The bee., 1914-10-02
A Marriage Of
Convenience
By WILLARD BLAgEMAN

Pixley was putting the finishing
touches on his education at Heidelberg,
Germany, when be received letter
from his mother that his father was
very III. He was about to start for
home when he received cablegram
directing him to await letter where
he was.
When the missive came It was &C.
companied by very long one written
by a lawyer. The letter from Mrs.
Pixley, after exhausting matters incl
dent TO her husbands death, said, II
hope after you have read Mr.. Conk-
ling's letter you will act as he sug.
gests."
Mr.. Conkling's letter, summarized In
a few words, was that George Pix
ley's father had entered into manu-
featuring scheme with Edward Brown.
Extensive works were about being
completed when Brown died and left
all his property to his only child, Alice.
Additional capital was needed. but the
death of both the principals had so
complicated affairs that no one would
loan money on the enterprise. The
attorney said that IL Pixley would re-
turn at once and devote himself to the
business in question there was hope
Of saving the money already invested
Miss Brown, aged twenty, was travel
Ing in Europe. II Pixley could unite
his and her interests there would be no
difficulty In the way Of carrying
through the manufacturing scheme.
Nothing was said about how Pixley
should identify his interests with those
of Miss Brown, but Pixley conceived
an idea of his own. But he must first
form Miss Browns acquaintance. Her
mothers letter gave her location at
Munich.
One day while Miss Alice Brown was
brau in Munich she was pointed out
to Pixley, who had recently arrived.
She was sitting at a table on which
were refreshments with an elderly
lady (her aunt and boy Of fourteen
(her cousin. At an adjoining table
sat couple of German wasp wasted
army officers. They had been drink
ing considerably. and one of them was
ogling Miss Brown and talking to his
companion in German, sounding her
praises loud enough for every one
near by to hear. Miss Brown as soon
as she became aware that she was an
object of admiration on the part OF a
man in his cups turned her back upon
him.
Pixley was a witness of all this; also
that the officer continued his remarks
after the young lady had turned her
back on him. Pixley. who understood
and spoke German, also heard him
make some derisive remarks about her.
indicating at the same time that he
knew she was an American and did
not understand German. Pixley ad-
vanced to the officers table, tossed q
card on 1t, then, turning to the party
insulted and raising his hat. said:
2 "You are evidently annoyed here.
VIII you permit me to escort you to
another table?'
The offer was accepted, and when
they reached new position Pixiey
was invited to remain with them.
While they had seen him drop his
card on the table at which the two on
GERS sat, none Of them knew that 1t
was a challenge to fight duel.
Americans abroad become readily
acquainted. and there was an especial
reason why they should do so in this
case. The elderly lady asked Pixley
to call upon them the next day at their
hotel. and he promised to do so. but
he neglected-through an oversight
they supposed-to give his name.
When they parted Miss Brown gave
Pixley look which was intended to
convey her thanks for the service he
had rendered them.
The next evening he called and be-
trayed what had happened by long.
narrow patch over his left cheek, In
that 1t covered a cash, Miss
Brown was puzzled and inquired II he
had met with an accident In reply
he handed her little note written in
German and translated 1t for her. It
was an apology from the officer who
the night before had insulted her.
popped into Miss Browns
head.
Have you been lighting duelT' she
asked.
Eyes"
"And this apology has been forced"
mo; it was written voluntarily and
after the fracas."
Heavens! Did you kill himT
"Oh, no! am a member Of Hell
ielberg dueling corps. He is an In
different swordsman. l eluded injur-
Ing him by giving him an opportunity
to draw little blood. only wished
to teach him manners. didn't even
scratch him."
Miss Browns tongue seemed para
yzed for a time; then she said in a
low voice:
"And you did all this for mer'
II would have done 1t for any lady,
but 1t gave me inexpressible happiness
10 do 1t for you"