ind_ you once in a while!--
_Now_ your pardner, and go hog _wild!_"

The fiddle and two mouth harps were scarcely heard above the rhythmic
stamping of feet, the loud chant of the caller, who swung Mary Hope
clear of the floor whenever he put his arm around her.

"A--_second_ couple out, and a-cir-cle _four!_
_Lay_-dees do ce _do!_
_You_ swing me, an' I'll swing _you_--
And _we'll_ all dance in the same ole _shoe!_

"_Same_ four on to the _next!_--dance the ocean _wave!_
The _same_ ole boys, the _same_ ole trail,
_Watch_ that possum walk the _rail!_
_Cir_-cle six, and a-do ce _do!_
Swing, _every_ one swing, and a--promenade _home!_"

"_Who_ wants a piano? Couldn't hear it if yuh' had it!" he cried,
while the twelve couples paused breathless. Then he wiped his face
frankly and thoroughly with his handkerchief, caught Mary Hope's hand
in his, lifted his voice again in his contagious sing-song:

"_Cir_-cle eight, till you get straight!
_Swing_ them ladies, like swingin' on a _gate!_
_Left_ foot up, and-a-right foot _down_--
_Make_ that big foot jar the _ground!_
Prom-e-_nade!_
_Swing_ yore corner, if you ain't too _slow!_
_Now_ yore pardner, and around you _go!_
For the--_last_ time--and a-_long_ time--
_You_ know where, and a-I don't _care!_"

The dance was saved by the big cowpuncher with the peeling nose and
the twinkly gray eyes. Mary Hope had never seen him before that day,
but whenever she looked at him a lump came in her throat, a warm rush
of sheer gratitude thrilled her. She did not learn his name--two or
three men called him Burt, but he seemed to be a stranger in the
country. Burt saved her dance and kept things moving until the sky
was streaked with red and birds were twittering outside in the
cottonwoods.

She wanted to thank him, to tell him a little of her gratitude. But
when she went to look for him afterwards he was gone, and no one
seemed to know just where he belonged. Which was strange, when you
consider that in the Black Rim country every one knows everybody.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

PEDDLED RUMORS

In the smoking compartment of a Pullman car that rocked westward from
Pocatello two da