he Sky Pilot where the liquor was?"

"I was just tryin' to do the right thing," answered Sage-brush
defiantly.

"Embarrassin' us all like that. You ought to know that parsons don't
hit up the gasoline--in public," scolded Slim.

Sage muttered sulkily: "I never herded with parsons none."

Parenthesis diplomatically avoided any further controversy by calling:
"They're gettin' ready. Jim's got Jack in the back room tryin' to
cheer him up. Boys, is everything ready for the getaway?"

"Sage-brush, did you get that rice?" demanded Slim.

"That's so--I forgot. I couldn't get no rice though. Dawson didn't
have none."

Without telling what he did get, Sage-brush ran from the room to the
corral.

"I told you not to let him have anything to do with it," said Fresno,
glaring at his fellow workers. Each was silent, as the accusation was
general, and none had been taken into the confidence of Sage-brush and
Fresno when arrangements were being made for the feast. Fresno had to
blame some one, however. By this time Sage-brush had returned,
carrying a bag.

"What did you get?" asked Slim.

"Corn," replied Sage-brush laconically.

"Ain't he the darndest!" Show Low expressed the disgust which the
others showed.

"Why, darn it," shouted Slim, shaking his fist at the unfortunate
Sage-brush, "you can't let the bride and groom hop the home ranch
without chuckin' rice at 'em--it's bad medicine."

"Ain't he disgustin'!" interrupted Fresno.

"What does rice mean, anyhow?" asked the bewildered Sage-brush.

"It means something about wishin' 'em good luck, health, wealth, an'
prosperity, an' all that sort of thing--it's a sign an' symbol of joy,"
rattled off Slim.

"Well, now, ain't there more joy in corn than in rice?" triumphantly
asked Sage-brush.

Slim jerked open the top of the bag while Sage-brush stood by
helplessly. "Well, the darned idiot!" he muttered, as he peered into
it. "If he ain't gone and got it on the ear," he continued, as he
pulled a big ear out.

"All the better," chuckled Sage-brush. "We'll chuck 'em joy in
bunches."

"Don't you know that if you hit the bride with a club like this--you'll
put her plumb out?" cried Slim.

Sage-brush was not cast down, however. Always resourceful, he
suggested: "We'll shell some for the bride, but we'll hand Jack his in
bunches."

The idea appealing to the punchers, each grabbed an ear of corn. Some
brandished the ears like clubs; others aimed them lik