mile was a delight. Part of the way led through a beautiful
canon, along the rocky mountain road of which the young man
guided the rig with unerring skill. Beyond the gorge the country
debouched into a grassy park that fell away from their feet for
miles. It was in this basin that the Fraser ranch lay.

The strains of the fiddle and the thumping of feet could be heard
as they drove up. Already the rooms seemed to be pretty well
filled, as Helen noticed when they entered. Three sets were on
the floor for a quadrille and the house shook with the energy of
the dancers. On benches against the walls were seated the
spectators, and on one of them stood Texas calling the dance.

"Alemane left. Right hand t'yer pardner and grand right and left.
Ev-v-rybody swing," chanted the caller.

A dozen rough young fellows were clustered near the front door,
apparently afraid to venture farther lest their escape be cut
off. Through these McWilliams pushed a way for his charges, the
cowboys falling back respectfully at once when they discovered
the presence of Miss Messiter.

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