The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-02-24

heeueu All OF Tue DAY TO cOntinne his
preparations for the game he was 10
play in the evening IL he lost tbero
was recovery. II he won be had a
lifetime In which TO secure anothar
position.
When the evening for the trial cam.
Brown had used up In preparation
every moment since he had nartaa
with Margaret the day before. exeent
eight hours for sleep. Ii was NOT that
he dreaded failure. but detection. IL
he were caught introducing loaded
coins for the spinning he could not Tell
just what would be the result. Ue
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 appeor.
ed to- be very regretful of having
|
The three with difficulty kept up an
embarrassing conversation for half an
hour. when Armstrong. giving Mar.
garet Knowing look. proposed 10 de-
! eide question he had raised by spjn.
! ming coin. He had invited her 10 On
10 the theater with him. and she seem.
ed 10 be in doubt what day to set for
the purpose. His proposition he in.
tended for an introduction 10 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 10 spin coin for 1t. Mar.
garet consented and Armstrong won
the rose. Then Brown spoke.
"Mr Armstrong. there is prize we
both desire, though l can't say that
either will possess it. shall not
name 1t. You are perfectly aware of
what 1t Is. / will spin silver half
dollar for 1t. best three out of FIVE"
Armstrong looked at Brown and IN
derstood Then he looked at Mar
garet and saw. that. while she did not
approve. she did not forbid. They had
been playing with coin that Arm.
strong had taken from his pocket.
Drown picked it up and said: I'VE will
legin with this half dollar: spin Il
twice; I will then furnish one which
We will spin twice: then we will spin
one belonging to Miss Lee"
Placing the coin under his forehnger.
he asked Armstrong. Heads or tailsT'
Armstrong chose heads, the coin was
SUN and Armstrong won. The next
spinning was by Armstrong. who lost.
IT the third test Brown declined to
substitute his own coin. but won
Erown lost the fourth test. making a
tie. He then asked Margaret for
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 10 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 Inc of cheatingT
asked Brown.
"All's fair in war and in love-" was
the logged reply.
80 thought till sat down for this
test, when my conscience told me that
an unfair advantage is dlshonorable
In any event. / am an expert at coin
spinning. IL | 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"
Taking a silver half dollar from his
pocket he called on Armstrong TO
choose heads or tails and spun IL,
and Armstrong lost. Brown repeated
this seven times, winning every time.
Armstrong took up the coin and ex-
amined it carefully. but could see
nothing unusual about 1t.
rs it loaded?' he asked
NO" replied Brown. Taking q small
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 filed smooth. This would natu-
ally cause the coin to sink head" side
Down.
Let us try 1t again." said Brown.
and see IL tails will always be up.
He did so. and. contrary to expectation.
head was always up. Brown then
showed him that the coin had been
He'd on the tail side. He had changed
'oins without their knowing it,
Armstrong arose and. concealing his
'hagrin as well as he could. bowed po-
itely to both OF those he left behind
md withdrew.
The moment Margaret was left alone
With the man who had won she threw
erself into his arms.
"You could not do 1t. could your she
impulsively.
mo" he said. IT couldn't"
But you intended TO do it?"
HXao Y sIfd ~ ..o,nna tf,.s onuIdn'f