Even then, it took some talking to convince Rock that the affair was truly serious and not to be treated any longer as a joke.
"Why, damn it, man, I'm in love with a girl and I want to marry her if I can get rid of this other darned, mysterious, Tom-fool of a woman," Ford gritted at last, in sheer desperation.

"Or if it's just a josh, by this and by that I mean to find it out." Rock sobered then.

"It ain't any josh," he said, with convincing earnestness.

"You got married, all right enough.

And if it's as you say, Ford, I sure am sorry for it.