The log cabin Democrat., 1909-10-15

lLuIt., Ihe tune, 1T tune IL might be called, went over and over again, with the monotonous persistency of a sawmill, dominating the tread of the dancers, but not subduing the fancy of the caller-out.
 The caller-out for the moment was a curly-headed lad of 20, with a shrewd, good-humored face. He stood in a slouching attitude, one shoulder much higher than the other, and as he gave forth, in sing gsong voice, his emphatic rhymed directions, his fin gers played idly with the red-silk lac ings of his brown flannel shirt. To an imaginative looker-on those idly toy ing fingers had an indefinable air of being very much at home with the trigger of the six-shooter at the lads belt So, at least, it struck young Cyrus Burrell.
 Cyrus Burrell. joint host with his brother on this occasion, sat on a bench beside me, contemplating with wonder the energy of these over worked women. It was an April even Ing and the windows were open to the south. cool night breeze came In, grateful alike to dancers and look ers-on Cyrus sat watching his twin brother Jack, who was taking his turn at the dance. Cyrus usually watched Jack when he had the chance; for If the brothers were be- wilderingly alike in appearance, they were animated by different spirits.
 From Cyrus comments on the as sembled guests I judged rightly that he found a strange fascination in this first ranch dance of his. He liked the heartiness of the whole perform ance, he enjoyed the sharp-cut indi- viduality of the people, their eccen- tricit'es of costume and department; but he was of too sensitive a fiber not to feel the dramatic possibilities of the occasion. '"Tenderfoot," as he was the fact could not escape him that a man in a flannel shirt, with a pistol at his belt-and most of the men were .hus equipped-was more than likely to have a touch of lawlessress about him.
 There Was a pause between the two figures of the dance Jack had taken his partners fan, which he was gently waving to and fro before her face. She stood panting with affected eXhaus- tion, glancing at her new young man" from under studiously fluttering eye lids. Over in another corner, under a window, was red-faced cowboy, slumbering tranquilly his head sunk on his breast, genial forelock waving lightly in the breeze. The fiddles re- sumed their function Swing your pards," cried the curly-headed boy; and once more all was commotion.
 The room seemed hot and crowded Cyrus arose and strolled aimlessly around the clear space of the floor As he came to halt opposite win dow I noticed him start and look forward intently, and following the di- rection of his glance l saw that a sinister, malignant face in the square of light cast outside by the lamps had attracted his attention. It was the face of the man who the Burrell boys had seen tonight for the first time. He had paid his 75 cents, and had received his numbered ticket like the others, by which simple ceremony all the requirements of ranch eti- quette were fulfilled. Bat Daly, they called him. and the Burrell brothers, attracted by his brilliant smile and hearty handshake, had voted him a very pleasant sort of fellow. At this particular moment, however, he did not justify the verdict in point of ap. pearance It was Bat Daly who had brought the girl that Jack Burrell was dancing with, and Cyrus could not re-