Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-09-19
A Toss Between Rivals
[OrAg1nal.l

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
[Orig1nall
Ben Arnold and I were chums, anG
Dorothy Drummond was q witch
Given a pair o1 chums and a WITCH
and what Is the lnvariable result2 A
quarrel between the ehums. II this
1nvariable result had happened In GU,
case there would be nothing worth the
telling. So many such affairs have
taken place that they have ceased tc
be at least novel: Dorothy said she
would have neither Of us, declaring al
the same time that we were more IN
love with each other than with any
one else. I will admit that this helped
Ben and me to keep from Quarreling
though neither Of us believed her.
We invented tests to force Dorothy
to show her hand. Whether she was
too smart for US or whether she had
nothing but friendship for either Of us
we could not tell. At any rate not one
OF our tests gave US any information.
We cOnspired to send her nvitations
for drive to take place at the same
hour Of the same day, hoping she
would show her preference by accept
ing one and declining the other. The
little mink accepted both, asking us to
call with an eQuipage capable OF seat
ing four persons, as she wished to
take her grandmother. We were both
furious, but dared not disobey. We
tried to force her to choose one Of us
to sit beside her, but she declined to
enter the carriage till all had been
seated. She was the life Of the party,
which must have been n difficult role
to play, for Ben and sat nursing our
wrath to keep it warm" When we
handed the two women out, Dorothy
was profuse in her thanks for an in
.yltation which had not been given.
One day I told Ben that there was
but one way to force decision be-
tween U.S. That was to tell Dorothy
II she would have neither Of us she
must lose both Of us. We would both
"go west" Ben consented to this at
once He believed the girl loved him
and when it came to the point Of los
Ing him would show her hand. l had
no doubt that I was the fortunate
man and, If a choice was inevitable,
would be chosen. If you ask on what
grounds we based these opinions l re-
ply that each drew his inference from
Dorothy's actions toward him. She
gave me her photograph, exacting my
~ <o1l
her photograph, exacting his promise
not to tell me- This sort of trick she
played US in a great variety Of ways.
It was quite natural that each should
deem himself the favored one.
One evening we called on Dorothy
together and stated our proposition.
In order that neither should have the
advantage Of being spokesman we
were both spokesman. Ben made a
preliminary statement of the case,
while I followed with the alternative.
The little witch's eyes danced while
we were doing so, though when the
last words were spoken, ''or we go
west tomorrow" she looked at us in
quiringly. Seeing determination in
the countenance Of each, she made a
little gasp, then turned her back and
walked to the window.
When She turned toward us there
was a singular expression, or rather
combination Of expressions, on her
face-something serious, something
comical, and, above all, something ex-
tremely mischievous.
Il don't wish to drive two such fine
fellows away" she said. IF I must
choose between you l must make my
choice by lot.''
Going to an antique writing desk,
she opened little drawer and took
out an old copper cent, such as has
now gone completely out Of circula-
ton.
1T Is a toss between you. I shall
dip this cent. If it comes down tails
(she said this to Benz Il will marry
you and make you a devoted wife. If
1t comes down heads" turning to mel
''you are the one l shall love till death
do US part"
"You give me tails. l am not your
preference" said Ben in a frightened
tone.
"Let us choose for ourselves" said.
give Ben first choice"
"You have neither Of you anything
to do with the method by which /
come to my decision" she said 1T
II who make the choice, not YOU"
Tossing the cent in the air, giving il
a flip at the same time with her thumb
It fell on the floor, rolled about awhile
struck the leg Of chair and was still
Ben and both sprang forward, but
Dorothy waved us back
zone step and you both 90 vest!
she exclaimed.
Picking up the coin, which we could
both see she did carefully and fairly
she held it out to US without looking
at it herself.
Heads" cried.
Ben dropped into chair. She went
10 him and took his hand, while teal
stood in her eye. slipped out Of the
room, leaving her to comfort him.
Ben acted very nicely about the af
fair and took his disappointment re
markedly we'll. This, Dorothy tol(
me, was because had secured her by
chance and not by preference. Brigh1
OF Dorothy to foresee such> result
and act accordingly. wasn't it?
would have DrQfarrad fo he nrQforre1