Life, 1929-08-16 · page 33 of 36
Life — August 16, 1929 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes a common magazine publishing practice: stories continued on later pages. Life's humor section invites readers to submit unintentionally absurd "conclusions" created by reading a story's final line immediately before the "continued on page X" notice—creating accidental dark comedy. Examples include "Lord forgive me, I was [continued on page 197]" (American Magazine) and "I'll see Jen dead, yes, dead and disgraced, before I'll see her continued on page 50" (Secrets). The joke exploits how magazine pagination could accidentally transform innocent narrative continuations into seemingly shocking confessions or threats. The "Black Sheep" story excerpt below shows typical serialized fiction of the era—a gambling tale with dramatic tension. This feature playfully mocks both magazine editing and reader attention, offering five dollars for each published submission.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Jumping at Conclusions Note—When reading a story that breaks over to another page, include the “continued” line with the last line and see what you get. Lire will pay five dollars for each one printed, but remember that other people read the same magazines you do and the first one in gets the five. Send them to the Conclusion Editor, Lire, 598 Madison Ave., New York. Conclusions must be clipped from newspaper or magazine. None will be returned. “Lord forgive me, I was.” Contin- ued on page 197. —American Magazine. We drifted aimlessly, molested by the sea and wind. We feared . . . Major Franco's thrilling narrative will be con- tinued Monday. . —Syracuse Journal. Senator Borah, Republican, Idaho, Please turn to page 2. —Brooklyn Eagle. Dear Dixte: This is one of those hello and good- by letters I'm continued on page 30. —Liberty. “T'll see Jen dead, yes, dead and dis- graced, before I'll see her continued on page 50. —Secrets. Jones hooked into the trees, flubbed his second, smashed his third through the trees and eighteen feet past the pin, then took one putt and concluded on page 26. —Detroit News. There is no such thing as a diet pro- gram that will build muscles continued on page 103. —Physical Culture. And, anyway, there was nothing wrong in all this. It was a joke. It was all fun to be continued next week. —Collier’s. As for Adamae Vaughn, she believes that it makes a great deal of difference to be continued on page 87. —Motion Picture Classic. Black Sheep (Continued from Page 7) week, and I hate to tell the girl I'm engaged to. So I'm taking a chance.” “How are you making out?” “I'm ahead so far. But—you never can tell.” “Life—” said Tracy gravely, “is full of just such pleasant uncertainties.” Life He was vaguely annoyed, sorry that the young fool had chosen to confide in him. Tracy continued to win. At last there came a hand where five men raised in succession. The pot soared and there was in the air the tension that heralds a crucial hand. Others in the room came over to their table. After the draw Tracy surveyed his cards with impassive face, and laid them neatly in front of him. Gradually all dropped out but Tracy and the young stranger. The latter bit his lips and studied his hand. Then he raised again. Tracy yawned and began to stack his chips. “There being no limit, let’s get this over. Suppose I raise you all I have here?” “I—I haven't anywhere near that much,” said the other: hesitantly. “Tl take your note,” replied Tracy. He seemed drowsy, almost as though he had lost all interest in the game. The other players looked startled. The stranger was pale as a ghost, and his hand trembled as he reached in his pocket for a notebook to write the 1.0.U. A slip of paper fell from the book and fluttered into Tracy’s lap. It was the photograph of a girl. For an instant he glanced at it with expres- sionless face—then handed it back. “Exceptionally pretty girl,” he said. “My fiancée.” “Oh yes; you're a lucky chap. Well, let’s carry on.” Forshay had been called, but the other, too excited to wait, flung his hand on the table. It was a king high straight flush in hearts. An excited murmur arose from the other players, and from the crowd that had gathered around the table. Then all turned to look at the other hand. There was a strangely twisted smile on Forshay’s face as he rose to his feet. He looked older. He glanced at young Parker’s burning eyes and at the tense faces of the others, but he scarcely seemed to see them. Then he laughed and carelessly thrust the five cards in a pocket of his dinner coat. “T lose,” he said, “and I guess the game is over. Good night all.” No one noticed Tracy as he hurried from the room. The desk clerk handed him the envelope he had been saving. The last of the Forshays read the in- closures through gravely, and handed them back to the clerk. “Tell the House Committee I’m frightfully sorry I can’t pay,” he said. “You might give them these with my compliments.” As Tracy walked briskly out the door and down the steps the clerk stared at the five slips of paste board in his hand. It was a Royal Flush in spades. 31 Me Aes. VAL Minp ip E Soros Lif COLONIAL ALKWAYS HEN you travel between Wiis bridged by Colonial Airways, shake the cinders and dust—go Colonial. Up in the air — minutes are miles — and every minute in a luxurious Colonial liner is enjoyable. Colonial’s resources assure you the finest in modern air travel — multi-motored air liners — veteran pilots—steward service —transportation to and from ais Colonial Atrways, 270 Madison Ave., N. Y. 1 hour, 45 minutes. Coleniat Air “ Transport, Inc.,60 # ederal 8t., Boston, Mealok Montiel Daily service each way, via Albany. Comfortable cabin planes. 4 hours to Montreal. (anedian Colonial Air- ways, Inc., 270 Madison Ave., N. Y. ( Lule Toronto ‘Twice daily over Niagara, in cabin Sikoruty Ampbibions. Si mints sock way. Colon! jern Atrways, Inc., Hotel Statler, Buffalo. ne — in the territories served by the Colonial Airways, maintain flying schools and distribute comicbooks.com