Just then, Monkey Mike come runnin' in with the parson, and the parson put out a hand t' make me be still. "My _dear_ friend," he says, "I'm _sorry_ this happened." And he was so darned worried lookin'

that I begun t' think somethin' sh.o.r.e _was_ wrong with me, and I laid quiet.

Next, the door opened and in come Mace!

The room was so dark she couldn't see much at first. So, she stepped closter, walkin' soft, like she didn't want to jar n.o.body. "Alec!"

she says tearful.

"Macie!"

She stooped over me.

The boys turned they backs.

Aw, my dear little gal! Her lips was cold, and tremblin'.

Wal, then she turned to the bunch, speakin' awful anxious. "Is he hurt bad?" she ast, low like.

"Naw," I begun, "I----"

Monkey Mike edged 'twixt me and her, puttin' one hand over my mouth so 's I couldn't talk. "We don't know exac'ly," he answers.

"Boys!" she says, like she was astin' 'em to fergive her; and, "Alec!"

Buckshot said afterwards that it _sh.o.r.e_ was a solemn death-bed scene.

The parson was back agin the wall, his chin on his bosom; I was chawin'

the fingers offen Mike, and the rest of the fellers was standin'

t'gether, laughin' into they hats fit t' sprain they faces.

Billy come in then. "Doc," says Macie, "save him!"

"I'll do all I can," promises Billy. "Let's hope he'll pull through."

"Aw, Alec!" says Mace, again.

Hairoil went up to her. "Mace," he says, "they's one thing you can do that'd be a _mighty_ big comfort t' pore Cupid."

"What's that?" she ast, earnest as the devil. "I'll do _any_thin'

fer him."

"Marry him, Mace," he says, "and try to nuss him back t' health again."

I was plumb amazed. "_Marry!_" I says.

But 'fore I could git any more out, Mike shut off my wind!

Dear little gal! She wasn't skittish no more: She was so tame she'd 'a' et right outen my hand. "Parson," she says, goin' towards him, "will--will you marry Alec and me--now?"

"Dee-lighted," says the parson, "--if he is able t' go through the ceremony."

"Parson," I begun, pullin' my face loose, "I want----"

Mike give me a dig.

I looked at him.

He wunk--_hard_.

And then, I tumbled!

Fer a minute, I just laid back, faint sh.o.r.e enough, thinkin' what a all-fired sucker I was. And whilst I was stretched out that-a-way, Mace come clost and give me her hand. The parson, he took out a little black book.

"_Dearly beloved,_" he begun, "_we are gathered t'gether----_"

It was then I sit up. "Parson, stop!" I says. And to Mace, "Little gal, I ain't a-goin' t' let 'em take no advantage of you. I _wasn't_ hit in the side. It's my arm, and it's only just creased a little."

Mace kinda blinked, not knowin' whether t' be glad 'r not, I reckon.

"And this hull bsuiness," I goes on, "is a trick."

Her haid went up, and her cheeks got plumb white. Then, she begun t'

back--slow. "A trick!" she repeats; "--it's a trick! Aw, how mean!

how _mean!_ I didn't think you was like that!"

"Me, Mace? It wasn't----"

"A trick!" she goes on. "But I'm glad I found it out--_yas_. This afternoon when I was talkin' to y', I wanted t' stay right here in Briggs--I wanted t' stay with you. If you'd just said you wisht I would; if you'd just turned over you' hand, why, I'd 'a' give up the trip. My heart was achin' t' think I was goin'. But now, _now--_" And she choked up.

"Macie!" I says. "Aw, don't!" Somehow I was beginnin' t' feel kinda dizzy and sick.

She faced the parson. "And you was in it, too!--_you!_" she says.

"I'd do anythin' t' keep you from goin' t' Noo York," he answers, "and from bein' a' actress."

She looked at Billy next. "The hull _town_ was in it!" she went on.

"_Ev'ry_body was ready t' git me fooled; t' make me the josh of the county!"

"No, _no,_ little gal," I answers, and got to my feet byside the bed.

"Not me, honey!"

She only just turned and opened the door. "I don't wonder the rest of you ain't got nothin' t' say," she says. "Why, I ain't never _heerd_ of anythin' so--so low." And haid down, and sobbin', she went out.

I tried t' foller, but my laigs was sorta wobbley. I got just a step 'r two, and put a' arm on Billy's shoulder.

The boys went out then, too, not sayin' a word, but lookin' some sneaky.

"Bring her back," I called after 'em. "Aw, I've hurt my pore little gal!" I started t' walk again, leanin' on the doc. "Boys!----"

Next thing, over I flopped into Billy's arms.