Show auddy aldr GrEIZ TT MY ay carr CHAPTER XIV continued 18 fionte laid an affectionate band on poor alfreds shoulder it simply means that alfred s true blue she replied soberly he has the loyalty ot a dog it was antul ot me to do it though I 1 dont know what you 11 think ot me hall dut you haven t told him yet alfred go and do hurry please 1 well she asked me to go down to the city hall with her for to get a mar ariage license this afternoon it was and you know what I 1 thought well we went up to the desk and we got a application a printed paper it was all about what we was and how old like and we sat down to a table and miss fisher here she took a pen and ink hurry alfred aurryl cried flodde impatiently well she went to work and wrote besses yes ses and noes on the lines and then she signed her name miss fisher ald and she handed me the pen sud denly alfred turned his bead and busted himself tor a moment with his handkerchief he returned to his nar almost choking I 1 was just agoan to sign alfred J smallish that s my name and what I 1 always sign it when she says to me miss fisher did you write down this here name what I 1 tell you hall cutler benl stelle she says you asked me to ask you to do something bard for me for to prove your love for me she says and indeed I 1 did mr and so I 1 signed the paper and we had it swore to well give mi the paper alfred 1 do aurryl anxiously alfred drew from his pocket the document and handed it over to hall fiddie bent over it you see al fred bad to pretend he was you that s all he s the same color you know hall looked up at alfred and smiled well I 1 mean hes white explained anxiously yes he certainly Is rather white hall remarked and turned again to look at the document of course we did have to lie a little that Is alfred did about your father and mother you know I 1 dlan t know what their names were so we had to call them john and mary you don t mind do you not at all and you haven t any former wives have you living or dead not one I 1 hall was emphatic then its a perfectly good license and it fits you and there a your name and everything and mine too you dont mind do you hall dear flodde began to blush violently and was very confused you see I 1 kind of thought you were going to ask me I 1 sort of felt it coming and I 1 knew be too to get one yourself I 1 flodde fisher he ex claimed and threw up hla hands you certainly are a business ft oman I 1 dont see A hat chance have after were married but I 1 m perfectly wll ling to let you manage me flo I 1 certainly have botched things when ever I 1 ve tried to run them myself he turned to alfred who stood looking at bis shoes and you corn matted perjury alfred just for my sake alfred drew himself up proudly not at all mr it was for miss fisher I 1 done if then you did it for me by jove alfred let me shake your band A man can t be thanked for a service like that and be cant be rewarded but if there s anything I 1 can do for you you name theres only the one thing I 1 want now mr Bon latelle would you leave me be your best man at the ln there was once when I 1 hoped I 1 could be bridegroom myself mr but I 1 see now that was foolish but it would be a satisfaction to see the last of miss fisher it you dont mind hall laughing slapped him 03 the back sure alfred you can be the chief mourner alfred that Is it this license Is all right lets call in mr doremus hell tell us he started tor the door but flodde had already beckoned to the attorney who now came in with her well were going to have a cere mony after all said hall I 1 m going to take you at your word and let you me flodde interrupted bis reply what Is the shortest possible way you can do it and have it legal mr doremus she asked nudging him anxiously oh fix that said the lawyer it won t fake two minutes coln on came a harsh voice at the door jonas was looking in come in jonas come in and be among those present it s my merry marriage morn I 1 cried hall gayly flodde whispered to alfred run alfred bring everybody in quick alfred disappeared into the office and could be heard announcing the in citation jonas however had begun to bristle ba strode up to his cousin belligerent ly why it aln t no use to git mar arted now hall you know that I 1 dont foolish I 1 hurry mr Oo remus hurry flo ale was growing frantic she pointed to the clock it indicated twenty eight minutes past twelve hall however was in no haste oh I 1 know jonas but you see flodde and I 1 have decided to lose no more time you can give her away if you want to he sat down laughing at hla cou sin s consternation but its past tw elvel jonas insist ed pointing to the clock oh I 1 know that that proves its a love match doean doesn t it come here hall and stand up by me I 1 anyone would think you want to get married flodde called nervously by this time the company had be gun to enter and soon flooded the studio laughing wondering joking with hall go ahead 1 cried flodde were ready mr doremus quick 1 she stamped her toot angrily oh wait a minute hall inter posed we nant this thing arranged a little it won t do to rush it he turned to bis guests ladles and gentlemen he began when jonas broke in again see here I 1 object to he walked up to mr doremus angrily mr doremus however had already begun to thunder out hall do you take this woman flodde fish er to be your wedded wife just wait a minute cried jonas looking at bis watch we re off came in a chorus from the excited guests 1 I dot replied hall see here jonas you austn t interrupt the game you know sit down and be but I 1 got something to say about it flodde alsher do you take be quiet mr I 1 m running this its a scheme its a fraud jonas appealed wildly to the company this man to be your lawful wed ded husband oh you old scamp you youve sold me out jonas shook his fist at the 73 alfred drew from hla pocket the document bride and was pulled furiously back by alfred 1 I dot biodle screamed 1 I never mr I 1 only promised to prevent bla marrying the others I 1 I 1 never said put on the ring put on the ring the company screamed laughingly to hall he obeyed then I 1 pronounce you man and wife I 1 never said I 1 wouldn t get him my belf Flod lea words were smothered in halls kiss immediately she was surrounded by the gentlemen of the company who passed her from lip to up protesting laughing struggling to mr doremus pressed hall a hand I 1 congratulate you mr he cried enthusiastically thank you sir hall answered 1 I ve got a fortune in biodle 1 I think you navel atwol was mr doremus Dore mua reply mr would you mind telling me what time tt Is jonas turned white and started hur to leave without a word flo die alert caught him as he turned and snatched out his watch as deftly as a pickpocket she held it up to the company weve eleven fifty elnel she choutea the company took it up and shout ed too watches were brought out from a dozen pockets compared and the time corroborated its lie jonas protested why look at the clock its half past twelve he s too late I 1 tell you t the roon eyd elnel why eald hall amazed by abo sudden confusion 1 I set that clock my sell I 1 dul I 1 told you what time to set flodde fairly yelled now and I 1 told you halt an hour ahead on purpose mr held up bis hand sl lencel be thundered mr hassang bury he declared solemnly there are witnesses enough present to prove that mr Donl stelle was married before midnight aa you are aware 1 seldom take sides in any controversy but in this case my little friend here flodde completely won me over there a no possible doubt that mr will inherit hta uncles fortune hall burst out of hta trance with a whoop hurrah he screamed I 1 ve won tour millions 0 bollara do llara flodde stretched up on tiptoe and pulled down his dramatically extended hand no sir she announced I 1 won U myself 1 THE END |