Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-22

THE AILLI)NAIRE'S MATCHBOX. |
LEV narry Paln.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Haven't you got one Of your own
"No Come on. Hurry
My friend the millionaire looked per
turbed for moment Then his counte
nance cleared. .'We shah be at Waterloo
in 20 minutes" he said, ''and then we
can get light at the refreShInent room.
They never mad your taking match Or
two"
NO good" said Il want to smoke
now. Hand over your box
With great reluctance he handed mic his
gold matchbox, w5ih his monogram e0 it
in omeralds-a pretty. transformations lit
tie toy. He shut both the carriage win
dows, so that no draft should necessitate
the use Of more than one match.
/ opened the box and examined the con-
tents with care. He did not like the ex-
animation. He WINGED under it. He
grew nervous
Come come" he said, Eight up and
give me the box back"
"Has this been going on long?" asked.
"Nyhat do you meang'
'You know perfectly well what mean.
There are several different kinds of wax
matches in this box"
"Well. there's nothing in that. Some
times | buy one kind and sometimes an-
other"
"Bnt you don't buy six different kinds
at once. and then put some of each in
your box. | am sorry to say that you
are thief match thief. You probably
are a liar also, for | doubt If you have
ever bought matches-at any rate. in re-
cent years. | repeat my question-has
this been going on long?"
They don't mind your taking one OF
two" he said fechly.
But how about six? There are five
matches here of special quality, long in
the shank, thicker than usual. made of
good white wax. There will be only four
directly, because | am going to light my
cigar with one OF them. Where did you
get them?"
practically l did buy them. pay my
club subscription every year, and surely
/ have a right
you have no more right to take away
the club matches than you have TO peck
ct the club spoons. and you know it.
What about this match? 1t has been
carried loose in a pocket and is dirty. 1t
has a pink head 1t is evidently of
VEL tutdp SnOutu Sdy IL HhNtb
the smoker SO per cent. Where did you
get it?"
look here" he said irritably. 81 won't
submit to these questions. Give me my
box back at once" He made a grab at
it, but | eluded him.
you'll have to submit to these ques-
tons and to answer them truly unless
you want to be shown up"
In my enthusiasm | had allowed my
cigar to go out. | relit it with the rail
way porter's match without paying the
least attention to the milionare's pro-
tests
''And now" l said what of these
three blue headed matches?"
They're all right. They're refresh
ment room matches. They don't mind
your taking one orr
How do you know they don't mind?
Do you ask them, or do you sneak behind
the bun stand and steal them when you
think nobody is looking? And these two
with the dark brown hcads?"
81 had to see my solicitors about an
investment of mine. / was shown into
the senior partners room. The business
was mere bagatelle-a matter of f25,-
900. But you know how particular solic-
itors are He got up to refer to some
wretched book and in so doing turned his
back on me. The matches were on his
table in ribbed glass thing. Well. that
was my chance. Any other man would
have done the same"
ANY other demoralized BLACKBOARD
might have"
''Im not going to sit here and listen to
this abuse. What business have you got
with my private affairs? What does it
mater to you how | get my matches?
gave you a cigar"
81 am not ungrateful, and for that rea-
son | have decided not to give your
name and address when ] show you up.
But none the less | am believer in truth
and honesty even In small matters.
and
"Oh, never mind that. Give me back
my matchbox"
'Wait. When see crime. have got
to punish it. am sparing you public
disgrace and perhaps long sojourn in a
felon's cell, and that is sufficient reward
for cigar which is certainly too good
to be allowed constantly TO go out like
this"
relit it with the match that the little
boy had dropped. The millionaire near
ly screamed with anguish. for it was the
thlIu Hldtcn nau taken. lie sald tnat
IL | behaved In other matters as | dill
with regard to matches should soon be
ruined man. | continued:
"But though | spare you public dis
grace the punishment must be severe.
My own conscience would never be easy
IL did not do my duty--if | did not give
you lesson which you would not be
likely to forget. | am sorry for you,
but it cannot be helped
| let the window down with bang,
emptied the remaining matches out on to
the line, shut the box and returned it to
him with many thanks.
He said that | was mad and made a
dash for the alarm In order to stop the
train. AS held him | pointed out that
his view as to matches was not the gem
eral view, and IL he stopped train to
recover few which had thrown out OF
the window he would get himself into
trouble.
He sank back on the cushions, silent.
e4it,v aud ba