The daily Alaskan., 1906-05-25
A Game of Bluff
Ioriginal.l

when I received 8 visit from hand some, dashing looking fellow, dressed in the height of fashion, about thirty years old, whom had never seen before. When asked what I could do for him he said that he wished me to bring suit against a wealthy young widow for S5O,OOO for breach of promise of marriage. Mrs. Fanny BIssell was twenty-five years old, rich, vivacious, pretty and a desperate fiirt. Hamilton, my client, had met her during the sum- mer. He found her a notorious CO., duette who did not scruple to engage herself to a dozen lovers at one time.
 Tt occurred to me-" he said, 'to punish her for such nefarious prac- tices. It's not money l want. I've got all of it I need. Nevertheless l wish you to bring suit for S5O,OOO"
 l 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. 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 to Mrs. Blssell 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 with Hamilton, averring that she hardly re- membered him, but she tried to ind out from me what evidence he pos sessed In the shape of letters. Hamil- ion had confessed to me that he had not a scrap of written evidence, but 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 to my clients side of the Case-but she would, of course, remember what sle had written MT. 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 It would not be possible to say just what she had written any special sdmlrer.
 Well" she said at the end of the in- terview, q suppose I shall have to pay something. Must pay 1t 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"
 Tell him I'll pay half"
 She had scarcely left my office when Hamilton came into 1t. When told him that the lady would settle out of court, paying S25,OOO, a look of disap- polntmeut crossed his face. l asked him If he didn't think the amount enough, and he replied 1t was equiva- lent to paying S25,OOO rather than mar " him.
 q 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 case-at least so far as my client was concerned-so I gave no advice, cOnfnIng myself to obeying or ders. Transmitting the refusal to the defendant, I received by way of reply an offer of SSO,OOO. This was declined, and the amount offered was raised S5,- 600 at time till the full amount claim ed was reached, when Hamilton direct ed me to add q demand of S5,OOO for counsel fees. l demurred at making such charge, but he insisted, and ] made the demand of Mrs. BisseH. She agreed to pay 1t, and 1 supposed the case was closed, but Hamilton demand ed a written apology for trihinG with bis 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 flrta- tlons with other men he would drop the case without the payment of any money whatever. To this, after a long delay, the widow Hssented.
 The meeting was to take place at 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 Iay 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 clasped in each others arms. I cough cd to make them aware of my pres ence; they started and Hamilton came forward.
 "YOu have won the case wanted. to win" be said, "and I will now explain. Having been one of a number of those with whom the defendant in this case had trifed I determined to withdraw without proceeding to a climax and sue for damages. had no case, for