the Spanish waltz was the newest thing in her set, and
that she wanted to try it. She managed to get half a dozen young people
to attempt it with her while others sat around the wall.

Jean dearly loved to dance, and had no intention of being a wall flower,
so she and Harry Pryor slipped out on the big ranch veranda to talk. It
was a wonderful moonlight night, as clear and brilliant as the day, and
across the wide stretch of lowlands the moon shimmered and shone, as if
reflected on the still surface of the ocean.

Jacqueline Ralston saw Jean and Harry disappear; slowly she followed
them and stood for a moment drinking in the wonderful beauty of the
Western night, then crossed to Jean and Harry.

"Jean, Harry, wouldn't it be a glorious night for a ride?" she asked
breathlessly. "Do you think it would be wrong if we should go for a
little run across the prairies? We could easily find the trail, for it
is as bright as daytime."

Jean clapped her hands softly. "Bully!" Harry announced quietly. "It is
not ten o'clock yet and we can be back long before the dance breaks up.
I'll go saddle the ponies while you girls slip into your riding togs."

"Be sure to get Hotspur and Frisk, Jean's pony," Jack entreated. "Jim
sent over our own ponies from the ranch, and I simply hate to ride any
horse but dear little Hotspur."

Just as Jean and Jack slipped into the front hall to go to their room,
Frank Kent stepped out on the porch. He was looking pale and ill, for
the heat of the room and the effort of dancing had brought the old
weakness back on him that he had felt only a few times since his coming
to Wyoming.

Jack felt a sudden wave of sympathy and friendliness. She touched Frank
lightly on the arm: "My cousin and I and Harry Pryor are going to steal
away from the dance for a little horseback ride. Would you care to come
with us?" she asked.

Frank's face lost most of its pallor. He immediately insisted that the
one thing in the world he most wished to do was to take a moonlight ride
across the prairies.

Ten minutes later the two girls and two boys cantered away from the
Simpson ranch. They had no thought of staying out long, and had left
word with Mrs. Simpson's maid that they would be back in about an hour.
Aunt Sallie was too busy with her other guests to be interrupted, and it
never dawned on the girls that they should not have gone for a ride at
night, for they were just like a couple of careless boys.

CHAPTE