The daily Alaskan., 1909-02-10

but one woman. and he mentally decid- cd that Eleanor Pettls was the one wo- man worth while thinking of at all
 For her sake be took up his social duties. Hypocritlcally he pretended to himself tbat it was merely for the sake of being able to meet Petus without seeming to seek him.
 So it came about that be held oply brief conversations with the old man about Che collection and extended chats with Eleanor about themselves She had become interested ln the matter of the loan, and with most unhlialibut feminine prejudice she sided with the younger man.
 It was she who told him of the pro- iected trip abroad and suggested that perhaps the interests Of fhe bank re- ouireS that he follow. Dick was de- lighted with the suggestion, and Co hls greater delight his father approved.
 keep after Chat old swlndler until be pays up." Peter Paulding growled. q have made good to the bank myself. and I'll keep after him and get lt fl l have to sue his executors, Follow him Co the north pole if he wants 10 go there"
 ] Dick nodded and withdrew, and when the ocean liner carried Hiram Pettis to Europe Dick was a fellow passenger. AS in duty bound. he reminded Pettis every morning of his just debt The rest of the day he spent on deck with Eleanor, and each day he grew more firmly convinced that breaking into business was an entirely delightful ! process.
 During the return trip some three months later he mustered up courage to propose Co Eleanor.
 q suppose that it will be hard to persuade our fathers to be friends she said when they came back to earth again. "I don't know how we ever shall be able to do it, Dick"
 Leave that to me-" be said conf dently. You forget that am busi- ness man now, and these little prob lems in diplomacy are the things l have to meet. Do you think that we want house or an apartment in some hotel? We may have to take to hat, for that matter In case dad proves nasty"
 AS long as 1t Is with you, dear was the tender reply, and again earth fad. ed Into visions of paradise. l A week later Dick came Into his fa- ther's bank and laid upon the desk a package Of thousand dollar bills.
 "why didn't Pettis give you a cheeky" demanded the elder Paulding,
 You said that I might make some slight concessions and left the amount to my judgment" reminded Dick. T told him that if he would pay you would not gloat over the fact and that you would not even mention the mat ter again. He Is paying iu specie so that the check will not remind him Of his surrender"
 "I sec" was the grim comment Anything clSey
 "Only that l am to be married next month." was the calm response. You see. Elcanor-NIlSs Pettis-and l came Co know each other very well and well. you cant know Eleanor without loving her. l want you to meet her"
 Apparently the prediction was a truthful one, for Peter Paulding re garded bis daughter.m-law elect with approval, and the marriage was quick. ly arranged.
 Dick wondered when among the pres. ents he saw a sealsd envelope on which was written the injunction that 1t was not to be opened until after the we'd ding.
 Not until they were comfortably In. 1 stalled in Pettis private car on their wedding journey did Dick think of the | letter.
 1 As he unfolded the sheet three slips | of colorcd paper huttered to the floor of the car, and Eleanor gave a little cry as she picked them up. Dick was too deep in the letter to realize that be had dropped anything, for he found 1t interesting reading,
 "Dear Dick" it ran, q am inclosing you your own check for the money that Pettls owed. Pettis and I arc each adding a like amount to get you young people started We feel rather proud of our matchmaking. It we had been a couple of ambitious mothers we might have made the error of trying to force you two to marry.
 Instead we invented this debt of S2OO.OOO and gave It Co you to collect That brought you and Eleanor togeth- CT. and the trip abroad was for the purpose of bringing things to head. | guess that we are able to beat out any of the matchmaking hens that ever mussed things up It was all l could do to keep from laughing in your face when you gave me your own money and told mo 1t was from Pet tis, so that l would consent to your marriage. I'm telling you this SO youm have something to laugh over