Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY Q O "Oh, Charley, it hardly seercs possible that you could have been lucky enough to make so much money. If it hadn't been for that old prospector you told me about, we'd still be living in that little two by twice up in Harlem. It was a lucky day for you when poor old Jenkins gave you the right to sell the stock in his mine. By the way, whatever became of Jenkins?" "Jenkins," replied Sharp, calling to mind the imaginary discoverer of the Gee Whiz Mine. "Oh, he's gone back West." "Charley, you're a dear, and I am mighty proud of you." "Yes, you have a right to be proud of me. You women haven't any financial ability. It's only we men who are able to conceive and put over these gigantic financial deals. Why, half you women haven't even got ability enough to keep your household expenses straight." "Oh, I don't know about that,'' retorted Mrs. Sharp, stung by this attack on the business ability of her sex. "I think that we women have just as much ability as you men have ; the only trouble is that we have never been allowed an opportunity of displaying it." "That's just it. You've never had an opportunity. The real genius makes the opportunity. To-day I am being classed with Morganbilt, Rockeheim, Astorlip, and all the rest of the big financial geniuses in Wall Street." "I know you're a genius, Charley, but you mustn't think that we women haven't any brains when it comes to business." "But you haven't any brains in business or anything else where money is concerned. The only thing that you or any other woman knows about money is where to spend it. Even in spending it, I won't admit that you use a very great amount of intelligence. But, here, take this stuff and see that you keep it safe." As he finished speaking, he began to remove the currency from his various pockets. Soon there was a large pile on top of the small table. "Now, I don't want you to think that I can't take care of this money myself," said Sharp, "but I don't trust the banks and I know that you will take good care of it. I intend to send up a small safe to-morrow." 'I'll keep it all right, dear," rejoined Mrs. Sharp, eying the wealth before her. "How much is there in that pile?" "Oh, about a hundred and fifty thousand," returned Charley, in a most nonchalant and careless manner, as though he were in the habit of adding fortunes to the family exchequer. With the payment of the first dividend, Gee Whiz took another leap skyward. Here was a real money-maker, paying fifty per cent per month, or six hundred per cent per year. Never before had there been such an opportunity to make money. Men and women almost fell over themselves to grab Gee Whiz stock. The city was Gee Whiz mad. People could not get enough stock. Steadily the engravers' presses continued to grind out the beautifully decorated green stock certificates, which were sold for real money almost before the ink was dry. The staff of clerks at the office of the Gee Whiz Mining Company was doubled, but night work was necessary in order to keep matters straight. Sharp's early prediction that there were millions in the proposition had proven true. There were millions in it for the promoters. With each day's increase in business, Sharp's chest expanded, until the top button on his vest threatened to pop off. His shoulders were square, and he strutted about his office with the air of a master of the financial world. To his wife he was becoming almost intolerable. Never did he let an opportunity pass to flay the weaker sex for its lack of knowledge of financial affairs. He continually prated about the superiority of men over women, not only in business, but in every vocation in life. "My dear," said he one evening, as they sat alone after dinner, "it takes us men to do things. We are the guiding geniuses of this fair land of liberty and freedom. Without us men what would you women amount to? Now look at me, for example. A few weeks ago I was a poor clerk ; to-day I am a power in the world of finance. I am looked up to by every man in Wall Street. My name will go down in history as one of the financial marvels of the twentieth century. "Why, it was only this morning that Morganbilt came to my office and consulted me about a big loan that he thinks of floating. He asked my ad vice about the matter, and wanted to know if I thought it would be a good thing to float it at this time. "I told him I would take the matter under advisement and that I would give him a decision to-morrow morning. He thanked me and promised me that he would follow my advice." "That's all very fine, Charley, and I am mighty glad that you are making such a big name for yourself," said Mrs. Sharp. The financial wizard waved the compliment aside with a deprecatory gesture. "Do you suppose any one would consult a woman about floating a loan? Do you think that any one would consult a woman about anything financial?" queried Sharp, warming up to his favorite topic. "Don't answer; I'll answer for you. There isn't a man or a woman in the country, unless he or she were an idiot, who would consult a woman about the investment of a dollar. There are so many crooked schemes in these days that a woman would invariably fa.! for some sort of a bunco game in the hope of making a million. No woman has ever yet made a million in Wall Street. It's only us men, I tell you, who are capable of pulling off the big financial deals which mean real money." Over the coffee cups at breakfast the next morning, Mr. Sharp held forth again on his favorite topics — himself and man's superiority over woman. Leisurely Sharp entered his limousine, and was soon on his way to business. That afternoon Mrs. Sharp was giving a large bridge and "tea." Her morning was rather well taken up with the arrangements for this social affair, and she was by far too busily engaged to let her mind dwell on the remarks of her husband. In fact, she was becoming inured to his attitude toward the business ability of w®men. "Oh, Mrs. Spoofer," said Mrs. Sharp, as her first guest put in an appearance late in the afternoon, "I am so glad you are here." "And I am very glad to be here, my dear," replied Mrs. Spoofer. The other guests strolled in one by one, and before long the first rubber of bridge was being played. The majority of Mrs. Sharp's guests were the wives of men in Wall Street, and over their teacups the conversation naturally drifted to matters of the "Street." "I tell you," declared Mrs. Spoofer,