OCR Text |
Show 8 Just as a Man I Thinketh By MORRIS SCHULTZ (ffl. li4, Wtrn Ntwipapar Union.) TTENETH DUNGLAS approached the studio of Cyril Blair deferentially, deferen-tially, for all hU millions. lie was a little man with u paunch, and the most prosaic, of occupations in fact, he was the manufacturer of the Dunglas pill, warranted to cure all ailments except enlarged Joints. As a matter of fact, the Dunglas pill cured enlarged Joints about as well as It cured anything that is to say. It was four-fifths imagination imag-ination and one-fifth harmless drugs. "Mr. Bluir?" he asked the wild-eyed, wild-eyed, Bhock-headed man who looked out of the room, wondering where he bought his orange tie from. "Well, I'm Kennetli Dunglas, manufacturer of Dunglas' pill. You've heard of me?" "I've swallowed you," answered Blair. "You're good for painter's cramp." "Painter's cramp? Now that's a ne.w one on me," said Dunglus. "I must put that on my advertisements. Well, Mr. Blair, I've always envied you artists. Though brought up to make Dunglas' pill, I assure you I feel honored to meet " "Say no more," said Blair, clasping his band warmly. "A man who Is the maker 'of such a commodity as yours Is a world benefactor. As a matter of fact, I have often wished that in youth I had chosen the less ornata but more lucrative " "Quite so," said Dunglas. "Well, Mr. Blair, I want you to paint a picture pic-ture for me. Pretty girl swallowing one of our pills. We'll supply the title. What would your terms be?" "What, degrade my art by commercialism commer-cialism r ghouted Blair. "Paint pill advertisements? Not for $4,000!" "Then let's say five," said Dunglas persuasively. "Only, you understand, It must look like a girl taking a pill and not like a centipede waving its legs. Our public wouldn't understand that" The bargain was struck. On the appointed ap-pointed day Dunglas went to see the picture. He started back In horror. "You've given her a scowl!" he shouted. "All people, even pretty girls, scowl when they're taking pills." ' "Not the Dunglas pill. They smile. Mr. Blair, you haven't caught the spirit of the thing. Otherwise you've got It down fine. Now here's my proposal. You put In a week workli.g in the factory. fac-tory. Get the spirit of the pill firmly Into your frame. Then you'll feel like executing the commission again. Five thousand more. What do you say?" The bargain was struck again. Blair went into the factory and Dunglas Dung-las went home. But as soon as he arrived ar-rived the Idea began to prey on him. Be had dabbled In painting In his youth, and now, yielding to the Irresistible Irre-sistible urge, he rented a studio; bought the accessories, and began to set about doing his idea of bis masterpiece. It was years since he had painted, and he was amazed to see how the picture frew under his hand. Under the pretext of a week's holiday he worked incessantly, and at the end of that time he had transferred his vision to canvas. A charming girl with fawn-colored hsir was seated on a chair. In one dainty hand lay a Dunglas pill. The fingers of the other were about to transfer it to her smiling mouth. But what about Blair? How was he to break the news to BlnlrT lie would have to pay him and let the picture go. On the eighth day he went down to the pill factory, feeling despondent and rather ashamed of himself. He did not quite know how to meet the artist. He bad given Instructions that Blair was to be given the free run of the place ; still, It was with some emotion that he saw him sitting In his chair, and the chief mixer waiting on him for orders. It was a transformed Blair who leaped up and grabbed Dunglas' hand. "Pleased to see you, Dunglas," he said. "We've revolutionized your pill ' during your absence. Got in a new ingredient that cures enlarged Joints. I'm through with art Never knew how attractive business was before. 1 want to be your secretiry, and" "B the whole works, Blair," said Dunglus delightedly. "I've long thought of retiring and devoting myself my-self to art. Business is all very well, but It doesn't feed the soul. Sit down, and. we'll talk over ways and means. Oh, by the way, Tve done a little picture pic-ture " |