"Now you stop teasing me, sir--make him stop George!" she urged, her face wreathed in smiles. "Just give me a name for our home--and be quick about it." "Parkins' Waterloo," replied Updyke, his eyes filled with the Old Nick. "Now George, you come forward and make this man behave," she demanded--"or shall I pull his hair?" Then remembering something she had forgotten Winifred exclaimed-- "Tell me about Mary--who is she?" "My right hand man," replied Updyke soberly. "A man named Mary?--Oh!" "Well she is more than a man--she's a woman with a level head, who runs my business and knows more about it than I do," replied Updyke without further indication of his attitude toward her. "Then you'd better marry her at once or some one will come along and steal her, too!" warned the bride. "If they do they'll have to take a chance they might regret. Mary is an officer of the law and amply able to protect herself," said the big fellow, knowingly. "George Carver--look at this man! I declare, with all my feminine intuitions, that he is in love!" Laughter, always a tonic, brought the red to Updyke's face when he saw that he had stumbled into the wrong kind of joking. "He doesn't deny it, George. See that heightened color in his cheeks?" teased Winifred, her eyes sparkling. "Well--I own up--just between the three of us, and to go no further," Updyke replied. "I haven't asked her yet." "Then how do you know she will have you?" demanded Winifred, biting her lower lip in order to look solemn. "The Updyke System will reach out and gather her in one of these days, when I get my courage to the boiling point," replied the big fellow, chuckling. "Then you must start practicing at once," commanded Mrs. Carver, with the air of a matron of long time experience. "I want to go along when she shops for her trousseau. I've yet to see your little old New York," said she, dreamily, as memories came back to her mind. "Come--jump in and I'll drive you over to 'The White House,'" ordered Updyke, noting her thoughtful attitude. "It's getting late for young married couples to be caught on the streets. There is a curfew law in Riverhead for brides and grooms. Seven thirty, and then the law swoops down!" And when the happy pair were landed in front of the white painted hotel the big fellow whispered hoarsely-- "I'm going to bring Mary out to see you when you get settled. We'll come some Saturday, and you act as chaperon for a night. Next day we will run over to New York for a whole week while you help do her shopping. That's a go--eh--George?" "Indeed it is," laughed Winifred, assuming command of the new ship of state. "But wouldn't it be wise to wait and see if she will have you?" "By George, you're right; I hadn't thought of that. I'll ring her up the moment I get to my hotel," replied Updyke. "Why not use long distance?" suggested Winifred. "Then George can stand near and coach you. I assure you he is good at it."