The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-10-04
Heads or Tails For Love


something fascinating Nlee wns
Young Girl she had no end ~ lovers
aud was always trying 10 SOC how far
she could so with any of them without
being caught IN a matrimonial net
She ana not draw them hs her wiles.
there was no necessity for that, but
she would ssr.. 10 marry them ON I'M
possible conditions. The consequence
was that when she nj last met man
who inspired her with az least un.
certainty, she had formed habit ef
toying with lovers that made her only
more reckless with this enc,
When Walter Trask proposed he was
treated the same as the others
lie was not refused outright, lilo
was lsughngiy given conundrum TO
solve. II he solved Il he Ind won, u
not he had lost lie coidly admitted
that he had no brains for puzzles
and since the task was lmpossible he
ma@t give up the prize, Not being
accustomed 10 have her sultors give her
M 10 easily, Alice was piqned, but as
Trask did not bite at any of the huits
she held out to him she found no op-
portunlty for revenge. Finally, when,
her eyes swapping with mischief, she
told him abe would decide for or
against him by spinning a coin. he dc
clared that that was proposition no
could understand and asscnted. Tax.
ing penny from his pocket, he asked
her whether heads" or tails" meant
"yes," but she declined to use any
coin for her decision except silver
dollar that she had long kept In her
treasure box. She went for IT, aud
showed II to the applicant for her
hand to prove that all was fair. Walter
looked II over and, seeing nothing un-
usual about Il. handed II back 10 her.
eIf Il falls head up" she said. Il am
yours; II tails. | am not yours"
Going to highly polished table, sbo
removed everything from II and set
the coin spinning on IT, II whirled for
long while. then gradually settled
down tails up,
BEST two In three" said Walter.
Anything TO please you.' she re-
piled. and spun II again. II settled
down as before,
"Best three In five," he pleaded.
The operation was repeated, and
again the reply was no"
Walter begged for one more chance,
or best Ave In nine. She granted bis
request, declaring as she did 30 that
another spin, II tails, would be a hnal
decision. She twlricd the coin. and
tails II was. Walter asked TO OK
anime the coin again, but she refused
him and took II away
That afternoon Bobbc, Alice's broth
er, aged nine, came along whistllng
"The Girl Left Behind Me-" and Wal
ter agreed to give him a dollar Dill II
he would exchange n silver dollar for
the one his sister kept In her trensuro
box. Bobble proved doubly corrupt
lble. He accepted Walters brlbe. bnt
not being able to get Into the box OIL
fercd to divide with his sister IL sho
would unlock II. Then he accepted a
ltt;,,sr tto;y,,esrr ssT2' Keep 'Ret' kaJeEseln 10 .aer
secret. Walter on receiving the silver
dollar tested II to see II II were loaded
but found II an honest piece OF money
Then he brought n microscope to bear
an II and discovered that fine nla
bod been drawn lightly over the bev'
eled edge on the head side This caus'
cd n when spun on smooth surface
TO sllp on this side and throw tails up
walter bribed Bobbie TO take II pack
10 the box and say nothing.
The lovers next object was TO per
suade Alice 10 make n new decision
on the fall OF coin furnished py MN
ue expected n refusal, but was sur
nrised at granting Of the boon OF
condition that Alice should be permit
ted 10 examine the coin. waiter SNOW
cd her new silver half dollar sn'
examined II and. handing II BACK, saio
, .TaIls you win, heads you lose
waters face fell He had filed TN
= coin 90 as 10 throw heads up. Not cnr
! ina TO acknowledge the fraud. no spn'
! Inc coin. knowing that he must lose
I and he did lose.
4 II Alice wrenn had known wbetne
4 che wanted Walter Trask or not 81
e might have acted accordingly No
knowing il, she permitted herself 10 .
{, drawn on In game thnt TWO cou'
$ nlay. Walter, not feeling equal 10 IN
g ,ask Tor being too lazy. consulted
h professional gambler The gentlernn
Y gave Walter two silver dollars. Waite
,oft him feeling that he was quite eap'
e BILE Of using them to advantage Ne'
er,heless he went home and spent
e good two hours practicibg chang'h
u one for the other
d The next time he went TO wee Aiie
- he bantercd her 10 let him make u mn
r. trial with a silver dollar Of his own
decide II the fatcs dscrccd that be WI
" ~ lose her. She consented. lie shos
n, sd her a new silver dollar, and she O.
~ amined II.
ir Heads you win," she said. hanhir
to IL back. II appeared 10 be genu'f
I'd coin that had not been tampered VII
* She was ready TO give him ev'
" chances.
Walter suddenly started and look
is out OF the window. Alice looked v
he same way. lie changed the coin, sp'
u. It's double. and every time u ear
nr heads He had won.
I'll Alice tried 10 snatch the coin, but
the struggle Walter got her 10 ehn
eery and took betrothai kiss, I'D
she agreed 10 keep her contract "
would tell her how be had done
trick. He produced three silver q
= lars, one from the United states mil
one spurious double header. fhe ON
nd \ spur,ous double taller. The last wot