countermand that order, then," Long said, "and we'll all go
to the hotel. We'll see the fust part of the show from the buggy, and
then repair to the big dining-room and have our banquet."

"I think she'd really like that," Henley declared, "but I'm going to
give you both the slip and take dinner with Judge Temple's folks. They
made me promise to come the next time I was in; besides, I want to give
you both full swing on this day of days."

"Right you are," Long rubbed his heavy hands together in delight, "and
you may have the worth of your meal in the finest cigars in my shebang.
Alf, you are my friend. Let's go down where she's at. To tell you the
God's holy truth, man to man, I don't feel half as good as I make out.
It wouldn't take the weight of a hair to make me show the white feather.
I have a sort of forewarning that I ain't agoing to walk straight into
this thing. If she'd 'a' driv' right up to the front, and got out and
gone back to the rear and set down and looked about like she was taking
stock of my belongings, I'd have knowed how to proceed, but this way of
having to walk a plank that she's propped up has made me sorter weak at
the knees. How do I look, anyway--honest, I don't want any flattery? If
you think I'd look better in my silk plug-hat and long Prince Albert I
can whisk 'em on in a jiffy."

"You are just right." Henley charitably viewed the individual from his
own point rather than that of the over-critical Dixie. "In hot sun like
this to-day your straw hat will look better, and that sack coat fits
like a kid glove."

"I sorter thought this would be the thing." Long bent down and for the
twentieth time dusted his shoes with his handkerchief. "Now get them
cigars." He led the way to a show-case near the front. "Help
yourself--them's the genuine Havana fillers in the corner. Take good
ones--by George, take the best."

"I won't take but one," Henley said, as he opened the case and reached
for a cigar. "I don't like to collect pay in advance; and while I don't
want to throw cold water on you, Long, I'm free to confess I don't know
exactly how she'll act. I always knowed women was curious, but they are
more curious about selecting a mate than everything else combined. When
I was talking this meeting up at such a rate, I thought I could count on
'er; but, la me! she's got me so mixed that I don't know whether I'm a
Methodist preacher or an escaped convict. But let's go down. I want to
see what _you'll