Minnehaha, here's to you--to the two of you--an' to the papooses, too, gosh-dang them!" He drained the glass suddenly and collapsed in his chair, blinking his eyes across at the wedded couple while tears trickled unheeded down his cheeks.

Mary's hand went out soothingly to his, completing his break-down.
"By God, I got a right to cry," he sobbed.

"I'm losin' my best friend, ain't I?
It'll never be the same again never.

When I think of the fun, an' scrapes, an' good times Bill an' me has had together, I could darn near hate you, Saxon, sittin' there with your hand in his." "Cheer up, Bert," she laughed gently.

"Look at whose hand you are holding." "Aw, it's only one of his cryin' jags," Mary said, with a harshness that her free hand belied as it caressed his hair with soothing strokes.
"Buck up, Bert.