El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-12
HAZARD OF THE COIN.

To Walker it was a rather amusing
morning. But then Walker was dis
Greet fellow and showed only the most
solemn of faces. To Val Old Mischief
appeared to be in everything In shaw
ing him Walker had drawn blood
twice. Val knew this was not Walk
er's fault, but his own fdgetiness, ana
of course he was in the greater rage
with him for that reason. He dropped
things, such as sleeve-link or a stuo'
and the COMPOUNDED articles flew unoer
the dressing table, among his boots OF
somewhere the other side of the room,
and refused to be found until ne mao
well begun to swear. He dlsmlsseu
Walker in a rage, and then ne couiu
not put his hand on anything until lhe
swear words revealed their wnele-
abouts In fact, it seemed that noun
ing could be done this morning Will
out assistance of this sort.
Val was at last ready to put on MS
vest and coat. By that time ne nao
Gained down considerably, put not
quite. He showed his hands into MS
trousers pockets and went wandering
aimlessly about his room, kicking ooo
articles, such as boot, out OF MS way.
Presently he brought up before the
looking glass and surveyed hlmseh
fiercely. He was not at all bad-look-
ing fellow, but at this moment there
vas certainly a most ugly expression
on his face. He noticed the pretty
floral design that ran up his artlstic
braces, but he was thinking OF other
things.
Coward, Val Kingsley" he said to
the image in the glass. coward! 10
you hear? Why don't you speak? ny
don't you do as others do, speak OUT
and chance your luck? Because you
fear a rebuff! Millionaire girls have
cared for penniless soldiers before now.
And Maisie-you have futtered about
her like a moth for two years and now
have burned yourself, just as a moth
will that fiutters about flame. But a
moth may be credited with some ex-
use; it probably does not know what
/. fame is But you-after all there
night be some chance-more IMAM
nce-bah, coward!'
A somewhat incoherent speech, GER
ainly. But Walls mind was in an IN
>oherent state just now.
1t would scarcely have been judi
:ous for any other man to talk to Val
Zingsley like this, particularly at the
resent moment. However, man may
ak to himself as he pleases and no
arm done, unless he turns to and
lunches his own head, which is exact
what Val felt tempted to do.
The self-accusation made him vince,
ecause it was so true. That is, it was
.ue SO far as Maisie was concerned.
al Kingsley, the soldier, was not val
ingsley, the lover. His comrades
ould tell you that no man was more
kelly to illustrate the legend that a
ritish officer and cowardice cannot
tx. But where a thousand blood
.irstZsh0es, circling about him in bat
2. had not changed the color of his
aeeks by a shade, the mere thought OF
aisle. lust now turned them blood
SIS.
Val suddenly took his hand from Is
1cket and spun coin savagely in the
=. The coin struck the ceiling and
zen fell, where he did not trouble to
otice it for the moment. He let 1t
whittier it listed, while he started
a again on a walk around the room.
1T is one thing or the other" he
uttered through his set teeth. 1T is
acknowledgement or the
her way about. Anyhow, here goes
eads I speak; tails-well, We'll see
.cout that"
Then rted TO a the coln-
For ime he hunted for it In