The daily Alaskan., 1915-01-08

her usaal methots5, with the result that he had locked himself up-to speak fguratiYely-and all her efforts to get at him had signally failed.
 Miss Dudley passed the evening of the 31St of December at Seymours', danced the cotillion with Tom Ersklne, failed to favor Jimmy Halliday, smiled on Elliott Tracks and sat out a figure with Fred Swords, when she made up a spat with him, throwing him into ecstasieS. Then, when all were assem. bled about round table feasting the new year in. she exchanged bonbons with Bob Sparkles. revivinS a hope that had nearly died out As for Ed ward Corwin. he was not present
 On New Years morning Bella nwoke and, looking at tiny clock on brack ct, saw that it was II o'clock. Then she remembered her New Years reso ilutions. and troubled expression passed over her young face. New Years morning was not so good time for reform as she had supposed flower lay on q tnble that she had ac' repted graciOusly from Erskine, and she had agreed to go out with him for s ride at 8 in the afternoon. Halliday had been brought to his senses-so she considered it-and had received per mission to call at for the purpose Of making q humble apology. Sparkles was due In the evening to say some thing very particular. but since Swords was also expected she did not see how he would have an opportu' ninity.
 Bella was very much ashamed of herself. It was easy for her to make resolutions, hut how was she to keep them? Keening resolutions Is largely ldependent upon freedom from tempta- ton. But she had provided tempta- tions that would beSet her all the aft ernoon and evening of New Years day. To make matters worse, sho remem' bered several other engagements she had made with young men the day be- fore the evening spent with the Sey- mours.
 The word bankruptcy Is usually con- sidered to pertain to financial matters. Nevertheless there are a great many kinds of bankruptcy. There is social bankruptcy, where one is swamped with invitations; there Is bankruptcy in one having assumed more duties than he can attend to. Miss Dudley's bankruptcy was that she had permit ted too many young men to believe that there was a possibility for each of winning her. It occurred to her that the first resolution she should make was to apply for a discharge in the court of love. After such discharge she might make her resolutions not to become further involved.
 Suddenly an idea occurred to her. She would simply fail" She had heard of merchants failing, which she understood to mean that they simply lay down and let the throng of cred ltors pour over them. She would cut all her engagcments-eYery one or them.
 But how escape themf Flight oc' cured to her-ignominiou flight. But flight alone was repugnant to her na- ture. Then she considered keeping her appointment with one of her suit ors. No; that wouldn't do at all Next came an idea of making a brand new arrangement. She lay for some time turning this last proposition over in her mind. then made one fundamental resolution upon which superstructure of good Intent should be based.
 If was 12 o'clock noon on New Years day. Edward Corwin, lawyer, had been srending the morning in his room at home over an intricate case that he was obliged to work out and was thinking about luncheon when there came a ring at the telephone.
 MT. CorwinT came a woman's voice.
 "Yes, am Corwin. Who Is it?'
 Bella Dudley"
 "Oh, Miss Dudley! Happy New 1 Yearw
 Same to you.'
 There was brief pause, after which Miss Dudley proceeded: "Ihis Is fine, sunshiny day. suppose you are free on a holiday? It seems pity ito stay in the house with nothing to do. wish they would revive calling"
 q am disengaged for the afternoon"
 How would you like to drive me In the runabout"
 "Very much. But l am surprised that you have no engagement for the day"
 If l told you that have lot or them and propose to break them all for you you wouldn't believe me-"
 And if you told me you had had no opportunity to make them wouldn't believe you"
 True. Therefore never mind my engagements. Come at 8 o'clock and we'll have spin"
 "I'll be with you, most assuredly.
 "One moment please"
 "A dozen, If you hke,"
 l fn dipo nnwheFe.