Life, 1909-09-02 · page 30 of 48
Life — September 2, 1909 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines advertisements with a serialized short story titled "You Never Can Tell." **The Story Content:** The narrative concerns real estate dealings. A character named Willet attempts to sell property through agent Gumshaw, who initially struggles to find a buyer willing to pay the asking price of ten thousand dollars. Gumshaw unexpectedly secures a sale for $10,500, claiming the buyer wishes anonymity and is speculating on the property. The story's ironic ending reveals Gumshaw received a telegram from someone named Stubbs in Buffalo—suggesting Gumshaw himself orchestrated the deal, profiting from the transaction while misleading his client. **The Satire:** The story satirizes real estate agents' dubious practices and self-interested dealings during this period—the deceptive manipulation of property sales and hidden commissions. **The Cartoon:** The small sketch at bottom-right depicts someone being thrown from a horse or vehicle, with the caption "SURE, AND THAT DOG MUST HAVE WINGS!" This appears unrelated humor, likely a separate comic vignette. **Advertisements:** The page includes toiletry and men's clothing ads typical of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Every Woman Should Know The Three Indispensable Toilet Articles “Eleto”’ Violet Talcum Creme-‘‘ Eleto”’ “Eleto”? Toilet Water At % } ‘ And . Department Stores Leading Druggists ELETO CO., 11 W. 36th Street, New York fstasusnco oe Ce CLOTHING, | Gentlemens Purnishing Garments for the Motorist. Riding and Shooting Outfits. Imported Mackintoshes, heavy or light. og, Send for Illustrated Catalogue BROADWAY Cor. TWENTY SECOND ST., NEW YORK You Never Can Tell. (Continued from page 312.) “ Yes, there’s at least four or five thousand dollars worth of furniture stuff.” “ That is what you paid for it. It would hardly bring that at auction.” “No. What do you suppose you can sell it for? "” Gumshaw leaned forward. “T don’t know of anyone who would want such a place,’” he said, “be wait a mom '—there is a bare possibility of one customer on my books cee sidering it. What's your lowest price?” “Why, how much can I get for it?” Well, say ten thousand for the whole thing.’” "That's giving it away.”” “It always is giving it away, when you have to sell. Of course, if yea want to wait’. “No. All right. Get more if you can.” “T'll let you know in twenty-four hours, or less. In the meantime, come over to my house and stay with me. You ought not to be alone for a moment,” The following afternoon, when Willet came by, Gumshaw hailed bin cheerily. “It’s all right!’ he exclaimed. “I sold your place for ten thousand five hundred—just five hundred more than you expected to get. My com- mission is $275. “It’s cheap enough at that.”” “Well, as I said, you can’t always sell when you want to. I think you did pretty well. Here's my check to bind the bargain. Please sign this receipt When do you start for the West? My party don't expect to move in for siz months or so.” * “I'm going to-night. Who bought the house? "’ Gumshaw shrugged his shoulders. “ Party doesn’t want his name known just now. Have an idea he is holt ing it for a speculation.”” But after Willet had gone, and Gumshaw had read over once more th telegram from Stubbs at Buffalo, telling him that he would take the house « the price named, he couldn't help but soliloquize to himself : “Well, I swear! I certainly thought I was wasting my time reading the pathological book, or whatever you call it. But when a man is in the ral estate business, you never can tell what fool thing may happen along to be} him put through a deal; especially if his heart is in his work.” Uf en a eel “ SURE, AND THAT DOG MUST HAVE wincs!’" nomic haver comicbooks.com