Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-28

MT much consarn with the making of money,
retorted the carter sententiousy.
How much do you want to rob us of?' Creery
asked sourly.
Quarter the total profits" Bob replied firmly,
Mr.. Creery stigmatized this demand as arrant
robbery.
"You amt got particle O. shame in you,
Bob" he said pathetically.
| "Quite right" grnned Bob mot when I can
make bargain Who has?"
"a sixth of the total profits" insinuated
Creery softly.
"a quarter, or nothing" replied Bob stub
bornly.
Every well, quarter be it," agreed Creery
wanly. He frightened up perceptibly. after
all, it amt so verv much"
mo, it amt" Bob agreed dryly $50 little
in fac, that it's hardly worth while to put it
into writing-but we're going to, for all that"
you're a suspicious man, Bob" said Creery,
his face clouding again. "Youll never come
to good in the end"
Maybe" was the unconcerned reply; but l
amt bothering about the end just yet-see"
Several minutes and much stationery
consumed in framing document which Bob
persisted in saying was only written for his pro
! lection.
"Now for Dckson" said the carrier, putting
the bond in his pocket, with deep sigh of sat
isfaction and eloquent wink at Creery.
eyes, Bob, and don't forget that Dicksons
gTasplng old fellow. SO do him II you can,
! Bob-'do' him if you canl"
| Longs interview with Dickson was eminenty
satisfactory. He perfectly ready to stand
and help corner the local match market. In
fact, in the first flush of his enthusiasm, he sug-
gested it would be a good thing to jump the
| price of every article he stocked-a notion from
(which Long had some difficulty in dissuading
him.
One thing only did Mr. Dickson regret-to find
that he was associated in the enterprise with
Mr.. Creery. Mr.. Dickson had his own opinion
! of Mr. Creery, whom he characterized as
"greedy old grasp-al''
Next morning long consultation took place
between the three partners-a consultation un-
necessarily prolonged by the hauteur with which
two of the partners behaved towards each other.
The first thing agreed the buying-up of
all the available outside stock, and the three
| fnancers set about their task Immediately.
They visited the Kings Arms first. Here
about eighteen boxes were exposed for sale on
the highly-varnished shelves at the back of the
| bar.
''Morning" said the Landlord to Long, pick
ing up a pint pot. "The usual?"
"No. Want some matches How many have
you got?'
'If you think / can waste my time counting
how many matches go to box, you're mistak-
irritation.
Don't you be fooll" adjured Long. 81 want
| all the boxes you've got.
Don't be a what?" snapped the landlord.
"Shan't sell you no matches at all now!' said
the insulted landlord
Didn't mean it," urged Long, as the partners
eyed each other aghast.
II knew you didn't said the landlord 'What
should you want dozen and 'arf of matches
for? Trying to be funnyP he asked sarcasti-
caly.
"I mean didn't mean you was fool" said
the carrier meekly.
Don't care" replied the landlord. 1T would
MT let you ave 'em, anyhow
"Then I did mean it!" said Long wrathfuly
An elaborate series of signals between the
fnanciers, and as result the trio left the inn
Three minutes later Bob Hacl1ett, brbed
thereto by the offer of half pint of beer, enter
ed the bar-room and bought up the entire stock
of matches-to the landlords suspicious amaze
ment.
Hackett emerged holding the matches aloft in
triumph.
"Ive got 'em' he said. 'I've spilled my beer
over em, too That oughter be worth another
pntl''
The partners, without further delay, made for
the Black Swan. Here there were about twenty
boxes of matches in stock. Mrs. Boober the
landlady, heard their request for the entire
stock with an air of perplexity.