The Osceola times., 1881-09-03
AN INTRICATE PROPOSITION.
with which Major MAE 0rsatiy Pussls
his Wifo.
san Francisco Chronicle.

did it ever occur 10 you, my dear
that person going overland would have
TO mail two letters day from the train
in order to have one letter day return
to San Francisco" asked Major Max the
other evening, after the cloth was re-
moved from the table and his wife was
pouring his glass of two-thirds benedic-
tine and one-tbird curacon, which the
Major contended was the only civilized
drink with which to prepare for the af-
ter-dinner cigar.
Mrs. Max passed the Major his cordial
and waited a moment before replying:
"Why, no; it seems TO me that if per-
son travelling east mailed letter each
day by westward. bound train letter
would arrive here each day"
Mrs. Max answered cautiously, for
while she knew that the Major pretend-
ed to deplore the fact that sue was illog-
ical, he really derived much comfort
from his superior comprehension, and
was somewhat addicted to studying
out intricate propositions with which to
puzzle the lady.
you think so, do your" queried the
MAJOR, as Trough about to be convinced
by her, while in truth he only wanted
her to commit herself more decidedly,
that his victory would be the more
signal.
"Why, Yes" Mrs. Max continued
somewhat assured, 'if you mailed let
ter on the first day out, it would get
here the next day; if you mailed one
the day following 1t would arrive here a
day after the first and the letters being
mailed -twenty.four hours apart, would,
of course, continue to arrive here a day
apart. They couldn't grow further
apart on the road, could they. Major?"
Mrs. Max wound up this sequence OF
feminine logic with atriumphant accent,
and felt sure she had posed the Major,
for he did not reply until after lighting
a cigar Then he said slowly, "You
posi- letter the first day out"
"Yes."
"That letter arrives here the day after
you leave?"
Certainly. One day gone, one letter
received"
Exactly. Well the next day-a lit
tie curacao, straight, please-the next
day you post another letter from the
train, and"
If Mrs. Max had not been examining
new pattern of lace she had in her
sleeves she might have noticed the sat-
isfed smile the Major had as he leaned
back in his chair and said. "The second
day you would be at Ogden?'
Yes"
"Wouldn't il take as long for letter
to return TO San Francisco as il had taken
you to go to Ogden?"
81 suppose so."
"Then the second letter would arrive
here two days after you arrived at Og-
den and four days after you left here?''
A.. No lo~Loa ssp ~..a said i.ss;tat
inQly:
"Woll, l don't see how you make that
cut"
al did not make it out, Mrs. Max.
only asked if was right"
"No, you are not if you post lettt r
on a returning train each day say that
letter must arrive here each day, and
don't care"
"Mrs. Max, how long does it take to
90 to New York;"
"Seven days, suppose"
Then letter day would be seven
letters. You would post you sixth let
ter on your sixth day out, and it would
take it six days more to return, being
twelve days after you left here. Now, as
you had only mailed five letters before
the one which arrived on the twelfth
day, how could letter day have ar
rived?"
Mrs. Max thought moment, and
then asked with considerable warmth;
"Do you mean to say, Major Max, that if
a person goiog to New York posts let
ter on San Francisco bound train each
DAY that it takes two weeks for all those
letters to arrive here2"
1T certainly would,' replied the Mai.
or, glowing comfortably behind bis cigar.
He knew Mrs. Max Acknowledged her
defeat by the way she rang for the tea,
but she would not ask for further ex-
PLANTATION.