“So perfectionately lofely a younk lady nefer did I saw,” exclaimed Carl, clasping his hands and holding them before him, while he rolled his eyes toward the ceiling.

“She’s all thet,” said Bud.  “But come down ter airth.  Stella ain’t up among ther rafters.”

Ted had said nothing, and Stella looked at him.  He was regarding her attentively.

Her look said:  “What do you think?”

He answered it with a look of admiration that satisfied her that he thought her perfect.

“I think I like you best in the everyday clothes,” he said quietly.  “But that gown is as if you were made for it and it was made for you.”

The thought had come into Ted’s mind that some day, in the far future, they would lose their girl pard, and society or duties elsewhere would claim her.

Stella understood him and agreed with him.

Soon they were ready to start for the ball.  The carriage was got out and
Carl volunteered to drive the horses, while the other boys rode.

Just as they were about to start Stella cried:  “Where is Jack Slate?  I don’t see him.  Isn’t he coming to the ball?”

“Haven’t saw him,” said Bud.  “I reckon he’ll be moseyin’ erlong after a while.  We won’t wait fer him.  He knowed when we wuz goin’ ter start.”

“He came in a little while ago from the lower pasture,” said Kit, “and went to his room.  He said he had been thrown by his horse, and that the jar had given him a headache.”

“Oh, don’t let us wait for him,” said Ben.  “If he gets to feeling better he’ll be along.  You couldn’t keep Jack away from a ball with an injunction.”

So they proceeded to town, the boys acting as outriders to the girl, whom they were convinced would be the belle of the ball.

When they arrived at the hall in Soldier Butte they found the people flocking in, as Martin, the beneficiary, was a very popular fellow, and any man in hard luck in the West always gets all the help he needs, if he deserves it.

Ted escorted Stella into the ballroom, while Ben followed with Mrs. Graham, the other boys taking the horses around to the corral.

As Ted and Stella entered the room there was a hum of admiration, and conversation stopped as men and women craned their necks to look at the handsome couple.

Ted was both proud and pleased, but a little bit embarrassed at the attention they received, while Stella held her head up proudly, with a look of indifference on her face, as if she had been used to admiration all her life.

The ball certainly was a mixed affair.

In one corner were a lot of army officers and their ladies.

All down the sides of the ballroom cowboys were sitting with girls from the ranches.  Town girls and boys had a corner to themselves.  The gamblers flocked together, and miners and others wandered here and there, mixing with cavalrymen from the fort.