Life — June 14, 1906 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

-LIFE-: A Valuable Tip R. JAMES BULGER, multimil- lionaire and head of the financial world, sat in his inner office. Mr. William Colby, his private secretary, sat just outside in the reception-room. The door opened softly and Mr Creighton Cushton, the well-known newspaper man, entered “Ah, good moming, Mr. Cushton Glad you came in.” The private secretary motioned toward the closed door. Mr. Bulger will be more than glad to see you, sir. Those articles of yours were fine—fine, sir—much appreciated.” Mr. Cushton sat down, pufling a cigar. “He liked them, did he?” he asked, carelessly. “Immensely. They are just what was needed to counteract the terrible, malicious cartoons and scandalous things that have been appearing about him. Why, sir, any one would think, to read what some of the papers print, that Mr. Bulger was a fiend incarnate had robbed his country and all his friends and ought to be in jail. But your articles, sir, written in a calm, equable vein, have showed that Mr. Bulger, on the contra: is a quiet, unassuming, godlike man, kind to his neighbors, devout in his attitude, and, in fact, the best type of a Christian gentleman, Splendid! You got just the right touch to them. I'll tell Mr. Bulger you are here!” The private secretary knocked at the door leading to the private office. He entered, and retumed. “Mr. Bulger will be delighted to see you. Has just concluded your very finished story in Munther’s magazine, and is in fine humor.” “That's good.” Mr. Cushton entered Mr. Bulger’s private office. That gen- tleman’s sharp, ferret-like eyes looked him through and through. His clean, ascetic face broke into a hearty smile. “Ah, Mr. Cushton, I'm glad to see you. Sit down.” “Thank you, sir.” “You've succeeded admirably, sir. Those stories of yours about me have been splendid. All my friends have spoken of them, Just what was needed to counterbalance those scan- dalous attacks. Why, sir, I see that even the ministers have been influenced by all these false reports and cartoons. Here's a story saying they have even refused to accept a little gift I made toa mission. Scandalous, isn’t it? But I feel sure, sir, that your articles showing me in my home life—as I really am —will do great good. And they don’t gush—that’s the best of it. They are just right. Now, Mr. Cushton, to business. You've done me a good service, and I want to repay you. Your time is valuable, sir. What—er—would you suggest?” Mr. Cushton looked out of the window meditatively. He was wondering how much Mr. Bulger could stand. A million would have been nothing to that astute gentleman. On the other hand, Cushton would have been glad at any time to have sold a series of articles such as he had written for fifty dollars apiece—indeed, this was about what he had received. “T don’t know, sir,” he replied. “Suppose I leave it to you?” Mr. Bulger with his private check book in front of him, his. pen poised in his hand, paused for a moment as his keen eyes scrutinized Mr. Cushton “About how much,” he said at last, as if echoing that per- son’s thoughts, “did you receive for these articles from the publishers direct?” Mr. Cushton smiled. He had already made up his mind that he ought to have made his bargain beforehand. He was dealing with a past master in the art of finance. “The value of the articles to the periodicals themselves, sir, he replied, “are as nothing compared with their value to you. Suppose we say a couple of thousand?” The pen—more mighty than any sword than government itself—was softly Apparently there was no hesitation. “Ah! very well.” Mr. Cushton smiled. It was really as much as he had a right to expect. Besides his suspense was over. The great man wrote. “By the way, Mr. Cushton, allow me to compliment you again. You are evidently widely known. Your influence More potent, even, dipped in the ink. “WELL SUPPOSE IT'S LOVE THAT MAKES THE WORLD Go ROUND” comicbooks.com