It is almost unnecessary to explain that the story which Ben had told was purely a fiction. It was his quickness of thought, combined with his nerve, which had saved his life. It might have interested the would-be robbers to have known that their intended victim carried with him that night over three thousand dollars in cash. To offset this somewhat unpleasant adventure, I will recount one of a very opposite nature. It so happened that Ben had procured a suit of black broadcloth, which, together with a white cravat and silk hat, gave him very much the appearance of a minister. One day he chanced to be standing in the street, arrayed in this ministerial garb, when a young man, a stranger in Babylon, came up to him and said: "Could you tell me, sir, where I could find a German minister?" Ben eyed the fellow for a minute, and seeing the chance for a good joke, answered gravely: "I have the honor to be a clergyman, and I am also a German. What can I do for you?" "A friend of mine wants to get married to-night. He lives only a few miles from here, and he wanted me to come up and get a minister." "I shall be most happy to officiate," rejoined Ben. "How am I to reach the house?" "Well, we can come in for you, or you can drive out yourself. I'll give you the directions." He did so accordingly. Hogan promising that he would be there on time. The prospect of so rich a joke as this promised to be, tempted Ben to harness up his horse at the appointed hour, and drive to the designated house. There he found as jolly a company as had ever assembled at a wedding. He was introduced to them all as the Rev. Mr. Girdler, and created a most favorable impression, especially among the young women. When the hour fixed for the ceremony at last arrived, the bride and groom stood up, side by side, while the Rev. Mr. Girdler, alias Hogan, proceeded to join them together in the holy bonds of matrimony. He went through the ceremony as straight as a string, and if he didn't get it exactly as it is laid down in the books, none of the guests were any the wiser. It may be said, with perfect safety, that no regularly ordained clergyman ever kissed a bride more scientifically than did Ben. The happy groom slipped a ten-dollar bill into Hogan's hand, and then the company went in for a jolly good time. Wine flowed in abundance, and it must be confessed that the _pro tempore_ minister drank as freely as any of the guests, and none of them would have been apt to train under the Murphy banner. There was an exceedingly jolly company that quite captivated the clergyman. I don't know exactly how it came about, but Ben did not get back to Babylon until the next morning. He found the marriage company so agreeable that it was really impossible to break away sooner. Ben's experience had been altogether pleasant. He had made a ten-dollar note, met with a right jolly crowd, drank all the wine he cared for, and enjoyed himself to the utmost.