Life, 1907-06-06 · page 39 of 56
Life — June 6, 1907 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a serialized fiction story about a professor whose train is robbed during a journey. The narrative depicts classic turn-of-the-century drama: bandits rifle the baggage car while passengers are held up, the professor loses his valuables, and he's kicked from the train. The twist provides dark humor: the professor had constructed a bomb (set for five minutes) in his trunk as some kind of invention demonstration. While robbers stole his watch and money, they unknowingly triggered the device, destroying the locomotive and themselves—proving his invention's accuracy, albeit at tragic cost. The story's title, "A Nautomobilist," suggests the professor is a tinkerer/inventor obsessed with new technology. The satirical joke appears to be mocking both the era's faith in mechanical innovation and the irony of accidental consequences—his invention "succeeds" only through criminal interference and destruction. The page is primarily text with minimal illustration, padding around advertisements for travel baskets and leather goods.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
sdb ste Is, 2 “Speak!” he asked the first one. ‘Has anything happened? Am I too late? Are there any lives lost?” The man he addressed smiled sardonically. “Has anything happened?” he repeated. “Well, you'll know in a minute. Yes, I believe the engineer is dead and one of the firemen wounded.” ‘The professor waited to hear no more. He rushed on to the baggage- car. At the door a strange sight met his eyes. Three men with loaded revolvers were busy rifling the contents of the baggage. They had just broken open an express chest. One of them was passing the greenbacks to another. Itall flashed over him in a moment. He remembered now the discon- solate faces of the passengers as he had passed through. Evidently the process of holding them all up had just been concluded. Then his eye fell on an object—his trank—calmly resting in a comer. His own initials stared him in the face. “What the h—I are you doing here?” Three revolvers covered him. The professor lost no time in holding up his hands. In a moment everything of value had been taken from him Partner, we must have forgotten him. Now you! Git! Git to h—I out of here!” And witha good, substantial kick, the professor found himself bounding through the door, face to face with his wife and Adele. The robber posted in front of the train had not seen him. The professor grabbed his little flock by the hands and fled back through the train. “Get back!” he shouted to the passengers. But there was no need of his warming voice. Already the secret was known, and there was a steady stampede to the rear. Groups began to form at the edge of the grove. The conductor of the rear train came up. “Are you sure,” he said to the professor, “that you are right about this? Now, if you only knew what time’””—— Suddenly there was a dull, rumbling sound, increasing in volume. The earth shook. A tremendous column of smoke shot up in the air from the distant grove accompanied by flying débris of all sorts ‘The smokestack of the fated engine soared a hundred feet above the tall trees. A small piece of brass fell at the professor’s feet. It was twisted and marred, but still the figures were distinguishable. It was the dial of his bomb that had been projected upward through his trunk. In answer to the conductor, he held it up. “Yes, you see I was absolutely right,” he said.“ Adele set it at five minutes after five.” He looked for his watch; but it was gone. “What a pity!” he exclaimed. “I should like, above all things, to have shown you that my invention was accurate.” The professor’s wife threw her arms about him. “This is the first time in my life,” she said, ‘that the mistake of a bag- gageman was ever of benefit to any one.” A NAUTOMOBILIST OR AUTO AND COACHING PARTIES We have the smartest line of Luncheon and Tea Baskets to be found in New York. Our combinations are particularly appropriate and compact. No touring car equipment is complete without one of these baskets. Prices are most attractive. Wicker with fittings complete, I person - = $7.50 and up Wicker with fittings complete,2 persons - = 9.00 and u Wicker with fitings complete, 3to 8 persons - 13.00 and up WE make a specialty also, of Leather Goods for Travelers, comprising articles of the very newest designs in all the imported and domestic leathers. Special attention is directed to our assortment of traveling bags fitted with toilet articles. Bags, the best of leathers - - - $12.50 and up Suit Cases, the best of leathers - = = 18.00 and up Bags and Suit Cases fitted with toilet articles of silver, ivory, or ebony - - = ~~ _~—-40,00 and up Reed & Barton Company Diamonds, Watches, Silverware, Cut Glass, Art Stationery Fifth Avenue, corner 32d Street, New York comicbooks.com