The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-02
SMITH & JONES.
Try M Ouad.O

age of eleven years he found William
B. Jones there as one of the pupils
There was friendship between the two
lads at once. They were at the Schoo
for three years, and then both attend
ed a higher one At the age of twenty
they were taken from school and pu1
in the same counting room, and they
boarded at the same place. Two years
later Smith went into the diapers
business and Jones was sent to South
America to represent firm. They
had been the same as brothers for
eleven years. They had never had a
quarrel lasting beyond a day. There
were not two men in all England with
q stronger friendship.
Three years after Jones had depart
ed for South America things SO
changed with his firm that he re-
turned. Smith knew that he was COM
ing and was the first to greet hlm-
Neither had married during the inter-
val. The draper had prOSpered, but
desired to enlist more capital and en-
large his business. Jones had money
and became a partner So great was
their faith in each other that no pa
perS were dra wn beyond those making
it a legal partnership. They trusted
TO each other in everything else. The
partnership continued for five years
and the firm made money. This made
at least sixteen years that they mad
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 a halfpenny in favor of
Smith. The matter was first men,
toned in a joking way and in the
greatest good nature, but later on it
became a bone of contention. Here
were two lifelong friends who had
handled thousands of pounds between
them disputing about halfpenny.
hot anfr1 tod
by principle, and so hot did the dispute
rage that dissolution of the copart-
nershiD was agreed upon Mutual
friends sought to heal the breach, but
each partner stood firm. They did
more than that. They began to hate
each other and nurse a spirit of re-
venge.
1t is hardly to be credited that a
dissolution took place. but 1t did.
Jones went out of the firm and estab-
Iished an opposition trade. In two
years he bankruDted 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 At one time any one who
bought f2 worth of goods was pre-
sented with a COW or horse. Sets of
harness. wheelbarrows. agricultural
implements, clocks, hair mattresses
and scores of other things were given
away daily. Jones began it to run
up to beat Jones at his own game.
During this strife both boarded at tn e
same house. sat at the same table and
occupied adjoining rooms. They saw
each other three or four times a day,
but did not speak.
When bankruptcy came it made
clean sweep. Both men went out into
the world without a dollar. Smith
took a situation in wareh ouse and
Jones secured one with a real estate
agent. Smith secured board far away
from the other place, but inside of two
days Jones was a boarder at the same
place. Then they spoke for the first
time in two years, and their words !
were overheard by the iandlady, as
testified to afterward. AS they met in
the upper hall Jones said:
Smith. I have just a word to say to
you" s-etc
''And I have the same to say to you,
Jones'" was the reply. 7
81 shall kill you some day for your
meanness about that halfpenny."
That's my intention toward you"
Good morning, Smith
Good morning, Jones"
That was all They sat at the same
table and slept within a few feet of
each other for five 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 it.
though of course it was a subject of
general remark On a 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 five months a relative of
Smith died and he decided to buy
house in a suburb of London and have
a widowed sister act as housekeeper.
This project was talked over at the
table before all. All had some advice
to offer or comments to make-all ex-
cept Jones'
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 it was part of his duties to show
would-be purchasers through the |
houses. Such was the case, however,
and one afternoon, when Smith alight-
ed from the underground at the suburb
he found Jones ready for him. 1t must
have been surprise to him, and yet
he was equal to the occasion. He ask
ed 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
to and a search instituted. Smith had
said that he was going to look at a
house. Jones had said that he was go
ing to show house to a prospective
customer
hey found the house into which the
two men had gone and had not been
seen to reappear with its outer door I'M
locked. In a room upstairs they found |
Smith and Jones, dead. What happen
ed was told by a tramp who was in |
hiding in the house because he had /
committed a theft and feared the po- |
lice were after him. He was asleep in /
an upstairs room and was awakened by |
the sounds of the mems voices in dis |
pute. He heard one say:
Smith. Providence has sent you here |
TO your death. I am going to kill you"' |
Jones' I have been waiting for just |
such an opportunity to take your lifer' |