Borrowing A Match

You might think that borrowing a match npon the streot is a simple thing. But auy man who has ever tried it wiJl assure yoi. tliat it is not and will be preparod t gwear to the truth of my experierice of the other eveuing. I was standing cm the corner of the street with a cigar that I wanted to light. I had uo match. I waited till a decent, oidinary lookiug man cama along. Then I said: "Excuse me,-eir, but could yon obliga me with the loan of a match?" The man stopped short at once. "A match?" he said. "Why, ly. Then he unbuttoned his overcoat and pat his hand in the pocket of bis waisteoat, "I know I have one, " he ■went on, "and I'd almost swear it's in the bottom pocket - or, hold on, though, I guess it may be in the top - just waifc till I put these pareéis down on the sidewalk. " "Oh, don't trouble," I said. "It'3 really of no conseqnence. " "Oh, it's no trouble, 111 have it in a minute. I know there must be one in here somewhere"- he was digging nis fingers into his pockets as he spoke - "but you see this isn't the waistcoat I generally" - I saw that the man was getting excited about it. "Wel!, never mind," I "If that isn't the waistcoat that you generally- why, it doesn't matter. ' ' "Hold on, now, hold on," the man said. "I've got one of the cnrsed thiuga in hcre somewhere. I guess it must be in with my v.atch. No, it's uot there, either. Wait till I try in my coat. If that confounded tailor onlv knew enoiigh to ruake a pocket so tkat a maD could get at it!" He was getting pretty well worked up uow. He had tbrovra down his walking stick and was plunging at his pockets with his teefh set. "It's tbat cursed yoiuig boy of mine," he hissed. "Tbis comes of his foolicg in rny pockets. Bygr.d, perhaps I wou't warm him up when I get home. Say, 111 bet that it's iu my hip pocket. You just hold up the tail of my overcoat a second til] I" - "No, rio," I protested again, "please don't take all this trouble. It really doesn't matter. I'ni sure you needn't take off your overcoat, and, oh, pray don't throw away your letters and tlriugs in the eiiow like that and tear out your pockets by the roots. Please, please doii't trample over your overcoat aud put your feet through the pareéis. I do so hate to hear you swearing at yourlittle boy with that peculiar whine iuyourvoice! Don't, please don't tear your clotbea so savagely. ' ' Suddenly the man gave agrunt of exultation and drew his hand up froru inside the liuiug of his coat. "I'vegot it!" he cried. "Here you are!" Then he brought it out under the light. It was a toothpick. Yielding to the impulse of the moment, I pushed hini under thewheels of