e and more frequent came the scrape of a foot
along the floor, or the brief cough of perturbation. One or two very
daring young men leaned over and made some remark in privacy, behind
the back of the hand, this followed by a nudge and a knowing look,
perhaps even by a snicker, the latter quickly suppressed. Little by
little these bursts of courage had their effect. Whispers became
spasmodic, indeed even frequent.

"Say, Curly," whispered Del Hickman hoarsely to his neighbour, "ef
somethin' don't turn loose right soon I'm due to die right here. I'm
thirstier'n if this here floor was the Staked Plains."

"Same here," said Curly in a muttered undertone. "But I reckon we're
here till the round-up's made. When she do set loose, you watch me
rope that littlest waiter girl. She taken my eye, fer shore."

"That's all right, friend," said Del, apparently relieved. "I didn't
know but you'd drew to the red-headed waiter girl. I sorter 'lowed I'd
drift over in thataway, when she starts up."

Sam, the driver, was sitting rapt, staring mutely across the great gulf
fixed between him and Nora, the head waiter. Nora, by reason of her
authority in position, was entitled to wear a costume of white, whereas
the waiters of lower rank were obliged by house rules to attire
themselves in dark skirts. To Sam's eyes, therefore, Nora, arrayed in
this distinguishing garb, appeared at once the more fair and the more
unapproachable. As she sat, the light glinting upon her glasses, her
chin well upheld, her whole attitude austere and commanding, Sam felt
his courage sink lower and lower, until he became abject and abased.
Fascinated none the less, he gazed, until Curly poked him sharply and
remarked:

"Which 'un you goin' to make a break fer, Sam?"

"I--I d-d-don't know," said Sam, startled and disturbed.

"Reckon you'd like to mingle some with Nory, hey?"

"W-w-w-well--" began Sam defensively.

"But she don't see it that way. Not in a hundred. Why, she'll be
dancin' with Cap Franklin, or Batty, er some folks that's more in her
line, you see. Why in h----l don't you pick out somebody more in yer own
bunch, like?" Curly was meaning to be only judicial, but he was cruel.
Sam collapsed and sat speechless. He had long felt that his ambition
was sheer presumption.

The hours grew older. At the head of the hall the musicians manifested
more signs of their inexorable purpose. A sad, protesting squeal came
from the accordion.