The girls looked at each other.  Mamie Willing leapt to the situation.  Upon a small marble-topped table reposed an immense family Bible.  Mamie lifted it and approached Pete.

“Swear on this that your terrible story is true.”

“I swear,” said Pete solemnly, and he kissed the Book.  Edna flung herself into Jimmie’s arms; Mamie, after replacing the Bible, knelt sobbing at Dan’s side.  Pete said helplessly to old man Greiffenhagen:  “Take me outer this!”

Mrs. Greiffenhagen said in the same hard monotone:  “Mr. Greiffenhagen, either these men leave this house or I do.”

The storekeeper led his wife aside and whispered to her.  She nodded none too graciously, and he hurried from the room.

“Wheer’s he goin’?” asked Pete.

“He’s goin’ up ter the ranch-house,” said Mrs. Greiffenhagen spitefully, “ter fetch the Professor.”

“Very right an’ proper,” yawned Pete.  “Would it be trespassin’ too much on yer kindness to ask for three glasses?  It’s time we downed some more medicine, an’ I don’t like to drink outer the bottle in this yere parlour.”

Mrs. Greiffenhagen folded her hands.  She had been heard to declare in public that if she were dying, and a thimbleful of whisky would restore her to health and Mr. Greiffenhagen, she would not swallow it.

The three men took more medicine.  Presently Mamie supported Dan to the sofa; Edna was sitting on the floor with Jimmie’s head on her lap.  Mrs. Greiffenhagen glared at Pete, who from time to time kissed his hand to her.  Not till she heard footsteps on the porch outside did the good lady rise from her chair.  She opened the door to admit her husband.  He reeled in.

“You too!” she said in a freezing voice.

Greiffenhagen explained.  The boys were really poisoned, and whisky must be poured down their throats till stronger remedies arrived.  The Professor, Ajax, and Uncle Jake were riding to San Lorenzo upon a wild-goose chase.  He added that the boss was driving down with more whisky.

Within a few minutes I arrived with the whisky; and Mrs. Greiffenhagen was constrained to unbend.  It was decided to put the men to bed, pending the arrival of the Professor.  Two vaqueros were galloping after him in the hope of overtaking him before he had gone too far.  Dan was undressed and placed in Miss Willing’s muslin-curtained bed; Jimmie who would not permit his clothes to be removed, was laid upon the couch of Edna Parkinson.  Pete was carried into the Greiffenhagen bedroom, and deposited, boots and all, upon a spotless white bedspread.

“Jiminy Christmas,” said Greiffenhagen, “ain’t it awful!”

At regular intervals the medicine was administered.  Finally, what the Professor had desired came to pass.  The three men lay senseless, breathing stertorously.  To achieve this result more than a gallon of the best whisky had been used!  Mamie and Edna began to exhibit symptoms of hysteria.