The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-08-24

struggling TO get wire should give up
the income on which to support her,
but Brown argued that he couldn't get
the wife and keep the position. He
possessed the faculty Of deciding be-
tween the greater and the lesser. He
needed all Of the day to continue his
preparations for the game he was to
play In the evening. II he lost there
was no recovery. Ii he won he had a
lifetime In which to secure another
position.
When the evening for the trial came
Brown had used up In preparatio
every moment since he had parted
with Margaret the day before, except
eight hours for sleep. 1t was not that
be dreaded failure, but detection. II
he were caught introducing loaded
cpins for the spinning he could not tell
just what would be the result. He
might lose the girl He certainly would
incur the contumely OF his rival. and
his action might prove ruinous to him.
But nothing troubled him except the
possible loss OF the prize.
Brown called late enough to give his
rival an opportunity to get In before
him. then entered as though he had
merely dropped In casually. Armstrong
looked annoyed. and Margaret appear
ed to be very regretful of having
drifted into the position she occupied
The three with difficulty kept up an
embarrassing conversation for half an
hour. when Armstrong. giving Mar
garet knowing look. proposed to de-
ming a coin. He had invited her to go
to the theater with him, and she seem
ed to be In doubt what day to set for
the purpose. His proposition he In
tended for an introduction to the trial
that was to decide his fate with Mar
garet. The night for attending the
theater having been settled. Brown
proposed some other way Of amusing
the trio by coin spinning. Margaret
wore an American Beauty rose In her
hair. and at last Brown proposed to
Armstrong to spin a coin for 1t. Mar
garet consented and Armstrong won
the rose. Then Brown spoke.
al tAClC 10 u pAA1C VIC
both desire, though I can't say that
either will possess 1t. l shall not
name It. You are perfectly aware of
what 1t Is. l will spin q silver half
dollar for 1t. best three out of FIVE"
Armstrong looked at Brown and un-
derstood. Then he looked at Mar
garet and saw that. while she did not
| ha hnd
been playing with a coin that Arm
strong had taken from his pocket
Brown picked 1t up and said: I'VE will
begin with this half dollar; spin 1t
twice; | will then furnish one which
we will spin twice; then we will spin
one belonging to Miss Lee"
Placing the coin under his forefinger
he asked Armstrong, Heads or tailsT'
Armstrong chose heads, the coin WAS
spun and Armstrong won. The next
spinning was by Armstrong, who lost.
At the third test Brown declined to
substitute his own coin, but won.
Brown lost the fourth test. making a
tie He then asked Margaret for a
coin. which she gave him.
All three knew what was at stake.
Armstrong was composed outwardly,
but excited inwardly. Brown showed
no emotion whatever. Margaret was
drawing long breaths. and her color
was leaving her. Brown called upon
her to spin the coin. She consented
and Brown won. gaining the best three
In five and the prize.
Armstrong; eyes flashed. Taking
up the coin he examined 1t critically.
would you accuse me of cheatingT
asked Brown.
"All's fair In war and In love- was
the logged reply.
$50 thought till sat down for this
test. when my conscience told me that
an unfair advantage Is dlshonora BILE
In any event. 1 am an expert at coin
spinning. II may use my own coin,
as | will show you. In this contest
you furnished the coin which tied us.
while Miss Lee furnished the one that
decided between us. Now will show
you that with my own coin can win
every time"
Idhluk u bHfcE udll OOlidE LILO
pocket. he called on Armstrong to
choose heads or tails and spun It.
and Armstrong lost. Brown repea ted
this seven times. winning every time.
Armstrong took up the coin and ex-
amined 1t carefully. but could see
nothing unusual about 1t.
ais 1t loadedr he asked.
"No.' replied Brown. Taking a small
magnifying glass from his pocket, he
asked Armstrong to examine the coin
with 1t. Armstrong saw that the edge
of the milling on the head side had
been fled smooth. This would natu-
rally cause the coin to sink head side
down.
"Let us try 1t again." said Brown.
land see IL tails will always be up.
He did so, and. contrary to expectat ion.
head was always up. Brown then
showed him that the coin had been
filed on the tail side. He had changed
coins without their knowing 1t.
Armstrong arose and, concealing his
chagrin as we'll as he could. bowed po-
litely to both of those he left behind
and withdrew.
The moment Margaret was left alone
with the man who bad won she threw
herself into his arms