Part 15 (1/2)

The truth is the five ladies had done an exceedingly reckless thing.

Barney McGee had invited them to come and see a real ranch, and they had accepted his invitation. At first Miss Campbell had declined. It was rather too much to expect him to entertain five guests. Besides, how could he when he was not owner of the ranch. He was part owner, he said.

But if they preferred they could stop at Steptoe Lodge just as they could at an inn-engage rooms, that is. His cousin, Brek Steptoe and his wife often had boarders-people who came for their health.

Nebraska was filled with Easterners who were trying to gain health in the West, and the good State not only often gave them health but wealth too-fine strong bodies and work that paid.

Therefore the motorists had taken down detailed directions from Barney McGee, but they had not arrived at Steptoe Lodge as soon as they had expected. An exploded tire had caused a long delay. No doubt Mrs.

Steptoe had given them up for the day now, for it was long after dark when they finally found themselves at the rancho.

A light streamed out from a door suddenly opened, and the voices in the court yard grew louder as the song progressed.

”There is musical Doh-Reh-Mi-Fah, There is the nightingale Doh-Reh-Mi-Fah.”

”Does Mr. McGee live here?” asked Billie timidly of a tall athletic looking young man who had opened the door. He was dressed in buckskin with high boots, a blue flannel s.h.i.+rt and a silk handkerchief knotted around his neck. The girls thought him quite the most picturesque person they had seen since they left home. Even in the darkness they could see the deep flush of embarra.s.sment mount to his face.

”There is a Mr. McGee who lives here-yes,” he answered, choking with bashfulness.

”Will you ask him to come out at once, please,” said Miss Campbell, with a growing uneasiness that there might be some mistake.

But her fears were immediately allayed, for Barney himself came running around the side of the rancho.

”Ladies, I hope you'll excuse me for not bein' on the spot as soon as you arrived. I waited for you some hours on the door step. Tell the fellers to shut up, Jim, and stop starin' there like a wooden injun.

Call Rosina. Tell her the ladies have arrived.”

The place suddenly became as still as the grave, and by the time the Motor Maids and Miss Helen had alighted and been conducted into a cemented courtyard around which the house was built, after the Spanish style, there was not a person to be seen except Jim, who followed obediently with some of the luggage.

Rosina Steptoe, who had married Barney's cousin, Brek Steptoe, now hurried into the room. She was a wiry little woman with a dark swarthy face, beady black eyes, black hair and a rather sweet expression which saved her from being really very ugly. The girls thought at first she might have some Spanish blood. Her manners were gracious and she shook hands with them cordially when Barney made the introductions.

”Will you come right in to supper?” she said, without asking them to go to their rooms. ”We want to get through early because Barney is giving a dance for you to-night, and the people will be coming before we finish if we don't hurry.”

”Dear, dear,” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Miss Campbell under her breath.

They had not counted on being entertained by the cowboy, and began to wonder what they had been drawn into.

Feeling very dusty and a little tired from their trip across the plains, they followed Mrs. Steptoe into one of the rooms opening on the court.

It was a very large apartment with little furniture in it except a long table and the inevitable oak sideboard which always gave Billie the horrors. They afterwards learned that it was the pride of Mrs. Steptoe's heart, and had been bought in the East at a great sacrifice.

Four men were waiting at the table: Barney McGee, Brek Steptoe, who was a handsome, middle aged man with a weather-beaten face; Tony Blackstone, whom the girls discovered presently was English. It was he who had done the singing they found; also he had good manners and was not at all bashful, but very quiet. Jim made the fourth man.

As they sat down at table, a Chinaman thrust his head in the door and then disappeared. Mrs. Steptoe herself waited on them and the food was really much better than they had expected.

Nancy was seated next to Jim, who, when she was not looking, devoured her with his eyes, and when she turned to him, dropped his lids and flushed crimson as if he had been caught in a felony.

”We didn't know there was to be a party,” she said to him innocently.

”You see we aren't traveling with much baggage. I'm afraid we can't dress up properly.”

”Clothes don't matter out here, Miss--” he began.

”Nancy,” she finished.