The Press., 1920-09-02

q win," shouted the boy, and then flushed. as il, ashamed of his evident g1adness.
 "Yes, you win," said his companion, dropping his coin carelessly into the sand. Again they eyed each other, as if they were strangers, instead of life long friends.
 "All right" said the loser of the toss suddenly. "I'll make good but I've got just one favor to ask of you before take the plunge. You'll grant me just one favor. won't you, old man?"
 "Sure-certainly," said the boy, feel ing very cowardly and ashamed. "Any- thing you ask, of course"
 "All right. I just want you to take a message to Violet Wellwood for me. I haven't time to write it. We've got to hurry. But, you see, last night she promised to marry me.
 Its pretty hard to go now, just when life was beginning to be really worth while. Just when I was begin ming to know real happiness. You un- derstand. don't you, old mani"
 If the younger fellows face had been haggard and frightened before, 1t was nothing to the dull, hurt, hopeless look which now came into his eyes. He stared at his friend stupidly, as if he was not sure he had heard correctly.
 "you say she-Violet Wellwood- promised to marry you?" he asked.
 "Yes I didn't know exactly how to tell you about it before, for I knew you were fond of her, too. But now We'll, you'll have a clear field now"
 "You're not joking, are you?"
 "Joking?' cried the older man, as if shocked at the idea. "Is this a time for jokes? Or Is that a subject to be joked abOut?"
 "No, no. Of course not"
 "Well, then, please go and see Violet at once, as soon as you get back to town, and break the news gently to her. Tell her T."
 "Stop!" cried the boy, his face twist ed with the hurt of 1t. "Stop! can't stand that. I'm to break the news gently to her, am I? To her!' He laughed wildly. Man, do you sup pose I want to live nOww
 He did not see the others crafty smile, quickly hidden.
 "So," he went on, 'I am to tell her that the man she loves Did she tell you she loved you last night?"
 "Of course," said the other.
 Well. then, she can have you," he cried boyishly. "Now listen. You'll take message to her from me. Un- derstand? Tell her"
 He paused, and the anger died out of his face, leaving only the hopeless misery.
 "Oh, never mind," he said, and be- fore his companion could have moved to prevent him, if he had entertained any such intention, the boy threw him. self forward and lay flat on his face in the qucksand.
 The older man gave himself no time to think of what he had done, but managed, with some difficulty, to utilize the slender, prostrate form of his friend as a bridge, upon which he found footing.
 Once his feet were pried out of the clinging sand he found little difficulty in leaping to the solid bank from the boys shoulders.
 Having at last reached safety, he stood for a moment, as if dazed Then, as full realization of his own coward ice came over him, he turned swiftly and began to make frantic efforts to reach the prostrate form of the other.
 Already the OOZing sand had almost covered the boy, the man at last man. aged to get a grip on the collar of the boys flannel shirt. But quicksand does not give up its prey easily.
 He only succeeded in tearing the boys collar loose from his throat, fall ing back upon the grass when the cloth gave way. When he leaned for ward again, the soft, yellow beach was closely smoothly over the sinking form of the boy who had been his friend
 Suddenly he heard hoof-beats of a horse upon the soft turf behind him, and, turning quickly, he saw young girl galloping toward him.
 She rode astride, and bareheaded, her thick, brown hair flying in the breeze.
 Pulling her mount up almost beside the man, she smiled down at him.
 "IIallo. Jim!" she said. "Where's Ered?'
 "Viclet,," he began. Miss We'll WO0d-"
 But he could get no further, and he could not look at her.
 Swallowing hard, he made several attempts to speak, and then, cringing like dog before her steady, astOnish- etl gaze he turned and fled precipi- Htrly across the field.