of the
wedding had already saved valuable time in assembling the posse. He
assented, therefore, but, to maintain the dignity of his office and
control of the situation, with apparent reluctance.

"Well, hurry up the sacreements an' ceremonies, then, an' the minute
the preacher ties the knot, every man uv yuh but Jack an' the parson
an' Uncle Jim gits on his boss an' folluhs me. I'll wait out in the
corral."

At this there was another storm of expostulation, led this time by
Allen. Of course Hoover was to come to the wedding, and be its guest
of honor. "You shall be the first to wish Jack and Echo lucky," said
Allen. "That means you'll be the next one to marry."

The ruddy-faced Sheriff blushed to the roots of his auburn hair.

"Much obliged, but I ain't fixed up fer a weddin'," and he looked down
at his travel-stained breeches tucked in riding-boots white with
alkali-dust, and felt of his buttonless waistcoat and gingham shirt
open at the throat, with the bandanna handkerchief his neck in lieu of
both collar and tie.

Polly assured him that he would do very well as he was, that for her
part she "wouldn't want no better-dressed man than he to be present at
her wedding, not even the feller she was goin' to be hitched up to;"
whereat Slim Hoover was greatly set at ease.

Polly was bounding up the piazza steps to tell Echo of the accession to
her party, when Hoover held up his hand. A terrifying suggestion had
flashed through his mind.

"Hold on a minute!" he exclaimed, and, turning to Allen, he asked
anxiously: "Does this yere guest of honor haf to kiss the bride?"

The question was so foreign to the serious topic which had just been
under discussion that everyone laughed in relief of the nervous tension.

Allen's fun-loving nature at once bubbled to the surface. With an air
of assumed anger he said to the Sheriff: "Of course; every guest has
to do it." Then, turning to the cowboys, he asked: "Is there any one
as holds out strong objection to kissin' my daughter?"

"Not me," laughed Sage-brush, "I'm here to go the limit."

"I'm an experienced kisser, I am," said Parenthesis, "I don't lose no
chance at practise."

"I'll take two, please," simpered Fresno.

Show Low interrupted the general sally which followed this remark,
saying: "I strings my chips along with Fresno."

"Slim's afraid of females!" drawled Polly provokingly.

"Oh, thunder!" exclaimed Slim to Polly. "No, I ain't, nothin' of the