Truth to tell, Roy and Teddy were as insistent as was their sister that the girls stay. Having found that Nell and Ethel were no strangers to horses, Teddy and Roy took them for many miles over the mountainous land about the X Bar X, showing the real West. Ethel, or “Curly,” as Teddy called her because of her light, tousled, bobbed hair, was a tireless rider, and she and Teddy had many happy jaunts over the prairie. In Teddy’s language, she was “a regular fellow.” One afternoon, a few days following the incident of the wounding of Gus, found Nell, Ethel, Belle and the two boys listening to Nick play his mouth-organ in accompaniment with Sing Lung, who caused varied and sundry noises to come from his “fi’il.” It was a slow day. The chores of the ranch having been attended to, Mr. Manley was waiting for something definite to lead him before starting the hunt for Gilly Froud. He had, of course, reported the shooting of Gus to the sheriff of Easton, a fairly large town to the south of Eagles, and aid in capturing the horse thieves had been promised. Mr. Manley was doubtful as to the efficacy of this help, but he determined to give the law a chance before acting. Nick and Sing Lung were in the midst of “Oh, Susannah,” when Belle and Ethel suddenly exclaimed in the same breath: “Let’s have a dance!” “What’s that, a chorus?” Teddy asked, with a grin. “You two have been practicing, I can see that!” “No, we just thought of it!” Ethel declared. “Wasn’t that funny, Belle, both saying it together?” With a laugh, Belle agreed. “But I really mean it,” she added. “We could use the living room and push all the furniture to one side. Would you play for us, Nick?” “Sure would, ma’am!” Nick declared, with a grin. “An’ Jim Casey can shake an accordion a little--or a whole lot, accordin’ to him,” and he chuckled noiselessly. “And Sing Lung could play his fiddle!” Nell exclaimed. “That _would_ be great!” “Then it’s settled!” Belle cried. “A cowboy dance! Teddy, you can be master of ceremonies. Roy can be manager. We’ll have it tomorrow night!” CHAPTER XVI BUG EYE’S ARRIVAL As Nick Looker said, “The day that the dance was to be that night dawned bright an’ fair.” As manager of the entertainment, Roy had to see to it that the floor was prepared, the furniture moved, and everything made ready for the great occasion. Although Gus Tripp, because he had a slight fever, was forbidden by the doctor to take part in the festivities, he played the part of critical adviser to the rest of the punchers. From his bedside, he became a director of manly fashions, with the success of a Beau Brummel. Ethel overheard him speak to Jim Casey, who had approached him with a question concerning the wearing of a “diamond” stickpin in a green tie: