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 square hand extended. "Hello, Dave!" he hailed, heartily.

"You old burglar!" Dave cried in his delight. "Where have you been keeping yourself?"

"Baltimore, but I'm on my way to Rock Island."

"That means a wedding, I've heard."

"Have you, Dave?"

"You bet I have and I've heard about Serbia, too; you're going."

"Yes."

"When, Lan?"

"Next week."

"You are!"

They looked each other over and agreed: "You're about the same."

Then Lan said: "Dave, I've been doing a lot of thinking about old times."

"So have I," said Dave.

"I guess this sounds like a last minute idea, Dave; but it isn't. I'm going to Rock Island this afternoon; the wedding's to-morrow night and what I'm here for is to take you along with me, Dave."

"You want me?" cried Dave.

"You've got to stand up with me!"

"What do you mean?"

"Be my best man the way we've always planned. I'd have written you long ago but Myra had to see Alice first."

"Alice!" said David.

"Myra's having her, of course. Myra's just been here, at Alice's. She's taken Alice back with her;