Life — March 21, 1907 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

a THIS IS THE SAME APTER BEING HIT BY PROFESSOR OZONE’S BALLOON hadn’t gotten here as I did, you might have married the Duke, and left me alone in the world with only Wall Street and the national banks of the country behind me, But what are they, compared with true love?” “When does the Interstate Commerce Commission meet?” falteringly asked Beatrice. “Next Tuesday.” “Then we must get married at once.” “You are, indeed, a quick reasoner.” In the meantime Duke Lodowne had not been idle. From house to house he spread the news that Beatrice Cashburn had disgraced her family. ‘The result was that the wedding, which took place the next day, was attended only bya few igno- rant people who did not read the papers or had not seen Duke Lodowne, and was scarcely worth putting up the awnings for, there being only four or five millions’ worth of presents at the most. “Never mind, darling,” said E, H. & posure: “Pe Ticker, after the ceremony, “Virtue will have its reward.” He then hurried away to prepare his evidence for the Interstate Commerce body met on Tuesday, as an- nounced in the financial columns. Mr. E. H. Ticker was promptly on hand. The investigation began at once. “Your name is E. H. Ticker?’ “Yes, sir.” “How many railroads do you own?” “T can’t remember.” “But, gencrally speaking, quitea num- ber?” . “Oh, yes, several. “How did you acquire them?” Counsel for Mr. Ticker now sprang to his feet. “T object,” he said, “to this line of testimony. Gentlemen, for days now I have carefully and prayerfully considered this question. No trust in the country will be safe if you keep on. The private affairs of my client must not be ruthlessly paraded before a vulgar people who are not supposed to know anything of busi- ness anyway. Besides, all these ex- create class feeling.” Mr. ‘Ticker smiled. “Never mind,” he said; “I'd just as soon explain as not. You see I started with a hundred millions. With this I bought a nice, reliable railroad, one that I could be seen with and not blush, Then I borrowed enough on this road to buy another. Then I had two. With two railroads I got a third.”” A CHAIN OF EVIDENCE 413 “You now had one hundred and forty six millions, did you not ?”” “Really can’t say. Might have been one hundred and forty-six or two hundred and forty-six millions. Can’t remember detail: You didn’t speculate?” “Spectilate!: Where have I heard that word before? Dear me, no. I merely bought for permanent investment.” “Ah, yes. Now, Mr. Ticker, what makes a railroad valuable?” “People.” “What else?” “Land.” “What else ?”” Mr. Ticker smiled. “Water.” “Then when you grab a thing which belongs to the people, and use it for purposes of manipulation, you are— what?” “A financier, also robber and thief.” Mr. Ticker’s counsel again sprang to his feet. “T object,” he cried. “This is nothing short of disgraceful. High finance should be held more sacred. As a member of the church and the Republican party, T+ protest. “Nonsense!” It was Ticker who spoke. “Sit down,” he continued, “and don’t care. I’m going to retire in a few months, so it doesn’t matter. Gentlemen, the fact is ’'ma foxy financier. ‘The people are my puppets. I juggle with millions for pastime. I ought to be doing time in jail, but you can’t put your finger on me, I am so big. Why, if you should pull me comicbooks.com