The daily Alaskan., 1906-01-05
A Game of Bluff
Ioriginall

some daShinG lOOElnS lellON' uEeSSGu III the height of fashion, about thirty years old. whom had never seen before. When asked what 1 could do for him he said that he wished me to bring suit agains. wealthy young widow for S5O.OOO for breach of promise Of marriage. Mrs. Fanny Bissell was twenty-five years old, rich, yivacious, pretty and desperate firt. Hamilton, my client had met her during the sum- mer. He found her a notorious CO., ouette who did not scruple to engage herself to q dozen lovers at one time.
 Tt occurred to me-" he said, ito punish her for such nefartous prac- tlces. It's not money l want. I've got all of it need. Nevertheless l wish you to bring suit for SJ0,0OO.'
 1 took the case, but before proceed ing legally made inquiries about the principals. l learned that all the plain tiff had said about the defendant was true. I also found that Jack Hamilton, as his friends called him, had no bet ter reputation in such matters than the woman he accused of lacerating his heart strings. I sent a polite note 10 Mrs. Blssen making the demand on behalf of my client, and she came to my office to see me. She was, or pre- tended to be, highly indignant wlth Hamilton, averring that she hardly re- membered him, but she tried to ma out from me what evidence he pos sessed in the shape of letters. Hamil- ton had confessed to me that he had not a scrap Of written evidence, put expected me to make bluff, and he would not blame me In case of defeat' I therefore informed her that l could not give her any information as 10 my clients side of the case-but she would, of course. remember what she had written Mir. Hamilton. With charm ing naivete and lugubrious smile, she admitted that she had said and written A great many foolish things during the summer, and 1t would not be possible to say just what she had written any special admlreT,
 well" she said at the end of the h. terview, "I suppose shall have to pay something. Must I 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 1t all"
 Suppose you make an offer"
 'oTeu 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 S25.OOO, a look of disap- polntmept crossed his face. l asked him If he didn't think the amount enough, and he replied 1t was equiva- lent to paying $25,OOO rather than mar " him.
 .I suppose" he added lugubriOusly, "she thinks she's getting of cheap Tell her that her offer Is not accepted.
 It was plain that money had nothing to do with the cHse-at least so far as my client was concerned-so l gave no advice, confnlng myself to Obeying or ders. Transmitting the refusal to the defendant, I received by way of reply an offer of S3O,OO). This was declined, and the amount offered was raised $5,- GOO at time till the full amount claim ed was reached, when Hamilton direct ed ne to add a demand of S5,OOO for counsel fees. l demurred at making such a charge, but he Insisted, and ] made the demand of Mrs. Bisseh. She agreed to pay 1t, and l supposed the case was closed, but Hamilton demand ed a written apology for triaing with bis affections.
 This demand was indignantly de- cllned. Then Hamilton directed me to say to Mrs. Bissell that if she would meet him at my office and in my pres enco say that she regretted her hlrta- tons with other men he would drop the case without the payment of any money whatever. To this, after a long delay, the widow nssented.
 The meeting was to take place ai 5 o'clock on a certain afternoon. Hamil- ton asked me to stay away from my office at the hour the lady was expect. ed-that Is, to be late In coming. l left directions that when either of the two arrived he or she was to be shown into rny private office. I arrived at half past 8. Hamilton and Mrs. Bis sell had arrived and were so engaged with each other that they did not notice my coming. Indeed, they were olasped in each others arms. l cough ed to make them aware of my pres ence; they started and Hamilton came forward.
 ''You have won the case wanted to win" he said, "and will now explain. Having been one of a number of those with whom the defendant in this case had triAed I determined to withdraw without proceeding to a climax and sue for damages. l had no case, for Mrs. Bissell had Lever promised to be my wife. Indeed, I had never asked her. But she had promised so many that when I brought my bluff suit she naturally supposed was one of her accepted suitors. If I have not pun ished her have at least taken away the opportunity for her to do any more ds1,uo,a