The Raymer enterprise., 1912-10-24

him that was passing through os.
den. and would he come down to the
train and marry me to charming
lady. He always wanted to marry
Anne. I thought 1t would be burned
good Joke to lot him marry her-to
me-"
"Ddid he accept7" Mallory asked.
e1citedly. 'Is he coming!"
He is-he dtd-here's his telel
gram" said Ira. He brings the ~
cense and the ring." He passed II
over, and a. Mallory read 1t . look
OF hope spread across his face. But
Ira was saying: "We're going to have
the wedding obsequies right hare Ia
this car. You're all invited. VIII you
come?"
There was general yell Of accept
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, a. any
OF the rest. and In a final triumph Of
recklessness. he tossed Oh bumper
Of straight whisky.
Instantly his How" changed ta
Wow" and then his throat clamped
fast with a terrific spasm that flung
the tears from his eyes. He bent and
writhed in silent paroxysm till he
was pounded and shaken back to life
and water poured down his throat to
reopen 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
yigor OF pure spirits.
After a riot Of handshaking 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-"
We'll. my boy"
Your minister-after you get
through with him-may use him 2"
May you-what? Why do you
want a minister"
TO get married"
Again? Good Lord, are you Nor.
mon?"
Mo a 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
decided to take Lathrop into his con.
fidence. The words came hard after
80 long . duplicity. but at last they
were out:
"Mr. Lathrop. I'm not really mar
ried to my wife,
You young scoundrel!"
But his fury changed to pity when
he heard the history Of Mallory's Ill.
fnted efforts, and he promised not
only to lend Mallory bis minister at
secondhand. but also to keep the
whole affair secret, for Mallory ex.
plained bis intention Of having his
own ceremony In the baggage-car, or
somewhere out OF sight OF the other
passengers. .a.-
Mallory's face was now aglow a.
the cold embers OF hope loaped into
sudden blaze. He wrung Lathrop's
hand. saying: Lord love you. you've
saved my ife-wife-both."
Then he turned and ran to Mar.
torie with the good news. He had
quite forgotten their epoch.making
separation. And she was so glad to
see him smiling at her again that she
forgot II. too. He came tearing into
the observation room and took her by
the shoulders, whispering: oh, Mar.
jorie, Marjorie. I've got him! I've got
him!"
mo, I've got him." she said. swing.
Ing Snoozleums into view.
Mallory swung him back out OF the
way: II don't mean a poodle. ! mean
parson. I've got a parson."
mo! | can't believe It! Where ID
he?" She began to dance with de-
light, but she stopped when ne ex.
plained
We'll. | haven't got him yet, but
I'm going to get one
"What-again? she groaned, weary
OF this old bunco game Of hope.
ITS real live one this time"
Mallory insisted. "Mr. Lathrop has
ordered minister and he's going to
lGnd him to me as soon as he's
through with him. and well be mar.
rled on this train"
(To BE CoNTINUED)
Achievements In Ar.
Brian G. Hughes. whose practical
Jokes 40 often delight. said at A RI.