River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-05-31
TAILS.
YOU LOSE
By JAMES HARRINGTON
(Copyrlght. By Joseph b. Bowles.,

the hanson cab there sedately stepped
a tall, gravefaced young man. He
was carefully, even deliberately dressed,
in formal style. A carnation bloomed
in the lapel of his coat-giying the last
touch to a masterpiece.
"I'll walk to the house. Return in
an hour" he said to the driver, who
drove away. AS the young man
turned toward the gateway he met an
other young man, who had jumped
briskly from the trolley car ere it
fully stopped. The second young
mans coat was sack, worn with a
careless air; his soft felt hat would
have been the better for brushing,
especially now, when placed alongside
OF the first young mans shining silk.
"Well-how are you, Carson?" said
he Of the tall hat; and an interpreter
of the subtler tones of human speech
would have said he meant: "Confound
you!"
How are you, Digby?" responded
the trolley passenger, and the hypo-
thetical reader Of tones would have de-
clared his real meaning to be: "Oh,
the devil take the luck!"
And the two young men stood stock
still for a moment or two, in the
ardent sunshine of the spring after
noon, staring ruefully, blankly, one at
the other
Look here, Digby," said Carson.
with the stock brokers' energy. Lets
talk this thing over for a minute. II
we both go in-what's the Use-no fun
in that, for either Of us. Am / cor
rect?"
You certainly are. old chap. But
perhaps it would be fun for-for Miss
Carrollton."
ooh, no doubt it would-but l. for
one. am rather tired of furnishing
Miss Carrollton that kind Of fun"
"And / am, for another"
"In fact" went on Carson, intently
ewing the other man. II ran out to-
day to settle up my share in the fun.
one way or the other"
The other man started and replied
with a liyelier air than he had hither-
to shown: eve appear to be getting
confoundedly confidential and ex-
planatory-but all rlght-let 1t go at
that | came out with precisely the
same object in view"
"Old man." said Carson, laying his
hand on the others sleeve, honest
Injun, now, what do you think of your
chances?"
TELL me what you think of yours.
Carly, and I'll be in better shape to
give YOU an answer"
well, Digby, know this much
or believe 1.-THE chances lie between
us two. No others in sight"
az am inclined to agree with you, y
said Digby. And, to so step farther,
the chap who gets his question in first,
well-the lead at any rate"
Guess you're right about that, too, y
assented Carson.
With a sudden CLEAN in his eyes,
Digby turned to his rival
Look here, old chap; I'll toss you
to see who goes first. Man who wins
why he-why he pops the question
without any more fuss-right off the
bat, and settles the thing"
Carson stared; and then a smile
broke out over his handsome face.
"Sure! | say you have more sporting
blood than l gave you credit for"
"Oh, have little, when I arouse
It," said Digby, with an air of mod
esty. He drew 5o-cent coin from his
pocket. Lets toss this-best two of
three wins" Suddenly he paused and
looked around. But look here, Carly.
we may be under observation from the
house; rather ridiculous to be seen
acting like pair of neWsboys play
ing pitch and toss. Here. I'll show you
a wrinkle Well spin the coin on this
stone bench here, and call what face
falls upward"
That's good enough for me. Dig
you spin-I trust in Dame Fortune
let her co."
beg your pardon, Carly" said Dig
by, gravely; "but, as it is my coin,
I'd much prefer that you spin first
looks better, don't you know"
How scrupulous, Dig-but, all right.
Here she twirls-what 90 you cry?"
ct cry tails" said Digby. The sill
yer coin turned like a bubble in the
sunshine, and fell with musical
tinllle. 'You win. Digby," cried Car
son. a flush mounting into his cheeks
'Now you twist her"
Digby did so. "I1l take turn at
tails-just for luck" said Carson. And
the coin turned tails up.
Last time, Dig" said Carson. set
ting the coin a-whirling once again.
"Oh, | stick to tails" said Digby-
never like to hedge, you know" And
the coin turned date up.
"All right, good-by, and bad
luck to you" said Carson. wheeling
around.
With a smile playing oddly about
his lips when his broad back was
turned, Digby solemnly marched upon
the house.
Meanwhile a pair of blue eyes had
been watching the young men from a
window, and pair of red lips had
been dimpling into smiles, and fair
brow wrinkling into puzzled little
frowns. Harry and Dick. and to-
gether-" ran the musings in the nut
brown head: "and to-day when l
thought them far away. What does
it mean?" Her heart-helped by sun
dry recollections of things said by
both young men. and of glances given
by both-soon whispered reason fol.
their appearance Excitedly ringing
the bell for her maid, she few to her