RESULT OF A BROTHER'S ADVICE
THE first dance of the summer took place the following Saturday, and the
entire feminine contingent immediately declared war on Miss Dolly
Travers, who entered escorted by four cavaliers and subdivided each
dance.
While others more fortunately endowed with rhythmic feet swayed and
circled about the ballroom with the little Dresden china blonde, Skippy,
who guarded in his arms a pink and white filmy scarf, glowered across
the vacant chair at Puffy Ellis, who had been favored with the
safekeeping of the favorite's fan.
"Jack, you're perfectly ridiculous," said Sister Clara, who did not
relish the competition. "The idea of making a fool of yourself over a
child of twelve that ought to be in bed long ago. Haven't you any
pride?"
"Kitty, kitty," said Skippy softly. He could not be bothered with such
things as sisters. His mind was made up. He glared over at Puffy and
said to himself: "To-night I'll give him his choice. Either he gets off
the horizon, or I tear the hide off him."
He would protect his rights in the good old-fashioned way, even if he
had to thrash a dozen of them!
"Why, Jack!" said Dolly, whirling up at this moment, and sinking back
into the scarf which he hurriedly draped about her. "You look like blood
and thunder. You're not jealous, are you?"
"Oh, no!"
"Well then?"
"Why did you give Puffy Ellis that fan?"
"Poor Puffy! He doesn't dance, either."
"Lord, I'll dance by next Saturday," said Skippy miserably, "or break a
leg."
"Foolish boy, of course you must dance! If I sit this out with you, will
it make you feel any better?"
"Will it!"
"We'll go on the porch and you'll try a one-step. Oh, no one will see.
Gracious! Don't look so terrified."
Skippy's answer was something between a gulp and a gurgle.
"Don't you want _me_ to teach you?" said Dolly in the velvetiest voice
in the world.
"I'll try; I'll try anything you say," he said, breathing hard, "only I
say, Dolly, remember a cart-horse has done more dancing than I ever
have."
"The two-step is frightfully easy--you'll see," said the young lady when
they had reached the dark end of the piazza. "It's just one-two to
music. Put your arm around me!"
"What?"
"You goose! How can you dance if you don't?" said Dolly in a cool
professional manner. "Take my hand. So! Now just walk in rhythm."
When Skippy for the first time in his life had actually closed his arm
around a feminine waist and clutched at the outstretched hand, he had a
sensation of terrifying dizziness, such as had once overcome him when on
a dare he had poised himself thirty feet in the air for his first high
dive.
"Begin! One, two, left foot, to the music!"
Skippy blindly and obediently began to walk. He walked all over the
little feet. He walked on his own. He walked into a chair and ricocheted
from a table with a bump that bounced them off the railing.
"That's enough!" said Dolly in a slightly discouraged voice. "Gracious!
You mustn't grab me like that. You're not drowning."
"Drowning's nothing to this," said Skippy, rubbing his forehead. "You
see it's hopeless."
"Of course it isn't hopeless. If that great big lummox of a Tacks
Brooker can dance aren't you ashamed of yourself to give up like that?"
"I'll never dance another step," said Skippy sulkily.
"The idea, Jack Bedelle! I want you to dance, and dance you shall!" said
Dolly, stamping her foot. "Do you understand?"
[Illustration: He balanced carefully, stretched out one arm to encircle
an imaginary waist. _Page 172_]
"Don't rub it in, Dolly."
"Foolish boy!" said the young lady, squeezing his arm. "Do you think I
want to dance all summer long with _other_ men?"
Three-quarters of an hour later Skippy again, but alone, reached the
protecting shadows. Again the orchestra was beating out an exhilarating
measure.
"You bet I'm not going to let her dance with other men," he said under
his breath. He balanced carefully, stretched out one arm to encircle an
imaginary waist and started heavily to tread the illusive measure.
Suddenly he realized that he was not alone. Farther down a couple were
swaying in the shadows. Then Dolly's voice reached him.
"The idea! Puffy, of course you can dance. If Jack Bedelle can learn,
you ought to be ashamed to give up."
"Skippy dance!"
"Of course, foolish boy! Do you want to sit and watch him dance with me
_all_ summer?"
That evening after he had escorted the triumphant Dolly Travers home in
company of four other victims, Skippy went heavily upward to his room.
"Hello there!" said the big brother from his bed.
"Hello, Sambo," said Skippy, slinking in disconsolately.
"What's the matter, bub? You look like a plucked chicken. You've been
moping around for a week. What is the matter with you anyhow?"
"What is the matter?" said Skippy, staring at him.
"Exactly, what is the matter?"
"The matter is, I took your advice," said Skippy reproachfully. "You
told me to pick out something young and easy."
"Well?"
"Well, I did it," said Skippy, who then, without noticing Mr. Sam's
growing interest, began to unburden himself.
* * * * *
Three days later, about five in the afternoon, Skippy emerged from
behind the Gutter Pup's barn, leaving Mr. Puffy Ellis to readjust
himself with more painful leisure. Skippy was somewhat bruised himself,
and his clothes were a sight to behold, but he was happy. Mr. Puffy
Ellis had finally seen the light and one obstacle at least had been
removed from the summer.
"I may not be much shakes on my feet as yet," said Skippy to himself
grimly, "but thank the Lord I can use my fists." He remembered certain
gorgeous passages in "The Count of Monte Cristo" and, thinking of what
still remained to be done, said tragically, "So much for _one_!"
Suddenly, in front of the Travers home, he beheld a buckboard draw up,
and as with rising anger he pressed forward for a view of the next
rival, Miss Dolly Travers tripped down, gave her hand delightedly, and
sprang to the seat.
Another rival, another Puffy Ellis to crush! Unmindful of anything but
his consuming jealousy, he strode forward, fists doubled and glowering.
The next moment the carriage had swung up and passed him. Miss Dolly
Travers, blissfully entranced with her new conquest, had not even
noticed him, standing there humbly in the road! But worse than that--oh,
perfidy of perfidies--at the reins was no other than the great man of
the university, his brother Mr. Sambones Bedelle!