The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-07-16
and all that, but it's a good deal Of

Sacrihce."
I'm not asking you 70 be a hero"
said the other hastily. wen toss
coin for it. And don't let's do any
more arguing. We're wasting valuable
time"
"All right" agreed the young fellow.
I'm game, If you think it's the only
way for one of US to be saved"
Have you any better idea to offer?'
"No.''
Then come on"
They both felt in their pockets for
coins.
Il was always pretty lucky at any
kind of gambling" muttered the older
| man.
He had not meant to speak this
| thought aloud. There was no more to
be said, and each drew a coin from
his pocket, tossed it into the air, and
caught it between closed hands.
Heads" said the younger man
calmly.
His eyes bullying 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 if ashamed of his evident
gladness.
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 l take the plunge. You'll 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. I just want you to take
a message to Violet Wildwood for me.
l haven't time to write it. We've got
to hurry. But, you see, last night she
promised to marry me.
Io piS CITY ldIu 10 80 now, just
when life was beginning to be really
worth while Just when l was begin
ming to know real happiness. You I'M
derstand. don't you, old man?"
Ii the younger fellows face had been
haggard and frightened before, it was
nothing to the dull, hurt. hopeless look
which now came into his eyes. He
stared at his friend stupidity as if he
was not sure he had heard correctly.
you say she-Violet WILDWOOD
promised to marry you?" he asked.
yes l didn't know exactly how to
tell you about it before, for l 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 man. as if
shocked at the idea. rs this time
for jokes? Or is that subject to be
joked about?'
mo, 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 L"
Stop" cried the boy, his face twist
ed with the hurt of it. "Stop! can't
stand that. Pm to break the news
gently to her, am I? To herr" He
laughed wildly. Man, do you sup
pose l want to live now?"
He did not see the others crafty
smile, quickly hidden.
80" he went on, 81 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. snow listen. You'll
take message to her from me- I'm
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 fiat on his face
in the quicksand.
The older man gave himself no time
to think of what he had done. but
managed, with some difficulty, to
utilize the slender, PROSTATE 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 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 PROSTATE 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 hannel shirt. But quicksand
d0pS NOT Give I'm itS nrov aaC;l,,