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Slim？ He'll ce'tainly admire to see y'u in that silk tablecloth y'u got round
your neck。〃
Slim's purple deepened again。 〃Y'u go to grass； Mac。 I don't aim to ask
y'u to be my valley yet awhile。〃
〃C'rect。 I was just wondering do all the Triangle Bar boys ride the
range so handsome？〃
〃Don't y'u worry about the Triangle Bar boys；〃 advised the
embarrassed Slim； gathering up his bridle reins。
With one more reluctant glance in the direction of the house he rode
away。 When he reached the corral he looked back again。 His gaze showed
him the boyish foreman doubled up with laughter； also the sweep of a
white skirt descending from the piazza。
〃Now； ain't that hoodooed luck？〃 the aggrieved rider of the Triangle
Bar outfit demanded of himself； 〃I made my getaway about three shakes
too soon； by gum！〃
Her foreman was in the throes of mirth when Helen Messiter reached
him。
〃Include me in the joke；〃 she suggested。
〃Oh； I was just thinkin'；〃 he explained inadequately。
〃Does it always take you that way？〃
〃About these boys that drop in so frequent on business these days。
Funny how fond they're getting of the Lazy D。 There was that stock
detective happened in yesterday to show how anxious he was about your
cows。 Then the two Willow Creek riders that wanted a job punching for
y'u； not to mention mention the Shoshone miner and the storekeeper from
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Gimlet Butte and Soapy Sothern and〃
〃Still I don't quite see the joke。〃
〃It ain't any joke with them。 Serious business； ma'am。〃
〃What happened to start you on this line？〃
〃The lad riding down the road on that piebald pinto。 He come twenty
miles out of his way； plumb dressed for a wedding； all to give me an invite
to a dance at Fraser's。 Y'u would call that real thoughtful of him； I expect。〃
She gayly sparkled。 〃A real ranch dancethe kind you have been
telling me about。 Are Ida and I invited？〃
〃Invited？ Slim hinted at a lynching if I came without y'u。〃
She laughed softly； merry eyes flashing swiftly at him。 〃How gallant
you Westerners are； even though you do turn it into burlesque。〃
His young laugh echoed hers。 〃Burlesque nothing。 My life wouldn't be
worth a thing if I went alone。 Honest； I wouldn't dare。〃
〃Since the ranch can't afford to lose its foreman Ida and I will go
along；〃 she promised。 〃That is； if it is considered proper here。〃
〃Proper。 Good gracious； ma'am！ Every lady for thirty miles round will
be there； from six months old to eighty odd years。 It wouldn't be PROPER
to stay at home。〃
The foreman drove her to Fraser's in a surrey with Ida Henderson and
one of the Lazy D punchers on the back seat。 The drive was over twenty…
five miles； but in that silent starry night every mile was a delight。 Part of
the way led through a beautiful canon； along the rocky mountain road of
which the young man guided the rig with unerring skill。 Beyond the gorge
the country debouched into a grassy park that fell away from their feet for
miles。 It was in this basin that the Fraser ranch lay。
The strains of the fiddle and the thumping of feet could be heard as
they drove up。 Already the rooms seemed to be pretty well filled； as Helen
noticed when they entered。 Three sets were on the floor for a quadrille and
the house shook with the energy of the dancers。 On benches against the
walls were seated the spectators； and on one of them stood Texas calling
the dance。
〃Alemane left。 Right hand t'yer pardner and grand right and left。 Ev…v…
rybody swing；〃 chanted the caller。
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A dozen rough young fellows were clustered near the front door；
apparently afraid to venture farther lest their escape be cut off。 Through
these McWilliams pushed a way for his charges； the cowboys falling back
respectfully at once when they discovered the presence of Miss Messiter。
In the bedroom where she left her wraps the mistress of the Lazy D
found a dozen or more infants and several of their mothers。 In the kitchen
were still other women and babies； some of the former very old and of the
latter very young。 A few of the babies were asleep； but most of them were
still very much alive to this scene of unwonted hilarity in their young
lives。
As soon as she emerged into the general publicity of the dancing room
her foreman pounced upon Helen and led her to a place in the head set that
was making up。 The floor was rough； the music jerky and uncertain； the
quadrilling an exhibition of joyous and awkward abandon； but its
picturesque lack of convention appealed to the girl from Michigan。 It
rather startled her to be swung so vigorously； but a glance about the room
showed that these humorous…eyed Westerners were merely living up to the
duty of the hour as they understood it。
At the close of the quadrille Helen found herself being introduced to
〃Mr。 Robins；〃 alias Slim； who drew one of his feet back in an embarrassed
bow。
〃I enjoy to meet y'u； ma'am；〃 he assured her； and supplemented this
with a request for the next dance； after which he fell into silence that was
painful in its intensity。
Nearly all the dances were squares； as few of those present understood
the intricacies of the waltz and two…step。 Hence it happened that the
proficient McWilliams secured three round dances with his mistress。
It was during the lunch of sandwiches； cake and coffee that Helen
perceived an addition to the company。 The affair had been advertised a
costume ball； but most of those present had construed this very liberally。
She herself； to be sure； had come as Mary Queen of Scots； Mac was
arrayed in the scarlet tunic and tight…fitting breeches of the Northwest
Mounted Police； and perhaps eight or ten others had made some attempt at
representing some one other than they were。 She now saw another；
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apparently a new arrival； standing in the doorway negligently。 A glance
told her that he was made up for a road agent and that his revolvers and
mask were a part of the necessary costu