The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-10
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CHAPTER ONE

ANY MAN would look ridicu-
ious crawling around on his all
fours, while wearing striped trous-
ers and a cutaway coat, and Joel
Randall knew that he was no ex-
ception.
But as he poked his head under
Bills modsrnistic coffee table he
wasn't thinking very much about
how he looked. He was thinking
about title for story. Three
Times a Groomsman But Never a
Groom What was more, II he
we're a writer like Bill, he might
even write a story to At the title
maybe one of those confession
yarns that were flooding the coun-
try. For he had certainly accumu-
lated plenty of material, and from
his own personal experience. at
that.
There was Andy's wedding, for
instance, with him and Andy all
done up in tails Id white ties.
And Jim's. Jim's had been an
elopement, but he had stood up
with Jim also. All of them in sport
clothes and looking rather like
boiled Holsters, since Jim and Irene
had decided to get married right
after a particularly strenuous golf
tournament on particularly hot
day.
And now his cousin, William
Randall latham.
He and Bill were d. at the
church in 20 minutes, where there
would be a mile Or so OF southern
smilax, yards and yards of satin
ribbon, several hundred feet OF
cheesecloth tackled down the aisles,
four lovely girls in greer. and yell
low and blue and pink, and four
ushers ',oking more or less self
4 conscious In formal attire and
white carnations. Yes, they were
due at the church In 20 minutes,
and yet here he was crawling
around on the floor Of thu bachelor
apartment he and Bill. had been
sharing for the past three years.
And he wasn't alone, either. Aunt
Sallie Randall was with him. She
was also on her hands and knees,
getting all tangled UP in the black
lace flounces of her gown or the
strings and strings Of beads she in
sisted upon wearing.
Found 1t YETI" Bill called from
the bedroom.
moi" said Aunt Sallie GROSSLY.
"And l must say this is hne
time for a treasure hunt"
well, keep on looking!" said
Bill. T'l be with you in three
shakes of sleeps tail"
"And speaking Of sheep" said
joel YEARLY. Bill gets my goat"
Aunt Sallie sat back upon her
heels and looked at him.
1--WE looked everywhere" she
said.
80 have l." said Joel. Maybe
It bounced out Of the window"
Nonsense! Wedding rings don't
bounce"
MOP" said Joel. Perhaps they
don't. But notice they never stick
very long"
"Cynic." Aunt Sallie pushed g
strand Of grazing but permanent
waved hair from her eyes. "Yot
ought to be ashamed Of yourself
Joel Randall, talking about mar
rage In such fashion" -
Joel ignored the rebuke.
Even the characters in Bill''
stories fight and get divorced" HI
went on. Hes never yet writer
about a happy marriage.
What of ?" said Aunt Sallie
"He has to write what the editor
want"
Anyway" said Joel, Il hope h.
doesn't make the mess Of his mar
rage that most Of his heroes max
OF theirs Take the hero Of hi
book. Marriage for Three; nov
there's"
"You take him." Aunt Sallie GU
in. The hero Of this particula
drama or comedy or whatever yoI
want to call II Is about all that
can handle"
Joel srinned. God bless Aun
Salliel She was certainly one gran
| relative, or relative-in-law rather l
she hadn't been-if she hadn't had
lot Of bae kbone and humor. sh
potyar u,o,,id haue iiyad fhrOtC