our coat-tails. Well, before he catches hold
of mine,"--the splendid bulk and vitality of the man gave refutation to
the hint of pathos in the voice,--"I want to run my race out so that my
children and my children's children can point to me and say, 'One
crowded hour of glorious life is worth a cycle of Cathay.'"

With a superb gesture he indicated Hal and Esme, who, he observed with
gratification, seemed quite overcome with emotion.

"That is why, my friends, I am withdrawing certina, and turning to fresh
fields; if I may say so, fields of more genteel endeavor. Certina has
made millions. It could still make millions. I could sell out for
millions to-day. But, in the words of the sweet singer, I come to bury
it, not to praise it. Certina has done its grand work. The day of
medicine is almost over. Interfering laws are being passed. The public
is getting suspicious of drugs. Whether this is just or unjust is not
the question which I am considering. I've always wanted my business to
be high-class. You can't run a high-class business when the public is on
to you.

"Don't think, any of you, that I'm going to retire and leave you in the
lurch. No. I'm looking ahead, for you as well as for me. What's the
newest thing in science? Foods! Specific foods, to build up the system.
That's the big thing of the future here in America. We're a tired
nation, a nerve-wracked nation, a brain-fagged nation. Suppose a man
could say to the public, 'Get as tired as you like. Work to your limit.
Play to your limit. Go the pace. When you're worn out, come to us and
we'll repair the waste for a few dollars. We've got a food--no drugs, no
medicines--that builds up brain and nerve as good as new. The greatest
authorities in the world agree on it.' Is there any limit to the
business that food could do?

"Well, I've got it! And I've got the backing for it. Mr. Belford Couch
will tell you of our testimonials. Tell 'em the whole thing, Bel: we're
all one family here."

"I've been huntin' in Europe," said Certina Charley, rising, in accents
of pardonable pride: "and I've got the hottest bunch of signed stuff
ever. You all know how hard it is to get any medical testimonials here.
They're all afraid, except a few down-and-outers. Well, there's none of
that in Europe. They'll stand for any kind of advertising, so long as
it's published only in the United States--provided they get their price.
And it ain't such an awful price either. _I got the Emper