Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-19
DAILY SHORT STORY
A GAME OF BLUFF.

tOrlgfnaLl
was at work in NY office one day
when ! received 4 visit from a hand
slime. dashing looking fellow, dressed in
O. height of fashion. about thirty years
old. whom | hae never seen before.
When asked what | could do for him
he said that he wished me to bring
suit against n wealthy young widow
for $4,000 for breach OF promise or
marriage. MEs. Fanny Bissell was
twenty-five years old. rich, vivacious-
pretty ana a desperate fiirt. hamilton,
my client. had met her during the sum-
mer. He found her a notorious CO.
.fs.tte who did not scruple TO engage
herself To a dozen lovers at one time.
1t occurred to me-" he said, Ito
punish her for such nefariOus prac
tees. Its not money l want. I've got
all of il | need. Nevertheless l wish
YOU TO bring suit for $4,000"
took the case, but before proceed
inE legally made inquiries about the
principals. / learned that all the plain
till had said about the defendant was
true. also found that Jack Hamilton.
as his friends called him, had no bet
Ter reputation III SlitH ALSdlbtIS tllsth i4iC
woman he accused of decorating his
heart strings. / sent "a polite note 10
Mrs. BiSSen making the demand on
behalf of my client, ana she came to
my office ~ see me. She was. or pre-
tended 10 be, highly indignant with
Hamilton, averring that she hardly re-
membered him, but she tried TO find
out from me what evidence he pos
seSsed i'll the shape Of letters. Hamil-
ton had confessed TO me that he had
not Il scrap of written evidence, but
expected ne 70 make IL bluff. and he
would not blame ne III case of defeat.
| therefore Informed her that | could
rot give her any Information as to my
clients side of the caSe-but she would,
of course. remember what she had
written Mr.. Hamilton. With charm
ing naivcte and u lugubrious smile. she
admitted that she had said and written
Il great many foolish things during the
summer. and it would not be possible
TO say Just what she had written any
special adnirer.
Well" she said at the end of the in
tervicw, Il suppose | shall have TO pay
something. Must pay it all?"
W I4N Iibi retain touilSCi anu I'bt III
Il defensc:''
"Oh, dear. no. Have everybody
laughing III me-? Not by any means.
Ia rather pay it all.
suppose you make an offer"
Tell him I'll pay half"
She had scarcely left my office when
Hamilton came into it When l told
him that the lady would settle out of
court. paying SO 1000. Il look of disap
pointment crossed his face | asked
him if he didn't think the amount
enough. and he replied it was equiva
lent to paying $4,000 rather than mar
~ him.
Il suppose" he added lugubriOuSly,
she thinks she's getting off cheap.
Tell her that her offer is not accepted"
1t was plain that money had nothing
to do with the case-at least so far a.
my client was Concerncd-so | gave no
advice. combining myself 10 Obeying or
,teFS Transmitting the refusal to the
defendant. | received by way Of reply
an offer of $4,000. This was declined.
and the amount offered was raised So
600 M Il time till the full amount claim
ed was reached. when Hamilton direct
eel me to add a demand of 5000 for 4
counsel fees. / Cemurred AT making
such Il charge. but he insisted. and |
made the demand of Mrs. Rissell. She
agreed to pay It. and | supposed the
case was closed. but Hamilton demand
,-l written apology for trifing with
his affections.
This demand was Indignantly de-
clined Then Hamilton directed me to
H. j,,. 10 OH
meet him at my office and in my pres
puce say that she regretted her fiirta-
tons with other men he would drop
the case without the payment Of any
money whatever To this. after a long
delay. the widow assented.
The meeting was To take place at 3
o'clock on n certain afternoon. Hamil-
ton asked me to stay away from my
office at the hour the lady was expect
ed-that is, To he late in coming. | left
directions that when either of the two
arrived he or she was To he shown into
my private office i arrived at half
past 3. Hamilton and Mrs Bis
sell had arrived and were so engaged
with each other that they did not
notice my coming Indeed, they We're
claSped in each others arms. l cough
ell 10 make them aware of my pres
ence: they Started and Hamilton came
forward.
You have Won the case / wanted TO
win" ne said. land 1 will now explain.
Having been one of a number of those
with whom the defendant in this case
had trlted | determined 10 withdraw
without proceeding 10 a climax and
sue for damages. / had no case for
Mrs Bissell had never promised To be
my wife. Indeed. l had never asked
her. But she had promised so many
that when l brought my bluff suit she
naturally suppressed / was one OF her
accepted sutors. If / have nor pun