Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-28

| "No fear" answered Long decisvey. Il only
stands in with the prOftsl'
Simultaneously next morning in the windows
of Mr.. Creery's and Mr.. Dicksons respective es-
tablishments there came into view an announce
| ment:
NOTICE.
"Owing to unforeseen circumstances and other
things, have thought it best to raise the price
of matches These in future will be one penny
| per box or twelve boxes for one shilling cash
net. Same price everywhere. few boxes OF
wax matches at tbreepence per box
| This announcement was met-as are most IN
| novations-with intense disfavor The charac,
| ters of Creery and Dickson were openly analyzed
and it was found that they had not single good
feature to redeem the black mass OF vices they
| possessed. Their morals, their antecedents ana
| their ways were publicly discussed ana tner
personal appearances were called IN 10 prove
how vicious must be their characters long es'
caped all oblouuy; he had stipulated that his
name should be left out of the Transaction alto
gether. G.. H..
"No sales.'' was the report after the first day
of the new conditions.
''people are using up the matches what they
we already got" explained Long
The same report was made next DAY.
"They're using em up careful" said the car
rier. =, r.
On the third day one box was sold to Jim
Dobie at the advanced price, and it was looked
upon as happy augury. Next day Doble poughs
another box. Again the occurrence was looked
on as a happy omen, though not to quite such
an extent. Once more Dobie bought box on
the following day, and thereafter his custom
was unfailing.
He was the only buyer. however. No one
else seemed to want to buy matches. People dld
without lights as far as possible, and men walked
long distances pipeless rather than submit TO the
avarice Of Creery and Dickson
Luck was favoring the venture Inc weather
broke I'D. and rain came down incessantly et-
fectively nipping in the bud the designs of those
who spoke of walking to the county town-some
seven miles distant-to lay up store OF maShes'
Long himself only made one journey, ana on
his return he reported that the ROADS ~, were 50
heavy as to be practically impossible. This fact
he announced loudly at the Kings Arms, sdbse'
ouentlv repeating it at the Black Swan and the
Red Lion
The great corner in matches had lasted just
two weeks and three days ;,
II was Saturday night, and somehow, both
Dickson and Creery felt that the evening would
see the crisis in the career of the Great Match
Syndicate c.
Dickson started to walk round to see Creery,
but scarcely had he passed his threshold when
he was brought to standstill by the extra
ordinary behavior of Mr.. Samuel Corder That
gentleman had apparently just left the Kings
Arms for there was stare OF preternaturai
gravity in his eyes and apparent difference
of opinion between his feet as to the dlrecuon
they wished to take. ~
Corder eyed Dickson solemnly for moment,
s,vaving lightly to and fro Then, with reveren.
t;aI humility. he took off his hat and bowed
low.
'Look 'ere-iest you look 'ere!" he said.
He nroduced box of safety matches, and
emntied the contents into his hand. He seized
them all in one comprehensive grasp, and, leer-
inc horribly at the astounded Dickson, lgnlted
them simultaneously. Then he threw tho t1arlng
handful into the air
"'Ooray!'' he shouted gleefully; and repeat
al in a ouieter more thoughtful tone, DO
ray!" 49, -, ar
"He's been buying matches, tool said Mr..
Dickson to himself with inward satisfaction, as
Corder zigzagged away down the road.
Suddenly Mr. Creery burst upon him.
"Tb;s Is all right, amt it?" asked Mr.. Creery,
rubbing his hands together.
@You may well say so,' Mr.. Dickson assured
20 Now Pir for the profit" said Mr. Creery. "rm
@So'm I!'' declared Mr.. Dickson. ''The funny
mart is that no ones bought any at my shop.
They've all come to YOU"
Creery eyed Dickson for moment. :,
Don't you come none OF them games" ne
warned him wrathfully.
"No game" said Dickson soberly "So'mn
fact! amt sold "a single box
"No more amt II! remarked Creery slowly,
after long, long pause
Dickson's attitude became dncreduious to the
point of insulting.
WHAT" he cried ''Not sold any?"
sT ain't-really ain't!" declared Creery very