Page:Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch.djvu/131

Rh the floor was filled with dancers when Helen captured Ike and he led her into a set just forming.

"You must be the best dancer among the men, Mr. Ike," declared Ruth's chum, dimpling merrily. "You are in such demand."

"I b'lieve you gals have jest been ladlin' the syrup intuh me, Miss Cam'ron," Ike responded, but grinning with growing confidence. "It's been mighty nice of you."

"You'd better give Sally a chance pretty soon," whispered Helen. "There is surely fire in her eye."

"Great Peter!" groaned Ike. "I'm almost afraid to meet up with her now."

"Pluck up your spirit, sir!" commanded Helen. And she maneuvered so that, when the dance was done, they stood right next to Sally Dickson and her last partner.

"Well, ain't you the busy little bee, Ike," said the school-teacher, in a low voice. "Are you bespoke for the rest of the evening? These young-ones certainly have turned your head."

"Me, Sally?" responded her bashful friend. "They like tuh dance, I reckon, like all other young things—an' the other boys seem kinder backward with 'em; 'cause they're Bawston, I s'pose."

"Humph!" ejaculated Miss Sally; "you ain't such a gump as to believe all that. That little