The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-05-12
THAT LARGE CIGAR
BY BARRY PAIN.

You don't mind my breakiastinf
while you talk?" said Mr.. Bywatei
SOames
He Was a well-dressed young man, but
he looked tired. II was now half-pasl
ten and he did not generally breakfast
as early as that
"Of counsel" snapped the uncle, as be
put his silk hat on the floor and his
gloves in the hat. Il breakiasted two
hours ago myself. Why can't yoo?'
Il could, but hate breakiasting in
bed"
you know perfectly well what
mean. was in my bath al hali-pasI
seven. Why weren't your
Well" said Soames, modestly, Il
wasn't invited. | didn't know you'd
welcome my company at that time
The uncle waved away this frivolity
with a white. fat hand.
IN tell you what it IS" he said.
You're going to the devil. hadnt
been in these chambers two minutes
before l could see that There are in
dications everywhere Mark you. my
boy, I'm a man that observes.
What are the indlcations?'
The uncle walked to the mantelpiece
and took from it an extremely large
cigar. lie lifted it up, looked at ii sus-
piciously and put il down again. THAT
is one OF them, my boy"
If you prefer cigarette, the nephew
began
Again came the wave Of the fat, white
hand.
Il never smoke in the morning. What
meant to say was that when saw
that cigar lying on your mantelpiece l
knew a good deal about you and moth
ing to your credit
For instance?" said Soames
Il know something OF the price Of
those cigars. 1t would not surprise me
if you paid $50 hundred for them.
Look at the size"
Yes, said Soames critically. Rather
over life size, isn't it?'
Tell me now frankly what you do
pay a hundred?"
Il really don't know"
The uncle Was triumphant Il thought
Sc" he said. Where there Is extraya-
gance there Is also recklessness. have
frequently observed it. And where there
is recklessness there is sheer stupidity"
Think so?" said Soames meditatiye-
ly. Il shouldn't have said that was
stupid"
IN prove It. Did you ever smoke one
OF those cigars right through to the
very end? Say, to the last half inchy'
NO" said Soames, Il don know that
ever did"
That is exactly what thought Mon
strosities Of this kind cannot be smoked
on economical principles They get foul
long before they are finished. Suppos-
ing that the cost Of that cigar is ~
cents you are compelled to throw away
a quarters worth Of II"
AFTER all. uncle, that's my own look
out, isn't it? In all this siniulness that
you've been describing l don't injure
anybody except myself"
Il don't know about that What bust
ness have you to leave cigars lying
about loose In this way on your mantel-
piece? Why can't you keep them locked
up? / keep everything locked up. de-
fly you to come to my house any day
and find cigars not locked W. You are
simply putting temptation in the way
of your valet. When the man robs you
then you'll be angry"
Il don't think so" said SOames. lie
does rob me, and I'm not at all angry.
expect moderation and he observes IL.
In this particular case l should like to
point out that he has not succumbed to
the temptation. For all 1 know it may
have acted like a refining fire out OF
which be will emerge"
Refining fddlesticks! You don't
know how many cigars you left on the
mantlepiece last night"
Pardon me" said The nephew, q re-
member perfectly; there was only this
one" He rose from the table, took the
cigar between his fingers, and stood
with his back to the fire. The uncle still
surveyed that cigar with fury
Just look at the thing You couldn't
get it into any ordinary cigar case.
You'd have to get one built on purpose
for It. and half Of it's pure waste. Fol
goodness sake smoke II and put ii out
Of my sight Not got a cutter? Here
you are"
Thanks" said Soames. slowly. but /
l always use a knife. / have got my /
own way OF cutting a cigar and I'm not /
going to smoke this one anyhow"
20. see, said the uncle. They are /
a bit too much for you. You simply |
keep them out Of bravado and swagger.'
Not entirely that, either said
SOames.
lie unscrewed the cigar In the middle
and took out Of It a pencil. penholder
and a nail file. and laid them on the
table.
SILLY toy. isn'tit?" he said. Il bought
Il at a bazaar yesterday to obllge the fool
Of a girl who was selling the thing
What going already BLACK and