When they reached the street-carred street, they found two tracks, but nothing occupying them, as far as they could peer either way. A small shopkeeper in a tiny shop proved to be a delicatessen merchant so busily selling foreign horrors to aliens, that they learned nothing from him. At length, in the far-away, they made out a headlight, and heard the grind and squeal of a car. Lieutenant Mallory waited for it, watch in hand. He boosted Marjorie's elbow aboard and bombarded the conductor with questions. But the conductor had no more heard of their street than they had of his. Their agitation did not disturb his stoic calm, but he invited them to come along to the next crossing, where they could find another car and more learned conductors; or, what promised better, perhaps a cab. He threw Marjorie into a panic by ordering her to jettison Snoozleums, but the lieutenant bought his soul for a small price, and overlooked the fact that he did not ring up their fares. The young couple squeezed into a seat and talked anxiously in sharp whispers. "Wouldn't it be terrible, Harry, if, just as we got to the minister's, we should find papa there ahead of us, waiting to forbid the bands, or whatever it is? Wouldn't it be just terrible?" "Yes, it would, honey, but it doesn't seem probable. There are thousands of ministers in Chicago. He could never find ours. Fact is. I doubt if we find him ourselves." Her clutch tightened till he would have winced, if he had not been a soldier. "What do you mean, Harry?" "Well, in the first place, honey, look what time it is. Hardly more than time enough to get the train, to say nothing of hunting for that preacher and standing up through a long rigmarole." "Why, Harry Mallory, are you getting ready to jilt me?" "Indeed I'm not--not for worlds, honey, but I've got to get that train, haven't I?" "Couldn't you wait over one train--just one tiny little train?" "My own, own honey love, you know it's impossible! You must remember that I've already waited over three trains while you tried to make up your mind." "And you must remember, darling, that it's no easy matter for a girl to decide to sneak away from home and be married secretly, and go all the way out to that hideous Manila with no trousseau and no wedding presents and no anything." "I know it isn't, and I waited patiently while you got up the courage. But now there are no more trains. I shudder to think of this train being late. We're not due in San Francisco till Thursday evening, and my transport sails at sunrise Friday morning. Oh, Lord, what if I should miss that transport! What if I should!" "What if we should miss the minister?" "It begins to look a great deal like it." "But, Harry, you wouldn't desert me now--abandon me to my fate?" "Well, it isn't exactly like abandonment, seeing that you could go home to your father and mother in a taxicab." She stared at him in horror.