Quin   By: Alice Caldwell Hegan Rice (1870-1942)

Q U I N

BY

ALICE HEGAN RICE

Author of "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," "Lovey Mary," "Sandy," "Calvary Alley," etc.

NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1921

Copyright, 1921, by THE CENTURY CO.

PRINTED IN U. S. A.

TO MY MERRIEST FRIEND

JOSEPHINE F. HAMILL

Transcriber's Note:

The Table of Contents was not in the original text and has been created for the convenience of the reader.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 30 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 31 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 32 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 33 CHAPTER 17

Q U I N

CHAPTER 1

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."

Cass, seeing that further persuasion was useless, reluctantly consented.