Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-07-23
Plaintiff and
Defendant
By OSCAR cox

cousin, Belle Archer, that she wished
to see me very particularly, l went to
her house at once. I found her on the
rear porch in a hammock reading a
novel. She did not rise to receive me,
nor did she lay down her novel, but
pointed to a letter lying on a wicker
table. l took it up and perused 1t. 1t
read as follows:
Miss Arabella Archer:
Dear Madam-We beg to inform you
that Mr.. Edward Herbert Angel has re-
tanned our services. directing us to enter
suit against you for the sum Of twenty
five thousand dollars G3,0N0 for breach
of promise. We should be pleased before
doing so to hear from you with reference
to settling the matter out of court, thus
avoiding both publicity and expense. We
are. very respectfully, your obedlent serv-
ants,
GYMCRACK, SPINNER & MUCHMORE
| read this letter not only with sur
prise, but with a smile. | believe there
have been cases of a man suing a wo-
man for breach of promise, but they
have been rare. Having finished read
ing the epistle. | looked up at Belle,
but she seemed more interested In her
book than what the letter involved for
her. Nor was | able to engage her at
tention till she had finished the chap
ter she was reading. Then l said:
81 dare say you have deserved this"
81 dare say l have"
"You would not hesitate to jilt an
angel"
THAT'S what am accused of having
done"
perhaps if you send the plaintiff a
letter expressing contrition he will
withdraw the suit"
perhaps he would, but I'm not con
trite."
l thought for a few minutes, then,
changing my tone, said:
81 suppose it must be treated seri-
ously. Do you wish me to act for you
in the matter?'
81 do"
"What evidence has Mr.. Angel that
you have consented to marry himY'
81 don't know that he has any"
"You mean that you have been SO
reckless in your numerous firtations
that you have not kept track of the
men you have accepted and those you
have refusedY'
"That's about it."
"What course shall l pursue in this
case?'
"Oh, settle it as best you can. 1t
won't beggar me to pay at ALL"
Considering that Miss Archer was
worth several hundred thousand dol
lars this was true. Angel was worth
a million,
81 don't suppose" l said, ''the plain
tiff wants money"
mo; he wants to squeeze me-"
"What!"
"He wants to make me throw yer
my other suitors for him."
"Oh!"
"He thinks he car bluff me-"
"And you don't propose to be bluffed."
mo, l don't. You just write his
lawyers for me that I'll pay the amount
sued for entire and don't consider 1t
any compliment that the damages
named are SO small"
l wrote Messrs. Gymcrack, Spinner
& Muchmore that my client would
pay the amount claimed. In due time
a reply came from them inciosing a
typewriter apology that Miss Archer
was to sign acknowledging that she
had acted very dishonorably toward
the plaintiff, humbly begged his for
giveness and "she will keep her con-
tract with him." Belle signed it, but
put the word mot between the words
"wilr' and keep"
1t did not appear to me that Mr.. An
CELL was making much progress in this
game of bluff. l was curious to know
what his next move would be, for l did
not see any move that he could make.
He adopted the Fabian p%olicy-he did
nothing. When sufficient time for a
reply had elapsed and l received moth
ing like a continuance of the fight nor a
disposition to capitulate | made up my
mind that it would be a cas- of attri-
ton. I was convinced that the couple
were in love with each other and one
of the two would give in in time.
Which would it be?
One day l received a note from An
CELLS attorneys to the effect that since
their client was about to be married a
return of his letters to Miss Archer
would be appreciated. l took the note
to Belle, and 1 saw by her expression
when she read it that she was beaten.
"This caps the bluffs climax" l re-
marked to give her courage.
'That we don't know. He's just mean
enough to marry somebody to spite
me-"
"What will you do nextT
"Please write the lawyers that 1 will
deliver Mr.. Angeles letters to him in
person. But 1 shall expect an apology
from him for putting this affair be-
tween us into the hands of lawyers"
"Humph!"
what do you mean by thatT"
Nothing. think your decision very
sensible"