Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

4 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY "Gee Whiz stock is the best-paying proposition that has ever been offered to investors ; at least, Mr. Spoofer says it is. On the strength of what he said I took every bit of my own money, and have invested it in Gee Whiz." Proudly Mrs. Spoofer extracted one of the beautiful green-tinted stock certificates from her hand bag and displayed it to those about her. "Oh, you are not the only one who is going to make money," said Mrs. Harris. "I, too, have invested some of my money in Gee Whiz." faith in Mr. Sharp's company,'' declared Mrs. Spoofer. "I would not have invested a cent in the proposition unless Mr. Spoofer had advised me to do so. He thinks that Mr. Sharp is one of the cleverest business men that has ever entered Wall Street." Mrs. Sharp was radiant. It was, indeed, pleasant to know that her husband was held in such high esteem by the other brokers. The conversation eventually veered around from the discussion of business to that ever-ready topic among women to make money one must buy stock when that stock is low. Now, you take my advice and buy some of your husband's stock. Besides, it would be such a nice surprise for him to know that his wife was making money in his company. "Good-by," concluded Mrs. Spoofer, effusively kissing her hostess. The last guest had hardly departed before Mr. Sharp entered the luxurious apartment. He greeted his wife with a loving kiss. "Charley, darling," said Mrs. Sharp, her arms entwined about her husband's neck, "I am so proud of you, and so happy. All of the ladies here this afternoon have invested money in Gee Whiz, and they have such confidence in you that they think they are all going to become immensely wealthy. Mrs. Spoofer said that her husband has the greatest faith in your ability, and that you are one of the cleverest men that has ever entered the Street." Sharp took his wife's praise lightly, and, as he gazed into her eyes, he replied : "I knew that they would recognize me for my genius. I am the greatest man that Wall Street has seen in twenty years. Your friends, I am afraid, are disproving my theory that women know nothing of business. They, at least, are wise." "I tell you, chief." said McGowan, the detective, addressing the chief of the secret service, the morning after Mrs. Sharp's bridge and tea, "we've got that bunch of get-rich-quick fakers up at the Gee Whiz office dead to rights. We can get 'em for fraudulent use of the mails, gaining money under false pretenses, and maybe a couple of more counts. About the only thing we can't charge 'em with is trying to pull off a second-story job. "How in thunder they have been able to get away with their graft so long is what gets my goat. Their scheme has got whiskers on it. All they do is to collect money from a bunch of fall guys, and pay back fifty per cent of it, and | stick the other fifty per cent into their I own pockets. It's a good game if you can get enough in on it, and I guess they have roped in a bunch." "It's taken us a month, Mac," said i the chief, "to get the stuff on them, and J now that we've got it, we'll raid the ' outfit this afternoon." "Oh, we've got it on 'em, all right,"] With bills stuffed in every pock There was a chorus of "So have I !" from the other ladies present, and all displayed those classics of the engraver's art — the green-tinted Gee Whiz stock certificates. "I am glad that you all repose such great confidence in my husband's business ability," said Mrs. Sharp, somewhat surprised that all of these women should have invested in her husband's company. The shrewd business acumen of these women would give the lie direct to her husband's assertion that women knew nothing of business. "We are not the only ones who have et, Sharp entered his apartment. — clothes. The latest fashions were gone over with a thoroughness that is known only to women. Finally the hour of departure drew near, and as the ladies were bidding their hostess good-by, Mrs. Spoofer said : "Take my advice, my dear Mrs. Sharp, and, if you have any ready money to invest, buy Gee Whiz stock. There isn't another stock on the market that is paying such a large sum of interest, and Mr. Spoofer says that there is no telling when the stock will take another jump. Really, you know,