The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-08

I shall not mention the sum I re-
ceived from the Interoceapic Film Co.
for the right to reproduce the exploits
of my good friend Philo Gubb on the
screen. It might make other and less
successful writers of detective tales
too Jealous. When I received the first
letter from the Interoceanic Film Co.
I was not at all sure that had a right
to sell to anyone the right to show
Philo Gubb on the screen, since Philo
Gubb was an actual living human be-
ing. and all had done was to put
some Of his adventures on paper. I
took the letter and went to see Gubb
in his rooms, on the second floor Of
Opera House Block. in Riverbank.
"Gubb," 1 said. when I had shaken
his hand. how about this? I've writ
ten 'thirty-three of your adventures
and they have been printed in a maya
zine and elsewhere. and these motion
picture people have run across them
and want to put you on the screen"
Mr.. Gubb stiffened Immediately.
Into no case" he said firmly. will
I pay them a reddish cent of legal
tender money for any such manner of
purpose!"
But" said. and then hesitated-
don't mind admitting to you-confl-
dentially-that the arrangement under
which 1 had been writing Mr.. Gubb's
memoirs Gas I may call them) was
quite advantageous to me. Gubb. to
be quite frank. believes in advertising.
and he pays me twenty-five dollars
each for every story about him can
write and get printed. 1 am to get
twenty-five dollars from him for this.
But, Gubb," said, "if I can get"
Get what you choose to want from
somebody otherwise else than me-" Mr..
Gubb said. Get what you can. But
don't expect me to pay out no more
cash money into advertising or other
wise"
very well, them" said, You don't
mind If I put you on the films. If it
doesn't cost you anything"
"Onto those terms" said Mr.. Gubb
with a smile. go as distantly far as
you like
So that settled that. I accepted the
Interoceanic Film Co.'S offer. Immed-
iately-almost the next day. in fact
the film columns of. the newspapers
began to contain items regarding the
'Philo Cub" series Of photoplays and
the remarkable manner in which the
Interocean meant to produce them.
One item that struck my eye was to
the effect that the first release was to
be THE Riverbank Robbery" AS I
understand 1t, a release means a
permission to exhibit. The item meant
that Philo Gubb's adventure in con-
nection with the Riverbank robbery
was to be the first to be manufactured
as a film and the first to be exhibited
Later when there was some question
about the purchase of the photoplay
rights of a second series of Philo Cub
stories. 1 met the men at the head of
the Interocean Film Co., and I can say,
therefore, that they had no connection
whatever with the rascals of whom i
shall now, without further delay, tell
you.
I am employed, as a regular thing,
by the Riverbank National Bank as
teller. Mr.. Gurnsey is cashier, and
Mr.. Pittoms is now our president. Mr..
Pittoms is also in the dry goods bust
ness. but on the day Of which I am
| telling he happened to be in the bank
| and was closeted with Mr.. Gurnsey in
| the cashiers little office. I was stand
| ing at the teller's window, and two
| men entered the bank and came to my
window. One was a rather hard-faced
man Of some forty years; the other
was thin of countenance and had q
rather foxy expression.
Are you the CASHIER" asked the
hard-faced man, putting his face close
to the bars of the window.
I said I was not; that I was the
teller; that Mr.. Gurnsey was the
cashier. and that he was having a
conference with our president, Mr.
| Pittoms.
"Fine!" said the hard-faced man
whom I afterwards knew as Mr.. Dag
gett. Mike, we're in luck: the presf-
dent is here. too. Tell them we'd like
to see them"