"Sage-brush, did you get that rice?" demanded Slim. "That's so--I forgot. I couldn't get no rice though. Dawson didn't have none." Without telling what he did get, Sage-brush ran from the room to the corral. "I told you not to let him have anything to do with it," said Fresno, glaring at his fellow workers. Each was silent, as the accusation was general, and none had been taken into the confidence of Sage-brush and Fresno when arrangements were being made for the feast. Fresno had to blame some one, however. By this time Sage-brush had returned, carrying a bag. "What did you get?" asked Slim. "Corn," replied Sage-brush laconically. "Ain't he the darndest!" Show Low expressed the disgust which the others showed. "Why, darn it," shouted Slim, shaking his fist at the unfortunate Sage-brush, "you can't let the bride and groom hop the home ranch without chuckin' rice at 'em--it's bad medicine." "Ain't he disgustin'!" interrupted Fresno. "What does rice mean, anyhow?" asked the bewildered Sage-brush. "It means something about wishin' 'em good luck, health, wealth, an' prosperity, an' all that sort of thing--it's a sign an' symbol of joy," rattled off Slim. "Well, now, ain't there more joy in corn than in rice?" triumphantly asked Sage-brush. Slim jerked open the top of the bag while Sage-brush stood by helplessly. "Well, the darned idiot!" he muttered, as he peered into it. "If he ain't gone and got it on the ear," he continued, as he pulled a big ear out. "All the better," chuckled Sage-brush. "We'll chuck 'em joy in bunches." "Don't you know that if you hit the bride with a club like this--you'll put her plumb out?" cried Slim. Sage-brush was not cast down, however. Always resourceful, he suggested: "We'll shell some for the bride, but we'll hand Jack his in bunches." The idea appealing to the punchers, each grabbed an ear of corn. Some brandished the ears like clubs; others aimed them like revolvers. "I'll keep this one," said Slim, picking out an unusually large ear. "It's a .44. I'll get one of the Greasers to shell some for the bride." The bride was arrayed in her wedding-gown. Mrs. Allen was ready for a fresh burst of weeping. The girls had assembled in the large room in which the ceremony was to be performed. Polly acted as her herald for the cowboys. Appearing in the doorway, she commanded: "Say, you folks come on and get seated." Slim stood beside Polly as the boys marched past him. His general admonition was: "The first one you shorthorns that makes a break, I'm goin' to bend a gun over your head." The guests grinned cheerfully as they marched past the couple. "There's a heap of wickedness in that bunch," remarked Slim piously to the girl. Tossing a flower to him as she darted away, she cried: "You ain't none too good yourself, Slim."