LITHIUM IN A PRAESEPE SHORT-PERIOD BINARY

We present spectroscopy of the 6707 Angstrom Li I region of the short- period Praesepe binary KW 367. The double-lined nature of this object inferred from radial-velocity data is confirmed. While blending compli cates the analysis, our estimated Li abundance for the primary is indi stinguishable from that of other Praesepe stars of similar color. Give n the likely presence of a tertiary companion, the unremarkable Li abu ndance can not be said to conflict with recent theory and supporting o bservations which suggest short-period systems undergo reduced Li depl etion. Rather, our results support the contention that a binary's near -critical or lower period alone is not sufficient to ensure reduced de pletion of Li.