he country, who'd offered him and Maggy a ride to town.
'We thought we might as well get hitched at the same time,' says
Pete, 'and I sure wanted to see you, Zeke.'

"'Yes,' says Maggy. 'It wouldn't seem right to get married without
you bein' there, Mr. Scraggs. To think of what you've done for
Pete! And that Charley High-ball there is just the blessedest
angel that ever was! Why, he got some stuff in the woods and put
it on Pete's back, and made him well in a minute, you might say.
And there warn't nothin' he wouldn't do for us. And I'm just the
happiest woman ever was,' says Maggy, wipin' her eyes on her apron
some more.

"'Well!' says I, brisk, tryin' to forgit that lost fifty. 'Why
don't you and Pete sign the pledge right here and now?--how's that,
friend?' I asks the minister.

"'Why, ah! says he. 'Ah! It doesn't seem quite the proper place--'

"'What's the matter with this place?' says Jim. He took a great
pride in his saloon. He had glass mirrors up that cost him a
hundred plunks apiece. 'If you think,' says he, 'that there's a
prettier little joint in town than this, why, don't let me keep
you.'

"That minister was cut out fer the business. He hedged his bet so
quick, I admired him.

"'That's just it,' he says loud and hearty. 'I look upon matrimony
as a solemn affair, and I was afraid our friends would be
distracted from the seriousness of the ceremony by the
surroundings.'

"'Don't say a word!' says Jim, wavin' his hand. 'You have put the
next round on me; but I guess Pete and Maggy has had seriousnesses
enough, just as she slides--heh?'

"'You're talkin' blue checks, Jim,' says Maggy, through her apron.
'I don't reckon I'll ever get too gay to hurt me, nor Pete, nuther.'

"'Very well,' says the minister--and we had the weddin'. Charlie
High-ball burnt punk that smelled strong but fine, and swung his
arms, Jim and the rest of the boys sayin' 'amen' every time there
come a stop, and all the proceedin's goin' on grand, till the
preacher got to the last of it, and then Pete broke in:

"'I copper that statement,' says he. 'I wouldn't run against you
for the world, old man, but here I got to. We ain't "man" and
wife, for I ain't never been a man since I growed up: Maggy, she's
the man and wife both. Say "husband and wife," to oblige.'

"The preacher looked at Pete mighty kind.

"'Husband and wife,' says he. Then Maggy busted out, 'He's the
best man that ever lived!' says she.

"