t other Swede, Jan Nansen."

Phil laughed at Sol's rueful countenance, as the latter recounted his
matrimonial misses.

"Why!--you're too slow."

"You bet!--too dam-slow to catch myself getting out of bed. I scared
to tell little Betty. Think maybe she not like to marry big Swede. Jan
Nansen catch her first time. Jan Nansen,--land sakes!--I got more
money, more sense, more hair on top my head, more clothes;--I could
put Jan in my jean's pocket. Now little Betty, she Mrs. Jan Nansen.
Good night and God bless me!"

Sol spat among the hoof parings on the floor in his annoyance.

"Yes, too bad, Sol!" Phil put in.

"Yesterday I say too bad too! I got fine house. Build him all myself
too. I got three room, with chairs, tables, fine stove, everything.
But I got nobody to keep it nice. Then that dam-fool of a fine little
fellow Smiler, he going all plumb toboggan to hell because nobody look
after him all day long. Soon no more pretty girl be left, I say to
myself:--'Sol Hanson, to-morrow your birthday. You get all dressed up
and first girl you meet you ask her if she marry Sol Hanson.' See!
Maybe she not take me. All right! I keep on ask next one, then another
one, till some girl take me. First one take me, she get me,--see!"

Phil raised his eyebrows in amusement, wondering what next he was
about to hear.

"Well, last night I go down to Morrison's store and buy all these.
This morning, I have a fine bath, with fine baby soap. I get good
shave, dress up swell like this, and come out about one o'clock. One
o'clock all fine girl be going back to work after dinner,--see!

"I open front door and get down sidewalk, then come down street.
Nobody there; nobody pass me. But when I get ten yard from corner
Snider Avenue, who come slap-bang pretty near head-on collision:--big
Martha Schmidt."

Phil yelled uproariously as Sol stood there the picture of seriousness.

"Ya,--you laugh. I laugh now,--ha, ha! You know Martha. She maybe
thirty, maybe thirty-six. I don't know. She got one good eye; other
eye all shot to hell sometime. Just got one big tooth and he stick out
good and plenty. Ugh!

"Well,--Sol Hanson every time he dam-good sport and do what he say he
do. But I not meet her. I stop quick,--think for one little
time,--then Martha cry, 'Hullo, Sol!' I never hear her. I turn quick,
walk back all the same as if, maybe, I left my pipe home. I hurry into
house, slam door hard and stand inside all shivers like one pound of