“But I must have a story for our first edition,
that goes to press before that.”
I had Carpenter by the arm, and kept him firmly walking.
I could not get rid of the reporter, but I was resolved
to get my warning spoken, regardless of anything.
Said I: “This is a matter extremely urgent
for you to understand, Mr. Carpenter. This young
man represents a newspaper, and anything you say to
him will be read in the course of a few hours by perhaps
a hundred thousand people. If it is found especially
senational, the Continental Press may put it on its
wires, and it will go to several hundred papers all
over the country—”
“Twelve hundred and thirty-seven papers,”
corrected the young man.
“So you see, it is necessary that you should
be careful what you say—far more so than
if you were speaking to a handful of Mexican laborers
or Jewish housewives.”
Said Carpenter: “I don’t understand
what you mean. When I speak, I speak the truth.”
“Yes, of course,” I replied—and
meantime I was racking my poor wits figuring out how
to present this strange acquaintance of mine most
tactfully to the world. I knew the reporter would
not tarry long; he would grab a few sentences, and
rush away to telephone them in.
“I’ll tell you what I’m free to
tell,” I began. “This gentleman is
a healer, a man of very remarkable gifts. Mental
healing, you understand.”
“I get you,” said the reporter. “Some
religion?”
“Mr. Carpenter teaches a new religion.”
“I see. A sort of prophet! And where
does he come from?”
I tried to evade. “He has just arrived—”
But the blood-hound of the press was not going to
be evaded. “Where do you come from, sir?”
he demanded, of Carpenter.
To which Carpenter answered, promptly: “From
God.”
“From God? Er—oh, I see.
From God! Most interesting! How long ago,
may I ask?”
“Yesterday.”
“Oh! That is indeed extraordinary!
And this mob that you’ve just been addressing—did
you use some kind of mind cure on them?”
I could see the story taking shape; the headlines
flamed before my mind’s eye—streamer
heads, all the way across the sheet, after the fashion
of our evening papers:
I came to a sudden decision in this crisis. The
sensible thing to do was to meet the issue boldly,
and take the job of launching Carpenter under proper
auspices. He really was a wonderful man, and
deserved to be treated decently.
I addressed the reporter again. “Listen.
This gentleman is a man of remarkable gifts, and does
not take money for them; so, if you are going to tell
about him at all, do it in a dignified way.”
“Of course! I had no other idea—”
“Your city editor might have another idea,”
I remarked, drily. “Permit me to introduce
myself.” I gave him my name, and saw him
start.
