know why 1499 01:38:47.840 --> 01:38:51.000 I didn't say there? What makes you think that when 1500 01:38:51.000 --> 01:38:54.439 a youngster like you, whose greatest worry has been whether 1501 01:38:54.640 --> 01:38:58.000 Harvard'll hold of again this year with Baxter out begins 1502 01:38:58.039 --> 01:39:01.560 to howl about not being appreciate sheiated in business, and 1503 01:39:01.680 --> 01:39:04.000 to wear a late fall line of wrinkles where he 1504 01:39:04.039 --> 01:39:07.840 had been smoothed before. I feel justified in saying do 1505 01:39:08.039 --> 01:39:12.000 I know her? Well? It isn't any one at least, 1506 01:39:12.000 --> 01:39:13.880 it isn't what you mean you think it is when 1507 01:39:13.880 --> 01:39:17.840 you say you careful there, you'll trip never you mind 1508 01:39:17.880 --> 01:39:20.239 what I mean? I think it is when I say 1509 01:39:20.600 --> 01:39:23.720 count ten and then just tell me what you think 1510 01:39:23.800 --> 01:39:27.359 you mean. Jock passed his hand over his head again 1511 01:39:27.560 --> 01:39:31.479 with that nervous little gesture. Then he sat down a 1512 01:39:31.520 --> 01:39:34.880 little wearily. He stared moodily down at the pile of 1513 01:39:34.880 --> 01:39:38.640 papers before him. His mother faced him quietly across the table. 1514 01:39:39.439 --> 01:39:43.520 Grace Galtz getting twice as much as I am. Jock 1515 01:39:43.600 --> 01:39:47.399 broke out with savage suddenness the first year, I didn't mind. 1516 01:39:47.680 --> 01:39:50.800 A fellow gets accustomed these days to see women breaking 1517 01:39:50.840 --> 01:39:54.319 into all the professions and getting away with men's size salaries. 1518 01:39:54.880 --> 01:39:58.680 But her paycheck doubles mine more than doubles it. It's 1519 01:39:58.760 --> 01:40:02.720 been my experience, observed Emma mc chesney, that when a 1520 01:40:02.800 --> 01:40:05.720 firm condescends to pay a woman twice as much as 1521 01:40:05.760 --> 01:40:08.880 a man, that means she's worth six times as much. 1522 01:40:09.479 --> 01:40:14.119 A painful red crept into Jock's face. Maybe two years ago, 1523 01:40:14.239 --> 01:40:17.039 that would have sounded reasonable to me. Two years ago, 1524 01:40:17.079 --> 01:40:20.199 when I walked down Broadway at night, a fifty foot 1525 01:40:20.239 --> 01:40:23.399 electric sign at forty second was just an electric sign 1526 01:40:23.479 --> 01:40:26.640 to me, just part of the town's decoration, like the 1527 01:40:26.720 --> 01:40:30.720 Chorus girls and the midnight theater crowds now. Well, now 1528 01:40:30.800 --> 01:40:34.199 every blink of every red and yellow globe is crammed 1529 01:40:34.199 --> 01:40:38.439 full of meaning. I know the power that advertising has, 1530 01:40:39.039 --> 01:40:42.680 how it influences our manners and our morals, and our 1531 01:40:42.760 --> 01:40:45.760 minds and our health. It regulates the food we eat 1532 01:40:45.960 --> 01:40:48.720 and the clothes we wear, and the books we read, 1533 01:40:48.880 --> 01:40:53.039 and the entertainment we seek. It's colossal that's what it is. 1534 01:40:53.399 --> 01:40:56.760 It's keep on like that for another two years, Sonny, 1535 01:40:57.199 --> 01:41:00.760 and no business banquet will be complete without you. The 1536 01:41:00.800 --> 01:41:04.319 next thing you know, you'll be addressing the YMCA advertising 1537 01:41:04.359 --> 01:41:09.000 classes on the young Man in business. Jock laughed, a 1538 01:41:09.119 --> 01:41:12.000 rueful little laugh. I didn't mean to make a speech. 1539 01:41:12.399 --> 01:41:16.239 I was just trying to say that I've served my apprenticeship. 1540 01:41:16.800 --> 01:41:19.600 It hurts a fellow's pride. You can't hold your head 1541 01:41:19.680 --> 01:41:22.920 up before a girl when you know her salaries twice yours, 1542 01:41:23.399 --> 01:41:26.239 and you know that she knows it. Why look at 1543 01:41:26.239 --> 01:41:29.960 Missus Hoffman, who's with the Dout Agency. Of course, she's 1544 01:41:30.000 --> 01:41:32.439 a wonder. Even if her face does look like the 1545 01:41:32.520 --> 01:41:35.960 fifty eighth variety, she can write copy that lifts a 1546 01:41:36.039 --> 01:41:39.840 campaign right out of the humdrum class and makes it luminous. 1547 01:41:40.199 --> 01:41:43.279 Her husband works in a bank somewhere. He earns about 1548 01:41:43.279 --> 01:41:45.880 as much as Missus Hoffman, pays the least of her 1549 01:41:45.920 --> 01:41:50.079 department's subordinates. And he's so subdued that he side steps 1550 01:41:50.079 --> 01:41:53.399 when he walks, and they call him the human jellyfish. 1551 01:41:53.920 --> 01:41:57.199 Emma mc chesney was recording her son with a little 1552 01:41:57.319 --> 01:42:01.520 puzzled frown. Suddenly she reached and tapped the topmost of 1553 01:42:01.600 --> 01:42:04.560 the scribbled sheets strewn the length of Jock's side of 1554 01:42:04.640 --> 01:42:08.600 the table. What's all this, Jock tipped back his chair 1555 01:42:09.079 --> 01:42:13.119 and surveyed the clutter before him. That said, he is 1556 01:42:13.199 --> 01:42:16.319 what is known on the stage as the papers, and 1557 01:42:16.399 --> 01:42:20.119 it's the real plot of this piece. Hmm, I thought, so, 1558 01:42:20.920 --> 01:42:24.079 just favor me with a scenario, will you? Half grinning? 1559 01:42:24.359 --> 01:42:27.640 Half serious? Jock stuck his thumbs and the armholes of 1560 01:42:27.640 --> 01:42:32.279 his waistcoat and began scene offices of the Berg Shriner 1561 01:42:32.359 --> 01:42:39.199 Advertising Company. Time the present characters, Jock McChesney, handsome, daring, brilliant. 1562 01:42:39.560 --> 01:42:43.039 Suppose you are skip the characters, however fascinating, and get 1563 01:42:43.079 --> 01:42:46.840 to the action. Jock McChesney brought the chair down on 1564 01:42:46.960 --> 01:42:50.359 all fours with a thud and stood up. He was 1565 01:42:50.399 --> 01:42:52.399 as serious as he had been in the midst of 1566 01:42:52.439 --> 01:42:56.039 his tirade of five minutes before. All right, here it is, 1567 01:42:56.760 --> 01:42:59.760 and don't blame me if it sounds like cheap melodrama. 1568 01:43:00.159 --> 01:43:02.840 This stuff, and he waved a hand toward the paper 1569 01:43:02.920 --> 01:43:07.479 laden table. He's an advertising campaign plan for the Griebler 1570 01:43:07.600 --> 01:43:11.199 Gum Company of Saint Louis, Oh don't look impressed. The 1571 01:43:11.279 --> 01:43:14.960 office hasn't handed me any such commission. I just got 1572 01:43:14.960 --> 01:43:17.960 the idea like a flash, and I've been working it 1573 01:43:18.000 --> 01:43:20.640 out for the last two weeks. It worked itself out 1574 01:43:20.680 --> 01:43:25.239 almost the way a really scorching idea does. Sometimes. This 1575 01:43:25.399 --> 01:43:29.359 Griebler has been advertising for years, you know, the Greebler 1576 01:43:29.399 --> 01:43:32.920 gum but it hasn't been the right start of advertising. 1577 01:43:33.359 --> 01:43:38.239 Old Greebler, the original gum man, had foggy notions about advertising, 1578 01:43:38.800 --> 01:43:40.840 and as long as he lived they had to keep 1579 01:43:40.880 --> 01:43:44.079 it down. He died a few months ago. You must 1580 01:43:44.119 --> 01:43:47.760 have read of it, left a regular mint. Ben Griebler, 1581 01:43:47.880 --> 01:43:51.600 the oldest son, started right in to clean out the cobwebs. 1582 01:43:51.960 --> 01:43:54.279 Of course, the advertising end of it has come in 1583 01:43:54.319 --> 01:43:56.840 for its share of the soap and water. He wants 1584 01:43:56.960 --> 01:44:00.840 to make a clean sweep of it. Every advertising firm 1585 01:44:00.920 --> 01:44:03.960 in the country has been angling for the contract. It's 1586 01:44:04.000 --> 01:44:05.880 going to be a real one two thirds of the 1587 01:44:05.880 --> 01:44:09.600 crowd of submitted plans. And that's just where my kick 1588 01:44:09.720 --> 01:44:13.159 comes in. The berg Shiner Company makes it a rule 1589 01:44:13.520 --> 01:44:17.800 never to submit advance plans. Excuse me if I seem 1590 01:44:17.840 --> 01:44:21.840 a trifle rude. Interrupted missus MC Chesney. But I'd like 1591 01:44:21.920 --> 01:44:23.760 to know where you think you've been wronged in this 1592 01:44:24.560 --> 01:44:29.119 Right here, replied Jock, and he slapped his pocket. And here, 1593 01:44:29.319 --> 01:44:32.640 he pointed to his head. Two spots so vital that 1594 01:44:32.680 --> 01:44:37.560 they make Old Akelles's heels seem armor plated. Ben Griebler 1595 01:44:37.760 --> 01:44:40.439 is one of the show me kind. He wants value 1596 01:44:40.479 --> 01:44:44.199 received for money expended. And while everybody knows that he 1597 01:44:44.279 --> 01:44:47.079 has a loving eye on the berg Shriner crowd, he 1598 01:44:47.199 --> 01:44:50.279 won't sign the thing until he knows what he's getting. 1599 01:44:50.640 --> 01:44:54.680 A firm's record, standing staff, equipment mean nothing to him. 1600 01:44:55.159 --> 01:44:58.960 But Jock, I still don't see. Jock gathered up a 1601 01:44:59.000 --> 01:45:01.560 sheaf of loose paper and brandish them in the air. 1602 01:45:02.239 --> 01:45:05.680 This is where I come in. I've got a plan 1603 01:45:05.840 --> 01:45:09.439 here that will fetch this Griebler person. Oh I'm not dreaming. 1604 01:45:09.760 --> 01:45:12.720 I outlined it for sam Hup and he was crazy 1605 01:45:12.760 --> 01:45:16.520 about it. Sam Hup had some sort of plan outlined himself, 1606 01:45:16.720 --> 01:45:19.159 but he said this made his sound as dry as 1607 01:45:19.199 --> 01:45:23.079 cigars in Denver. And you know yourself that sam Hup's 1608 01:45:23.159 --> 01:45:26.920 copy is so brilliant that he could sell brewery advertising 1609 01:45:26.960 --> 01:45:30.760 to her Temperance magazine. Emma mc chesney stood up. She 1610 01:45:30.840 --> 01:45:34.239 looked a little impatient and a trifle puzzled. But why 1611 01:45:34.319 --> 01:45:37.479 all this talk, I don't get you. Take your plan 1612 01:45:37.560 --> 01:45:40.119 to mister Berg. If it's what you think it is, 1613 01:45:40.199 --> 01:45:43.000 he'll see it quicker than any other human being, and 1614 01:45:43.199 --> 01:45:45.960 he'll probably fall on your neck and invest you in 1615 01:45:46.199 --> 01:45:49.720 royal robes and give you a mahogany desk all your own. 1616 01:45:50.600 --> 01:45:55.159 Oh what's the good, retorted Jock, disgustedly. This griebler has 1617 01:45:55.199 --> 01:45:58.520 an appointment at the office tomorrow. He'll be closeted with 1618 01:45:58.600 --> 01:46:02.119 the old man they call in hup. But never a 1619 01:46:02.319 --> 01:46:06.760 plan will they reveal. It's against their code of ethics. Ethics. 1620 01:46:07.199 --> 01:46:10.000 I'm sick of the word. I suppose you say I'm 1621 01:46:10.039 --> 01:46:12.439 lucky to be associated with the firm like that, and 1622 01:46:12.560 --> 01:46:15.600 I suppose i am. But I wish, in the name 1623 01:46:15.680 --> 01:46:18.479 of all the gods of business that they weren't so 1624 01:46:18.840 --> 01:46:23.199 blooming conservative ethics. They're all balled up in him like 1625 01:46:23.359 --> 01:46:28.000 Henry James in his style. Emma mc chesney came over 1626 01:46:28.039 --> 01:46:30.880 from her side of the table and stood very close 1627 01:46:30.920 --> 01:46:34.279 to her son. She laid one hand very lightly on 1628 01:46:34.319 --> 01:46:37.560 his arm and looked up into the sullen, angry, young face. 1629 01:46:38.840 --> 01:46:42.039 I've seen older men than you are, Jock, and better 1630 01:46:42.119 --> 01:46:46.279 men and bigger men wearing that same look, and for 1631 01:46:46.359 --> 01:46:50.359 the same reason. Every ambitious man or woman in business 1632 01:46:50.439 --> 01:46:53.920 where is it at one time or another. Sooner or later, Jock, 1633 01:46:54.319 --> 01:46:57.119 you'll have your chance at the money end of this game. 1634 01:46:57.520 --> 01:46:59.760 If you don't care about the thing you call ethics, 1635 01:47:00.079 --> 01:47:03.600 it'll be sooner. If you do care, it will be later. 1636 01:47:04.039 --> 01:47:07.359 It rests with you, but it's bound to come, because 1637 01:47:07.439 --> 01:47:11.640 you've got the stuff in you, maybe, replied Jock the cynical, 1638 01:47:12.000 --> 01:47:14.600 but his face lost some of its sullenness as he 1639 01:47:14.640 --> 01:47:18.399 looked down at that earnest, vivid countenance upturned to his 1640 01:47:19.279 --> 01:47:23.119 Maybe it sounds all right, mother in the story books, 1641 01:47:23.439 --> 01:47:26.560 but I'm not quite solid on it. These days, it 1642 01:47:26.640 --> 01:47:29.039 isn't so much what you've got in you that counts 1643 01:47:29.439 --> 01:47:32.479 as what you can bring out. I know. The young 1644 01:47:32.560 --> 01:47:35.800 man's slogan used to be work and wait or something 1645 01:47:35.920 --> 01:47:38.960 pretty like that, but these days they've boiled it down 1646 01:47:39.039 --> 01:47:42.720 to one word, produce. The marvel of it is that 1647 01:47:42.800 --> 01:47:45.520 there aren't more of em, observed Emma mc chesney, sadly 1648 01:47:46.079 --> 01:47:50.479 more what more lines here? She touched his forehead, and 1649 01:47:50.680 --> 01:47:55.279 here she touched his eyes lines Jock swung to face 1650 01:47:55.319 --> 01:47:58.479 a mirror. Good I'm so infernally young looking that no 1651 01:47:58.520 --> 01:48:02.079 one takes me seriously. It's darned hard trying to convince 1652 01:48:02.119 --> 01:48:05.039 people you're a captain of finance when you look like 1653 01:48:05.079 --> 01:48:08.479 an errand boy. From the center of the room, Mistress 1654 01:48:08.520 --> 01:48:11.760 mc chesney watched the boy as he surveyed himself in 1655 01:48:11.840 --> 01:48:15.520 the glass, and as she gazed, there came a frightened 1656 01:48:15.600 --> 01:48:18.600 look into her eyes. It was gone in a minute, 1657 01:48:18.880 --> 01:48:22.760 and in its place came a curious little gleam, half amused, 1658 01:48:22.840 --> 01:48:27.359 half pugnacious. Jock mc chesney. If I thought that you 1659 01:48:27.479 --> 01:48:30.239 meant half of what you said to night about honor 1660 01:48:30.319 --> 01:48:34.119 and ethics and all that, i'd spike me, I suppose, 1661 01:48:34.359 --> 01:48:38.000 said the young six footer. No, and all the humor 1662 01:48:38.039 --> 01:48:41.840 had fled I, Jock, I've never said much to you 1663 01:48:42.000 --> 01:48:44.720 about your father, but I think you know that he 1664 01:48:44.880 --> 01:48:46.920 was what he was to the day of his death. 1665 01:48:47.399 --> 01:48:49.680 You were just about eight when I made up my 1666 01:48:49.760 --> 01:48:53.479 mind that life with him was impossible. I said then, 1667 01:48:53.880 --> 01:48:56.560 and you were all I had son that I'd rather 1668 01:48:56.640 --> 01:49:00.039 see you dead than to have you turn out to 1669 01:49:00.119 --> 01:49:03.279 be a son of your father. Don't make me remember 1670 01:49:03.279 --> 01:49:06.760 that wish shock. Two quick steps and his arms were 1671 01:49:06.800 --> 01:49:10.640 about her. His face was all contrition. Why mother, I 1672 01:49:10.840 --> 01:49:14.520 didn't mean you See, this is business and I'm crazy 1673 01:49:14.560 --> 01:49:17.239 to make good and it's such a fight. Don't I 1674 01:49:17.520 --> 01:49:21.079 know it, demanded Emma mc chesney. I guess your mother 1675 01:49:21.119 --> 01:49:24.439 hasn't been sitting home and broadering lunch cloths these past 1676 01:49:24.479 --> 01:49:28.239 fifteen years. She lifted her head from the boy's shoulder. 1677 01:49:28.720 --> 01:49:32.760 And now, son, considering me not as your doting mother, 1678 01:49:33.119 --> 01:49:36.159 but in my business capacity as secretary of the T. A. 1679 01:49:36.279 --> 01:49:39.880 Buck Featherloom Petticoat Company, suppose you reveal to me the 1680 01:49:40.119 --> 01:49:43.159 inner workings of this plan of yours. I'd like to 1681 01:49:43.239 --> 01:49:46.479 know if you really are the advertising wizard that you 1682 01:49:46.720 --> 01:49:51.239 think you are. So it was that, long after Annie's 1683 01:49:51.239 --> 01:49:54.279 dinner dishes had ceased to clatter in the kitchen, long 1684 01:49:54.319 --> 01:49:56.359 after she had put her head in at the door 1685 01:49:56.439 --> 01:49:59.760 to ask eggs or cakes for breakfast, Long after those 1686 01:49:59.800 --> 01:50:03.159 two two busy brains should have rested in sleep, The 1687 01:50:03.199 --> 01:50:06.079 two sat at either side of the light flooded table, 1688 01:50:06.399 --> 01:50:09.159 the face of one glowing as he talked the face 1689 01:50:09.199 --> 01:50:12.760 of the other, sparkling as she listened, And at midnight, 1690 01:50:13.079 --> 01:50:17.680 why you infant wonder, exclaimed Emma McChesney. At nine o'clock 1691 01:50:17.760 --> 01:50:21.359 next morning, when Jock McChesney entered the offices of the 1692 01:50:21.359 --> 01:50:26.039 Berg Shriner Advertising Company, he carried a flat compact bundle 1693 01:50:26.039 --> 01:50:29.800 of papers under his arm, encased in protecting covers of 1694 01:50:29.840 --> 01:50:33.760 pasteboard and further secured by bands of elastic. This he 1695 01:50:33.880 --> 01:50:37.039 carried to his desk, deposited in a drawer, and locked 1696 01:50:37.119 --> 01:50:40.159 the drawer. By eleven o'clock, the things which he had 1697 01:50:40.199 --> 01:50:44.000 predicted the night before had come to pass. A plump 1698 01:50:44.079 --> 01:50:47.600 little man with a fussy manner and western clothes had 1699 01:50:47.600 --> 01:50:52.319 been ushered into Bartholomew Burg's private office. Instinct told him 1700 01:50:52.359 --> 01:50:56.880 that this was griebler. Jock left his desk and strolled 1701 01:50:57.000 --> 01:51:00.399 up to get the switchboard operator's confirmation of his guests. 1702 01:51:01.119 --> 01:51:04.600 Half an hour later, Sam Hup hustled by and disappeared 1703 01:51:04.640 --> 01:51:09.079 into the old man's sanctum. Jock fingered the upper left 1704 01:51:09.079 --> 01:51:12.239 hand drawer of his desk, the maddening blankness of that 1705 01:51:12.359 --> 01:51:15.960 closed door. If only he could find some excuse for 1706 01:51:16.119 --> 01:51:20.079 walking into that room, any old excuse, no matter how wild, 1707 01:51:20.760 --> 01:51:23.439 just to get a chance at it. His telephone rang. 1708 01:51:23.880 --> 01:51:27.000 He picked up the receiver, his eye on the closed door, 1709 01:51:27.119 --> 01:51:30.319 his thoughts inside that room. Mister Bergh wants to see 1710 01:51:30.359 --> 01:51:33.279 you right away, came the voice of the switchboard operator. 1711 01:51:33.760 --> 01:51:37.239 Something seemed to give way inside, something in the region 1712 01:51:37.279 --> 01:51:41.199 of his brain. No, his heart, no, his lungs. Well, 1713 01:51:41.319 --> 01:51:44.840 can you beat that? Said Jock mc chestney aloud, in 1714 01:51:44.960 --> 01:51:48.199 a kind of trance of joy. Can you beat that? 1715 01:51:49.279 --> 01:51:52.520 Then he buttoned the lower button of his coat, shrugged 1716 01:51:52.520 --> 01:51:55.560 his shoulders with an extra wiggle of the collar, the 1717 01:51:55.640 --> 01:51:59.399 modern hero's method of girding up his loins, and walked 1718 01:51:59.399 --> 01:52:04.000 calmly in into Bartholomew Burgh's very private office. In the 1719 01:52:04.079 --> 01:52:07.119 second that he lapsed between the opening and the closing 1720 01:52:07.159 --> 01:52:13.159 of the door, Jock's glance swept the three men. Bartholomew Burgh, quiet, inscrutable, 1721 01:52:13.279 --> 01:52:16.640 seated at his great table desk, Griebler lost in the 1722 01:52:16.680 --> 01:52:20.359 depths of a great leather chair, smoking fussily and twitching 1723 01:52:20.439 --> 01:52:25.000 with a hundred little, restless, irritating gestures. Sam up standing 1724 01:52:25.039 --> 01:52:27.840 at the opposite side of the room, hands in pockets, 1725 01:52:28.000 --> 01:52:33.840 attitude argumentative. This is mister mc chesney, said Bartholomew Burgh. 1726 01:52:33.960 --> 01:52:38.680 Mister Griebler. McChesney Jock came forward, smiling that charming smile 1727 01:52:38.760 --> 01:52:42.279 of his. Mister Griebler, he said, extending his hand, this 1728 01:52:42.640 --> 01:52:46.840 is a great pleasure. Hmm, growled Ben Griebler. I didn't 1729 01:52:46.840 --> 01:52:49.479 know they picked him so young. His voice was a 1730 01:52:49.520 --> 01:52:54.039 piping falsetto that somehow seemed to match his restless little eyes. 1731 01:52:55.239 --> 01:52:58.880 Jock thrust his hands hurriedly into his pockets. He felt 1732 01:52:58.880 --> 01:53:03.359 his face getting scarlet. They're using them young this year, 1733 01:53:03.640 --> 01:53:07.720 said Bartholomew Berg. His voice sounded bigger and smoother and 1734 01:53:08.000 --> 01:53:11.720 pleasanter than ever in contrast with that other's shrill tone. 1735 01:53:12.239 --> 01:53:16.239 I prefer him young myself. You'll never catch McChesney using 1736 01:53:16.479 --> 01:53:19.760 in the last analysis to drive home an argument. He 1737 01:53:19.920 --> 01:53:23.319 has a new idea about every nineteen minutes, and every 1738 01:53:23.319 --> 01:53:26.399 other one's a good one, and every nineteenth or souls 1739 01:53:26.439 --> 01:53:29.920 an inspiration. The old man laughed, one of his low 1740 01:53:30.119 --> 01:53:34.520 chuckling laughs. Hmm, that's so piped up, Ben Griebler. Hop 1741 01:53:34.560 --> 01:53:36.319 in my neck of the woods, we aren't so long 1742 01:53:36.359 --> 01:53:39.960 on inspiration. We're just working men, and we wear working clothes. 1743 01:53:40.640 --> 01:53:45.960 Oh now, protested Berg, his eyes twinkling. Mcjestney's necktie and 1744 01:53:46.079 --> 01:53:50.359 socks and handkerchief may form one lovely, blissful color scheme, 1745 01:53:50.960 --> 01:53:54.359 but that doesn't signify that his advertising schemes are not 1746 01:53:54.680 --> 01:53:59.520 just as carefully and artistically blended. Ben Griebler looked shrewdly 1747 01:53:59.600 --> 01:54:03.439 up at your through his narrowed lids. Maybe I'll talk 1748 01:54:03.439 --> 01:54:05.880 to you in a minute, young man, that is, he 1749 01:54:05.960 --> 01:54:09.279 turned quickly upon Berg. If that isn't against your crazy 1750 01:54:09.279 --> 01:54:13.840 principles too, why not at all, portholemew Berg assured him, 1751 01:54:14.199 --> 01:54:18.039 not at all. You to me an injustice. Griebler moved 1752 01:54:18.119 --> 01:54:21.279 up closer to the broad table. The two fell into 1753 01:54:21.279 --> 01:54:25.640 a low voiced talk. Jock looked rather helplessly around at 1754 01:54:25.680 --> 01:54:30.159 Sam Hupp. That alert gentleman was signaling him frantically with 1755 01:54:30.239 --> 01:54:33.600 head and wagging finger. Jock crossed the big room to 1756 01:54:33.720 --> 01:54:37.119 Hup's side. The two moved off to a window at 1757 01:54:37.119 --> 01:54:41.800 the far end. Give heed to your unkie, said Sam Hup, 1758 01:54:41.840 --> 01:54:45.359 talking very rapidly, very softly, and out of one corner 1759 01:54:45.399 --> 01:54:49.119 of his mouth. This Griebler is looking for an advertising manager. 1760 01:54:49.479 --> 01:54:52.920 He's as pig headed as a a well a pig, 1761 01:54:53.079 --> 01:54:56.239 I suppose. But it's a carking chance, youngster, and the 1762 01:54:56.319 --> 01:55:02.119 old man's just recommended you strong now me exploded, Jock 1763 01:55:02.479 --> 01:55:05.760 shut up his top. Two or three years with that 1764 01:55:05.800 --> 01:55:08.920 firm would be the making of you. If you make good, 1765 01:55:08.920 --> 01:55:11.439 of course, and you could. They want to move their 1766 01:55:11.479 --> 01:55:15.159 factory here from Saint Louis within the next few years. Now, 1767 01:55:15.199 --> 01:55:18.600 listen when he talks to you. You play up the 1768 01:55:18.720 --> 01:55:22.399 keen alert stuff with a dash of sophistication. See if 1769 01:55:22.439 --> 01:55:24.920 you can keep your mouth shut and throw a kind 1770 01:55:24.960 --> 01:55:27.960 of a canny I get you look into your eyes 1771 01:55:28.359 --> 01:55:31.560 all the better. He's gabby enough for two Try a 1772 01:55:31.600 --> 01:55:33.600 line of talk that is filled with the fire and 1773 01:55:33.760 --> 01:55:37.640 enthusiasm of youth combined with the good judgment and experience 1774 01:55:37.640 --> 01:55:41.399 of middle age. And you've say, look here, stammered Jock. 1775 01:55:42.000 --> 01:55:44.199 Even if I was Warfield enough to do all that, 1776 01:55:44.359 --> 01:55:48.560 do you honestly think me an advertising manager with a 1777 01:55:48.720 --> 01:55:53.079 salary that griebler, You nervy little shrimp, go in and win. 1778 01:55:53.520 --> 01:55:56.399 He'll pay five thousand if he pays a cent, but 1779 01:55:56.600 --> 01:55:59.800 he wants value for money expended. Now, I've tipped you off. 1780 01:56:00.079 --> 01:56:05.960 You make the killing, oh Mcjestney, called Bartholomew Burgh, glancing around. Yes, sir, 1781 01:56:06.239 --> 01:56:08.680 said Jock, and stood before him in the same moment. 1782 01:56:09.159 --> 01:56:13.079 Mister Griebler is looking for a competent, enthusiastic, hard working 1783 01:56:13.119 --> 01:56:16.479 man as advertising manager. I've spoken to him of you. 1784 01:56:17.000 --> 01:56:19.920 I know what you can do. Mister Griebler might trust 1785 01:56:19.960 --> 01:56:23.319 my judgment in this, but I'll trust my own judgment, 1786 01:56:23.479 --> 01:56:27.560 snapped Ben Griebler. It's good enough for me very well, 1787 01:56:27.680 --> 01:56:31.279 returned Bortholomew Burgh suavely. And if you decide to place 1788 01:56:31.319 --> 01:56:34.880 your advertising future in the hands of the Berg Shriner company, 1789 01:56:35.199 --> 01:56:38.840 now look here, interrupted Ben Griebler again. I'll tie up 1790 01:56:38.880 --> 01:56:42.760 with you people when you shaken something out of your cuffs. 1791 01:56:42.880 --> 01:56:45.079 I'm not the kind that buys a pig in a poke. 1792 01:56:45.640 --> 01:56:47.800 We're going to spend money, wi you money in this 1793 01:56:47.920 --> 01:56:50.720 campaign of yours, but I'm not such a come hotist 1794 01:56:50.760 --> 01:56:52.680 to hand you half a million or so and get 1795 01:56:52.720 --> 01:56:55.560 a promise in return. I want your plans and I 1796 01:56:55.600 --> 01:56:59.560 want him full. A little exclamation broke from Sam Up 1797 01:57:00.079 --> 01:57:04.079 checked it, but not before Berg's curiously penetrating pale blue 1798 01:57:04.119 --> 01:57:07.680 eyes had glanced up at him and away again. I've 1799 01:57:07.680 --> 01:57:11.159 told you, mister Griebler, went on Bortholomew Bergh's patient voice. 1800 01:57:11.720 --> 01:57:15.600 Just why the thing you insist on is impossible? This 1801 01:57:15.640 --> 01:57:20.000 firm does not submit advance copy. Every business commission that 1802 01:57:20.039 --> 01:57:23.000 comes to us is given all the skill and thought 1803 01:57:23.079 --> 01:57:27.680 and enthusiasm and careful planning that this office is capable of. 1804 01:57:28.079 --> 01:57:31.479 You know our record. This is a business of ideas, 1805 01:57:32.079 --> 01:57:36.000 and ideas are too precious, too perishable, to spread in 1806 01:57:36.039 --> 01:57:39.640 the marketplace for all to see. Ben Griebler stood up. 1807 01:57:39.800 --> 01:57:43.079 His cigar wagged furiously between his lips as he talked. 1808 01:57:43.800 --> 01:57:47.239 I know something else that don't stand spreading in the marketplace, Berg, 1809 01:57:47.439 --> 01:57:51.800 and that's money. It's too darn perishable too. He pointed 1810 01:57:51.880 --> 01:57:54.800 a stubby finger at Chuck. Does this fool rule of 1811 01:57:54.840 --> 01:57:58.800 years apply to this young fellow? To Bartholomew burg seemed 1812 01:57:58.840 --> 01:58:02.039 to grow more patient, more self contained, as the other 1813 01:58:02.119 --> 01:58:06.800 man's self control slipped rapidly away. It goes for every 1814 01:58:06.840 --> 01:58:09.760 man and woman in this office, mister Greebler. This young 1815 01:58:09.840 --> 01:58:13.199 chap mc chesney here might spend weeks and months building 1816 01:58:13.279 --> 01:58:17.159 up a comprehensive advertising plan for you. He'd spend those 1817 01:58:17.199 --> 01:58:21.520 weeks studying your business from every possible angle. Perhaps it 1818 01:58:21.560 --> 01:58:24.000 would be a plan that would require a year of 1819 01:58:24.039 --> 01:58:27.880 waiting before the actual advertising began to appear, and then 1820 01:58:27.920 --> 01:58:30.840 you might lose faith in the plan. A waiting game 1821 01:58:30.960 --> 01:58:34.359 is a hard game to play. Some other man's idea 1822 01:58:34.479 --> 01:58:37.920 that promised quicker action might appeal to you, and when 1823 01:58:37.960 --> 01:58:41.920 it appeared, we'd very likely find our own original idea 1824 01:58:42.159 --> 01:58:47.119 incorporated in Say, look here, squeaked Ben Griebler his face, bully, rent, 1825 01:58:47.479 --> 01:58:49.760 Do you mean to imply that I steal your plan? 1826 01:58:50.039 --> 01:58:51.760 Do you mean to sit there and tell me to 1827 01:58:51.920 --> 01:58:56.720 my face, mister Griebler, I mean that that thing happens 1828 01:58:56.760 --> 01:59:00.720 constantly in this business. We're all most powerful to stop it. 1829 01:59:01.239 --> 01:59:04.840 Nothing spreads quicker than a new idea. Compared to it, 1830 01:59:04.960 --> 01:59:08.680 a woman's secret is a seal book. Ben Griebler removed 1831 01:59:08.680 --> 01:59:11.720 the cigar from his lips. He was stuttering with anger. 1832 01:59:12.039 --> 01:59:15.039 With the mingling of despair and boldness. Jock saw the 1833 01:59:15.119 --> 01:59:18.800 advantage of that stuttering moment and seized on it. He 1834 01:59:18.840 --> 01:59:22.239 stepped close to the broad table desk, resting both hands 1835 01:59:22.279 --> 01:59:26.319 on it and leaning forward slightly in his eagerness, mister Berg, 1836 01:59:26.640 --> 01:59:29.560 I have a plan. Mister Hupp can tell you. It 1837 01:59:29.640 --> 01:59:32.359 came to me when I first heard that the Grieblers 1838 01:59:32.359 --> 01:59:35.640 were going to broaden out. It's a real idea. I'm 1839 01:59:35.720 --> 01:59:38.520 sure of that. I've worked it out in detail. Mister 1840 01:59:38.560 --> 01:59:41.640 Hupp himself said it. Why. I've got the actual copy 1841 01:59:42.119 --> 01:59:47.239 and it's new. Absolutely it never trot it out, shouted 1842 01:59:47.239 --> 01:59:50.600 Ben Griebler. I like to see one idea anyway around 1843 01:59:50.600 --> 01:59:56.000 this shop. Mc chesney said Bartholomew Berg, not raising his voice. 1844 01:59:56.039 --> 01:59:59.800 His eyes rested on Jock with the steady, penetrating gaze. 1845 02:00:00.000 --> 02:00:03.600 It was peculiar to him, more foolhardy men than Jock. 1846 02:00:03.680 --> 02:00:09.239 Mucchesney had faltered and paused, abashed under those eyes. McChesney, 1847 02:00:09.439 --> 02:00:13.039 your enthusiasm for your work is causing you to forget 1848 02:00:13.119 --> 02:00:16.199 one thing that must never be forgotten in this office. 1849 02:00:16.960 --> 02:00:20.720 Jock stepped back. His lower lip was caught between his teeth. 1850 02:00:21.119 --> 02:00:24.239 At the same moment, Ben Griebler snatched up his hat 1851 02:00:24.279 --> 02:00:26.600 from the table, clapped it on his head at an 1852 02:00:26.600 --> 02:00:30.880 absurd angle, and, bristling like a fighting cock, confronted the 1853 02:00:30.880 --> 02:00:34.479 three men. I've got a couple of rules myself, he cried, 1854 02:00:34.880 --> 02:00:38.039 And don't you forget it. When you get a little 1855 02:00:38.039 --> 02:00:40.880 spare time, you look up Saint Louis and find out 1856 02:00:40.920 --> 02:00:44.279 what stated then the slogan of that state is my slogan. 1857 02:00:44.399 --> 02:00:46.800 You bet. If you think I'm gonna make you a 1858 02:00:46.920 --> 02:00:49.159 present of the money that it took my old man 1859 02:00:49.319 --> 02:00:51.880 fifty years to pile up, then you don't know that 1860 02:00:52.000 --> 02:00:56.359 Griebler is a German name. Good day, gents, He stalked 1861 02:00:56.399 --> 02:00:59.479 to the door. There he turned dramatically and leveled a 1862 02:00:59.560 --> 02:01:02.920 forefinger at jock Man. Got you roped and tied, But 1863 02:01:03.079 --> 02:01:06.279 I think you're a comer. If you change your mind, kid, 1864 02:01:06.399 --> 02:01:10.399 come and see me. The door slammed behind him. Whew, 1865 02:01:10.600 --> 02:01:14.000 whistled Sam Hupp, passing a handkerchief over his ball spot. 1866 02:01:14.319 --> 02:01:18.880 Bartholomewburg reached out with one great capable hand and swept 1867 02:01:18.880 --> 02:01:22.199 toward him a pile of papers. Oh well, you can't 1868 02:01:22.239 --> 02:01:25.319 blame him. Advertising has been a scream for so long. 1869 02:01:25.960 --> 02:01:30.079 Griebler doesn't know the difference between advertising, publicity and bunk. 1870 02:01:30.399 --> 02:01:35.359 He'll learn, but it'll be an awfully expensive course. Now, hup, 1871 02:01:35.479 --> 02:01:38.800 let's go over this kalamazoo account. That'll be all my chesney, 1872 02:01:39.319 --> 02:01:42.520 Jock turned without a word. He walked quickly through the 1873 02:01:42.560 --> 02:01:46.319 outer office into the great main room. There he stopped 1874 02:01:46.399 --> 02:01:50.640 at the switchboard. Uh, miss Grimes, he said, smiling charmingly, 1875 02:01:51.079 --> 02:01:54.319 where's this, mister Griebler of Saint Louis stopping? Do you know? 1876 02:01:55.239 --> 02:01:58.560 Say we are? Would he stop? Retorted the wise miss Grimes, 1877 02:01:58.680 --> 02:02:02.199 look at him. The walled off. Of course, thanks, said Jock, 1878 02:02:02.239 --> 02:02:05.880 still smiling, and went back to his desk. At five 1879 02:02:06.119 --> 02:02:09.199 Jock left the office. Under his arm, he carried the 1880 02:02:09.279 --> 02:02:14.439 flat pastepoort package secured by elastic mans. At five point fifteen, 1881 02:02:14.800 --> 02:02:17.760 he walked swiftly down the famous corridor of the Great 1882 02:02:17.840 --> 02:02:22.119 red Stone Hotel. The colorful, glittering crowd that surged all 1883 02:02:22.199 --> 02:02:25.680 about him he seemed not to see. He made straight 1884 02:02:25.720 --> 02:02:29.520 for the main desk with its battalion of clerks. Mister 1885 02:02:29.520 --> 02:02:33.479 Greebler in, mister ben Griebler, Saint Louis, the question said 1886 02:02:33.520 --> 02:02:37.560 in motion, the hotel's elaborate system of investigation. At last, 1887 02:02:38.079 --> 02:02:40.439 not in do you know when he will be in? 1888 02:02:40.720 --> 02:02:44.239 That feudle question? Can't say? He left no word? Do 1889 02:02:44.279 --> 02:02:47.720 you want to leave your name, No would he does? 1890 02:02:47.760 --> 02:02:50.560 He stop at this desk when he comes in. He 1891 02:02:50.720 --> 02:02:54.960 was an unusually urbane hotel clerk. Why usually they leave 1892 02:02:55.000 --> 02:02:57.319 their keys and get their mail from the floor clerk, 1893 02:02:57.560 --> 02:03:01.640 But mister Greebler seems to prefer the main desk. I'll wait, 1894 02:03:02.000 --> 02:03:04.720 said Jack, and seated in one of the great thrown 1895 02:03:04.840 --> 02:03:09.239 my chairs. He waited. He sat there, slim and boyish, 1896 02:03:09.600 --> 02:03:13.319 while the laughing, chattering crowd swept all about him. If 1897 02:03:13.359 --> 02:03:16.239 you sit long enough in that fire, you will learn 1898 02:03:16.399 --> 02:03:19.560 all there is to learn about life. An amazing sight. 1899 02:03:19.600 --> 02:03:23.600 It is that crowd Barriboo helped swell it, and Spokane 1900 02:03:23.640 --> 02:03:27.359 and Berlin and Budapest and Pekuing and Paris and Waco, 1901 02:03:27.479 --> 02:03:32.159 Texas so varied. It is so cosmopolitan that if you 1902 02:03:32.239 --> 02:03:36.279 sit there patiently enough and watch sharply enough, you will 1903 02:03:36.359 --> 02:03:39.720 even see it, chanced New Yorker from door to desk. 1904 02:03:39.960 --> 02:03:44.880 Jock's eyes swept the afternoon tea crowd and paradise feathers 1905 02:03:44.880 --> 02:03:48.880 and furs and frock coats swam back and forth. He 1906 02:03:48.960 --> 02:03:53.079 saw it give way to the dinner throng satin shod bejeweled, 1907 02:03:53.520 --> 02:03:57.920 hurrying through its oysters swallowing unbelievable numbers of cloudy amber 1908 02:03:58.000 --> 02:04:02.520 drinks and golden brown drinks and maroon drinks, then gathering 1909 02:04:02.600 --> 02:04:06.199 up its furs and rushing theater woods. He was still 1910 02:04:06.239 --> 02:04:10.760 sitting there when that crowd, its eight o'clock freshness somewhat sullied, 1911 02:04:11.119 --> 02:04:14.840 its sparkle, a trifle dimmed, swept back for more oysters, 1912 02:04:15.000 --> 02:04:19.920 more cloudy ambering golden brown drinks, at half hour intervals, 1913 02:04:20.239 --> 02:04:24.199 then at hourly intervals. The figure in the great chair stirred, 1914 02:04:24.399 --> 02:04:27.520 rose and walked to the desk. Has mister Griebler come 1915 02:04:27.560 --> 02:04:31.520 in the supper throng its laugh a little ribbled, its talk, 1916 02:04:31.600 --> 02:04:35.319 a shade high pitched, drifted toward the street, or was 1917 02:04:35.399 --> 02:04:40.479 wafted up in elevators. The throng thinned to an occasional group. 1918 02:04:40.800 --> 02:04:44.640 Then these became rarer and rarer. The revolving door admitted 1919 02:04:44.680 --> 02:04:48.279 one man, too, perhaps, who lingered not at all In 1920 02:04:48.359 --> 02:04:52.159 the unaccustomed quiet of the great glittering lobby. The figure 1921 02:04:52.199 --> 02:04:56.079 of the watcher took on a pathetic droop. The eyelids 1922 02:04:56.159 --> 02:05:00.399 grew leaden to open them mint an almost superhuman effort. 1923 02:05:00.720 --> 02:05:02.920 The stare of the new night clerks grew more and 1924 02:05:03.000 --> 02:05:07.600 more hostile and suspicious. A grayish pallor had settled down 1925 02:05:07.680 --> 02:05:10.239 on the boy's face, and those lines of the night 1926 02:05:10.279 --> 02:05:13.479 before stood out for all to see in the stillness 1927 02:05:13.479 --> 02:05:16.800 of the place. The big revolving door turned once more 1928 02:05:16.960 --> 02:05:22.640 complainingly for the thousandth time. Jock's eyes lifted heavily. Then 1929 02:05:22.800 --> 02:05:27.399 they flew wide open. The drooping figure straightened electrically. Half 1930 02:05:27.439 --> 02:05:30.039 a dozen quick steps, and Jock stood in the pathway 1931 02:05:30.159 --> 02:05:34.359 of Ben Griebler, who rather ruffled and untidy, had blown 1932 02:05:34.439 --> 02:05:37.079 in on the wings of the morning. He stared for 1933 02:05:37.119 --> 02:05:39.960 a moment. Well, what I've been waiting for you here 1934 02:05:40.000 --> 02:05:42.600 since five o'clock last evening? It will soon be five 1935 02:05:42.640 --> 02:05:45.680 o'clock again. Will you let me show you those plans now? 1936 02:05:46.520 --> 02:05:49.840 Ben Griebler had surveyed Jock with the stony calm of 1937 02:05:49.920 --> 02:05:52.800 the out of town visitor who was prepared to show 1938 02:05:52.880 --> 02:05:56.880 surprise at nothing in New York. There's nothing like getting 1939 02:05:56.880 --> 02:05:59.479 an early start, said Ben Griebler. Come on up to 1940 02:05:59.520 --> 02:06:02.960 my room, key in hand. He made for the elevator. 1941 02:06:03.560 --> 02:06:07.640 For an almost imperceptible moment, Jock paused, then with a 1942 02:06:07.640 --> 02:06:11.119 little rush, he followed the short, thick set figure. I 1943 02:06:11.199 --> 02:06:13.359 knew you had it in you, mc chesney. I said, 1944 02:06:13.399 --> 02:06:16.840 you looked like a comer, didn't I. Jock said nothing. 1945 02:06:17.279 --> 02:06:20.600 He was silent while Griebler unlocked his door, turned on 1946 02:06:20.640 --> 02:06:23.840 the light, fumbled at the windows and shades, picked up 1947 02:06:23.840 --> 02:06:27.760 the telephone receiver. And while you have nothing. Jock had 1948 02:06:27.760 --> 02:06:30.720 cleared the center table and was opening his flat bundle 1949 02:06:30.760 --> 02:06:34.600 of papers. He drew up two chairs. Let's not waste time, 1950 02:06:34.680 --> 02:06:36.520 he said, I've had a twelve hour wait for this. 1951 02:06:37.239 --> 02:06:41.479 He seemed to control the situation obediently. Ben Griebler hung 1952 02:06:41.560 --> 02:06:44.239 up the receiver, came over and took the chair very 1953 02:06:44.279 --> 02:06:48.359 close to Jock. There's nothing artistic about gum, began Jock 1954 02:06:48.479 --> 02:06:51.079 mc chesney, and his manner was that of a man 1955 02:06:51.159 --> 02:06:54.279 who was sure of himself. It's a shirt sleeve product 1956 02:06:54.319 --> 02:06:57.439 and it ought to be handled from a shirt sleeve standpoint. 1957 02:06:57.960 --> 02:07:00.800 Every gum concern in the country has been thousands on 1958 02:07:00.840 --> 02:07:04.720 a better than candy campaign before it realized that gum 1959 02:07:04.800 --> 02:07:07.560 is a candy and drugstore article, and that no man 1960 02:07:07.680 --> 02:07:10.159 is going to push a five cent package of gum 1961 02:07:10.479 --> 02:07:13.039 at the sacrifice of the sale of an eighty cent 1962 02:07:13.119 --> 02:07:16.159 box of candy. But the health note is there if 1963 02:07:16.279 --> 02:07:20.079 only you strike it right now, here's my idea. At 1964 02:07:20.119 --> 02:07:24.800 six o'clock. Ben Griebler, his little shrewd eyes sparkling, his 1965 02:07:24.960 --> 02:07:28.640 voice more squeakily fall settled than ever, surveyed the youngster 1966 02:07:28.760 --> 02:07:32.319 before him, with a certain awe. This this thing will 1967 02:07:32.359 --> 02:07:35.399 actually sell our stuff in Europe. No gum concern has 1968 02:07:35.439 --> 02:07:37.359 ever been able to make the stuff go outside of 1969 02:07:37.399 --> 02:07:41.159 this country. Why inside of three years, every airyan area 1970 02:07:41.199 --> 02:07:44.520 in england'll be chewing it on bank holidays. I don't 1971 02:07:44.520 --> 02:07:47.039 know about Germany. But he pushed back his chair and 1972 02:07:47.079 --> 02:07:50.239 got up. Well, I'm sold on that, and what I 1973 02:07:50.319 --> 02:07:52.920 say goes now. I'll tell you what i'll do, kid, 1974 02:07:53.119 --> 02:07:55.600 I'll take you down to Saint Louis with me at 1975 02:07:55.640 --> 02:07:59.279 a figure that'll make your jock looked up. Or if 1976 02:07:59.279 --> 02:08:01.520 you don't, let the tried a crowd to get wise, 1977 02:08:01.640 --> 02:08:04.319 I'll fix it this way. I'll go over there this 1978 02:08:04.439 --> 02:08:07.279 morning and tell him I've changed my mind. See the 1979 02:08:07.399 --> 02:08:10.800 campaign's there. See then I refuse to consider any of 1980 02:08:10.840 --> 02:08:13.960 their suggestions until I see your plan. And when I 1981 02:08:14.039 --> 02:08:16.039 see it, I fall for it like a ton of 1982 02:08:16.079 --> 02:08:20.199 bricks old Burgle never know he's so darn high Principal 1983 02:08:21.039 --> 02:08:24.479 Jock McChesney stood up. The little, drawn, pinched look which 1984 02:08:24.520 --> 02:08:27.600 had made his face so queerly old was gone. His 1985 02:08:27.760 --> 02:08:32.079 eyes were bright, his face was flushed. There you said it. 1986 02:08:32.199 --> 02:08:35.479 I didn't realize how raw this steal was until you 1987 02:08:35.560 --> 02:08:38.680 put it into words for me. I went to thank you. 1988 02:08:38.680 --> 02:08:43.359 You're right, Bortholomew Berg is so darned high principles that 1989 02:08:43.479 --> 02:08:46.600 two muckers like you and me, roveling around in the 1990 02:08:46.640 --> 02:08:49.119 dirt can't even see the tips of the heights to 1991 02:08:49.159 --> 02:08:52.680 which his ideals have swored. Don't stop me. I know 1992 02:08:52.760 --> 02:08:55.199 I'm talking like a book, but I feel like something 1993 02:08:55.199 --> 02:08:58.079 that has just been kicked out into the sunshine after 1994 02:08:58.119 --> 02:09:02.119 having been in jail. You're tired, said Ben Griebler. It's 1995 02:09:02.159 --> 02:09:05.600 been a strain. Something always snaps after a long tension. 1996 02:09:06.079 --> 02:09:10.039 Jock's flat palm came down among the papers with a crack. 1997 02:09:10.479 --> 02:09:15.399 You bet something snaps. It just snapped inside me. He 1998 02:09:15.520 --> 02:09:19.000 began quietly to gather up the papers in an orderly 1999 02:09:19.039 --> 02:09:22.960 little way. What's that for, inquired Griebler, coming forward. You 2000 02:09:23.000 --> 02:09:26.239 don't mean I mean that I'm going to go home 2001 02:09:26.439 --> 02:09:30.279 and square this thing with a lady you've never met you, 2002 02:09:30.359 --> 02:09:32.880 and she wouldn't get on if you did. You don't 2003 02:09:32.880 --> 02:09:35.439 talk the same language. Then I'm going to have a 2004 02:09:35.479 --> 02:09:39.359 cold bath and a hot breakfast, and then, Griebler, I'm 2005 02:09:39.399 --> 02:09:42.680 going to take this stuff to bartholomew Burg and tell 2006 02:09:42.760 --> 02:09:46.319 him the whole nasty business. He'll see the humor of it, 2007 02:09:46.399 --> 02:09:48.760 but I don't know whether he'll fire me or make 2008 02:09:48.840 --> 02:09:51.399 me vice president of the company. Now, if you want 2009 02:09:51.399 --> 02:09:53.600 to come over and talk to him fair and square, 2010 02:09:54.000 --> 02:09:57.920 why come, candawan he fires you, remarked Greebler as Jock 2011 02:09:58.000 --> 02:10:00.920 reached the floor. There's only one one person I know 2012 02:10:00.960 --> 02:10:03.479 who's game enough to take you up on that, and 2013 02:10:03.520 --> 02:10:05.880 it's going to take more nerve to face her at 2014 02:10:05.960 --> 02:10:08.359 six point thirty than it will to tackle a whole 2015 02:10:08.399 --> 02:10:13.159 battalion of Bartholomew birds at nine. Well, I guess I 2016 02:10:13.199 --> 02:10:16.199 could get into three hours sleep before or before what 2017 02:10:16.720 --> 02:10:20.359 said Jock Bucchesney from the door. Ben Griebler laughed, a 2018 02:10:20.479 --> 02:10:24.720 little shame faced laugh. Before I see you at ten, Sonny. 2019 02:10:25.960 --> 02:10:31.479 End of chapter four, Chapter five, The Self Starter. There 2020 02:10:31.600 --> 02:10:34.520 is nothing in the sound of the shrill little bell 2021 02:10:34.800 --> 02:10:37.840 to warn us of the import of its message. Moore's 2022 02:10:37.880 --> 02:10:43.279 the pity. It may be that bore whose telephone conversation begins, well, 2023 02:10:43.319 --> 02:10:46.479 what do you know today? It may be your lawyer 2024 02:10:46.760 --> 02:10:50.600 to say you've inherited a million. Hence the arrogance of 2025 02:10:50.640 --> 02:10:55.720 the instrument. It knows its voice will never willfully go unanswered, 2026 02:10:55.840 --> 02:11:00.880 so long as the element of chance lies concealed within it. Missus. 2027 02:11:00.920 --> 02:11:04.119 Emma mc chesney heard the call of her telephone across 2028 02:11:04.159 --> 02:11:07.279 the hall. Seated in the office of her business partner, T. 2029 02:11:07.439 --> 02:11:10.920 A Buck, she was fathoms deep in discussion of the T. 2030 02:11:11.079 --> 02:11:16.439 A Buck featherloom petticoat company's new spring line. The buzzer's 2031 02:11:16.479 --> 02:11:19.760 insistent voice brought her to her feet, even while she 2032 02:11:19.920 --> 02:11:23.880 frowned at the interruption. That'll be Bumgartner phoning about those 2033 02:11:23.920 --> 02:11:27.399 silk swatches. Back in a minute, said Emma mc chesney, 2034 02:11:27.640 --> 02:11:30.239 and hurried across the hall, just in time to break 2035 02:11:30.239 --> 02:11:35.239 the second call. The perfunctory hello, yes, was followed by 2036 02:11:35.279 --> 02:11:40.199 a swift change of countenance, a surprised little cry, then, 2037 02:11:40.359 --> 02:11:44.680 in quite another tone, Oh it's you, Jock. I wasn't expecting. No, 2038 02:11:44.840 --> 02:11:47.359 not too busy to talk to you, you young chump, 2039 02:11:47.520 --> 02:11:52.279 go on a moment of silence while missus mc chesney's 2040 02:11:52.279 --> 02:11:56.199 face smiled and glowed like a girl's as she listened 2041 02:11:56.239 --> 02:11:59.840 to the voice of her son. Then suddenly glow and 2042 02:12:00.279 --> 02:12:04.479 smile faded. She grew tense. Her head that had been 2043 02:12:04.560 --> 02:12:07.720 leaning so carelessly on the hand that held the receiver, 2044 02:12:08.199 --> 02:12:12.039 came up with a jerk. Jock mc chesney, She gasped, 2045 02:12:12.079 --> 02:12:17.159 you why you don't mean now. Emma mc chesney was 2046 02:12:17.199 --> 02:12:22.199 not a woman given to jerky conversations interspersed with exclamation points. 2047 02:12:22.720 --> 02:12:25.239 Her poise and balance had become a proverb in the 2048 02:12:25.279 --> 02:12:29.720 business world. Yet her lips were trembling now. Her eyes 2049 02:12:29.800 --> 02:12:33.600 were very round and bright. Her face had flushed, then 2050 02:12:33.680 --> 02:12:38.079 grown white. Her voice shook a little. Yes, of course, 2051 02:12:38.119 --> 02:12:42.039 I am only I'm so surprised. Yes, I'll be home 2052 02:12:42.079 --> 02:12:45.319 early five thirty at the latest. She hung up the 2053 02:12:45.399 --> 02:12:49.600 receiver with a little fumbling gesture. Her hand dropped to 2054 02:12:49.680 --> 02:12:52.640 her lap, then came up to her throat a moment 2055 02:12:52.960 --> 02:12:57.159 dropped again. She sat, staring straight ahead with eyes that 2056 02:12:57.319 --> 02:13:01.720 saw one thousand miles away from his office. Across the hall, 2057 02:13:01.800 --> 02:13:05.800 t a buck strolled in casually, did bum gardener say 2058 02:13:05.840 --> 02:13:09.479 he'd he stopped as missus mc chesney looked up at 2059 02:13:09.560 --> 02:13:13.439 him a quick step forward. What's the matter, emma, jock? 2060 02:13:14.000 --> 02:13:18.560 Jock jock? What's happened to the boy? Then, as she 2061 02:13:18.680 --> 02:13:22.199 still stared at him, her face pitiful, his hand patted 2062 02:13:22.239 --> 02:13:25.479 her shoulder. Dear girl, tell me he bent over her 2063 02:13:25.680 --> 02:13:30.760 all solicitude, don't, said Emma mc chesney faintly, and shook 2064 02:13:30.800 --> 02:13:34.279 off his hand. Your stenographer can see. What will the 2065 02:13:34.319 --> 02:13:38.399 office think? Please? Oh darn the stenographer? What's this bad 2066 02:13:38.439 --> 02:13:42.600 news of jock? Emma mc chesney sat up, She smiled 2067 02:13:42.640 --> 02:13:45.920 a little nervously and passed her handkerchief across her lips. 2068 02:13:46.720 --> 02:13:49.159 I didn't say it was bad, did I? That is 2069 02:13:49.359 --> 02:13:53.720 not exactly bad. I suppose t a buck ran a 2070 02:13:53.840 --> 02:13:59.079 frenzied hand over his head. My dear child, with careful politeness, 2071 02:13:59.319 --> 02:14:02.439 will you please try to be sane. I find you 2072 02:14:02.520 --> 02:14:06.039 sitting at your desk, staring into space, your face white 2073 02:14:06.039 --> 02:14:09.239 as a ghost's your whole appearance that of a person 2074 02:14:09.239 --> 02:14:12.079 who has received a death blow. And then you say, 2075 02:14:12.479 --> 02:14:16.600 not exactly bad. It's this, explained Emma mc chesney in 2076 02:14:16.640 --> 02:14:20.800 a hollow tone. The Berg Shriner Advertising Company has a 2077 02:14:20.920 --> 02:14:25.000 pointed jock manager of their new Western branch. They're opening 2078 02:14:25.000 --> 02:14:29.039 offices in Chicago in March. Her lower lip quivered. She 2079 02:14:29.239 --> 02:14:33.600 caught it sharply between her teeth. For one surprised moment. 2080 02:14:33.840 --> 02:14:38.079 Ta Buck stared in silence. Then a roar broke from him. 2081 02:14:38.840 --> 02:14:44.119 Exactly bad, he boomed between laughs, not exactly but not 2082 02:14:44.520 --> 02:14:49.560 exactly A. Then he was off again. Missus McChesney surveyed 2083 02:14:49.640 --> 02:14:54.359 him in hurt and dignified silence. Then well, really, t 2084 02:14:54.520 --> 02:14:58.079 a don't mind me, which you find so exquisitely funny. 2085 02:14:58.680 --> 02:15:02.840 That's the funniest part of it, that you, of all people, 2086 02:15:02.880 --> 02:15:07.640 shouldn't see the joke. Not exactly bad. He wiped his eyes. 2087 02:15:08.359 --> 02:15:11.359 Why do you mean to tell me that, because your 2088 02:15:11.560 --> 02:15:15.079 young cub of a son, by a heaven sid stroke 2089 02:15:15.199 --> 02:15:18.319 of good fortune, has landed a job that men twice 2090 02:15:18.359 --> 02:15:21.199 his age would give their eye teeth to get. I 2091 02:15:21.399 --> 02:15:24.640 find you sitting at the telephone looking as if he 2092 02:15:24.680 --> 02:15:27.399 had run off with any the cook, or had had 2093 02:15:27.399 --> 02:15:31.239 a leg cut off. I suppose it is funny, only 2094 02:15:31.279 --> 02:15:34.560 the joke's on me. That's why I can't see it. 2095 02:15:34.560 --> 02:15:38.359 It means that I'm losing him. That's the first selfish 2096 02:15:38.439 --> 02:15:42.000 word I've ever heard you utter. Oh, don't think I'm 2097 02:15:42.000 --> 02:15:46.039 not happy at his success. Happy? Haven't I hoped for 2098 02:15:46.119 --> 02:15:48.600 it and work for it and pray for it. Haven't 2099 02:15:48.640 --> 02:15:51.520 I saved for it and skipped for it. How do 2100 02:15:51.600 --> 02:15:53.880 you think I could have stood those years on the 2101 02:15:54.000 --> 02:15:57.079 road if I hadn't kept up courage with the thought 2102 02:15:57.119 --> 02:15:59.840 that it was all for him? Don't I know how 2103 02:16:00.199 --> 02:16:04.359 narrowly Jock escaped being the wrong kind. I'm his mother, 2104 02:16:04.479 --> 02:16:07.239 but I'm not quite blind. I know he had the 2105 02:16:07.279 --> 02:16:10.880 making of a first class cad. I've seen him start 2106 02:16:10.920 --> 02:16:13.880 off in the wrong direction a hundred times. If he 2107 02:16:13.920 --> 02:16:17.960 has turned out a success, it's because you steered him right. 2108 02:16:18.479 --> 02:16:21.800 I've watched you make him over, and now, when his 2109 02:16:21.920 --> 02:16:27.359 big chance has come you. I don't expect you to understand, 2110 02:16:27.720 --> 02:16:30.960 interrupted Emma mc chesney a little wearily. I know it 2111 02:16:31.119 --> 02:16:35.319 sounds crazy and unreasonable. There's only one sort of human 2112 02:16:35.360 --> 02:16:38.879 being who could understand what I mean. That's a woman 2113 02:16:39.040 --> 02:16:43.600 with a son. She laughed, a little shame facedly. I'm 2114 02:16:43.680 --> 02:16:46.399 talking like the chorus of a minor whale sob song. 2115 02:16:47.000 --> 02:16:49.799 But it's the truth. If you feel like that, Emma, 2116 02:16:49.920 --> 02:16:52.239 tell him to stay. The boy wouldn't go if he 2117 02:16:52.280 --> 02:16:55.719 thought it would make you unhappy. Not go, cried Emma 2118 02:16:55.799 --> 02:16:59.000 mc chesney, sharply. I'd like to see him dare to 2119 02:16:59.079 --> 02:17:04.319 refuse it. Well, then what in began? Buck bewildered. Don't 2120 02:17:04.479 --> 02:17:08.239 try to understand it, Ta, it's no use. Don't try 2121 02:17:08.239 --> 02:17:12.079 to poke your finger into the whirligig they call women's sphere. 2122 02:17:12.559 --> 02:17:16.159 Its mechanism is too complicated. It's the same quirk that 2123 02:17:16.239 --> 02:17:20.079 makes women pray for daughters and men for sons. It's 2124 02:17:20.079 --> 02:17:23.120 the same kink that makes women read the marriage and 2125 02:17:23.200 --> 02:17:27.319 death notices first in the newspaper. It's the same queer 2126 02:17:27.319 --> 02:17:30.879 strain that causes a mother to lavish the most love 2127 02:17:31.159 --> 02:17:35.479 on the weakest, wilfulest child. Perhaps I wouldn't have loved 2128 02:17:35.559 --> 02:17:38.760 Jock so much if there hadn't been that streak of 2129 02:17:38.920 --> 02:17:41.399 yellow in him, and if I hadn't had to work 2130 02:17:41.440 --> 02:17:43.879 so hard to dilute it until now it's only a 2131 02:17:43.920 --> 02:17:47.280 faint cream color. There ought to be a special prayer 2132 02:17:47.280 --> 02:17:50.799 for women who were bringing up their sons alone. Buck 2133 02:17:51.000 --> 02:17:54.559 stirred a little uneasily. I've never heard you talk like 2134 02:17:54.600 --> 02:17:59.920 this before, you probably never will again. She swung round 2135 02:18:00.159 --> 02:18:03.559 to her desk. Ta Buck, strolling toward the door, still 2136 02:18:03.719 --> 02:18:06.840 wore the puzzled look. I don't know what makes you 2137 02:18:06.879 --> 02:18:09.719 take this so seriously. Of course the boy will be 2138 02:18:09.760 --> 02:18:12.920 a long way off, but then you've been separated from 2139 02:18:13.000 --> 02:18:16.879 him before. What's the difference now, Ta, said Emma mc 2140 02:18:16.920 --> 02:18:21.360 chesney solemnly. Jock will be drawing a man's size salary. Now. 2141 02:18:21.799 --> 02:18:25.360 Something tells me I'll be a grandmother in another two years. 2142 02:18:25.879 --> 02:18:29.319 Girls are letting men like Jock run around loose. He'll 2143 02:18:29.360 --> 02:18:32.959 be gobbled up. Just you wait, Oh, I don't know, 2144 02:18:33.559 --> 02:18:38.159 drawled Buck mischievously. You just said he's a headstrong young cub. 2145 02:18:38.639 --> 02:18:41.360 He strikes me as a kind who'd raised the dickens 2146 02:18:41.360 --> 02:18:44.559 if his three minute egg happened to be five seconds 2147 02:18:44.639 --> 02:18:50.319 over time. Emma McChesney swung round in her chair. Look here, Ta, 2148 02:18:50.840 --> 02:18:55.559 As business partners, we've quarreled about everything from silk samples 2149 02:18:55.559 --> 02:18:59.520 to traveling men and his friend. We've wrangled on every subject, 2150 02:18:59.559 --> 02:19:03.040 from webs to war. I've allowed you to criticize my 2151 02:19:03.319 --> 02:19:07.639 soule theories and my new spring hat, but understand that 2152 02:19:07.840 --> 02:19:11.159 I'm the only living person who has the right to 2153 02:19:11.239 --> 02:19:16.639 vilify my son, Jock McChesney. The telephone buzzed a punctuation 2154 02:19:16.799 --> 02:19:22.200 to this period. Bumgardner inquired Buck humbly. She listened a moment, 2155 02:19:22.280 --> 02:19:27.440 then over her shoulder Bumgardner grimly, her hand covered the mousepiece. 2156 02:19:28.159 --> 02:19:30.120 And if he thinks he can work off a lot 2157 02:19:30.159 --> 02:19:34.959 of last year's silk swatches on Hello, Yes, missus McChesney talking. 2158 02:19:35.360 --> 02:19:39.760 Look here, mister Baumgardner, and for the time being, Emma McChesney, 2159 02:19:39.920 --> 02:19:44.639 mother was relegated to the background, while Emma McChesney, secretary 2160 02:19:44.680 --> 02:19:48.239 of the T. A. Buck Featherloom Petticot Company, held the stage. 2161 02:19:49.360 --> 02:19:52.000 Having said that she would be home at five point thirty. 2162 02:19:52.399 --> 02:19:56.799 Missus McChesney was home at five thirty, Being that kind 2163 02:19:56.840 --> 02:20:01.319 of a person, Jock came in at six breathless, bright eyed, 2164 02:20:01.360 --> 02:20:06.079 eager and late. Being that kind of a person. He 2165 02:20:06.120 --> 02:20:08.879 found his mother on the floor before the chiffonaire in 2166 02:20:08.920 --> 02:20:13.799 his bedroom, surrounded by piles of pajamas, socks, shirts and colors. 2167 02:20:14.440 --> 02:20:17.600 He swooped down upon her from the doorway. What do 2168 02:20:17.680 --> 02:20:21.159 you think of you, blue eyed boy? Poor a Imma 2169 02:20:21.280 --> 02:20:25.680 McChesney looked up absently, Jock, These medium weights of yours 2170 02:20:25.719 --> 02:20:28.920 didn't wear it all, and you paid five dollars for them? 2171 02:20:29.399 --> 02:20:33.120 Medium weights? What in't you've done? Off? Silk socks to 2172 02:20:33.200 --> 02:20:36.319 last you the rest of your natural life? Handkerchiefs too, 2173 02:20:36.479 --> 02:20:40.520 But you'll need pajamas. Jock stooped, gathered up an armful 2174 02:20:40.559 --> 02:20:44.559 of miscellaneous undergarments and tossed them into an open drawer. 2175 02:20:45.079 --> 02:20:47.760 Then he shut the drawer with a bang, reached over, 2176 02:20:48.200 --> 02:20:51.719 grasped his mother firmly under the arms, and brought her 2177 02:20:51.760 --> 02:20:55.079 to her feet with a swing. We will now consider 2178 02:20:55.159 --> 02:20:58.799 the question of summer underwear ended? Would it bore you 2179 02:20:59.040 --> 02:21:01.760 too much to touched lightly on the subject of your 2180 02:21:01.799 --> 02:21:07.600 son's future. Imma McChesney, tall, straight, handsome, looked up at 2181 02:21:07.600 --> 02:21:11.440 her son, taller, straighter, handsomer. Then she took him by 2182 02:21:11.440 --> 02:21:15.360 the coat lapels and hugged him. You were so bursting 2183 02:21:15.399 --> 02:21:19.120 with your own glory that I couldn't resist teasing you. Besides, 2184 02:21:19.239 --> 02:21:21.559 I had to do something to keep my mind off 2185 02:21:21.760 --> 02:21:27.040 off Why Blondie, dear, you're not no, I'm not gulped. 2186 02:21:27.120 --> 02:21:31.239 Emma McChesney, don't flatter yourself, young and tell me just 2187 02:21:31.319 --> 02:21:34.479 how it happened from the beginning. She perched at the 2188 02:21:34.559 --> 02:21:37.440 side of the bed, jock hands in pockets. Harry, a 2189 02:21:37.520 --> 02:21:41.319 little rumpled, paced excitedly up and down before her as 2190 02:21:41.360 --> 02:21:45.239 he talked. There wasn't any beginning, That's the stunning part 2191 02:21:45.239 --> 02:21:48.120 of it. I just landed right into the middle of 2192 02:21:48.159 --> 02:21:51.040 it with both feet. I knew they had been planning 2193 02:21:51.079 --> 02:21:54.000 to start a big Western branch, but we all thought 2194 02:21:54.040 --> 02:21:56.840 they'd picked some big man for it. There are plenty 2195 02:21:56.840 --> 02:21:59.680 of medium class doves to be had, the kind that 2196 02:21:59.680 --> 02:22:02.520 answer is the ad man as you wanted, young men 2197 02:22:02.680 --> 02:22:07.000 preferably married, able to furnish a one reference ver as 2198 02:22:07.040 --> 02:22:10.920 thick as advertising men in Detroit on Monday morning. But 2199 02:22:11.280 --> 02:22:14.319 we knew that this Western branch was going to be 2200 02:22:14.360 --> 02:22:17.799 given an equal chance with the New York office. Those 2201 02:22:17.879 --> 02:22:21.200 big Western advertisers like to give their money to Western 2202 02:22:21.280 --> 02:22:24.799 firms if they can, so we figure that they pick 2203 02:22:24.799 --> 02:22:28.559 a real top notcher, even Hopper or Houp maybe, and 2204 02:22:28.879 --> 02:22:31.719 start out with a bang. So when the old man 2205 02:22:31.760 --> 02:22:34.799 called me into his office this morning, I was as 2206 02:22:34.920 --> 02:22:38.920 unconscious as a babe. Well you know Berg, He's as 2207 02:22:39.000 --> 02:22:42.120 unexpected as a summer shower. And twice as full of 2208 02:22:42.159 --> 02:22:46.120 electricity Morning mc chesney. He says, that is a New 2209 02:22:46.239 --> 02:22:50.600 York necktie you're wearing strictly, says I ever try in 2210 02:22:50.760 --> 02:22:55.479 Chicago ties not from choice. That time my suitcase went astray. 2211 02:22:56.239 --> 02:23:00.040 M Yes, he drummed his fingers on the tabletop a 2212 02:23:00.159 --> 02:23:03.840 couple of times. Then, Jesney, what have you learned about 2213 02:23:03.879 --> 02:23:06.799 advertising in the last two and a half years. I 2214 02:23:06.959 --> 02:23:10.200 was wise enough as to Betholomew Berg to know that 2215 02:23:10.280 --> 02:23:13.159 he didn't mean any cut and dried knowledge. He didn't 2216 02:23:13.200 --> 02:23:17.159 mean rules of the game. He meant tricks. Well, I said, 2217 02:23:17.559 --> 02:23:20.360 I've learned to watch a man's eyes when I'm talking 2218 02:23:20.440 --> 02:23:23.680 business to him. If the pupils of his eyes dilate, 2219 02:23:24.000 --> 02:23:26.879 he's listening to you and thinking about what you're saying. 2220 02:23:27.280 --> 02:23:30.479 When they contract, it means that he's only faking interest. 2221 02:23:30.840 --> 02:23:33.399 Even though he's looking straight at you and wearing a 2222 02:23:33.559 --> 02:23:39.120 rapt expression, his thoughts are miles away. That's so, said Berg, 2223 02:23:39.200 --> 02:23:43.040 and sorto grinned. What else I've learned? That one negative 2224 02:23:43.120 --> 02:23:46.799 argument is worth six positive ones, That it never pays 2225 02:23:46.840 --> 02:23:49.959 to knock your competitor, that it's wise to fight shy 2226 02:23:50.079 --> 02:23:55.239 of that joker known as editorial cooperation. That's so, said Burg. 2227 02:23:55.639 --> 02:23:58.760 Anything else, I made up my mind. I could play 2228 02:23:58.760 --> 02:24:01.600 the game as long as he could. I've learned not 2229 02:24:01.760 --> 02:24:04.120 to lose my temper when I'm in the middle of 2230 02:24:04.159 --> 02:24:08.040 a white hot, impassioned business appeal and the office boy 2231 02:24:08.120 --> 02:24:11.440 bounces in to say to the boss missus Jones is waiting. 2232 02:24:11.559 --> 02:24:13.319 She says, you were going to help her pick out 2233 02:24:13.319 --> 02:24:16.920 wallpaper this morning, and Jones says, tell her I'll be 2234 02:24:17.120 --> 02:24:21.440 there in five minutes. Sure you've learned that, said Berg. Sure, 2235 02:24:21.760 --> 02:24:24.399 says I. And I've learned to let the other fellow 2236 02:24:24.479 --> 02:24:28.200 take your argument's his own. He likes it. I've learned 2237 02:24:28.200 --> 02:24:31.319 that the surest kind of copy is the slow and 2238 02:24:31.520 --> 02:24:36.479 citious kind, like the Featherloom Petticoat Company's campaign. That was 2239 02:24:36.520 --> 02:24:40.280 an ideal campaign because it didn't urge and insist that 2240 02:24:40.399 --> 02:24:44.440 the public buy featherlooms, just ease the idea to them. 2241 02:24:45.079 --> 02:24:48.360 It started by sketching a history of the petticoat, beginning 2242 02:24:48.399 --> 02:24:51.719 with Eve's fig leaf, and working up before they knew it. 2243 02:24:51.879 --> 02:24:56.520 They were interested, not so that campaign was your mother's eye, 2244 02:24:56.600 --> 02:25:00.000 Dear mic Chesney. You know, mother, he thinks you're a one, 2245 02:25:00.879 --> 02:25:04.879 So I am agreed, Emma McChesney, calmly go on, well, 2246 02:25:05.079 --> 02:25:07.840 I went on. I told him that I had learned 2247 02:25:07.840 --> 02:25:10.360 to stand so that the light wouldn't shine in my 2248 02:25:10.479 --> 02:25:13.440 client's eyes when I was talking to him. I lost 2249 02:25:13.440 --> 02:25:16.120 a big arder once because the glare from the window 2250 02:25:16.239 --> 02:25:19.360 irritated the man I was talking to. I told Berg 2251 02:25:19.559 --> 02:25:22.200 all the tricks I'd learned, and some I hadn't thought 2252 02:25:22.200 --> 02:25:25.280 of till that minute. Berg put in a word now, 2253 02:25:25.319 --> 02:25:27.799 and then I thought he was sort of guiding me, 2254 02:25:27.959 --> 02:25:31.719 as he sometimes does, not unkindly, you know, but in 2255 02:25:31.760 --> 02:25:35.520 that quiet way he has. Finally I stopped for breath 2256 02:25:35.639 --> 02:25:38.760 or something, and he said, now let me talk a minute. 2257 02:25:38.840 --> 02:25:42.760 Mc chesney. Anybody can teach you the essentials of the 2258 02:25:42.840 --> 02:25:47.200 advertising business if you've any advertising instinct in you. But 2259 02:25:47.319 --> 02:25:49.959 it's what you pick up on the side, by your 2260 02:25:50.000 --> 02:25:53.639 own efforts and out of your own experience, that lifts 2261 02:25:53.639 --> 02:25:56.920 you out of the scrub class. Now, I don't think 2262 02:25:56.959 --> 02:26:00.120 you're an ideal advertising man by any means, mc chesney. 2263 02:26:00.440 --> 02:26:04.399 You're shy on training and experience, and you've just begun 2264 02:26:04.479 --> 02:26:08.000 to acquire that golden quality known as balance. I could 2265 02:26:08.079 --> 02:26:11.479 name a hundred men that are better all round advertising 2266 02:26:11.520 --> 02:26:15.280 men than you will ever be. Those men have advertising 2267 02:26:15.319 --> 02:26:19.959 ability that glows steadily and evenly, like a well banked fire. 2268 02:26:21.000 --> 02:26:24.079 But you've got the kind of ability that flares up, 2269 02:26:24.319 --> 02:26:28.040 dies down, flares up. But every flare is a real 2270 02:26:28.159 --> 02:26:31.920 blaze that lights things red while it lasts and sends 2271 02:26:31.920 --> 02:26:35.520 a new glow through the veins of business. You've got personality, 2272 02:26:35.879 --> 02:26:39.680 and youth and enthusiasm and a precious spark of the 2273 02:26:39.760 --> 02:26:43.959 real thing known as advertising genius. There's no describing it. 2274 02:26:44.280 --> 02:26:47.719 You know what I mean. Also, you know enough about 2275 02:26:47.760 --> 02:26:51.040 actual advertising not to run an ad for a five 2276 02:26:51.079 --> 02:26:54.639 thousand dollar motor car in the police gazette. All of 2277 02:26:54.680 --> 02:26:57.840 which leads up to this question, how would you like 2278 02:26:57.920 --> 02:27:02.280 to buy your necktars in Chicago? Mc chesney, Chicago, I've 2279 02:27:02.280 --> 02:27:05.159 blurted out. We've taken a suite of offices in the 2280 02:27:05.200 --> 02:27:08.959 new Lakeview Building on Michigan Avenue. Would you like your 2281 02:27:09.000 --> 02:27:12.680 office done in Mahogany or oak? Jack came to a 2282 02:27:12.719 --> 02:27:17.040 full stop before his mother. His cheeks were scarlet, hers 2283 02:27:17.079 --> 02:27:21.479 were pale. He was breathing quickly. She very quiet. His 2284 02:27:21.600 --> 02:27:25.399 eyes glowed, so did hers, but the glow was dimmed 2285 02:27:25.600 --> 02:27:29.719 by a mist. Mahogany's richer, but make it oak Son, 2286 02:27:30.200 --> 02:27:34.399 it doesn't show finger marks. So then quite suddenly she 2287 02:27:34.520 --> 02:27:37.280 stood up, shaking a little, and buried her face in 2288 02:27:37.360 --> 02:27:42.120 the boy's shoulder. Why why, mother, don't don't Blondie. We'll 2289 02:27:42.159 --> 02:27:45.000 see each other every few weeks. I'll be coming to 2290 02:27:45.040 --> 02:27:47.079 New York to see the sights like the rest of 2291 02:27:47.120 --> 02:27:49.879 the Rubes, and I suppose the noise and lights will 2292 02:27:49.920 --> 02:27:53.000 confuse me so that I'll be glad to get back 2293 02:27:53.079 --> 02:27:56.120 to the Sylvan quiet of Chicago. And then you'll run 2294 02:27:56.159 --> 02:28:00.399 out there. Eh, we'll have regular bats, missus mac enterant 2295 02:28:00.399 --> 02:28:04.479 theater and supper. Yes, yes, said Emma mc chesney in 2296 02:28:04.559 --> 02:28:10.280 muffled tones that totally lacked enthusiasm. Chicago's really only a 2297 02:28:10.280 --> 02:28:14.120 suburb of New York anyway these days, And Emma mcchesney's 2298 02:28:14.200 --> 02:28:18.040 head came up sharply. Look here, Son, if you're going 2299 02:28:18.079 --> 02:28:20.840 to live in Chicago, I advise you to cut that 2300 02:28:21.120 --> 02:28:25.639 suburb talk and start to forget New York. Chicago's quite 2301 02:28:25.680 --> 02:28:28.600 a village for an inland settlement, even if it has 2302 02:28:28.719 --> 02:28:31.079 only two or three million people, and the lake as 2303 02:28:31.079 --> 02:28:34.600 big as all outdoors that kind of talk won't elect 2304 02:28:34.639 --> 02:28:38.719 you to the university club, son. So they talked all 2305 02:28:38.760 --> 02:28:42.639 through supper and during the evening. Rather, Jock talked and 2306 02:28:42.680 --> 02:28:46.760 his mother listened, interrupting with only an occasional remark. When 2307 02:28:46.760 --> 02:28:49.520 the bubble of the boy's elation seemed to grow too great. 2308 02:28:50.280 --> 02:28:54.559 Quite suddenly, Jock was silent. After the almost incessant rush 2309 02:28:54.600 --> 02:28:58.559 of conversation, quiet settled down strangely on the two Seated 2310 02:28:58.600 --> 02:29:01.879 there in the living room with its soft shaded lamps, 2311 02:29:02.440 --> 02:29:06.159 Jock picked up a magazine, twirled its pages, put it down, 2312 02:29:06.719 --> 02:29:11.200 strolled into his own room, and back again. Mother, he said, suddenly, 2313 02:29:11.239 --> 02:29:14.399 standing before her, there was a time when you were 2314 02:29:14.479 --> 02:29:18.000 afraid I wasn't going to pan out, wasn't there Not 2315 02:29:18.159 --> 02:29:23.040 exactly afraid, dear, just a little doubtful, Perhaps Jock forced 2316 02:29:23.079 --> 02:29:27.319 a tolerant forgiving smile. You see, Mother, you didn't understand. 2317 02:29:27.520 --> 02:29:31.399 That's all a woman doesn't. I was all right. A 2318 02:29:31.559 --> 02:29:34.239 man would have realized that. I don't mean, Dear, that 2319 02:29:34.319 --> 02:29:37.959 you haven't always been wonderful, because you have. But it 2320 02:29:38.040 --> 02:29:41.079 takes a man to understand a man. When you thought 2321 02:29:41.079 --> 02:29:43.600 I was going bad on your hands, I was just 2322 02:29:43.680 --> 02:29:48.559 developing that's all. Remember that time in Chicago, mother, Yes, 2323 02:29:49.159 --> 02:29:52.680 answered Emma mc chesney. I remember now, A man would 2324 02:29:52.719 --> 02:29:56.319 have understood that that was only kid foolishness. If a 2325 02:29:56.360 --> 02:29:59.120 fellow's got the stuff in him, it'll show up sooner 2326 02:29:59.200 --> 02:30:02.079 or later. If I hadn't had it in me, I 2327 02:30:02.159 --> 02:30:05.559 wouldn't be going to Chicago as manager of the Berg 2328 02:30:05.719 --> 02:30:10.079 Shriner Western Office, would I. No, Dear Jock looked at her. 2329 02:30:10.479 --> 02:30:15.239 In an instant he was all contrition and tenderness. You're tired. 2330 02:30:15.440 --> 02:30:18.879 I've talked you to death, haven't I? Lordy, It's midnight, 2331 02:30:19.200 --> 02:30:22.239 and I want to get down early tomorrow conference with 2332 02:30:22.319 --> 02:30:26.239 mister Berg and hup. He tried not to sound too important. 2333 02:30:26.799 --> 02:30:30.200 Emma mc chesney took his head between her two hands 2334 02:30:30.680 --> 02:30:34.319 and kissed him once on the lips, then, standing a tiptoe, 2335 02:30:34.680 --> 02:30:37.959 kissed his eyelids with infinite gentleness, as you kiss a 2336 02:30:38.040 --> 02:30:42.079 baby's eyes. Then she brought his cheek up against hers, 2337 02:30:42.559 --> 02:30:46.760 and so they stood for a moment silently. Ten minutes 2338 02:30:46.840 --> 02:30:50.479 later there came the sound of blythe whistling from Jock's room. 2339 02:30:50.959 --> 02:30:53.319 Jock always whistled when he went to bed and when 2340 02:30:53.360 --> 02:30:56.319 he rose, even these years of living in a New 2341 02:30:56.360 --> 02:30:59.520 York apartment had not broken him of the habit. It 2342 02:30:59.600 --> 02:31:04.600 was a cheerful, disconnected whistling, sometimes high and clear, sometimes 2343 02:31:04.719 --> 02:31:09.280 under the breath, sometimes interspersed with song, and sometimes seizing 2344 02:31:09.319 --> 02:31:14.120 altogether at critical moments, say during shaving, or while bringing 2345 02:31:14.159 --> 02:31:17.079 the foreign hand up tight and snug under the collar. 2346 02:31:17.520 --> 02:31:20.799 It was one of those comfortable little noises that indicate 2347 02:31:20.920 --> 02:31:25.479 a masculine presence, one of those pleasant, reassuring men in 2348 02:31:25.520 --> 02:31:29.799 the house, noises that every woman loves. Emma mc chesney, 2349 02:31:29.959 --> 02:31:32.360 putting herself to bed in her room across the hall, 2350 02:31:32.879 --> 02:31:37.719 found herself listening, brush poised, lips parted as though to 2351 02:31:37.799 --> 02:31:42.120 the exquisite strains of celestial music. There came the thump 2352 02:31:42.159 --> 02:31:45.040 of a shoe on the floor, an interval of quiet, 2353 02:31:45.479 --> 02:31:49.440 then another thump. Without having been conscious of it, Emma 2354 02:31:49.520 --> 02:31:52.760 mc chesney had grown to love the noises that accompanied 2355 02:31:52.920 --> 02:31:57.479 Jock's retiring and rising. His dressing was always signaled by 2356 02:31:57.639 --> 02:32:02.360 bangings and thumpings. His splash in the tub were tremendous. 2357 02:32:02.799 --> 02:32:05.360 His morning plunge could be heard all over the six 2358 02:32:05.479 --> 02:32:09.000 room apartment. Missus mc chesney used to call gaily through 2359 02:32:09.040 --> 02:32:11.680 the door. Mercy Jock, you sound like a school of 2360 02:32:11.680 --> 02:32:14.639 whales coming up for air. You'll think I'm a school 2361 02:32:14.680 --> 02:32:17.159 of sharks. When it comes to breakfast, Jock would call back, 2362 02:32:17.479 --> 02:32:21.000 Tell Annie to make enough toast. Mum, she's the tightest 2363 02:32:21.000 --> 02:32:23.639 thing with the toast I ever did. The rest would 2364 02:32:23.680 --> 02:32:28.000 be lost and a final surging splash. The noises in 2365 02:32:28.040 --> 02:32:31.719 the room across the hall had subsided. Now she listened 2366 02:32:31.760 --> 02:32:37.040 more intently. No, a jar banged another. Then hasn't my 2367 02:32:37.200 --> 02:32:40.040 gray suit come back from the tailors? It was to 2368 02:32:40.079 --> 02:32:43.280 be sponged too, you know, he said he'd bring it Wednesday. 2369 02:32:43.360 --> 02:32:48.680 This is Tuesday. Oh another bang? Then night mother, good night. 2370 02:32:48.760 --> 02:32:54.200 Dear creaking sounds and a long, comfortable sigh of complete relaxation. 2371 02:32:55.000 --> 02:32:58.600 Emma mc chesney went on with her brushing. She brushed 2372 02:32:58.639 --> 02:33:02.000 her hair with the usual number of swift, even strokes 2373 02:33:02.280 --> 02:33:04.479 from the top of the shining head to the waist. 2374 02:33:05.000 --> 02:33:10.239 She braided her hair into two plaits, Gretchen fashion. Millions 2375 02:33:10.280 --> 02:33:13.600 of scantily locked women would have given all they possessed 2376 02:33:13.760 --> 02:33:16.959 to look as Emma mc chesney looked, standing there in 2377 02:33:17.000 --> 02:33:20.600 kimono and gown. She nicked out the light. Then she 2378 02:33:20.840 --> 02:33:24.600 too relaxed upon her pillow with a little sigh. Quiet 2379 02:33:24.600 --> 02:33:27.639 fell on the little apartment. The street noises came up 2380 02:33:27.680 --> 02:33:31.879 to her, now roaring, now growing faint. Emma mc chesney 2381 02:33:32.200 --> 02:33:37.440 lay there, sleepless. She lay flat, hands clasped across her breast, 2382 02:33:37.719 --> 02:33:40.879 her braids spread out on the pillow. In the darkness 2383 02:33:40.920 --> 02:33:44.799 of the room. The years rolled before her in panorama, 2384 02:33:45.159 --> 02:33:50.000 Her girlhood, her marriage, her unhappiness, Jock, the divorce, the 2385 02:33:50.079 --> 02:33:53.639 struggle for work. Those ten years on the road, Those 2386 02:33:53.920 --> 02:33:57.719 ten years on the road, How she had hated them 2387 02:33:58.000 --> 02:34:03.040 and loved them. The stuffs, the jarring sleepers, the bare 2388 02:34:03.120 --> 02:34:08.280 little hotel bedrooms, the bad food, the irregular hours, the loneliness, 2389 02:34:08.319 --> 02:34:13.040 the hard work, the disappointments, the temptations. Yes, but the 2390 02:34:13.079 --> 02:34:16.840 fascination of it, the dear friends she had made, the 2391 02:34:16.840 --> 02:34:20.280 great human lessons of it. All and all for Jock, 2392 02:34:20.760 --> 02:34:24.280 that Jock might have good schools, good clothes, good books, 2393 02:34:24.600 --> 02:34:28.440 good surroundings, happy times. Why Jock had been the reason 2394 02:34:28.520 --> 02:34:31.879 for it all. She had swallowed insult because of Jock. 2395 02:34:32.280 --> 02:34:35.360 She had borne the drudgery because of Jock. She had 2396 02:34:35.399 --> 02:34:41.639 resisted temptation, smiled under hardship, worked, fought, saved, succeeded, all 2397 02:34:41.840 --> 02:34:45.559 because of Jock. And now this pivot about which her 2398 02:34:45.639 --> 02:34:49.639 whole life had revolved was to be pulled up, wrenched away. 2399 02:34:50.479 --> 02:34:54.280 Over Emma McChesney, lying there in the dark, there swept 2400 02:34:54.319 --> 02:34:58.399 one of those unreasoning night fears, the fear of living, 2401 02:34:58.719 --> 02:35:02.200 the fear of life, a straining of the eyeballs in 2402 02:35:02.239 --> 02:35:05.600 the dark, the pounding of heartbeats. She sat up in bed, 2403 02:35:05.920 --> 02:35:09.079 Her hands went to her face. Her cheeks were burning, 2404 02:35:09.079 --> 02:35:12.840 and her eyes smarted. She felt that she must see 2405 02:35:12.959 --> 02:35:16.600 Jock at once, just to be near him, to touch him, 2406 02:35:17.239 --> 02:35:19.719 to take him in her arms, with his head in 2407 02:35:19.799 --> 02:35:22.360 the hollow of her breast, as she used to when 2408 02:35:22.360 --> 02:35:24.920 he was a baby. Why he had been a baby 2409 02:35:25.000 --> 02:35:28.680 only yesterday, and now he was a man, big enough 2410 02:35:28.719 --> 02:35:31.879 to stand alone, to live alone, to do without her. 2411 02:35:32.520 --> 02:35:36.000 Emma mc chesney flung aside the covers and sprang out 2412 02:35:36.000 --> 02:35:39.319 of bed. She thrust her feet in slippers, groped for 2413 02:35:39.399 --> 02:35:41.559 the kimono at the foot of the bed, and tiptoed 2414 02:35:41.600 --> 02:35:45.520 to the door. She listened no sound from the other room. 2415 02:35:45.959 --> 02:35:50.120 She stole across the hall, stopped, listened, gained the door. 2416 02:35:50.799 --> 02:35:53.520 It was opened an inch or more, just to be 2417 02:35:53.760 --> 02:35:56.920 near him, to know that he lay there sleeping. She 2418 02:35:57.000 --> 02:36:00.959 pushed the door very very gently. Then she stood in 2419 02:36:00.959 --> 02:36:05.120 the doorway a moment, scarcely breathing, her head thrust forward, 2420 02:36:05.440 --> 02:36:09.159 her whole body tense with listening. She could not hear 2421 02:36:09.239 --> 02:36:13.200 him breathe. She caught her breath again in that unreasoning fear, 2422 02:36:13.479 --> 02:36:16.399 and took a quick step forward. Stop or I'll shoot, 2423 02:36:16.600 --> 02:36:21.479 said a voice. Simultaneously. The light flashed on. Emma McChesney 2424 02:36:21.760 --> 02:36:25.200 found herself blinking at a determined young man who was 2425 02:36:25.239 --> 02:36:29.319 steadily pointing a short, chubby, businesslike looking steel affair in 2426 02:36:29.360 --> 02:36:32.719 her direction. Then the hand that held the steel dropped. 2427 02:36:33.200 --> 02:36:36.920 What is this anyway? Demanded Jock rather crossly at George 2428 02:36:36.959 --> 02:36:40.799 Cohan comedy. Emma mc chesney leaned against the foot of 2429 02:36:40.840 --> 02:36:44.959 the bed rather weakly. What did you think? What would 2430 02:36:44.959 --> 02:36:47.879 you think if you heard someone come sneaking along the hall, 2431 02:36:48.360 --> 02:36:52.040 stopping listening, sneaking to your door, and then opening it 2432 02:36:52.120 --> 02:36:55.159 and listening again and sneaking in. What would you think 2433 02:36:55.200 --> 02:36:57.600 it was? How did I know you were going to 2434 02:36:57.639 --> 02:37:01.719 go around making social calls at two o'clock in the morning. Suddenly, 2435 02:37:01.920 --> 02:37:05.639 Emma McChesney began to laugh. She leaned over the footboard 2436 02:37:05.840 --> 02:37:10.520 and laughed hysterically, her head in her arms. Jock stared 2437 02:37:10.520 --> 02:37:13.799 a moment in offended disapproval. Then the humor of it 2438 02:37:13.920 --> 02:37:16.799 caught him, and he buried his head in his pillow 2439 02:37:17.159 --> 02:37:23.159 to stifle unseemly shrieks. His legs kicked spasmodically beneath the bedclothes. 2440 02:37:23.799 --> 02:37:27.079 As suddenly as she had begun to laugh, missus McChesney 2441 02:37:27.120 --> 02:37:30.840 became very sober. Stop it, Jock, Tell me, why weren't 2442 02:37:30.840 --> 02:37:34.920 you sleeping? I don't know, replied Jock, as suddenly solemn. 2443 02:37:35.319 --> 02:37:39.159 I sort of began to think, and I couldn't sleep. 2444 02:37:39.479 --> 02:37:42.399 What were you thinking of? Jock looked down at the 2445 02:37:42.399 --> 02:37:46.479 bedclothes and traced the pattern with one forefinger on the sheet. 2446 02:37:46.719 --> 02:37:51.440 Then he looked up, thinking of you, oh, said Emma McChesney, 2447 02:37:51.479 --> 02:37:55.680 like a bashful schoolgirl, of me. Jock sat up very 2448 02:37:55.719 --> 02:37:59.440 straight and clasped his hands about his knees. I got 2449 02:37:59.440 --> 02:38:01.600 to think, in as what I had said about having 2450 02:38:01.639 --> 02:38:06.319 made good all along, that's rot. It isn't so. I 2451 02:38:06.440 --> 02:38:08.959 was striped with yellow like a stick of lemon candy. 2452 02:38:09.319 --> 02:38:12.040 If I've got this far. It's all because of you. 2453 02:38:12.799 --> 02:38:15.840 I've been thinking all along that I was the original 2454 02:38:15.879 --> 02:38:19.399 electric self starter when you really had to get out 2455 02:38:19.440 --> 02:38:23.280 and crak me every few miles. Into Emma mc chesney's 2456 02:38:23.319 --> 02:38:26.360 face there came a wonderful look. It was the sort 2457 02:38:26.399 --> 02:38:29.399 of look with which a newly made angel might receive 2458 02:38:29.440 --> 02:38:32.120 her crown and harp. It was the look with which 2459 02:38:32.159 --> 02:38:35.079 a war hero sees the metal pinned on his breast. 2460 02:38:35.600 --> 02:38:37.799 It was the look of one who had come into 2461 02:38:37.879 --> 02:38:42.760 her reward. Therefore, what nonsense, said Emma mc chesney. If 2462 02:38:42.799 --> 02:38:45.079 you hadn't had it in you, it wouldn't have come out. 2463 02:38:45.520 --> 02:38:49.120 It wasn't in me in the first place, contested Jock, stubbornly, 2464 02:38:49.479 --> 02:38:52.360 you planted it from her stand at the foot of 2465 02:38:52.399 --> 02:38:55.600 the bed. She looked at him, her eyes glowing brighter 2466 02:38:55.600 --> 02:38:59.159 and brighter with that wonderful look. Now see here, severely, 2467 02:38:59.559 --> 02:39:02.000 I want you to go to sleep. I don't intend 2468 02:39:02.079 --> 02:39:05.360 to stand here and dispute about your ethical innards at 2469 02:39:05.360 --> 02:39:09.159 this hour. I'm going to kiss you again. Oh well, 2470 02:39:09.239 --> 02:39:13.280 if you must, grinned Jock resignedly and folded her in 2471 02:39:13.399 --> 02:39:18.319 a bear hug. To Imma McChesney, it seemed that the 2472 02:39:18.319 --> 02:39:21.799 next three weeks leaped by, not by days, but in 2473 02:39:21.879 --> 02:39:25.799 one great bound. And the day came when a little, chattering, 2474 02:39:25.959 --> 02:39:29.799 animated group clustered about the slim, young chap who was 2475 02:39:29.879 --> 02:39:33.639 fumbling with his tickets, glancing at his watch, signaling a 2476 02:39:33.680 --> 02:39:37.440 porter for his bags, talking, laughing, trying to hide the 2477 02:39:37.479 --> 02:39:41.559 pangs of departure under a cloak of gaiety and bandage 2478 02:39:41.559 --> 02:39:44.959 that deceived no one, least of all did it deceive 2479 02:39:45.079 --> 02:39:47.719 the two women who stood there. The eyes of the 2480 02:39:47.760 --> 02:39:51.079 older woman never left his face. The eyes of the 2481 02:39:51.120 --> 02:39:54.920 younger one seldom were raised to his, but she saw 2482 02:39:55.040 --> 02:40:00.000 his every expression. Once Emma mcchesney's eyes shifted a little 2483 02:40:00.479 --> 02:40:03.159 so as to include both the girl and the boy 2484 02:40:03.280 --> 02:40:06.840 in her gaze. Grace Skult, in her blue surge and 2485 02:40:07.040 --> 02:40:11.440 smart blue hat, was worth a separate glance. Sam Hupp 2486 02:40:11.559 --> 02:40:14.440 was there t a buck hopper who was to be 2487 02:40:14.520 --> 02:40:17.040 with him in Chicago for the first few weeks. Three 2488 02:40:17.159 --> 02:40:19.559 or four of the younger men in the office. Frankly 2489 02:40:19.719 --> 02:40:23.760 envious and heartily congratulatory, they followed him to his train, 2490 02:40:24.239 --> 02:40:27.639 all laughter in animation. If this train doesn't go in 2491 02:40:27.680 --> 02:40:30.040 two minutes, said Jock I'll get scared and chuck the 2492 02:40:30.079 --> 02:40:33.680 whole business funny. But I'm not so keen on going 2493 02:40:33.719 --> 02:40:37.159 as there was three weeks ago, his eyes rested on 2494 02:40:37.239 --> 02:40:39.680 the girl in the blue surge and the smart hat. 2495 02:40:40.040 --> 02:40:43.600 Emma mc chesney saw that. She saw that his eyes 2496 02:40:43.760 --> 02:40:46.959 still rested there as he stood on the observation platform 2497 02:40:47.239 --> 02:40:50.040 when the train pulled out. The sight did not pain 2498 02:40:50.120 --> 02:40:52.959 her as she thought it would. There was success in 2499 02:40:53.120 --> 02:40:56.280 every line of him as he stood there, hat in hand. 2500 02:40:56.680 --> 02:40:59.600 There was assurance in every breadth of him. His clothes, 2501 02:40:59.639 --> 02:41:03.040 his skins, in his clear eyes, his slim body, all 2502 02:41:03.120 --> 02:41:06.040 were as they should be. He had made a place 2503 02:41:06.159 --> 02:41:09.120 in the world. He was to be a builder of ideas. 2504 02:41:09.719 --> 02:41:11.760 She thought of him, and of the girl in the 2505 02:41:11.799 --> 02:41:15.639 blue serge, and of their children to be. Her breast 2506 02:41:15.760 --> 02:41:20.319 swelled exultingly. Her head came up. This was her handiwork. 2507 02:41:20.719 --> 02:41:22.879 She looked at it and found that it was good. 2508 02:41:23.959 --> 02:41:27.000 Let's strike for the afternoon and call it holiday, suggested Buck. 2509 02:41:27.360 --> 02:41:31.680 Emma McChesney turned. The train was gone. Ta, Yu'll never 2510 02:41:31.760 --> 02:41:35.200 grow up, never want to come on. Let's play hooky, Emma, 2511 02:41:35.440 --> 02:41:38.319 can't I've a dozen letters to get out and miss 2512 02:41:38.360 --> 02:41:41.680 Lowe wants to show me that new knickerbocker design of hers. 2513 02:41:42.079 --> 02:41:45.799 They drove back to the office almost in silence. Emma 2514 02:41:45.879 --> 02:41:48.920 mc chesney made straight for her desk and began dictating 2515 02:41:49.000 --> 02:41:52.799 letters with an energy that bordered on fury. At five o'clock, 2516 02:41:53.000 --> 02:41:55.760 she was still working. At five point thirty, t A 2517 02:41:55.879 --> 02:42:01.120 Buck came in to find her, still surrounded by papers, set, apples, models. 2518 02:42:01.719 --> 02:42:05.200 What is this, he demanded, wrathfully, an all night's session. 2519 02:42:05.760 --> 02:42:08.639 Emma mc chesney looked up from her desk. Her face 2520 02:42:08.760 --> 02:42:11.920 was flushed, her eyes bright, but there was about her 2521 02:42:11.959 --> 02:42:16.920 an indefinable air of weariness. Ta I'm afraid to go home. 2522 02:42:17.440 --> 02:42:19.959 I'll rattle around in that empty flat like a hickory 2523 02:42:20.079 --> 02:42:22.879 nut in a barrel. We'll have dinner down town and 2524 02:42:22.920 --> 02:42:26.280 go to the theater. No use, I'll have to go 2525 02:42:26.399 --> 02:42:31.120 home sometime now, Emma remonstrated, Buck. You'll soon get used 2526 02:42:31.120 --> 02:42:33.319 to it. Think of all the years you got along 2527 02:42:33.360 --> 02:42:37.159 without him. You were happy, weren't you happy? Because I 2528 02:42:37.360 --> 02:42:41.319 had somebody to work, for, somebody to plan, for somebody 2529 02:42:41.360 --> 02:42:44.360 to worry about. When I think what that flat will 2530 02:42:44.399 --> 02:42:47.280 be without him? Why just to wake up and know 2531 02:42:47.360 --> 02:42:49.840 that you can say good morning to someone who cares. 2532 02:42:50.440 --> 02:42:54.079 That's worth living for, isn't it, Emma said, Ta evenly, 2533 02:42:54.520 --> 02:42:58.000 do you realize that you are virtually hounding me into 2534 02:42:58.040 --> 02:43:03.399 asking you to marry me? A gasped Emma mc chesney. Well, 2535 02:43:03.559 --> 02:43:06.159 you said you wanted somebody to worry about, didn't you. 2536 02:43:07.040 --> 02:43:11.159 A little whimsical smile lay lightly on his lips, Timothy Buck, 2537 02:43:11.479 --> 02:43:16.200 I'm over forty years old, Emma. In another minute, I'm 2538 02:43:16.280 --> 02:43:19.799 going to grow sentimental, and nothing can stop me. She 2539 02:43:19.920 --> 02:43:23.479 looked down at her hands. There fell a little silence. 2540 02:43:23.959 --> 02:43:28.000 Buck stirred, leaned forward. She looked up from the little 2541 02:43:28.000 --> 02:43:31.399 watch that ticked away at her wrist. The minutes up, 2542 02:43:31.600 --> 02:43:37.040 ta said Emma mc chesney. End of chapter five in 2543 02:43:37.440 --> 02:43:40.319 of Personality Plus by Edna Ferber