XXII
THE WEDDING MARCH—TO THE PUMP TROUGH
"DAVE," says I, afterward, "you certainly fixed that up grand—after unfixing it grand. You deserve a horse-trainer's prize at the next county fair—and a spanking."
Dave laughs like he'd burst open.
"Wasn't I red war and rumors of war—that day? I wonder what was the matter with me? I was fighting on both sides, wasn't I?"
"You was, Davy," says I, "and in the middle. And you done it fine. But what did she say afterward?"
"Well, let me see," says Dave, laughing. "She said she was ruined and we were all ruined, but that, maybe, if her strength and courage held out, she'd be able to rescue us all, yet—by sacrificing herself—"
"What was the ruin?"
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