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,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 costuming.
Slowly his gaze circled the room and came round to her.His eyes were hard as diamonds and as flashing, so that the impact of their meeting looks seemed to shock her physically.He was a tall man, swarthy of hue, and he carried himself with a light ease that looked silken strong.Something in the bearing was familiar yet not quite familiar either.It seemed to suggest a resemblance to somebody she knew.And in the next thought she knew that the somebody was Ned Bannister.
The man spoke to Fraser, just then passing with a cup of coffee, and Helen saw the two men approach.The stranger was coming to be formally introduced.
"Shake hands with Mr.Holloway, Miss Messiter.He's from up in the hill country and he rode to our frolic.Y'u've got three guesses to figure out what he's made up as.""One will be quite enough, I think," she answered coldly.
Fraser departed on his destination with the coffee and the newcomer sat down on the bench beside her.
"One's enough, is it?" he drawled smilingly.
