Quin

If you don't leave the room instantly, I will!
Transcriber's Note:
The Table of Contents was not in the original text and has been created for the convenience of the reader.
If the dollar Quinby Graham tossed up on New Year's eve had not elected to slip through his fingers and roll down the sewer grating, there might have been no story to write. Quin had said, Tails, yes ; and who knows but that down there under the pavement that coin of fate was registering Heads, no ? It was useless to suggest trying it over, however, for neither of the young privates with town leave for twenty-four hours possessed another coin.
The heavier of the two boys, Cass Martel,—the lame one, whose nose began quite seriously, as if it had every intention of being a nose, then changed abruptly into a button,—scraped the snow from the sewer grating with his cane, and swore savagely under his breath. But Quin shrugged his shoulders with a slow, easy-going laugh.
That settles it, he said triumphantly. We got to go to the Hawaiian Garden now, because it's the only place that's free!
I'll be hanged if I know what you want to go to a dance for, argued his companion fiercely. Here you been on your back for six months, and your legs so shaky they won't hardly hold you. Don't you know you can't dance?
Sure, agreed Quin amicably. I don't mean to dance. But I got to go where I can see some girls. I'm dead sick of men. Come on in. We don't need to stay but a little while.
That's too long for me, said Cass. If you weren't such a bonehead for doing what you start out to do, we could do something interesting.
One might have thought they were Siamese twins, from the way in which Cass ignored the possibility of each going his own way. He glared at his tall companion with a mingled expression of rage and dog-like devotion.
Cut it out, Cass, said Quin at last, putting an end to an argument that had been in progress for fifteen minutes. I'm going to that dance, and I'm going to make love to the first girl that looks at me. I'll meet you wherever you say at six o'clock.