Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-28
N MATCHES.

earnestly Didn't you sell EN- some-and Wix-
en- and Hackett and Pootle, too?"
Nary box" asseverated Dickson.
There was another long silence.
"It's the last bust-up" declared Creery, at
length. They're a-gong to give in on Monday
morning-start the week we'll"
Together the partners walked to Mr.. Creery's
shop. Their way was, to great extent, illumi-
mated by grinning rustics who ignited matches
whenever they encountered the pair.
You wait!" breathed Creery fiercely. We'll
! take it out Of 'em!"
Three hapence a box on Monday, ch?" sug-
gested Dickson quickly.
| Creery nodded grimly.
| There was not much business doing at Creery's
shop. The usual Saturday night purchases we're
made, but things appeared slow to the two
fnanciers.
Present Jim Dobie wandered in.
Matches" asked Creery, laying his hand on
box.
Got dozen boxes in my pocket now" said
Jim carelessly and pointed to his buging pock-
cts for corroboration.
| Creery eyed Dickson in CONSERVATION.
"Where did you get 'em?" he asked Dobie.
In reply, Jim Dobie took his pipe from his
mouth, winked elaborately and replaced his
pipe. 1t was a new one, encircled with many
silver bands
That's nice pipe, you're smoking" Dickson
remarked ingratiatingly.
"Yes replied Dobie as he left the shop "Bob
Long give it to me-"
simultaneously the two partners remembered
that Bob Long jim Dobies halfbrother.
Creery put his hands on the counter and stared
questioningy at Dickson. Dickson raised his
gaze from the floor and stared back bankly.
where's Long all this time?" they asked
each other, and forthwith hurried from the
shop to seek him.
They discovered him at the Kings Arms-at
which hostel he appeared to be most popular
parsonage Hart, the landlord, enlightened them
to the reason.
"Bob Longs publicsperrited chap" he in
formed them. "He didn't like to see us done
on them matches like you wanted to do us, so
he's done you instead. Grasping old msers'
he calls you two"
Crcery and Dickson looked wrathfuly across
at Long.
FThat's right remarked the carrier, nodding
his head pleasantly.
$50, what's he done?" continued the landlord
''Why, brought in ten of matches in his
cart this very afternoon, and sold 'em off like
wildfre at three boxes penny And nice
little bit he's made out of it. too, I'll be boundl
And he deserves it, too He's got public sper
rt, he has"
"Why-why," spluttered the enraged Creery.
che was in it with us!"
b "Oh, dare say!" said Long, with indulgent
irony. Likely thing, amt it?''
"Take it like a man, Mr.. Creery," urged the
landlord. "Take it like a man-and don't do it
again"
Words failed the two partners. They lett the
inn together and tramped sturdiy along the
highroad for couple of miles before they dared
venture on speech.
They returned slowly and their conversation
had distinct bearing, for the most part,
Bob Long
''And to think that we was took in by Dobie's
buying matches every day. and making us think
the Others would come roundi" said Dickson.
Don't you see, that it was Long sent him?
Don't you see, you silly old idiot?"
eyes, see," replied Creery with some heat.
''I see. And you're another!'
On Monday morning there fresh sign in
the respective windows of Mr.. Creery and Mr.,
Dickson. It read:
LUCIFER MATCHES FOUR BOXES A
PENNY.
"The same matches!"
1t was the epitaph of the defunct Corner in
Matches.