Even at school there had been an unhealthy competition between George and Richard. 

"I'll be the first millionaire in Coleford!" Richard used to boast. 

"And you'll be sorry that you knew me," George would reply "because I'll surely be the best lawyer in our town!" 

After graduation, George never became a lawyer and Richard was anybody but a millionaire .... Instead, it happened that both men opened bookshops on opposite sides of Coleford High Street, while it was hard to make much money from books then, which made the competition between them worse. Eventually, Richard closed down his, dreaming of making a fortune elsewhere. 

Now, with only one bookshop in the town, business was better for George. But sometimes he sat in his narrow old kitchen and gazed out of the dirty window, thinking about his former rival . Perhaps he missed him? 

George was very interested in old dictionaries, and he had recently found a collector in Australia who was selling a rare first edition. When the parcel arrived, the book was in perfect condition and George was quite delighted. But while he was having lunch, George glanced at the photo in the newspaper that the book had been wrapped in. He was astonished -- the smiling face was older than he remembered but unmistakable! Trembling, George started reading: "Bookends Company has bought ten bookstores from its competitors. The company, owned by multi-millionaire Richard Pike, is now the largest bookseller in this country."
Who always competed?
Was it healthy?
What did George find great interest in?
Did he ever find someone who collected them?
From where?
What did he have?
A common one?
Who thought they would have millions of dollars?
Did he?
How many of them ended up with a bookstore?
Where were they located?
Were they very successful?
Why not?
Who quit first?
Did this make the other one very happy in the long run?
What was the uncommon package he received covered in?
What did he notice was on it?
Of whom?
Was it his obituary?
What was it then?
George and Richard
 competition between George and Richard
no
unhealthy competition
old dictionaries
George was very interested in old dictionaries
yes
and he had recently found a collector
Australia
collector in Australia
a first edition
selling a rare first edition
No
rare first edition
Richard
I'll be the first millionaire in Coleford!" Richard
no
Richard was anybody but a millionaire
Both
both men opened bookshops
Coleford High Street
opposite sides of Coleford High Street
no
 it was hard to make much money from books then
hard to make much money from books
 it was hard to make much money from books then
Richard
Richard closed down his
Yes
Perhaps he missed him
newspaper
newspaper that the book had been wrapped in
a photo
George glanced at the photo in the newspaper
Richard
Richard Pike
No
The company, owned by multi-millionaire Richard Pike
A story about a bookseller.
"Bookends Company has bought ten bookstores from its competitors. The company, owned by multi-millionaire Richard Pike, is now the largest bookseller in this country.