CHAPTER XXXI.
RISING FORTUNES.
A day after the arrival of the Camera Chap in New York, a middle-aged man of exceedingly prosperous appearance entered the Bulletin office, and handed a card to Fred Carroll, on which was printed:
“Mr. Oliver Cheston, the National Advertising Agency, New York, Chicago, San Francisco.”
Carroll wondered that a man of Mr. Cheston’s evident standing in the business world should have such a cheap-looking card, for the pasteboard was printed instead of being engraved, and it looked as if the job had been hastily done, some of the letters being blurred.
Nevertheless, the proprietor of the Bulletin received his visitor with great politeness. He was enough of a philosopher to realize that a man is not always to be judged by the quality of his stationery.
Mr. Oliver Cheston’s first words took Carroll’s breath away.
“I have come to see you about placing some advertising in your newspaper,” he announced quietly; “about five thousand dollars’ worth.”
“Five thousand dollars’ worth!” the proprietor of the Bulletin gasped. “Is this a joke?”
The representative of the National Advertising Agency frowned. “Why should you doubt my seriousness, sir?[Pg 58]” he demanded, with great dignity. “My firm is one of the largest agencies in the world. Surely you must have heard of us? We represent most of the big advertisers in the United States, and our specialty is placing ads in small-town newspapers such as yours.”
He drew from his pocket several sheets of paper pinned together. “Here is the copy of the ads which I wish to insert in the Bulletin. They are to appear regularly in each issue until further notice. Each ad is to occupy half a page. If you will have the contracts drawn up, I will sign them now.”