"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 _shore_ 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 shore 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!"