CHAPTER XIV--BASHFUL IKE COMES OUT STRONG
Ruth first of all took Jane Ann into her confidence. The ranchman'sniece had been going about the room renewing her acquaintance with the"neighbors," some of whom lived forty miles from Silver Ranch. TheWestern girl was proud of the friends she had made "Down East," too, andshe was introducing them all, right and left. But Ruth pinched her armand signified that she wished to see her alone for a moment.
"Now, Nita," the girl from the Red Mill whispered, "we want to see thatMr. Stedman has a good time to-night. You know, he's been awfully goodto us all."
"Bashful Ike?" exclaimed Jane Ann.
"Yes. And we must give him so good a time that he will forget to bebashful."
"He's a right good feller--yes," admitted Jane Ann, somewhat puzzled."But what can we do for him?"
"Every one of us girls from the ranch must dance with him."
"Oh, crickey!" chuckled Jane Ann, suddenly. "You want to try to makeSally Dickson jealous, don't you?"
"No. I only want to make her see that Ike is popular, even if shedoesn'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 Sallythan he has been getting. Of course, she won't be jealous of us younggirls----"
"Humph! 'Young girls,'" scoffed Jane Ann. "I don't think we're so awfulyoung."
"Well, we're too young to be accused of trying to take Sally's beau awayfrom her," cried Ruth, merrily. "Now, you'll make him dance with you--andfirst, 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, andMadge did not need much urging. They all liked Ike Stedman, and althoughthe brisk little schoolmistress seemed to be a very nice girl, theforeman of Silver Ranch was quite worthy of her.
"If he dares to dance with me," chuckled Heavy, "I am willing to keep itup all the evening. That is, if you think such a course, Ruthie, willawaken Miss Dickson to poor Ike's good points."
"And how about those blisters you were complaining about the other day?"asked Madge, slyly.
"Pshaw! what girl ever remembered blisters when she could dance?"responded the stout girl, with scorn.
Ruth had all but The Fox in line when the violin struck up the firstnumber; she did not think it wise to speak to Mary about the plan, forshe feared that the latter would refuse to cooperate. The boys camestraggling in at the first notes of Helen's violin, and there were nomedals on Ike Stedman for bashfulness at first. Tom Cameron, spurred onby his sister, broke the ice and went at once to the school-teacher andasked for the dance. Bob followed suit by taking Mary Cox for a partner(Mary engineered _that_), and soon the sets began to form while Helenplayed her sprightliest.
The young men crowded in awkwardly and when Jane Ann saw the tall figureof Ike just outside the door she called to him:
"Come on in, Mr. Stedman. You know this is our dance. Hurry up!"
Now Ike usually didn't get up sufficient courage to appear upon thefloor until half the evening was over, and there was a deal of chucklingand nudging when the foreman, his face flaming, pushed into the room.But he could not escape "the boss' niece." Jane Ann deliberately led himinto the set of which Tom and Sally Dickson were the nucleus.
"My great aunt!" groaned Ike. "Just as like as not, honey, I'll trampleall over you an' mash yo' feet. It's like takin' life in your han's todance with me."
"Mebbe I better take my feet in my hands, according to your warning,Ike," quoth Jane Ann. "Aw, come on, I reckon I can dodge your feet, bigas they are."
Nor did Bashful Ike prove to be so poor a dancer, when he was once onthe floor. But he went through the figures of the dance with a face--soJane Ann said afterward--that flamed like a torchlight procession everytime he came opposite to Sally Dickson.
"I see you're here early, Mr. Stedman," said the red-hairedschoolmistress, as she was being swung by the giant cow puncher in oneof the figures. "Usually you're like Parson Brown's cow's tail--alwaysbehind!"
"They drug me in, Sally--they just drug me in," explained the sufferingIke.
"Well, do brace up and look a little less like you was at your ownfuneral!" snapped the schoolmistress.
This sharp speech would have completely quenched Ike's desire to dancehad Ruth not laid her plans so carefully. The moment the music ceasedand Ike made for the door, Heavy stopped him. She was between thebashful cow puncher and all escape--unless he went through the window!
"Oh, Mr. Stedman! I do so want to dance," cried the stout girl, with hervery broadest and friendliest smile. "Nobody asked me to this time, andI just know they're all afraid of me. Do I look as though I bite?"
"Bless you, no, Miss!" responded the polite foreman of Silver Ranch."You look just as harmless as though you'd never cut a tooth, as fur asthat goes!"
"Then you're not afraid to dance the next number with me? There! Helen'stuning up."
"If you re'lly want me to, Miss," exclaimed the much-flurried foreman."But I won't mislead ye. I ain't a good dancer."
"Then there will be a pair of us," was Heavy's cheerful reply. "If theother folk run off the floor, we'll be company for each other."
Carefully rehearsed by Ruth Fielding, Jennie Stone likewise picked thegroup of dancers of which Sally Dickson and a new partner were members;and once again Bashful Ike found himself close to the object of hisadoration.
"Hullo, Ike! you back again?" demanded Sally, cheerfully, as theyclasped hands in a "walk-around." "I believe you are getting to be aregular lady's man."
"Aw--now--Sally!"
"So that Ruth Fielding says," laughed Sally. "You're sure popular withthose youngsters."
Ike grinned feebly. But he was feeling better. He had actually forgottenhis feet--even in Sally's presence. Jennie Stone, although an all toosolid bit of humanity, was remarkably light upon her feet when it cameto dancing. Indeed, she was so good a dancer that she steered Ike overthe floor to such good purpose that he--as well as other people--began tobelieve that Bashful Ike was no more awkward than the next man off therange.
"Why, Ruthie!" whispered Madge Steele, who was the next "victim" inline. "Ike is a regular Beau Brummel beside some of these fellows. Lookat Heavy steering him around! And look at the teacher watching them.Humph! young lady I believe you're got a 'great head on you,' to quoteMaster Bobbie."
"Now, you be real nice to him, Madge," Ruth urged.
"Of course I shall, child," replied Miss Steele, with her most"grown-uppish" air. "He's nice anyway; and if we can 'wake teacher' upto his importance, I'll gladly do my part."
"If it only gives him a grain of confidence in himself, I shall besatisfied," declared Ruth. "That is what Ike lacks."
The foreman of Silver Ranch was coming out pretty strong, however. TheVirginia Reel was the favorite dance, and when Helen stopped playing theapplause was so great, that she responded with a repetition of the wholefigure; so Ike and Heavy continued on the floor for a much longerperiod, and the big cowpuncher gained more ease of manner. When theyceased dancing the stout girl led her escort right into the clutches ofMadge Steele.
Now, Madge was taller than the schoolmistress and in her city-made gownlooked years older. The boys were rather afraid of Madge when she "puton the real thing," as her brother inelegantly expressed it, for sheseemed then quite a young lady grown!
"I really believe you Western men are gallant, Mr. Stedman," sheannounced. "Chivalrous, and unafraid, and bold, and all that. I amdeeply disappointed."
"How's that, Miss?" exclaimed poor Ike.
"I haven't had an invitation to dance yet," pursued Madge. "If I hadscarletina, or the measles--or even the mumps--I do not think I should bemore avoided by the male portion of the assembly. What do you su
ppose isthe matter with me, Mr. Stedman?"
"Why, I--I----"
Ike was on the verge of declaring that he would find her a partner if hehad to use a gun to get one to come forward; but he was inspired foronce to do the right thing. He really bowed before Madge with somethingof a flourish, as the tinkle of the violin strings began again.
"If you think you can stand _me_, Miss Steele," declared the bigforeman, "I'd be near about tickled to death to lead you out myself."
"You are very good," said Madge, demurely. "But are you sure--I thinkthat pretty little teacher is looking this way. You are not neglectingany old friends for _me_ I hope, Mr. Stedman?"
Ike's face flamed again furiously. He stole a glance at Sally Dickson,who had just refused Jimsey for a partner--and with sharpness.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be a whole lot better off with you, Miss," headmitted. "Jest now, especially."
Madge's ringing laugh caught Sally's ear, as the Eastern girl bore theforeman of Silver Ranch off to join the next set of dancers. The teacherdid not dance that number at all.
Mrs. "Jule" Marvin, the young and buxom wife of the owner of the Two-TenRanch, caught Ike's hand and whispered loudly:
"I never suspected you was such a heart-breaker, Ike. Goodness me!you're dancing every dance, and with a new partner each time. I haven'tgot to be left out in the cold just because I'm married to Tom, I hope?He can't dance with that game leg, poor old man! You going to save adance for me, Ike?"
"Suah's your bawn, honey!" responded the foreman, who was beginning toenjoy his prominence and had known Mrs. Jule for years. "The next one'syours if you say the word."
"You're my meat, then, Ike," declared the jolly Western matron, as sheglided away with her present partner.
So there was a little rift in Ruth Fielding's scheme, for Ike dancednext with the ranchman's wife. But that pleased the girl from the RedMill and her fellow conspirators quite as well. Ike was no neglectedmale "wall-flower." Sally only skipped one dance; but she watched thebig foreman with growing wonder.
A rest was due Helen anyway; and Bob Steele was at hand with hisnever-failing harmonica. "The heart-rending strains," as Madge termedthe rather trying music from the mouth-organ, were sufficiently livelyfor most of the party, and the floor was filled with dancers when Helencaptured Ike and he led her into a set just forming.
"You must be the best dancer among the men, Mr. Ike," declared Ruth'schum, dimpling merrily. "You are in such demand."
"I b'lieve you gals have jest been ladlin' the syrup intuh me, MissCam'ron," Ike responded, but grinning with growing confidence. "It'sbeen mighty nice of you."
"You'd better give Sally a chance pretty soon," whispered Helen. "Thereis 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 sothat, when the dance was done, they stood right next to Sally Dicksonand her last partner.
"Well, ain't you the busy little bee, Ike," said the school-teacher, ina low voice. "Are you bespoke for the rest of the evening? Theseyoung-ones certainly have turned your head."
"Me, Sally?" responded her bashful friend. "They like tuh dance, Ireckon, like all other young things--an' the other boys seem kinderbackward with 'em; 'cause they're Bawston, I s'pose."
"Humph!" ejaculated Miss Sally; "you ain't such a gump as to believe allthat. That little Smartie, Ruth Fielding, planned all this, I bet acent!"
"Miss Ruth?" queried Ike, in surprise. "Why, I ain't danced with her atall."
"Nor you ain't a-goin' to!" snapped Sally. "You can dance with me for aspell now." And for the remainder of that hilarious evening Sallyscarcely allowed Bashful Ike out of her clutches.