The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1908-01-23
A Conundrum
[Original.1

a girl of eighteen. lie was SUN young
enough 10 be considered a companion
for a young lady. though within a few
years of the time when in calling upon
n Of them she would probably ask If
he was looking for her father or moth
err. 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"
"No. You know she died when / was
Eve. 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
agoY
"No. What contractg"
ut 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 l may show 1t to you. but
that will depend upon circumstances
"Indeed!'
A few weeks later the two were to-
gether In the garden.
''You remember, | suppose" said the
man. "the contract made years ago be
tween me and your mother that told
you about"
and refused TO say what II was"
There are conditions under which ]
may crafty your curiosity"
"Such as
"Well. If you marry, for instance"
sI'm sure my mother could not have
entered upon any business agreement
with you whereby you were to influ-
ence me to marry any particular per
SON"
Certainly not. | would not think OF
influencing you In such II matter"
"Then how can my marriage have
anything to do with IT,
Your marriage with any particular
person doesn't pertain. | meant that
case you were simply married |
night show you the contract"
The girl pondcred awhile. then said:
rs there any one | night marry who
would have an interest IN this agree
.ncnt?'
IF he could have looked into her eyes,
ne would have seen cunning. Evident
& there was something about the sub
Ject OF their conversation ths. pro-
interested her. lie glanced at
ler inquirin.ly. but her head was bent
over a flower she w&s p'ucl.iag.
There Is orc" be said. who if you
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
IF l married him. would he have any
interest in the agreement
Not after the wedding"
"But before the weddingf'
THAT would derend upon whether
he desired a wedding with you"
Would 1t depend upon anything
elsef'
Yes; upon whether you desired o
wedding with him."
In other words, this contract would
interest him land mel only In case We
wished to marryY'
You have drawn a conclusion not
based on proper foundations. In other
words. you have perpetrated a fal-
Iacy."
suppose" she went on after fran.
ing another question. u should marry
you. Would you be Interested In the
c%ontractY'
He started and cast a quick glance
IT her. Was she stating a hypothetical
case for the purpose of trapping himY'
THAT. | fear~-l mean-you would
not be likely 80 marry me-"
But If | shouldy"
1.-THE contract would be OF no mo-
ment to me-"
II like this conundrum." she said
presently, THE solution is well 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 | could marry who would
have no interest In the agreement. III
| married VIII, 1t would only interest
him II he wished to marry me, and
even then 1t would make no difference.
II ] married you, you would have NO
interest In 1t. What is there to base n
guess onY'
Nevertheless ! wish you would
guess It,"
He spoke ruefully. She cast a glance
up at him.
Suppose l tryT"
HYOu can't pupgq n