We're just going to get married right away and start. I've
sent Bob and Wolf along already. When will you be ready?"

Dede could not forbear to smile. "My, what a hurricane of a man it is.
I'm quite blown away. And you haven't explained a word to me."

Daylight smiled responsively.

"Look here, Dede, this is what card-sharps call a show-down. No more
philandering and frills and long-distance sparring between you and me.
We're just going to talk straight out in meeting--the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth. Now you answer some questions for
me, and then I'll answer yours."

He paused. "Well, I've got only one question after all: Do you love me
enough to marry me?"

"But--" she began.

"No buts," he broke in sharply. "This is a show-down. When I say
marry, I mean what I told you at first, that we'd go up and live on the
ranch. Do you love me enough for that?"

She looked at him for a moment, then her lids dropped, and all of her
seemed to advertise consent.

"Come on, then, let's start." The muscles of his legs tensed
involuntarily as if he were about to lead her to the door. "My auto's
waiting outside. There's nothing to delay excepting getting on your
hat."

He bent over her. "I reckon it's allowable," he said, as he kissed her.

It was a long embrace, and she was the first to speak.

"You haven't answered my questions. How is this possible? How can you
leave your business? Has anything happened?"

"No, nothing's happened yet, but it's going to, blame quick. I've taken
your preaching to heart, and I've come to the penitent form. You are
my Lord God, and I'm sure going to serve you. The rest can go to
thunder. You were sure right. I've been the slave to my money, and
since I can't serve two masters I'm letting the money slide. I'd
sooner have you than all the money in the world, that's all." Again he
held her closely in his arms. "And I've sure got you, Dede. I've sure
got you.

"And I want to tell you a few more. I've taken my last drink. You're
marrying a whiskey-soak, but your husband won't be that. He's going to
grow into another man so quick you won't know him. A couple of months
from now, up there in Glen Ellen, you'll wake up some morning and find
you've got a perfect stranger in the house with you, and you'll have to
get introduced to him all over again. You'll say, 'I'm Mrs. Harnish,
who are you?' And I'll say, 'I'm Elam Harnish's younger brother. I've