Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-10-07
Buckingth the
Trust
By w. Y. SHEPPARD
Copyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

1 ANGLE4 had cigar store on LO-
Gust street. 1t had taken him two
years to raise the business to point
where it could support Itself and Lang
ley. When it arrived at that point his
sole ambition was to raise 1t one notch
higher; that is, to where it could support
itself and Langley, and at the same time
pay off each month part of the debt
which had descended upon them during
the period of nonsupport.
For a time it seemed as II Langley
would succeed, as he was an enterpris-
ing, energetic young fellow, shrewd be-
yond his years. Then one day Mr.. A. P.
Rockway, the local representative of
the cigar trust, blew into his store.
He had heard that Langley was push
ment Of the trust goods.
Look here, Langley" said the trusts
man, this has got to stop. like you
we'll enough personally; but business is
business"
Langley tried to explain that the in
creasing demand for the local cigars
was not due to any effort Of his. But
Rockway knew better.
you've got to cut Turner & Co.'s
goods out" he said, "or We'll cut you"
Now Langley was not man to be die
tated to, and he fired up right away.
"If you think you can do it, go ahead"
he retorted 1--WE got the only cigar
store in the block. And what's more,
you can't rent a store in this block
They're all leased except Miss Childs
the millinery shop, next door; and she
owns that. Now, if you think you can
run me out try it."
well try it. and we'll do it," snapped
the trust man, as he flung himself out of
Langley's store.
Two days later Langley was greatly
surprised and a good deal chagrined at
seeing big transfer wagon loaded with
glass showcases halt in front of the mil
linery store next door. Before night the
cases had been installed and filled,
every one of them, with trust cigars.
Miss Childs. now no longer a miliner
stood behind the counter dispensing
cigars and smiles in a way that made
Langley feel sick at heart.
During the next week Langley's trade
fell off distressingly. And no wonder
when the shop next door was selling five
cent cigars three for ten and ten-cent
cigars four for quarter, to say nothing
about the smiles that were given so Law
ishly with each purchase.
OF course, Langley met the cut II
prices; but the alf-hearted grin he gave
I away was not nearly SO valuable to the
smokers as was the charming smile
; they received next door. The natura
! consequences were that Langley trad,
b dropped off more and more each day
T and the business soon fell back to
c point where, instead of supporting
S itself and Langley, 1t supported neither
I It was just four weeks after Lang
y ley's defy to the trust that Rockwa.
= again blew into the store.
o Business pretty good, Langley" h
5 asked, after answering the young man
IT surly nod with broad smile
/ Langley did not condescend to reply
So the trust man went on:
Heard you wanted to sell out. l.
like TO make you an offer, but can't, yo
know. We've made contract with tn
young lady ne Il door to supply her W lt
cigars at the M rket price for te
i years. By-the-way, a pretty shrew
business woman she is, too. Made Il
agree not to sell anyone else in this bloc
n for the whole term of the contract. Blu
] that's all right, guess She's doing
dandy business; that's what she is. OF
II we'll, old fellow, il you don't care TO dis
cuss it-ta-ta. think l see your fiji
fish, and pretty soon, too"
nj Langley spent bad night. Their
i were two notes falling due next month
and he had heard from good authorit