On the return trip, we got the ambulance off before sunrise, expecting to halt and breakfast again at the Arroyo Seco. Aaron Scales and Dan Happersett acted as couriers to Miss Jean’s conveyance, while the rest dallied behind, for there was quite a cavalcade of young folks going a distance our way. This gave Uncle Lance a splendid chance to quiz the girls in the party. I was riding with a Miss Wilson from Ramirena, who had come up to make a visit at a near-by ranch and incidentally attend the dance at Shepherd’s. I admit that I was a little too much absorbed over another girl to be very entertaining, but Uncle Lance helped out by joining us. “Nice morning overhead, Miss Wilson,” said he, on riding up. “Say, I’ve waited just as long as I’m going to for that invitation to your wedding which you promised me last summer. Now, I don’t know so much about the young men down about Ramirena, but when I was a youngster back on the Colorado, when a boy loved a girl he married her, whether it was Friday or Monday, rain or shine. I’m getting tired of being put off with promises. Why, actually, I haven’t been to a wedding in three years. What are we coming to?” [Illustration: WE GOT THE AMBULANCE OFF BEFORE SUNRISE] On reaching the road where Miss Wilson and her party separated from us, Uncle Lance returned to the charge: “Now, no matter how busy I am when I get your invitation, I don’t care if the irons are in the fire and the cattle in the corral, I’ll drown the fire and turn the cows out. And if Las Palomas has a horse that’ll carry me, I’ll merely touch the high places in coming. And when I get there I’m willing to do anything,—give the bride away, say grace, or carve the turkey. And what’s more, I never kissed a bride in my life that didn’t have good luck. Tell your pa you saw me. Good-by, dear.”