Life — May 2, 1907 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

the surface. It really means the continuance of our democratic institutions, hitherto inviolate, in spite of the inroads made upon them in the past. It is a fight to the finish. I need a strong man near me—one in whom by a lifetime of friendship T have absolute confidence. You are that man. ‘The pay is nothing. I know that you have had opportunities to accumu- late, but have not availed yourself of them. I know that this will not matter to you. It may with Margaret. If it does, tell her from me that it will be all right. In asking you thus privately and confidentially to accept the portfolio of Secretary of —— I do so quite unreservedly. You shall have a free hand. Please wire me on receipt of this your answer. If it is “yes,” God bless you. The formalities can be gone through later. Believe me, ever your friend, Courtney got up, went over to the window and looked out upon the crowded street. It was for these people, wandering aimlessly along, with no thought of the silent figure standing there, that he was to give up his life. Tuming decisively, he went back to his desk, reached for a telegraph blank and wrote as follows: To ECUTIVE. MANSION, Wastt You can count on me. H.C. He touched a bell. A young man appeared. “Robert, send this telegram. Take it out yourself to the office, and say nothing about it.” “Very well, sir.” ‘The young man turned. As he did so, there was a knock at the door. It opened, and a man entered—a man whose stately and dignified pres- ence seemed to fill the room. It was Haleton—one of the heads of the financial world—a bachelor, whose extraordinary rise and whose vast fortune had made him not only the envy of that small coterie of wealth seekers who dominated the social world of the Republic, but who was regarded by a hundred anxious mothers as being the greatest catch of a decade. “Ah, Courtney, alone? Good!” “How are you, Haleton? Sit down.” The door closed. Haleton leaned over. “Do you mind doing me a favor, old man?” “Certainly not. What is it?” “Don’t send that telegram until I’ve talked with you.” “What telegram?” “The one that young man just took out.” “What do you know about it?” “Nothing; but it may mean something. Wait, will you?” “Certainly. It is in no immediate hurry. Robert!” The clerk came back. “Give me that message.” Courtney put it face down on the desk. is some time since I’ve had the honor of seeing you,” Haleton antly, to Courtney. But that isn’t my fault, you know. I have been busy. “Not so busy as you might be, nor so profitably engaged. Now listen, Courtney. I happen to know that the President wants you in his Cabi- net. You are a strong man. I believe, when you understand this matter fully, that you won’t accept. This, understand, is no case of deception on my part. It is all open and aboveboard. You know, just as well as I do, that I have the interests of this country at heart. The President and I don’t agree. I fully believe that the action he contemplates will mean ruin—it will precipitate a disaster upon this people such as they have not seen in decades. I know that my patriotism is of as firm a quality as his, He has not had the experience that I have in dealing with all the financial strings that ramify to the remotest hamlet in the Re- public. He does not realize how these people—all of them—have to be handled with kid gloves. He is going to do something rash, and he wants you to help him—he wants to win you over, and I am frank to say that I am here to fight him. I am here to fight him, because I believe it is to to the best interest of all concerned “Now, sir, we have just formed a company. In reality it is to act as a balance wheel. It is to control financial affairs in this land as they never have been controlled before. Hitherto it has always been possible for almost any irresponsible and hot-headed financier to stir up a hornets’ nest and throw the market endwise, or a group of gillies could get to- gether and create no end of trouble. This has given the people a false idea of the real forces back of the financial affairs of this nation, and I may say to you, from the deepest experience, that no more patriotic set of men ever lived. You know most of them yourself. “T don’t ask you to decide this matter until you have fully gone into it. I'll give you every opportunity to investigate. I’ll put you up against the whole crowd, and you can sift the matter to the bottom, and see if what I say isn’t true, “What I want you to do is to accept the presidency of this company. We want a strong man at the head—one whose name is a synonym for everything that is solid and good. You are that man. “Of course, I understand that no money consideration will tempt you. This isn’t a question of money, but pure patriotism. “And so I haven’t come here to make you any offer. The salary at- tached to the office will be a couple of hundred thousanda year, which you could have earned long ago in your profession if you had wanted to, so T know it won’t be an object to you. There will probably be a bonus also of a million or so, but you can waive this or not, just as you choose. It won't be thrown at you, because we recognize, as well as you, that money is not the question. “Now, Courtney, I am going to leave you. I want you to think this over. “Don’t do anything rash. Remember that the future peace and pros- perity of this nation depend upon your decision. Whenever you're ready, we are. Call me up at any moment during the next week, and I'll get the boys together and you can investigate for yourself. “But I want you to promise me you won't take any radical step until I hear from you one way or the other.” Haleton got up. His manner was brusque, hearty, his voice penetra- ting and to the point. His whole appearance was open-hearted and free. “Haleton,” said Courtney, ‘I thank you for your offer. You must pardon me, however, if I say one thing plainly. I have been as much of a student as you have of the ramifications of the financial affairs of this country. My experience is equal to yours. ‘This is not said in any patron- izing sense, but simply to let you know that no investigation upon my part is necessary. I know the people you are with, and I have long since made up my mind about them. I make no promises. It is not necessary for you to make the case any plainer. I understand it all perfectly, and you will know my decision within a week.” Haleton stood up. He held out his hand. “That's fair and square, Courtney,” he said. ‘I was wrong to exact any promise from you at all. It was only my anxiety to make you take the right step. If I have seemed to patronize you, forgive me. You area better man than I am, and no one knows it better than I. All I can say is that you will have a free hand, and if you decide to come with us, I don’t think you'll ever regret it. And now, good-by.”” ‘The two men shook hands, and Haleton went out as rapidly as he had come in. He seemed, somehow, to leave a wide wake behind him, as if the countless millions that he represented were very deep under water. Haleton went back and sat at his desk. He picked up the telegram again and read it over. He was just about to touch his hand to the bell when there was another knock. Before he could answer the door opened swiftly and a woman came in. She was rather stout, florid-faced and distinctly out of breath. She swung a lavender silk parasol in her hand. She was gowned to match. She seemed strangely out of place, and yet perfectly at home. She dropped down precipitately into a chair. “T came up in one of those horrid express elevators,” she exclaimed “They always upset me. I told Lydia to wait for me below, and I shan’t be long, as Lydia just hates to be kept waiting. “Now, look here, Herbert Courtney, what are you going to do about this matter? I couldn’t wait to get here. I picked up an afternoon paper an hour ago, and saw a headline that fairly made me shiver, hot as it is. Why, it said there was a rumor that you might be called to the Cabinet. Is there any truth in it—can there be?” “Why not?” said Courtney, imperturbably. “Why not?” Continued on page 626 comicbooks.com