The daily Alaskan., 1912-12-09
The Last
 Winner
By EMILY c TRAvERs

Three French gentlemen were sit- ting over their abslnth at a fashion able Partisan club near the Place de Ia Concorde.
 "I say, Du Bois," said one, "l wish you would desist from courting Ia belle AmericaIne have intentions there myself"
 "And you, Chauveteau," said another to the speaker, '1 would be obliged If you would also deslst from your atten- tons in that quarter. La belle Americaine belongs to me"
 'T like the assurance of you gentle men," said NJ. du Bois. q see no req son why I should give up a conquest already made by myself to either of you. Chauveteau, you have no chance whatever, and you, Farriere, am sure can never win"
 And I like your concelt, Du Bois," said Farriere. 'It Is you who are aspiring far above you"
 "Come fellows" said Chauveteau; "we are all excellent friends, and there is no need for us to quarrel over the lady, for the simple reason that none of us can win her. To do the court ing of an helress would require at least 5000 francs. There are opera and theater tickets to buy, carriages, flowers, presents-indeed, a hundred ways of spending money-and [ doubt if all of us combined could raise half the amount"
 "My falthr exclaimed Du Bois There's an idea for you. Suppose we all chip in and set up one of us to do the job, who shall be liberal with the other two after securing Ia belle Americaine's fortune"
 "Goodr' cried Chauveteau. "The very thing! You two men let me have 10000 francs each, and | will not only reimburse you, but give each of you my note for 100000 francs, payable within sixty days after my wedding with Ia belle Americaine."
 The two men thus addressed laughed outright Then Farriere, emptying his glass and calling for another, said:
 'To propose a practical plan, | sug. gest that we each chip in third of the necessary funds and decide by lot who shall make the attempt"
 "I offer an amendment to that" said Chauveteau, that Instead of deciding by lot who shall do the woOing we de eide it by a game of cards"
 "What gamey" asked Du Bols.
 "Weu, since the lady is American, suppose we make it the American game of freeze-out poker We will each take 10000 francs and play till one of us has won the shares of the other two, the winner to use the fund to do the wooing, giving his obligation to the other two"
 That's definite and practical" said Du Bois. "Let us begin. We need not put up the cash; we can each take 10000 francs in chips, the losers to re- deem them later"
 "AgreedT' said the other two.
 Cards and chips were called for, and the game began. It was long one, for each player, being desirous to act the lover. bet cautiously. While the game was in progress they Chaffed one an- other, occasionally giving away to any one who might be listening the object of the game. A gentleman took a seat at table at the other end of the room, and the three players looked at one an. other as much as to say, Be careful but when the gentleman gave an order in English they assumed that he did not speak French, and before long something of their caution disappeared
 Chauveteau was the first to be frozen out, and Farriere was relieved of an his chips by Du Bols. The man wbo spoke English sat reading a newspaper tn the game was ended, when, calling A waiter, he sent his card to the win. ner. Du Bois read the name on it and looked at his friends appalled,, The two looked much concerned. They sup posed the sending of the card to be ' challenge, but were not certain. It was agreed that Chauveteau should in. terview the sender and learn what it meant Approaching the person in question, he bowed low and asked fin what way his friend NJ du Bois could be of service to him.
 "As the gentleman who is to win the hand of Ia belle Americaine,' was the reply in tolerable French, ''he can be of service to ne either with the foil or the pistol, whichever he prefers"
 Monsieur has overheardY
 "I have"
 May I ask monsieur's relationship to the ladyT
 "A suitor for her hand The matter seems now Co be between me and your friend the winner. | prefer to fight for a lady rather than to gamble for her"
 "I see. win bear your message to NJ. du Bols."
 After a consultation between the three Frenchmen, who knew well that a duel under the circumstances would be the social ruin of every one of them, Chauveteau was sent back to inquire whether if they would all join in an apology the matter would be kept se- cret. The reply was favorable. The stranger dictated an apology, which was duly signed, and the matter was ended.
 Ta belle Americaine married a fellow