The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-19
Smith e Jones.

Jonas X. Smith and William B. Jones
were schoolmates and bosom friends.
At the age Of twenty they entered the
same counting room. Two years later
Smith went into the diapers business,
and Jones went TO South America to
represent o firm.
Three years after Jones had departed
for South America things 50 changed
with his firm that he returned. Smith
knew that he was coming and was the
first to greet him. Neither had mar
ried during the interval, The draper
had prospered, but desired to enlist
more capital and enlarge his business.
Jones had money and became part
ner. So great was their faith In each
other that no papers were drawn be-
yond those making 1t a legal partner
ship. They trusted to each other in
everything else. The partnership con-
tinued for five years, and the firm
made money. This made at least six
teen years that they had been daily
together as boys and men, and one
would have said that each thoroughly
understood the other. One day, in
view Of further improvements, they
had balance sheet drawn. This
showed the exact share Of each and
the profits made. There was a differ
ence Of just halfpenny in favor Of
Smith. The matter was first mention
cd In a joking way and In the greatest
good nature, but later on 1t became
r.R
lifelong friends who had handled thou
sands Of pounds between them disput-
ing about halfpenny. Each declared
that he was actuated by principle, and
20 hot did the dispute rage that a
dissolution of the copartnershlp was
agreed upon.
Jones went out of the firm and es-
tabllshed an opposition trade. In two
years he bankrupted both concerns.
People for thirty miles around were
furnished with free railroad tickets to
come and buy, even at half price, and
they were furnished free meals at the
stores
When bankruptcy came It made
clean sweep. Both men went out into
the world without a dollar. Smith took
a situation In a warehouse, and Jones
secured one with real estate agent.
Smith secured board far away from
the other place, but inside Of two days
Jones was boarder at the same place.
Then they spoke for the first time in
two years, and their words were over
heard by the landlady, as testified to
afterward. As they met in the upper
hall Jones said:
smith, have just a word to say to
yOu. shall kill You some day for your
meanness about that halfpenny."
that's my intention toward you"
That was all. They sat at the same
table and slept within a few feet of
each other for Ave months and never
passed another word They ignored
each others very existence. The other
boarders In the house came to under.
stand the situation and fell into 1t,
though OF course II was subject OF
general remark. On a dozen different
occasions mutual friends lnterceded,
but each time they were rebuffed.
That poor little halfpenny stood in the
way and could not DO put aside. At
the end Of Ave months n relative Of
Smith died, and he decided to buy a
house in a suburb OF London and have
q widowed sister act as housekeeper.
This project was talked over at the
table before all.
II was most curious thing that
Jones should be In the employ Of the
real estate man who had erected the
houses In the suburb referred to and
that II was a part OF his duties to
show would be purchasers through the
houses. Such was the case, however.
and one afternoon when Smith allghted
from the underground at the suburb
ho found Jones ready for him. II
must have been u surprise to him, and
Jet no was equal to the occasion. He
asked to be shown a certain house,
and Jones' led the way Into It People
On the street heard and saw this. That
evening neither man returned to his
boarding house. They did not return
next day. Then the police were spoken
20. and search was instituted. Smith
had said that be was going 10 look at
house. Jones' had said that he was
going 10 show house b q customer
They found the house into which the
two men bad gone and had not been
seen to reappear with It's outer door
unAocked- In room upstairs they
eOand Smith and Jones dead What
happened was told by a tramp who
was IN hiding In the house because he
had committed theft and feared the
police were after him. He was asleep
In an upstairs room and was awaken
Cd By the sounds OF the mems voices
In dispute lie heard one say:
smith. Providence has sent you
here to your death. l am going to
kin your
zones. have been waiting for lust
such an opportunity to take your llfeF
replied the other.
There was little or nothing more said
hsfnR@a fhs,xs seAaeowa With aanh ~.