Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-07-11
A Conundrum.
[Original.]

enough to be considered a companion
for a young lady, though within a few
years of the time when in calling upon
one Of them she would probably ask If
he was looking for her father or moth
er. In this case the two had been
friends for years. When the girl was a
child and he in the twenties, she had
been accustomed to climb into his lap
and hug him. She had got over that.
They were sitting in the library Of the
girls residence, she on a divan, he in
an easy chair. The windows and doors
were open, and a breeze blowing over
the garden brought in a delicious per-
fume of flowers. The man was speak
ing:
"You don't remember your mother,
do you?"
mo. You know she died when l was
five. But it seems to me 1 know her
from her letters, many of which I have
found and have read over and over
again."
"Have you come among her papers
upon a copy of a contract she made
with me some fifteen or sixteen years
ago?"
mo. What c%ontract?"
cit was between your mother and
me and was to be kept secret"
"Oh," with a slight toss of her head,
II beg your pardon"
"Some day 1 may show it to you, but
that will depend upon circumstances"
"Indeed!"
A few weeks later the two were to-
gether in the garden.
You remember, I suppose" said the
man, "the contract made years ago be-
tween me and your mother that I told
you about"
And refused to say what it was"
"There are conditions under which ]
may crafty your curiosity"
"Such as
"Well, if you marry, for instance"
"I'm sure my mother could not have
entered upon any business agreement
with you whereby you were to infu'
,ence me to marry any particular per
son."
Certainly not. l would not think OF
influencing you in such q matter"
"Then how can my marriage have
anything to do with it"
"Your marriage with any particular
person doesn't pertain. 1 meant thai
in case you were simply married
might show you the contract"
The girl pondered awhile, then said
"Is there any one l might marry who
would have an interest in this agree
ment?"
If he could have looked into her eyes
he would have seen cunning. Evident
ly there was something about the sub
ject Of their conversation that pro
foundry interested her. He glanced a
her inquiringly, but her head was ben
over a flower she was plucking.
"There is one," he said, ''who if vol
married him would have no interest il
the agreement"
"You speak in riddles"
A smile lowered about her lips, bu'
she kept her back to him, picking &
handful of flowers. When she turned
the smile was gone.
"There Is my cousin WILL" she said
IF l married him, would he have any
interest in the agreement?'
"Not after the wedding"
"But before the wedding"
"That would depend upon whether
he desired a wedding with you"
would 1T depend upon anything
else?"
Eyes; upon whether you desired
wedding with him."
I'm other words, this contract would
interest him (and me) only in ease W,
wished to marryY
"You have drawn a conclusion no
based on proper foundations. In othe'
words, you have perpetrated a fal
lacy"
Suppose" she went on after fran
ing another question, II should marry
you. Would you be interested in th,
contractor
He started and cast a quick glanc,
at her. Was she stating a Hypothetical
case for the purpose of trapping him?'
"That, l fear-I mean-you would
not be likely to marry me-"
"But If l shouldY"
"The contract would be of no mo
ment to me-"
81 like this %conundrum," she sale
presently. 'The solution is we'll con
cealed. Let me see-if 1 marry you'll
tell me the answer. My marriage will
any particular person doesn't pertain
There is one 1 could marry who woule
have no interest in the agreement. Il
1 married Will, 1t would only interes
him If he wished to marry me, anc
even then it would make no difference
II I married you, you would have NJ
interest in it. What is there to base {
guess onY"
Nevertheless l wish you woulc
guess It,"
He spoke ruefully. She cast a glanc.
up at him.
Suppose 1 try"
"You can't guess It,"
II can. The contract is that-here i
is"
She pulled out a small paper tina
had been tucked in her belt and hand
IA a. To HIM r. yn n lok~okIov -