fore
dinner--preacher--presentable bridegroom!... Aw! I'm drunk again! I--who
swore off forever!"

"No, Tom, you're just happy," said Helen.

Between her and Roy the cowboy was at length persuaded to accept the
situation and to see his wonderful opportunity.

"Now--now, Miss Helen--what'd Bo mean by pre--presentable bridegroom?...
Presents? Lord, I'm clean busted flat!"

"She meant you must dress up in your best, of course," replied Helen.

"Where 'n earth will I get a preacher?... Show Down's forty miles....
Can't ride there in time.... Roy, I've gotta have a preacher.... Life or
death deal fer me."

"Wal, old man, if you'll brace up I'll marry you to Bo," said Roy, with
his glad grin.

"Aw!" gasped Las Vegas, as if at the coming of a sudden beautiful hope.

"Tom, I'm a preacher," replied Roy, now earnestly. "You didn't know
thet, but I am. An' I can marry you an' Bo as good as any one, an'
tighter 'n most."

Las Vegas reached for his friend as a drowning man might have reached
for solid rock.

"Roy, can you really marry them--with my Bible--and the service of my
church?" asked Helen, a happy hope flushing her face.

"Wal, indeed I can. I've married more 'n one couple whose religion
wasn't mine."

"B-b-before--d-d-din-ner!" burst out Las Vegas, like a stuttering idiot.

"I reckon. Come on, now, an' make yourself pre-senttible," said Roy.
"Miss Helen, you tell Bo thet it's all settled."

He picked up the halter on the blue mustang and turned away toward the
corrals. Las Vegas put the bridle of his horse over his arm, and seemed
to be following in a trance, with his dazed, rapt face held high.

"Bring Dale," called Helen, softly after them.

So it came about as naturally as it was wonderful that Bo rode the blue
mustang before the afternoon ended.

Las Vegas disobeyed his first orders from Mrs. Tom Carmichael and rode
out after her toward the green-rising range. Helen seemed impelled to
follow. She did not need to ask Dale the second time. They rode swiftly,
but never caught up with Bo and Las Vegas, whose riding resembled their
happiness.

Dale read Helen's mind, or else his own thoughts were in harmony with
hers, for he always seemed to speak what she was thinking. And as they
rode homeward he asked her in his quiet way if they could not spare a
few days to visit his old camp.

"And take Bo--and Tom? Oh, of all things I'd like to'" she replied.

"Yes--an' Roy, too," added Dale, significantly