"It must have been. We know no one here, save Hodge and Elsie."
"Let"s go in. Somehow a feeling of apprehension is on me. I"m not often nervous, you know; but something is the matter with my nerves now."
He laughed at her, but they returned to the floor and danced out the latter part of the two-step.
When this dance was over Merry left Inza, departing to find and bring her a gla.s.s of water.
Barely was he gone when she was surprised to hear a harsh voice at her elbow saying:
"I"ll not believe your ghostly garments hide nothing save the hideous skeleton I saw a few moments ago. I must confess you gave me a shock."
One of the wolves had paused close at hand.
Knowing the dance was informal, as masquerade affairs must be, she was not surprised to be addressed in this manner.
"Then it was you who fled before me?" she laughed. "It seems that even a wolf may be frightened by a ghost."
"Quite true, fair wraith; but you are not the only ghost at this dance to-night."
"I have a sister ghost with me."
"It was not your sister I spoke of," growled the wolf. "There is still a third ghost present."
"Indeed? I have not seen----"
"I think you will later. For all of your awesome aspect I would entreat you to favor me with one dance were it not that something I cannot explain denies me the pleasure of dancing to-night."
"Why do you growl in that manner? Are you trying to disguise your voice?
It is not necessary, for I know only my own friends at this dance."
"It is natural for wolves to growl," he retorted. "Although you know few here, it is possible you are known. I think I can describe you."
"I doubt it."
"You are dark, with black hair and eyes."
"Wonderful guessing."
"Your lips are like the reddest rose, and your teeth are so many pearls."
"Flattering, at least."
"Of your s.e.x you are the fairest ever beheld by the eyes of wolf."
"You forget you have not seen me."
"If that is true, I"ll convince you that the sagacity of some wolves pa.s.ses human understanding. Your name is--Inza!"
She fell back in amazement, betraying her surprise by the movement.
From behind the wolf mask came a low, growling chuckle.
"It is enough!" he declared. "To deny it now would be useless. The cowboy returns, and cowboys do not like wolves, so I will slink away."
Filled with amazement, Inza watched him as he walked swiftly away. Frank came up and she clutched his arm, pointing at the retreating figure and almost panting:
"Who is that man?"
"I don"t know, Inza. Has he bothered or insulted you? If so, I will----"
"Frank, he knows me!"
"Impossible!"
"He spoke my name! He called me Inza. His words were strange and somewhat faltering. He spoke with a growl that I am certain he a.s.sumed to disguise his voice. There is something familiar about him--something familiar in his movements and his walk. Frank, I know him! Is there no way to find out who he is?"
Merry was aroused.
"Drink, Inza," he said, "and I"ll find a way to discover who he is.
Perhaps Warren Hatch has put up a joke on us. If so, we must turn the joke."
Bart and Elsie came up. Frank left Inza with them as he returned with the empty gla.s.s.
Leaving the gla.s.s, he set out to find the wolf. As he was pa.s.sing one of the wide windows he saw two wolves standing outside. Immediately he stepped through the window and joined them.
"Howdy, pards," he said, with an a.s.sumption of the cowboy manner. "I opine one of you two was chinning with my friend, the ghost, a few moments ago. Now, even a wolf won"t take advantage of a lady, and so, as you happened to call her name, I reckon it"s up to you in natural politeness to give her yours in return."
They appeared somewhat startled, but one of them said:
"You"re mistaken, sir; neither of us has spoken to a lady since arriving here to-night. We have not danced yet, and therefore have not had occasion to speak to any of the fair s.e.x."
Frank rested his hands on his hips and eyed them searchingly.
"I have the word of the lady herself," he said. "I don"t opine you"re going to dispute a lady?"
"You are at liberty to opine what you like," sneered the second wolf; "and I advise you to go about your business, unless you are looking for trouble. If it"s trouble you are after, you may get more than you want."
"I never hunt trouble; but I thought it possible that, out of politeness, the one who spoke to the lady would give his name."
"Get about your own business and leave us alone," advised the pugnacious chap. "If you don"t you"ll get your make-up ruffled."
Now, Frank had not confronted them with the idea of pressing a quarrel.
His first thought had been to draw them into conversation that he might hear their voices, thinking it possible he would recognize one or both of them. There was nothing familiar about their voices, however, and now their offensive atmosphere aroused him and caused his blood to stir warmly in his body.
"Although there are two of you," he said, "I would advise you some not to try any ruffling business with me. It might work unpleasantly for you."
This angered them, and suddenly they both attacked Frank.
Instantly there was a stir within the pavilion, for men uttered exclamations, and women gave cries of alarm.