they sat long over the meal; before they arose; from the table, indeed, much shuffling and low voices and laughter, together with tobacco smoke, announced the presence of some of the cowboys outside.
"The boys is up yere to hear that pinanner," said Mr. Hicks. "Jib's got it ready to slip out o' the box and we'll lift it into the other room—there's enough of us huskies to do it—and then you young folks can start something."
Jane Ann was delighted with the handsome upright instrument. She had picked it out herself in New York, and it had been shipped clear across the continet ahead of the private car that had brought the party to Bullhide. The jarring it had undergone had not improved its tone; but Helen sat down to it and played a pretty little medley that pleased the boys at the windows.
"Now, let Ruth sing," urged Jane Ann. "The boys like singing; give 'em something they can join in on the chorus like—that'll tickle 'em into fits!"
So Ruth sang such familiar songs as she could remember. And then Helen got her violin and Madge took her place at the piano, and they played for Ruth some of the more difficult pieces that the latter had learned at Briarwood—for Ruth Fielding possessed a very sweet and strong voice and had "made the Glee Club" during the
