The daily Alaskan., 1916-09-29
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 ]. An Ingenious.
 !: Woman !: A Story of the Days of
 !: WitChCraft.
By F. A. MITCHELL
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 There was once a young man named Conrad who married a girl named Joan. They were vassals on the estate of baron who owned and ruled over a great territory. The man and the woman were both poor, and their neighbors wondered how they would get on. Nevertheless they prospered, and their prosperity was all on account of Joan, who was very shrewd. One thing puzzled those who knew her. She did everything in a way so queer that some of them thought her demented. And yet her acts resulted to her bene lt.
 One person, and one person alone, came to understand her-her husband Conrad was a stupid man, and 1t Is likely this was the reason why he came 10 be an excellent auxiliary to his wife Having no ideas oS bis own, he was readily recipient of hers. For teu years she kept installing her way Of doing things into him. so that at last not only could she trust him to follow her lead, but at times to take the lni' tative on her methods.
 There was much warfare In a small way in those days. attacks being made by one suzerain upon another. In one of these incurSions upon the domain of Baron Elginbrod, where Conrad and his wife lived, Count Hastings. the in curslonist. took Conrad away with him having learned that he and his wife had accumulated money, and held bis prisoner for ransom.
 Conrad was thrown into prison and told that he should stay there till he paid the ransom. He remained cap tive some time. then sent word to his captor to say that if be would give him q messenger he would send him to his wife with an order to pay the ransom The count at once furnished the mes senger. and Conrad wrote the following message to Joan:
 Sfy Dear W!se-I wish you Co pay the ransom demanded by Count Hastings For my release l will wait for you Co do SC fol. one week. One week from tonight II I an not liberated I will hang myself in the chimney or the room where an con fined. Tour loving husband. CONRAD. This Ietterwas submitted to Uhc count who read 1t with satisfaction, for, said he. If the woman is inclined to dickeT as to the amount she shall pay, the threat of her husband to hang himScl! will influence her to pay any sum ask" And he doubled the amount de handed for tue ransom.
 When the messenger delivered the note to Joan and she read her hus bands thrcar to hang himself she fell over in q faint. Tla messenger did what he could to revive her and en. deavored to reassure her by pointing out the impoSSibility of the prisoner hanging himself in the chimney, since, in the first place. he had no rope, and, in the second place. even if he had there was nothing In tue chimney to | which he could attach rope.
 This seemed to comfort Joan. and, gathering her strength. she wrote her husband a note stating that she would be unable to raise the money required for the ransom in so short a time, but she would do so as soon as possible. She added a note begging him not to hang himself. thus dcpriviEg her and rhe children of his care and the pleas 1 ure of having him with them. The messenger went back to the count with loans letter, and it was read with satisfaction. for it was eyt dent that she was so terrified at her husbands threat. notwithstanding the fact that 1t would be impossible to carry 1t out. that she would do all in her power to raise the money for the ransom. So tue message was deliver ed to Conrad, who read it, evidently pleased at the prospect of getting his liberty.
 A week passed. and the night came on which Conrad had threatened to commit suicide unless his wife had by that time paid the ransom and sci him free. His jaller, when he brought | tn the prisoners supper and set 1t down ou the table. said jOkingy:
 Well. Conrad. are you going to hang yourself tonight"
 Why should 1? My wife has said that she might not be able to raise the ! money for my ransom so soon. but am sure she will do SD in time. l am aware that she must sell everything we have, including our home, to raise so large an amount and l don't ex pect that she will be able to turn it all into ready money in less than another week. at least
 Why. then, did you name a period insufficient for her to raise the ran som?"
 Because I did not wish her to lose any time
 Well, Tn glad you have no reason to hang yourself. For if you did should have to sit up and watch you tonight, and prefer to be asleep in my bed"
 So the jai!er left his prisoner to eat his supper, and when he returned Con- rad was snoring loudly on his cot. The keeper went away satisfied that there