Page:Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch.djvu/74

64 errand, came whooping over the low hills to the North, evidently trying to attract their attention. Mr. Hicks growled:

"Now, what does that feller want? I got a list as long as my arm of things to tote back for the boys. Better have driv' a mule waggin, I reckon, to haul the truck home on."

But it was Ruth the foreman wished to speak to. He rode up, very red in the face, and stammering so that Bill Hicks demanded, with scorn:

"What's a-troubling you, Ike? You sputter like a leaky tea-kettle. Can't you out with what you've got to say to the leetle gal, an' let us ride on?"

"I—I was just a thinkin' that mebbe you—you could do a little errand for me, Miss," stammered Bashful Ike.

"Gladly, Mr. Stedman," returned Ruth, hiding her own amusement.

"It—it's sort of a tick-lish job," said the cowboy. "I—I want ye should buy a leetle present. It's—it's for a lady"

Bill snorted. "You goin' to invest your plunder in more dew-dabs for Sally Dickson, Ike? Yah! she wouldn't look at you cross-eyed."

Bashful Ike's face flamed up redder than ever—if that was possible.

"I don't want her to look at me cross-eyed," fie said. "She couldn't look cross-eyed. She's