“Look, dear,” he cried, after greeting Joe briefly. His hand brought a small jewelry box from his pocket. He opened it and drew the reset diamond from it. He took Babe’s hand.

“Oh, Bearcat, honey!” Babe exclaimed with delight as he slipped the ring on the third finger of her left hand. She kissed him.

“Like it, Babe?” he asked, anxiously watching her face.

“It’s beautiful. Oh, you’re a darling.”

She kissed him again, and he held her for a long minute.

“Time!” called Joe, with a laugh.

They broke.

“Gee, I almost forgot. I got a swell car downstairs waitin’ to take us to Jersey. You better hurry, dear.”

Babe disappeared into the bathroom. The Bearcat changed his collar and tie, whistling all the while.

Joe watched him, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

“Bearcat,” he said, “you’re a lucky guy, to grab off a girl like Babe. I know guys ’at would lay down at her feet just for the chance of her walkin’ on ’em.”

“Am I happy? Am I happy? Boy, you can tell the world I am!” The Bearcat did a little jig.

“You oughter be,” Joe said. He was going to say something about Charlie, but changed his mind.

Babe was soon ready and the three piled into the waiting motor-car. The Bearcat tilted his hat at a jaunty angle and gave the chauffeur directions.

They didn’t talk much on that journey. In Jersey City, the Bearcat’s home town, they located a justice of the peace who was willing to make a few dollars. And before noon they were married.

A happy, big boy expression lighted the Bearcat’s face as Babe received the wedding ring on her finger. When the ceremony was over, the Bearcat gathered Babe in his arms.

“Under new management,” she said and kissed him.

The Bearcat was feeling great. He laughed heartily and took out a roll of bills from which he peeled a yellow-back and passed it to the justice.

“There you are, judge,” he said. “For the uppercut you just put over on us.”

“Thank you, and good luck,” said the justice, as he took the money and handed Babe the marriage certificate.

Babe smiled and thanked the justice as they left.

The judge said: “Good-by, folks. I wish you lots of happiness.”

Joe had to speak his piece.

“Good-by, judge, I might come over to see you myself some time. You can’t never tell.”

On the return the car sped with a wet, sticky sound through the Holland Tunnel. The policemen stationed at intervals in the tunnel grinned as they saw the two locked in each other’s arms on the back seat.

“What’s the program now?” Joe inquired, after they had come out on the New York side.

“Back to the hotel,” the Bearcat said.

“I mighter known that,” Joe said with a snicker. “I guess you won’t need me around from now on.”