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.
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.
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