Page:Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch.djvu/123

Rh "You want to try to make Sally Dickson jealous, don't you?"

"No. I only want to make her see that Ike is popular, even if she doesn't think him worth being kind to. And Ike is worth being kind to. He's a gentleman, and as kind-hearted a man as I ever saw."

"He's all of that," admitted the Western girl. "But he's so clumsy"

"Forget that!" exclaimed Ruth. "And make him forget his clumsiness. He's as good as gold and deserves better treatment at the hands of Sally than he has been getting. Of course, she won't be jealous of us young girls"

"Humph! 'Young girls, scoffed Jane Ann. "I don't think we're so awful young."

"Well, we're too young to be accused of trying to take Sally's beau away from her," cried Ruth, merrily. "Now, you'll make him dance with you—and first, too. He'll have to if you say so, for he's your uncle's foreman."

"I'll do it," agreed Jane Ann.

Ruth of course found Helen ready and willing to agree to her plan, and Madge did not need much urging. They all liked Ike Stedman, and although the brisk little school-mistress seemed to be a very nice girl, the foreman of Silver Ranch was quite worthy of her.

"If he dares to dance with me," chuckled