Middletown transcript., 1906-02-24
| FRIENDLY UNTANGLER
By DAVID BRUCE FITzeERALD

iously in love with two girls ut
the same time, an opportunity
offering, he took Lyman Temple
ton into his confidence.
You believe there is such .
thing? asked DeCalnp, after ne
had stated the case.
OF course, replied Templeton,
sitting up to light o cigarette and
then falling back again on the
soft, warm sand of The beach
where the two we're lounging
The idea that genuine love affairs
must be successive, rather than
synchronous, is a fiction, pre-
served merely because women
object to the truth. It can't be
denied, however, that the coinci-
dent kind are the more compli-
Gated.
I've found it so, said DeCamp
with Isuch ludicrous gravity that
his friend found it difficult to re-
strain a laugh. What do you
think | had better do?
I would suggest leaving it to
time. Just now your affections
seem accurately balanced but
in the course of u month obscure
causes may bring about a notice
able inclination one way or the
other.
doubt it, DeCamp returned.
You see, the situation has existed
for quite awhile, and I feel that
I have pretty thoroughly tested
the matter. Anyhow, | haven't
a month to give it. I've prom
ised to be home by the twentieth
to take charge of the Office while
my partner goes on fishing trip.
IT'S an agreement | can't we'll
break.
Then don't see any way TO de-
eide the question except by toss
ing a coin-heads, Alice; tails,
Martha. | fancy L have the
names right. If I'm mistaken
it's because my visual organs
have become untrustworthy.
Oh, you have them right, said
DeCamp moodily. But do you
think anybody ever did leave
such a serious matter to mere
luck?
The longer I live, the more
firmly convinced I become that
one absolutely can't do anything
which hasn't been done dozens of
times before, replied Templeton,
with an air of philosophical alb
straction. / once had peculiar
experience, which at the time [
was inclined to regard as unique
in the history of mankind but in
the course of the next year came
in contact with more than twenty
people to whom precisely the
same thing had happened. I i'm
agine that.thousands of men, de-
spairing of any other solution,
have left the question of select
ing a wife to chance, and have or
haven't afterward repented their
rashness.
I feel sure l wouldn't regret it,
whichever way. it turned out, De-
Camp observed. It's being in
this internal state of indecision
that worries me.
Well, if that's your attitude,
feel in your pocket for a half-dol-
lar.
Doesn't it strike you that the
idea of tossing a coin is rather
crude? asked DeCamp. Some
how, it seems to me like fooling.
An important question should be
settled in a dignifed way.
Perhaps you are right, Tenn
pleton replied. Then, after an
interval given to reflection, he
continued: How would it suit you
to refer the whole thing to a SER
les Of tests in which the girls,
without being aware of it. have a
part?
The very thing, if it could be
done.
Oh, it can easily. / haven't in
mind anything elaborate, such as
setting up riyalries in which one
of the girls shall distinctly out
class the other. That would elm
mate the chance element, which
is really the essential thing in
the whole affair. Rather, my no
tion is that you shall take these
young women at moments when
they seem to be about equally
matched and shall arbitrarily de-
termine to propose to the one who
comes out ahead say twice in
three times.
Can't you be a triie clearer?
DeCamp asked.
Yes. For sake Of variety.
would suggest that the tests be