The Janitor

Tom, aged seven, and Mary, eighteen, are children of Mrs. .lake Gruber, by a former husband. Jake is a loafer and bum, janitor of a New York flat house, but Mrs. Gruber, a patient slave, does nearly all the work. She is assisted only by her son and daughter, mornings and nights, before going to work, and after coming home, but never, except reluctantly, by Jake, who spends the most of his time at the corner saloon or rushing the growler when the saloon keeper has closed him out. The children, who are getting on in their employment, are arriving at an age when they are ready to rebel from their stepfather's brutal tyranny and shiftless habits. Mary has met a young man, Henry, who is attracted by her, but she is ashamed and afraid to let him call at her home in the janitor's quarters in the basement, so her mother permits her to receive her caller in the apartment of a family on an upper floor, who are away on a visit. Jake comes home drunk. He wants money, but Tom refuses him. Mother has been with Mary and her caller, but she leaves them temporarily and goes to the cellar where she finds Jake. She has no money for Jake, who follows her to the apartment above and makes a scene, demanding money from Mary and exposing the fact that they are in borrowed quarters, which .Mary had tried to conceal. Henry goes, to escape the family quarrel, and Mary believes he is disgusted with her and her people. Mother and daughter return to the basement, followed by Jake, who tries to take money forcibly from Mary, but is prevented by Tom, who fights his father. The next day the landlord notifies Jake he is discharged. Tom and Mary now decide they have enough money to rent a flat for their mother, and they draw their money from the savings bank and prepare to move. When Jake comes in for supper they won't let him eat and Tom throws him out, after showing him their money and declaring they will take care of their mother. Jake seeks consolation with his friends, telling them of the money and the rebellion against his parental authority. They go to the basement to seize the money. Tom barricades the door to their rooms while Jake and his gang try to force their way in with an axe and other weapons and by way of a back window. Meanwhile. Henry has gone to tell Mary he loves her anyway, and he turns the tide of battle at the critical moment. The police drag Jake and his bruised pals away.