The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-05-16

q niger TO slip 1t on. II that best
man of yourn amt daffy I'll eat my
boots. Where is he? The low-lived,
ornery cuss! Let me at him and I'll
break every bone in his thick skull"
Here I am, Dick!" cried a we'll
known voice, and Jack Stanfield,
GREATNESS and very red in the face,
came bursting into the police station.
Where the dickens have you been,
Dick? I've been beating the town for
you half the morning."
II don't know" answered Jocelyn
hopelessly. Il thought 1 was going to
be married, but somehow 1 wound up
here. I might. have been worse off,
though" he added more cheerfully,
thinking Of what he had escaped.
Alderman Link came forward and
laid a fat hand upon Stanfield's arm.
Does this young Teller belong to
you?" he asked, indicating Jocelyn
with his thumb.
Sure he does" answered Jack. II
left him last night under explicit or
ders not to stir out Of his room until
I came for him, and when I got there
half an hour ago he had just gone
off in a ramshackle cab driven by a
crazy driver. 1 only found him by the
merest accident"
How was that. Jack?" asked Joce-
Ign listlessly.
"The drunken fool seemed to know
that he had taken you to the wrong
place, and back he came, driving his
shaky vehicle. When he saw me in
my wedding toys with the buttonaire
he seemed to guess who I was and
refined in. He wal crying drunk, said
he thought he had driven you to the
wrong place and SO he'd come back to
drive you owe again. Said he'd do 1t
for nothing and wanted a tip. 1 made
him take me to the church post
haste, and then I found my way here"
We'll, never mind, jack" said Joce-
Ign. tits too late now. Mary's gone
home, l guess. and she'll never forgive
me, anyway, SO we may as we'll strike
for my apartment. I think I shall go
shooting in Afghanistan. or else try
to find the South Pole. l want dis
traction, Jack, and If I can find it in
some way which will afford me an op-
p%ortunity Of ending my wretched life,
so much the better"
"Oh, wake up" said Stanield, shak.
ing the bridegroom violently by the
arm. MARY won't be at the church
for quarter Of an hour yet; it's barely
eleven-thirty. Come along; I've got a
taxi waiting outside. Don't stand
grinning like a fool"
"Jack! What are you talking
about?" cried Jocelyn wildly. What
time is it,"
twenty-five minutes of twelve
said the best man, looking at his
watch.
But 1 left at eleven-thirty," cried
Jocelyn, "and that was long ago. I've
been through purgatory since then.
1t seems like years. Do you can to
tell me that my clock was wrong?"
"Of course it was" said Stan6eld,
with a grin. II set it on an hour and
a half ahead. It's always DONE"
Jocelyn gripped him by the arm
frantically.
Don't stand grinning like a FOOL
he screamed. "Come along! Come
along or we'll be late" And he
started toward the door Of the police
| station.
Easy. Dick. easy" said Stanfeld.
you've forgotten something"
"What?" shouted his friend, stop.
ping short in his tracks.
"The ring" said stanfeld, taking 1t
from the sergeant's desk. Never for
get the ring. my boy; it's an import
ant part Of the ceremony"
"And when I'm more composed,
Mary, I shall tell you what I went
through this morning." said Jocelyn
to his bride, az their train whirled
away southwark, an hour after the
conclusion Of the ceremony. 1--WE
had quite an adventure"