“If I had foreseen, gentlemen,” said Jode, too deeply grieved now to feel anger, “that I would even be indirectly associated with your losing your money through this—this absurd occurrence, I would have declined to help you. It becomes my duty,” he continued, turning coldly to the inebriated Lusk, “to hand this to you, sir.” And the assistant lurchingly stuffed his stakes away.
“It's worth it,” said Lin. “He's welcome to my cash.”
“What's that you say, Lin McLean?” It was the biscuit-shooter, and she surged to the front.
“I'm broke. He's got it. That's all,” said Lin, briefly.
“Broke! You!” She glared at her athletic young lord, and she uttered a preliminary howl.
At that long-lost cry Lusk turned his silly face. “It's my darling Kate,” he said. “Why, Kate!”
The next thing that I knew Ogden and I were grappling with Lin McLean; for everything had happened at once. The bride had swooped upon her first wedded love and burst into tears on the man's neck, which Lin was trying to break in consequence. We do not always recognize our benefactors at sight. They all came to the ground, and we hauled the second husband off. The lady and Lusk remained in a heap, he foolish, tearful, and affectionate; she turned furiously at bay, his guardian angel, indifferent to the onlooking crowd, and hurling righteous defiance at Lin. “Don't yus dare lay yer finger on my husband, you sage-brush bigamist!” is what the marvelous female said.
“Bigamist?” repeated Lin, dazed at this charge. “I ain't,” he said to Ogden and me. “I never did. I've never married any of 'em before her.”
“Little good that'll do yus, Lin McLean! Me and him was man and wife before ever I come acrosst yus.”
“You and him?” murmured the puncher.