"We're always glad to have stoppers come along," he replied. "Every now and then one drops in to see what we're like. Some have stayed and gone to work with us and turned out to be good hands." Bruce made no response and the other was not the sort to urge. So they sat a time in companionable silence until the younger man asked, "Had you come far to-day?" "Wolf Basin. I went over there yesterday and married old Tom Nelson's girl to a newcomer over there." Bayard looked at him keenly. He had wanted to bring up another question, but had been unable to decide upon a device for the manipulation of the conversation. This was a fortunate opening. "Did you hear the yarn they was tellin' 'bout old Newt Hagadorn, when they 'lected him justice of th' peace in Bumble Bee? At his first weddin' Newt got tangled up in his rope an' says, "'Who me 'nd God has j'ined together let no man put apart!'" Weyl threw back his head and laughed heartily. Bruce shook with mirth but watched his friend's face, and, when the clergyman had sobered again, he asked, "How about this who-God-hath-joined-together idea anyhow, Parson? Does it always work out?" "Not always, Bruce,"--with a shake of his head--"You should know that." "Well, when it don't, what've you parsons got to say about it? You've hogtied 'em in th' name of all that's holy; what if it don't turn out right? They're married in th' name of God, ain't they?" Weyl drained the last of his pop and tossed the bottle away. "I used to think they were ... they all were, Bruce. That was when I was as young in years, as I try to be young in heart now. But the more couples I marry, the stronger is my conviction that God isn't a party to all those transactions, not by a long sight! "If my bishop were to hear me say that, he'd have me up for a lecture, because he is bothered with a lot of traditions and precedent, but many men are calling on Him to bless the unions of young men and women when He only refuses to answer. Men don't know; somehow they can't see that God turns his face from marriage at times; they keep on thinking that all that is necessary is to have some ordained minister warn society to keep hands off, that it is the Father's business ... when it is not, when love, when God, isn't there." "How are young goin' to tell when He's missin' from those present?" Weyl shrugged his shoulders. "The individuals, the parties concerned, are the only ones who know that." "When they do know, when they don't give up even then? What are you goin' to do 'bout that?" The other man shook his head sadly. "There are many things that you and I--that society--must do, Bruce, my son. It's up to us to change our attitude, to change our way of looking at human relations, to pull off the bandages that are blinding our eyes and see the true God. Other things besides marriage demand that unerring sight, too....'