Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-01-20
A Game Of Bluff
Ioriginal.l

old whom l had never seen DeIore'
when asked what l could do for him
- said that he wished me to bring
s,,,t against a wealthy young widow
Cor $4,000 for breach of promise of
marriage Mrs. Fanny Bissell was
t,renty-five years old, rich, vivacious,
pretty and a desperate flirt. Hamilton,
NV client, had met her during the sum-
mar He found her a notorious CO.
ouette who did not scruple TO engage
herself to a dozen lovers at one time.
"It occurred to me-" he said, Ito
nunish her for such nefarious prac-
fees. It's not money | want. I've got
ell Of it need Nevertheless l wish
Won to bring suit for $4,000"
I took the case, but before proceed
ing tegally made inquiries about the
principals. l learned that all the plain
tiff had said about the defendant was
true | also found that Jack Hamilton,
as his friends called him, had no bet
fer reputation in such matters than the
woman he accused of decorating his
heart strings. l sent a polite note to
Mrs. Bissell making the demand on
behalf of my client, and she came to
nv office to see me. She was, or pre-
tended to 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 in the shape of letters. Hamil-
30 hok h. ~
not a scrap of written evidence, but
expected me to make a bluff, and he
would not blame me in case of defeat.
| therefore informed her that | could
not 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 naivete and lugubrious smile, she
admitted that she had said and written
a great many foolish things during tho
summer, and it would not be possible
to say just what she had written any
special admirer.
well" she said at the end of the in
terview II suppose | shall have to pay
something. Must pay it all?"
why not retain counsel and put in
a defense?"
"Oh, dear, no. Have everybody
laughing at me? Not by any means!
I'd rather pay it all"
Suppose you make an offer"
'Tell him I'll pay half"
She had scarcely left my office when
IIn,N 1NDr, fAIl
him that the lady would settle out of
court, paying $4,000, look of disap-
pointmeht crossed his face. | asked
him If he didn't think the amount
enough, and he replied it was equiva-
lent to paying $25 900 rather than mar
ry him.
II 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 as
my client was concerned-so | gave no
advice, combining myself to obeying or
ders. Transmitting the refusal to the
defendant, l received by way of reply
an offer of $4,000 This was declined,
and the amount offered was raised So
600 at a time till the full amount claim
ed was reached, when Hamilton direct
ed me to add a demand of $4,000 for
counsel fees. | demurred Mt making
such a charge, but he insisted and |
made the demand of Mrs. Bissell She
agreed to pay it, and | supposed the
case was closed, but Hamilton demand
ed a written apology for triding with
his affections.
This demand was Indignantly de-
clined. Then Hamilton directed me to
say to Mrs. Bissell that if she would
meet him at my office and in my pres
ence say that she regretted her flirta-
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 Il certain afternoon. Hamil-
ton asked me to stay away from my
ONCE at the hour the lady was expect
ed-that Is, to be late in coming. | left
directions that when either of the two
--'NN nv vi slit was W DC SHUNI llllO
my private Office l arrived at half
past 8. Hamilton and Mrs. Bis
sell had arrived and were so engaged
with each other that they did not
hotlce my coming Indeed, they were
ciasped in each others arms. | cough
eu TO make them aware of my pres
ehce; they started and Hamilton came
forward
You have won the case l wanted to
wlh' he said, "and l will now explain.
haVlhg been one Of a number of those
WIN whom the defendant in this case
nau trlhed | determined to withdraw
"ltnout proceeding to a climax and
sue lor damages. / had no case, for
Dirs' blssell had never promised to be
my Wife. Indeed, l had never asked
r But she had promised so many
mat When | brought my bluff suit she
a"'ufally supposed l was one of her
,.cepted suitors. If I have not pun
.sueu her have at least taken away
ae opportunity for her to do any more
rerhaps | may be allowed a word
.., vvAplanation," said the blushing lady.
"neh the famous Jack Hamilton