The log cabin Democrat., 1909-10-15

They were light eyes looking out from under level eyebrows, and Cyrus frankly shuddered at the sight of them. The mans face was clean shaven, showing high cheek-bones and firm handsome mouth. He stood in an indolent attitude, with his hands in his pockets; but all the reckless pas sion of the desperado was concen- trated in the fiery glance of those menacing eys.
 Meet your partner with double sashay" cried the curly-haired boy. The fiddles squeaked with untiring zeal, and Cyrus looked again at his brother, who was flirting outrageously. Cyrus walked back to the bench and resumed his seat beside me. His face was pale and troubled. Frank" he said at last, do you know anything about this person they call Bat Daly?"
 smiled at the seriousness of the tone in which the question was put. q know him slightly, Cy," l re- sponded, "and it wouldn't surprise me if had to know him better in an of ficial capacity one of these fine days. He's a trouble maker, is MT. Bat Daly, and rather celebrated for his willing. ness to start shooting racket on very small provocation. But if you are worrying about Jack paying atten tion to his girl. my advice to you is to forget it. Jack is quite well able to look after himself and anything you can say or do wouldn't be likely to help matters any. Remember this isn't the east and you're not exactly on to the ropes yet. It's different with Jack. He's not tenderfoot and has bucked against just as tough ma teral as Bat Daly in his time"
 Cyrus shook his head despondingly but made no further comment. The caller-out was shouting, Promenade all-you know where" The sets were broken up, and Jack with his best manner was leading his partner to seat. The face had vanished from the window. Bat Daily was striding across the room, and now planted him self in iron. of the offending pair.
 You've got to come with me, Nelly" he growled.
 Pray, don't mention it," cried Jack, relinquishing the girl to Daily with a mocking reverence.
 Struggling her shoulders and pout- ing, Nelly moved away with her cap tor; not however, without parting glance over her shoulder at Jack. The latter walked over to where Cyrus and I were sitting.
 q say, Jack" Cyrus begged. don't dance with that girl again"
 And why not?"
 You wouldn't ask if you had seen that ruffian's face at the window watching you"
 Didn't I see it, thought" laughed Jack, and Cyrus glanced despairingly at me knowing that he had blundered, just as l had warned him. A new caller-out had taken the floor. and was shouting, Seventeen to twenty-four, get on the floor and daIce."
 The pauses are shor: at ranch dance, for each man. having a right in only one dance out of three or four, l in this particular occasion might have been glad of a rest, for there were ony ten of them to satisfy the de- mands of all the men, and steady dancing from eight o'clock to three is no light task. Nevertheless. each one rose with sufficient alacrity in re sponse to the polite inquiry, "Will l,; I ;,N a few minutes the same many colored gowns and much befrizzed heads which had diversified the last sets were lending luster to the present dance. Neither Bat Daily nor Jack Burrell was included this time among those admonished to get on the floor and dance," and Cyrus, thankful for the respite, stepped outside where a group of men were lounging and smok- ink. He strolled over to the group of bronchos, in saddle or harness, standing htched to the fence, and pushed in among them, batting their heads, or fighting the blankets of the few that were fortunate enough to have such luxuries. He felt as though he should like to enter into confiden- tial relations with them. They seemed, somehow, more of his own kind than the rough, jostling, pugnacious beings passing themselves off as men and brothers within there. He poked about from one to the other of the sturdy, plush-coated little beasts, till he came to a great white horse harnessed to a sulky, and looking like a giant in contrast with the scrubby broncos. The suitability which is suppose to wait upon generous proportions proved to be a characteristic of this equine Goliath, for at Cyrus approach he cooked his ears and turned his head with marked friendiiness. Cyrus looked across the creatures rough neck to the firm, strong outlines of the range showing clearly in the moon light He was unable to throw off the weight that oppressed him. There was no shirking the truth. He was deadly afraid of Bat Daily; the sight of that lowering face at the window