Life — March 28, 1907 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

Sanctum Talks OOD-MORNING, Mr. E. H. Har- riman.” “Good-morning, LiF heard of me, I presume.” “Dear me, yes. You know I am a great traveler. I even circulate in Sing Sing.” “Hum! Is that an insinuation? Be- cause if””—— “Notatall! You see, Mr. Harriman, you are too sensitive, and perhaps a trifle nervous. Naturally one becomes timid when” “Well? When what?” “When one is questioned too closely. Besides, Mr. Harriman, there is some authority somewhere for the belief that even a railway magnate may have a con- science.” “And you think I have one?” “Now, now! Please don’t jump at conclusions. I was speaking only in the most vague manner. I appreciate that you are my guest, and I would not need- lessly probe” — “Look here, Lire! secret ?”” “Dear me, yes. You'd be surprised, Mr. Harriman, if I should tellall I know.” You have Can you keep a “Ts there any one around?” “No one but the office teddybear, and he’s gone to sleep over the Congressional Record.” “Well, now, to get down to business. I am nervous, Lire, and I am timid.” “But [ assure you there is no immedi- ate danger. Our people, you know, are very lenient, and the whole affair will blow over in nine days. It always does. ‘Then you can go right on and” — “That isn’t it, Lire.” “Perhaps you're afraid you will lose your money; or have to give it all back.”” “That never occurred to me.” “You are not worried because you can’t get into the best society?” “Oh, no, I gave that up long ago.” “You alarm me. Surely, Mr. Harri- man, a man of your thoroughly practical nature is not worrying about a hereafter? You know that corporations have no souls and just think of all the corporations you are. I wouldn't concern myself the least” —— “Trisn’t that, long ago.” “Then what can it be?” Talso gave up that idea “Tl tell you, Lr confidence, of course.’ “Oh, certainly.” “Well, it’s all a little matter of a hun- dred thousand.” “You amaze me! What can you mean?” “You know I sandbagged the Chicago and Alton?” “T believe I have heard rumors to that effect.” “And got away with twenty-five or fifty or one hundred millions—the precise amount escapes me.” “So you did. This was ascertained several weeks ago, and I had almost for- gotten it” “Well, what do you suppose I did? I actually voted myself, while Iwas doing it, asalary of one hundred thousand dollars.” “What if you did! Wasn't it worth that much—to you?” “But just think of how it looks! It makes me appear so small, so mean, so petty.” “Why don’t you give it back? kins did.” “But don’t you see, L —in the strictest Per- PE, that would be an acknowledgment that I was wrong?” “Haven't you just admitted that you were wrong?” “Dear me, you don’t understand. You are evidently not used to nice moral dis- tinctions.”” “That is probably because I’ve never been in the railroad business.” “Well, now listen carefully and let me explain. That hundred thousand queers me, don’t you understand? It looked as if I was insatiable.” “But aren’t you, Mr. Harriman?” “Now, now, w Don’t you see it puts me in a mistaken light. It was really a mere clerical detail, in the nature of an oversight.” “That is, you would have given your services free—you wouldn’t have taken any salary at all if you had known the thing was coming out?” “Certainly not. And now I’m misun- derstood—misjudged. The boys have the laugh on me. It lays me open to ridicule. I can’t enjoy my millions. It bothers me secretly.” “Don’t let it. Remember that to be misunderstood is the penalty of all true grafting You have only to ask yourself this question’””—— “What is it?” comicbooks.com