"You young scoundrel!"
But his fury changed to pity when he heard the history of Mallory's ill-fated efforts, and he promised not only to lend Mallory his minister at secondhand, but also to keep the whole affair a secret, for Mallory explained his intention of having his own ceremony in the baggage-car, or somewhere out of sight of the other passengers.
Mallory's face was now aglow as the cold embers of hope leaped into sudden blaze. He wrung Lathrop's hand, saying: "Lord love you, you've saved my life—wife—both."
Then he turned and ran to Marjorie with the good news. He had quite forgotten their epoch-making separation. And she was so glad to see him smiling at her again that she forgot it, too. He came tearing into the observation room and took her by the shoulders, whispering: "Oh, Marjorie, Marjorie, I've got him! I've got him!"
"No, I've got him," she said, swinging Snoozleums into view.
Mallory swung him back out of the way: "I don't mean a poodle, I mean a parson. I've got a parson."
"No! I can't believe it! Where is he?" She began to dance with delight, but she stopped when he explained:
"Well, I haven't got him yet, but I'm going to get one."
"What—again?" she groaned, weary of this old bunco game of hope.
"It's a real live one this time," Mallory insisted. "Mr. Lathrop has ordered a minister and he's going to lend him to me as soon as he's through with him, and we'll be married on this train."