the empty hand is chosen the boy goes free. So it goes on, the last
holder of the stone being it, for the one making the unlucky guess has
to hold the object.

"Odd or Even" is often the method by which the one having the first
choice in choosing shall be selected.

The method is as follows: One boy selects at random a handful of
pebbles, marbles or other small objects, and closing his hand, asks,
as he holds it out: "Odd or even?"

If the other boy should say "odd," and on count the objects prove to
be even in number, he has lost, and the other boy has first choice; or
if it is a counting-out game, the one who guesses right goes free and
the last is "It."

A very old way is to toss up two coins, sometimes boys carry such
things, though never for long. "Heads or tails!" cries the tosser. If
the other guesses he is free.

Sometimes a stone or a chip, moistened on one side is used, and the
boy who tosses it up shouts, "Wet or dry?"

This is simply a variation of heads or tails, or odd or even. Each
section and each crowd of boys has its own way of choosing or counting
out, and in this case the best known is best.