The daily Alaskan., 1913-12-04
She Set a Trap
 For Him
By F. A. MITCHEL

 way train, took a cab and was driven to a suburban residence. His sum mons at the front door was answered by a maid in a white uniform, trimmed far more elaborately than is usual for servants. Indeed, had 1t not been for the cap on her head he would not have taken her for such.
 "Is Miss MulfOrd at hOme"
 No, sir; she's not She's gone to the city"
 That's too bad. I've come long distance to see her." The gentleman seemed much put out. He stood think ing what he would do next.
 Beg pardon, sir. Are you Mir. FiH Hugh:'
 Yes"
 Please come in. Miss Mulford left a message for you"
 NIr. Titz Hugh entered the house. and the maid showed him into a very pleasant reception room. On a table he found a note addressed to him. It read:
 My attorney has advised me that you will visit me for conference upon the set clement Of our interests in the Ormsby estate in the hope that We may come to an agreement whereby litigation may be avoided l have been called away today and have instructed my maid to keep you till my return this evening. Annie will provide you with whatever will enable you to pass the time so far as she can.
 The maid stood by demurely waiting while the gentleman read the note. When he had finished he looked up at her admimu-ly and said:
 Miss Mu..nrd assures me that you will do what you can to keep me till her return The way for you to do that is not Co give me books to read or pictures to look at, but to entertain mc yourself"
 How could l do that, sir" protested the girl you being an educated gentle man and l only a Iady's maidy
 You can do it better than the lady herself. Heaven protect me from these mtcIlecWa. women They know just enough about a subject to show their want of depth and think all the while that they are showing their brains. In my opinion a woman is intended for motherhood and has no business with ideas"
 "0h, sir, you're very hard on us poor woueu,"
 "Not on your kind-on women who know everything. Doubtless if you had left Miss MuIford to entertain me she would have bored me with lot of opinions that would interest no one but herself"
 "What kind of woman Is your ideal|
 ITO me amjability and beauty are the only requisite traits"
 "Then you don't care for smart wo- men at aIl:"
 'I don't wish one of them to come near me"
 Not even a woman who is capable of taking care of her business affairs? Miss MuIlord wouldn't suit you. sir, for shes all of that"
 The maid entertained Mr. Fitz Hugh during the dNy by listening 10 him talk Ky the afternoon mail came a pole from Miss Muford asking him to leave a proposition with Annie since she would be delayed in the city for several days He submitted a basis for settlement, aud Annie picked out several points in it that would lead to trouble He saw and corrected them at once and compiimcuted her on her foresight Then he left her and returned to the city
 n 8 few days he received a note from Miss Mulforl that she was sorry to give him another Journey. but she would De pleased 10 have him call again He went. wishing that he mi@bt GHI the lady again absent and bc turned over to the care of the maid "That girl,' he said to himself. "is just what I'd want for a wife-.hat is, if she were in the same sceetR class with myself"
 On rcachiu9 he house he was ad- m,trd hy g butler. which was a great disappointment ro him. He had intend gJ to say a few nice things to the maid before seeing her mistress. He was ushereJ iuJo the same room as before aad m due time Annie came into tGc room dressed like a lady Fitz Hugh looked a, her surprised.
 "}lr EitZ Hugh" she said pardon mp for playing maid the other day. desired before entering upon a discps- sion with you as to business affairs Of great importance to both of us to learn what kind of man l had to dcaI with. found you, I am happy to EaT, gentleman of sound ideas liberal and capable of understanding your own interest as well as mine You know that it is in your power to deprive me of my interest in the estate if l go to law In other words, l am at your mercy. Can you blame me for learning your disposito before taking acdon:"
 No, 1 can't" Fejoined Fit2 Hugh earnestly. "} can suggest a way by which cur interests can be made iden, ticaL"
 What way? asked the lady. drop ping her eyes before his impassioned