The daily Alaskan., 1917-01-27

ed you"
 q have thought that myself" said Marian, paling.
 "A duel 5yin surely follow" 1 Marian looked at me with fright ened expression that excited my pity, | but I knew that it was no time to in dulge in anything but action. l im- pressed upon her the necess g. of her preventing any further trouble be- tween her two suitors. During our conversation it came out that she had made a choice between all her suitors, including the two in question. This she revealed to me, though was the only person she conf1ded it to. She loved Elliot Walker. Thinking she needed my support, 1 told her that l would go with her to see Herbert Ken worthy. She made no reply for awhile to this proposition. could see that a struggle was going on within her, but I was ignorant as to just what lr was. Presently she rose.
 'What are you going to doT asked. q am going to see Herbert"
 "Do you wish me to go with you|
 "No, grandma"
 This was the first indication Of strength saw in her, and 1t was some relief. She left me, and later heard her pony phaeton on the gravel walk I waited anxiously for her return. When she came saw by the expres- sion on her face that she had not sue ceeded in her object
 "Weu?" I said interogatively.
 q went to Herbert's house." she said, "called him out and we had conference on the veranda. told him I had heard that he and Elliot had had an altercation. I inferred that he had seen Elliot kiss me and me resent the act I begged that he would not con stitute himself my defender. He re- piled that he had not done so, but ad- mitted that he and Elliot had got into A quarrel from words that had passed between them relative to Elliot's act then admitted that I had encouraged Elliot to kiss me.
 "He looked very much surprised and pained at this. I knew that his con- tempt had passed from Elliot to me. I told him that since I had eXonerated Elliot I should expect him to apologize to Elliot for anything he might have said under a misunderstanding. Alter some thought he told me that any Wo- man in such q case, to prevent trouble between two Of her men friends, would assume the blame. There was no sin in my doing so. The affair had gone too far to be smoothed over. argued with him for some time, but could get nothing out of him. Then l came away"
 "You must see Elliot. The one who has given the challenge is the one to offer the olive branch
 'T have seen Elliot. The challenge had come from Herbert, Elliot having Estruck him. Elliot apOlOgized to me humbly for having kissed me. He ad- mitted that the scene in the billiard room had been cOncocted to keep my name out of the quarrel. He would gladly on my account put a stop to 1t, but could not refuse a challenge with out being disgraced."
 "And as the matter stands the two men will meet tomorrow morning|
 q suppose sO."
 The case was a knotty one. The only way l could see out of 1t was for Marian to choose between the two men. | She might tell Herbert that she loved Elliot, but doubted if this would pre- vent meeting that had become pub Tie matter and with which she was not known to be connected. It would l probably save Elliot from injury, but this would not be fair to Herbert
 r"The only hope see to prevent this meeting, Marian" I said, putting my arms about her, "is to tell them both that you love Elliot That would, think, dispose of the matter. Herbert would withdraw his challenge"
 I could feel her shiyer in my arms at this alternative, but she said noth- ing, though later she told me that FL Hot had made her no proposal.
 The day was now ended, and noth- ing had been accomplished. l deter mined to leave Marian free to act for herself till the last minute; then if she did not act I would endeavOr to force her to do so. We remained in the same room through the night without disrobing. After 12 o'clock fell asleep on a lounge. I was aroused at dawn by Marian.
 Come" she said.
 Without asking her where we were to go I went with her. l knew. She knew where the meeting would take place, and we proceeded there. Since Elliot had not proposed to her ] could not see what she would do. We wait ed an hour e short distance from the field and finally saw one party come on to 1t, then the other. The seconds were engaged at the preliminaries when Marian advanced, following