Thus harmlessly did the incident pass over. Lafe was famous at calling off a dance and soon Grace found herself wavering in her allegiance. It is true that Moffatt was extremely handsome, but Lafe had a way. He might be too stooped and indolent for grace of movement, but--Johnson's voice came to her over the heads of the whirling crowd, and she forgot to reply to a question from her partner. "First lady to the right, the right hand gent the right hand round. Partner by the left as you come round. Lady in the center, all hands round," he yelled, and there was a swirl of skirts and lifting of dust to stamping feet. "Head lady and opposite gent forward and back," he chanted again. Give right hand half way round; Back with left, left hand round. Promenade the corner as you come around. When the dance ended, it was the conventional thing for a gentleman to abandon the lady where they chanced to find themselves at the moment and go on about his business. Taking advantage of this custom, Lafe descended upon Miss Hawes and bore her off; nor did he once give her up until the stars paled in the sky. Then he asserted his right to take her home. On the way he fell silent. All his glibness of tongue deserted him abruptly, and Grace was mightily pleased over the symptom. "What's the matter, Mr. Lafe?" she asked. "Why don't you say a word?" "I'm studying over something," said Johnson. After a moment he inquired, without looking at her: "You done give me two Paul Joneses, didn't you?" "Sure I did. Why? Weren't they enough?" "Yes. And four waltzes and four two-steps. Ain't that the tally?" "You've got it right. But what's the matter, Mr. Lafe?" "And you done let me have the Home Sweet Home waltz, too?" "Look a-here, Mr. Lafe, what're you driving at?" Johnson pondered darkly for a full minute. "What'd you give that feller Steve?" he said finally. "You'd like to know, wouldn't you? Say, you've got your nerve." She tilted her chin upwards and flashed a look at him. "What did you let that feller have?" he said again. "I won't tell you: so there. Not near so much as you got, Lafe Johnson. Now, are you satisfied?" "Pretty near. Leastways, for a while." She gave Lafe her hand at parting, and he tried to draw her to him. It was a half-hearted impulse, wholly lacking his customary dash. Grace hesitated, flushed warmly; then, with a tremulous laugh, pushed him back. "You certainly don't lose no time, do you, Lafe Johnson?" "I don't aim to." His voice was shaky. All that passed at the ball was perceived by Buffalo, who became greatly exercised the next day over Lafe's extraordinary behavior. Instead of establishing himself at pitch in the Fashion's back room, Johnson mooned about town, or stared absently at the dust of the street whilst he leaned against a post and whittled a stick. It was not as though he had no money, for Jim had staked him. The cowboy took counsel of friends. Buffalo Jim was disposed to hold Miss Hawes lightly.