Page 33 - MailOrderBrideFlipBook

Jaimison proposed a toast. “To all men everywhere whoever loved a woman, only to have her dump them.” All the men raised their cups and shouted, “Here, here!” and drank their coffee, while Eli and Jim sloshed down a couple more sarsaparillas provided by other good- hearted souls. It wasn’t until Whitman showed up that any attention was turned elsewhere. Whitman wasn’t a person to usually come down to the pool hall, and, being mayor, his presence made for a small uproar. “What’ll you have?” Bob boomed out, as Whitman settled himself at the bar. “How about some ham and eggs and a glass of milk?” he answered back. “My wife kicked me out of the house and said she was too busy to make breakfast.” The men all laughed. “Getting that girl all dolled up for the preacher boy, huh?” Fred Jackson hollered, and all of the men guffawed again. “Now, don’t go drinking all of that milk at once,” Bob said, putting the plate of food in front of Whitman. “We don’t want the mayor passed out at my place.” As the men roared with laughter, Eli thought this might be a good time to slip out unnoticed. “Hey, Preacher,” Bob yelled after him, “I’ve got a good suit for when you’re ready to get hitched. It would also work for a funeral.” Eli fled quickly out the door, the laughter still ringing in his ears. Jim went to pay the tab. “So, Jim, are you going to talk the preacher boy into marrying this girl?” Bob asked. “If I can,” Jim answered, “because we don’t want him to leave. He might just be the best thing that ever 30