The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-05-31

Il nope you Succeeu, shiu MdliOry.
wherever did you pick up the
bride?" said Wedgewood, mellowing
with the long glass in his hand.
Brides are easy" said Mallory,
with surprising cynicism. Where do
you get the parson?"
"Hang the parson," Wedgewood re-
peated, who's the gel?"
I'm bet l know who she is" Ash
ton interposed; Its that nectarine OF
damseI who got on at Green River"
mot the same!" Lathrop roared.
81 found my bride blooming here all
the while. Girl l used to spark back
in Brattleboro, VT. I've been vowing
for years that I'd live and die an old
maid. I've kept my head out of the
moose all this time-till struck this
train and met up with Anne. We got
to talking over old times-waking up
old sentiments. She got on my nerves.
l got on hers. Finally l said, 'Aw,
hell, let's get married. Save price OF
one stateroom to China anyway She
says, Damned il j dont!'-or words
to that effect"
Mallory broke in with feverish in
terest: but you said you were going
to get married on this train"
Nothing easier. Here's howl" and
he raised his glass, but Mallory hauled
it down to demand: How? that's
what 1 want to know. How are you
going to get married on this parson-
less express. Have you got a little
minister in your suitcasew
Ira beamed with added pride as he
explained:
We'll, you see, when I used to
court Anne had rival-Charlie Sell
by his name was. l thought he cut
me out, but he became a clergyman
in Utah-Oh, Charlie 1 telegraphed
him that / was passing through Og-
den, and would he come down to the
train and marry me to a charming
lady. He always wanted to marry
Anne. L thought 1t would be a burned
good joke to let him marry her-to
me-"
"D-did he accept?" Mallory asked.
excitedly, lis he coming?"
He is-he did-here's his tele-
gram" said Ira. "He brings the IL
cense and the ring" He passed it
over, and as Mallory read it look
of hope spread across his face. But
Ira was saying: Were going to have
the wedding obsequies right here In
this car. You're all invited. VIII you
conner"
q rNJl -
ance and Ashton began to sing,
There Was Waiting at the Church"
Then he led a sort of Indian war
dance round the next victim OF the
matrimonial stake. At the end of the
hullaballoo all the men charged their
glasses, and drained them with an up
roarious Howl"
Poor DR.. Temple had taken luxuri-
Gus delight In the success OF his dis
guise and in the prospect of watch
ing some other clergyman working
while he rested. He joined the dance
as gaily, II not as gracefully, as any
OF the rest, and In final triumph of
Of straight whisky.
Instantly his Howl" changed to
"Wow!" and then his throat clamped
fast with a terrific spasm that flung
the tears from his eyes. He bent and
writhed in a silent paroxysm till he
was pounded and shaken back to life
and water poured down his throat to
reopen q passage.
The others thought he had merely
choked and made no comment other
than sympathy. They could not have
dreamed that the old physician" was
as ignorant Of the taste as OF the
vigor of pure spirits.
After q riot OF Handwriting and
good wishes. Ira was permitted to es-
cape with his life. Mallory followed
him to the vestibule, when he caught |
him by the sleeve with an anxious:
Excuse me-"
well, my boy"
your minister-after you get
through with him-may I use him ?" |
May you-what? Why do you
want minister"
ITO get married"
again? Good Lord. are you a Nor
mon?"
me Mormon!"
Then what do you want with an
extra wife? It's against the law
even in Utah"
"You don't understand"
my boy, one Of us is disgracefully
drunk"
We'll, I'm not" said Mallory, and
then after fierce inner debate, he
to take Lathrop into his con-
fidence. The words came hard after
SO long a duplicity, but at last they
were out: .
Mr.. Lathrop, I'm not really mar.
ried to my wife,"
''You young scoundrel!"
But hts fury changed to pity when
he heard the history of Mallory's III
fated efforts, and he promised not
only to lend Mallory his minister at
secondhand, but also to keep the
whole affair a secret, for Mallory ex-
planned his intention OF having his
own ceremony in the baggage-car, or
out of sight of the other
Mallory's face was now agiow as
tha GnlA DS