The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-11-21
A Conundrum.
TOriginal.l

enough to be COnSlQered 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
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 divan, he In
an easy chair. The windows and doors
were open, and 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 your"
mo. You know she died when was
ave. But 1t seems to me l know her
from her letters, many OF which 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
agoT
mo. What contract"
''It was between your mother and
me and was TO be kept secret"
"Oh," with slight toss of her head,
II beg your pardon"
"Some day may show 1t to you, but
that will depend upon circumstances"
"Indeedv'
A few weeks later the two were to-
gether in the garden. 'h
"You remember, suppose" said the
nan, 1.-THE contract made years ago be-
tween me and your mother that told
you about"
And refused to say what 1t 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 werestoo infu-
ence me to marry any particular per
son." 1a h
Certainly not 1 would not think Of
influencing you in such matter"
"Then how can my marriage have
anything to do with it?"
'"Your marriage with any particular
person doesn't pertain. I meant that
In case you were simply married l
might show you the contract
The girl pondered awhile, then said:
IT'S there any one might marry who
would have an interest in this agree
mentY'
If he could have looked into her eyes,
he would have seen cunning. Evident
" there was something about the sub
ject of their conversation that pro-
foundly interested her. He glanced at
her inquiringly, but her head was bent
over a flower she was plucking.
There is one" he said, "who if you
married him would have no interest in
the agreement"
"You speak in riddles"
A smile lowered about her lips, but
she kept her back to him, picking a
handful Of flowers. When she turned
the smile was gone.
'"There is my cousin WILL" she said.
eff married him, would he have any
interest in the agreement"
mot after the wedding"
"But before the wedding?'
"That would depend upon whether
he desired a wedding with YOU"
would it depend upon anything
else?"
"Yes; upon whether you desired a
wedding with him."
I'm other words, this contract would
interest him (and mel only in case we
wished to marry?"
"You have drawn conclusion not
based on proper foundations. In other
words, you have perpetrated a fal-
lacy"
Suppose" she went on after franz
ing another question, Il should marry
you. Would you be interested in the
contractY Fl
He started and cast quick glance
at her. Was she stating Hypothetical
case for the purpose Of trapping him r.
THAT, l fear-I mean-you would
not be likely to marry me-"
~But If I shOuldY
1.-THE contract would be OF no mo-
ment to me-
II like this conundrum," she said
presently. "The solution is we'll con-
cealed. Let me see-if marry you'll
tell me the answer. My marriage with
any particular person doesn't pertain.
There is one l could marry who would
have no interest in the agreement. II
I married Will, 1t would only interest
him If he wished to marry me, and
even then it would make no difference.
II married you, you would have no
interest in it. What is there to base a
guess onY'
Nevertheless | wish you would
guess it,
He spoke ruefully. She cast glance
| up at him.
Suppose l try?"
"You can't guess it,"
81 can. The contract Is that-here 1t
is"
| She pulled out a small paper that
| had been Tucked in her belt and hand