The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-08-12
and all that, but IFS a good deal Of

more arguing. We're wasting valuable
| time"
"All right" agreed the young fellow.
Tin game, II 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 coin from
his pocket, tossed 1t into the air, and
caught IL 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.
II 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
If they were strangers, instead of life
long friends.
IAN right" said the loser of the
toss suddenly. "rll 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
MANI"
"Sure-certainly," said the boy, feel
ing very cowardly and ashamed. amy
thing you ask, Of course"
"All right. l 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.
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 man?"
If the younger fellows face lsd been
haggard and frightened before. II was
nothing TO the dull, hurt, hopeless look
which now came into his eyes. He
stared at his friend stupidity, as II he
was not sure he had heard correctly.
"You say she-Violet Wellwood-
promised TO marry your" he asked.
Yes. ! didn't know exactly how to
tell you about II before. for | knew
you were fond Of her, too But now
Well, you'll have clear field now"
You're not joking, are your"
"Jokingr cried the older man, as IL
shocked at the idea. 'Is this time
for jokes? Or is that a 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 I"
"Stopi' cried the boy, his face twist
ed with the hurt of IL. stop! can't
stand that Pm TO break the news
gently to her, am I? To her" He
laughed wildly. "Man, do YOU sun
pose | want to live now?"
He did not see the others crafty
smile, quickly hidden.
SO" he went on, II 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, Youu
take a message to her from me. Un-
derstand? Tell her"
He paused, and the anger died ont
OF his face, leaving only the hopeless
misery.
"Oh, never mind" he said, and be-
fore his companion could have moved
to prevent him, II 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. 70
utilize the slender. PROSTATE form of
his friend as bridge, upon which he
found footing.
once his feet were pried out of the
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 II dazed. Then.
rs full realization of his own coward
zee came over him, he turned swiftly
ana began to make frantic efforts TO
'each the PROSTATE form of the other.
Already the oozing sand had almost
covered the boy, the man at last man
lged TO get a grip on the collar of the
boys flannel shirt. But quicRsand
ioes not give up its prey easily.
He only succeeded In tearing the
'oy's collar loose from his throat, fall
ng back upon the grass when the
10th gave way. When he leaned for
ward again, the soft, yellow beach was
loosely smoothly over the sinking