The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-04-11
Smith c Jones.
copyright, 1906 by Mcclure Newspaper
gyndieate.l

copyright, 1896 by Mcclure Newapapel
Syndicatcl
Jonas X. Smith and William Il. 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 q
represent arm.
Three years after Jones had departed
for South America things so changed
with his firm that be returned. Smith
knew that he was coming and was the
Hrst 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 II legal partner
ship. They trusted TO each other in
everything else. The partnership con
tinued for ave years, and the tirm
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.
enee Of just halfpenny In favor Of
Smith. The matter was first mention
ed In joking way and In the greatest
good nature, but later on II became q
bone OF contention. Here were two
lifelong friends who had handled thou
sands Of pounds between them dlsput.
ting about halfpenny. Each declared
that be was actuated by principle, and
% hot did the dispute rage that a
dissolution OF the copartnership 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 we're furnished free meals at the
stores
When bankruptcy came 1t made
clean sweep. Both men went out into
the world without dollar. Smith took
q situation IN warehouse, and Jones
secured one with real estate agent
Smith secured board far away from
CAe other place, but inside Of two days
Jones' w2s boarder at the same place
IAsa they spoke for the first time In
fEs pears, ard their words were over
beard sy - l&ndlady. as testified to
a<7awz-d As they met In the upper
AE- TsrGsx said:
@Ez-.- ! have tust a word TO say TO
Fgz sa1z MI yOc some day for your
razEzn.asz about that halfpenny."
~Zkars NJ tutentfon toward you"
That wAz AT They sat at the same
ns5s x.d sept within a few feet Of |
ezc5 ceher for fve months and never |
pzSsed another word. They ignored
eaea others very existence. The other
boarIerS In the house came to under
stsnd the situation and fell into II,
though Of course 1t was a subject of
general remark On dozen different
occasions mutual friends interceded, !
but each time they were rebuffed. !
That poor little halfpenny stood in the
way and could not be put aside. At
the end of i've months a relative Of
Smith died, and he decided to buy a
house in a suburb of London and have
widowed sister act as housekeeper.
This project was talked over at the
table before all.
1t was a 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 1t was a part Of his duties to
show would be purchasers through the
houses. Such was the case, however.
and one afternoon when Smith alighted
from the underground at the suburb
be found Jones ready for him II
must have been a surprise 70 him. and
ret be was equal 70 the occasion He
asked TO be shown certain house,
and Jones led the way into IL People
OF th7 street heard and saw this That
eTe1t1g ne.ther man returned 10 his
boarding house. They did not return
next Jay. Then the police ware spoken /.
70. and q search vas instituted. Smith
had said that be- was going 10 look at .
house. Jones had said that lie was
going To show q hogse u a customer.
They found the house into which the
two men had gone and had not been
seen 10 reappear with its outer door .
unlocked. In a room upstairs they
found Smith AMI Jones dead What }
happened was told by q tramp who .
was in hiding in the house because As .
had committed a theft and feared the .
police were after him. He was asleep
In an upstairs room and was awaken
ed by the sounds Of the mems voices
In dispute. He heard one say:
Smith, Providence has sent you
here to your death. am going to
kill you"
Zones, l have been waiting for just
such an opportunity to take your life"
replied the other.
There was little or nothing more said