The Ordway new era., 1912-08-02

II have it." she beamed.
"Yes. Marjorie?" he assented. du.
biously.
Wen pretend not to be married at
ALL"
He seized the rescuing ladder:
That's It! Not married-tust
friends"
IT'LL we can get married."
Yes. and then we can stop being
friends"
my love-my friend!" They en-
braced In q most unfriendly manner.
An impatient yelp from the neg
lected dog-basket awoke them.
"Oh. Lord. we've brought snoozie-
ums"
."Of course we have" She took the
dog from the prison. tucked him un-
der her arm, and tried to compose
her bridal face into merely friendly
countenance before they entered the
car. But she must pause for one more
kiss. one more of those bitter-sweet
good.byes. And Mallory was nothing
loath.
Hudson and Shaw were still glunIy
perplexed, when the porter returned
in his white jacket.
II bet they missed the train: all
this work for nothing" Hudson grum-
bled. But Shaw, seeing the porter.
caught gleam Of hope. and asked
anxiously:
Say. porter. have you seen any
thing anywhere that looks like a fresh
ly married pair?"
"Well." and the porten rubbed his
eyes with the back OF his hand as he
chuckled. "well. they's a mighty low
in couple out theah In the corridor"
That's them-they-it!"
INSTANTLY everything was alive and
in action. 1t was as II bugle had
shrilled In detected camp.
Get ready" Shaw commanded.
Here's rico for everybody"
Everybody take an old shoe." said
Hudson. "You can't miss In this mar
row car"
There's a kazoo for everyone. too."
said Shaw. as the outstretched hands
were equipped with wedding ammuni.
tion. DO you know the Wedding
March"
II ought to by this time." said Mrs.
Whitcomb.
Right into the taugle Of prepara-
way back to his seat to get more
cigars. r..r'
Have some rice for the bridal
coupler" said Ashton. Offering him OF
his own double.handful.
But Lathrop brushed him aside
with a romance-hater's growi.
Watch out for your head. then"
cried Hudson. and Lathrop ducked
just too late to escape neck-fiiling.
hair.filling shower. An old shoe took
him n clip abaft the ear. and the old
woman.hater dropped raging into the
same berth where the spinster. Anne
Cattle. was trying to dodge the same
| downpour.
Still there was enough OF the
| shrapnei left to overwhelm the two
young friends" who marched into
| the aisle. trying to look Indifferent
and prepared for nothing on earth
, less than for a wedding charivari.
Mallory should have done better
than to cItrust his plans to fellows
| like Hudson and Shaw. whom he had
known at West Point FOR diabolicaliy
joyous hazers and practical jokcrs.
Even as he sputtered rice and WINGED
from the impact OF flying footgear.
he was cursing himself as a double
dyed idiot for asking such men to en-.
| gage his berth for him. He had
sudden instinct that they had doubt
less bedecked his trunk and Mar
jorie's with white satin furbelows and
ludicrous labels. But he could not
| shelter himself from the white sleet
and the black thumps. He could
hardly shelter Marjorie. who covered
behind him and shrieked even loud
er than the romping tormcntors.
| When the assailants had exhausted
the rice and shoes. they charged down
the aisle for the privilege OF kissing
the bride. Mallory was dragged and
| hunted and shunted hero and there.
and he had to fight his way back to
| Marjorie with might and main. lie
was tugging and striking like demon.
and yelling. stop It! stop it,"
Hudson took his punishment with
uproarious good nature. laughing:
| "Oh, shut up. or we'll kiss you!"
But Shaw was scrubbing his wry
lips with a seasick wall Of:
Wow! | think kissed the dog"
There was. OF necessity. some pause
for breath. and the combatants draped
themselves Imply about the seats.
Mallory glared at the twin Benedict
Arnolds and demanded:
Are you two thugs going to San
Francisco with me?"
Don't worry" smiled Hudson.
we're only going rs far as kedzie
avenue. just to start the honeymoon
properly"
If either OF the elopers had been
caImer. the solution OF the problem
|