New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-07-16
ind of gambling" mutrered the older

MS pocket, tossed II into the air, and
caught II between closed hands.
Heads" said the younger man
calmly.
His eyes bulging with excitement.
the other opened his trembling hands
and looked. His coin had also fallen
with the date side upward. His al
ready pale face turned the color Of
chalk.
Il win," shouted the boy, and then
flushed. as II ashamed Of his evident
gladness.
Yes, you win" said his companion,
dropping his coin carelessly into the
sand. Again they eyed each other. as
II they were strangers, instead OF life
long friends.
"AH right said The loser Of the
toss suddenly. "Ill make good, but
Eve got just one favor to isk OF you
before ] take the plunge. Youth grant
me just one favor. won't you. old
mani"
"Sure-certainly." said the boy, feel
ing very %cOwardly and ashamed. ANY
thing you ask. of course"
"All right. / just want you to take
a message TO Violet Wildwood for me.
! haven't time to write It.. We've got
to hurry. But. you see, last night she
promised 10 marry me.
ITS pretty hard TO 20 now. just
when life was beginning TO be really
worth while. just when | WAS begin
ming to know real happiness. You un-
derstand. don't you, old manf"
II the younger fellows face had been
haggard and frightened before, It was
nothing TO the dull, hurt. hopeless look
VIII y now came into his eyes. lie
stared at his friend stupidity, as II he
was not sure he had heard correctly.
"iou say she-Violet Wellwood-
promised o marry youY" he asked.
Yes. didn't know exactly how TO
tell you about it before, for | knew
you were fond Of her, too. But now
Well, you'll have a clear field now"
You're not joking, are you:"
"Joking?" cried the older mnn. nv II
shocked ut the idea. as this a time
for jokesi Or is that n subject to be
joked abonti"
No. no OF course not"
We'll, then, please go and see Violet
at once. as soon as you get back 10
town, and break the news gently Ia
her. Tell her /"
Stop" cried the boy. his face twist
cd with the hurt Of II. "Stopl can't
stand that. I'm 10 break the news
gently TO her, am !? TO her." He
wildly. Man. do you sup
pose ] want TO live nowf"
He did not see the others crafty
smile, quickly hidden.
so" he ven on, II am to tell her
that the man she loves Did she tell
YOU she loved you last nightf'
'Of course" said the othe-.
We'll. then. she can have you" hs
cried b~oylshly. "Now listen. You'Ii
lake a message TO her from me. I'm
derstand? Tell her"
He paused, and the anger died n
Of his face. leaving only the hopeless
'Oh, never mind" he said, and he
fcre his companion could have moved
10 prevent him. II he had entertained
my such Intention, the boy threw him
self forward and lay fiat on his face
the quicksand.
The older man gave himself no time
70 think OF what he had done, but
managed. with SOM. difficulty. TO
itIlizc the slender. PROSTATE form OF
his friend as a bridge. upon which he
footing.
Once his feet were pried out Of the
'llnging sand lie found little dif'iculty |
leaping Ia the solid bank from the
shoulders.
Having nj last reached safety. he
food for n moment. m II dazei. Then, |
Is q full realization OF his own coward
90 cnme over him. he turned swiftly
md began Ia make frantic efforts TO
each the PROSTATE form ~ the other.
Already the oozing sand had almost
the hoy the man ~ last man.
Ig.ai 10 get IA grip on VI" collar 81 the
,oy's flannel shirt. But quicksand
not give mp lis prey easily.
He only succeeded Ia touring The
collar loose from his throat. fall
ng back upon ID. grass when the
gave way. When he lenn.-i fc--
,ard again. the soft, yellow beach was
loosely smoothly o,sr the sinking
orm of the hoy who had been his
suddenly hc heard hoof-beats of
Dorse upon the soft turf behind him.
nj. turning quickly. he saw a young
irl ralloping toward him.
She rode astride. aud bareheaded.
sr thick. brown hair flying la the
reeze.
Pulling her noun mp almost beside
10 man. sh. smiled down nj him.
Halo. JIM" she said. where's
Violet" he began. Miss Well
God"
hut he could get no further. and he
,uld not look at her.
Swallowing hard. he made several
TO speak. and then. crinRing
ke q dog before her steady. asfonish-
! gnze. he turned and fed precipi-
Itely scross the field.