“There was haughty Pish-Tush-Pooh-Bah,
There was lumbering Doodle-Dum-Dey,
Despairing Alack-a-Dey-Ah
And good little Tootle-Tum-Teh!
Exemplary Tootle-Tum-Teh,”
rang the chorus.
“My dear, I don’t think we’d better try it,” said Miss Campbell. “It sounds very rough. I feel quite uneasy—it’s very much of an adventure at any rate.”
The truth is the five ladies had done an exceedingly reckless thing. Barney McGee had invited them to come and see a real ranch, and they had accepted his invitation. At first Miss Campbell had declined. It was rather too much to expect him to entertain five guests. Besides, how could he when he was not owner of the ranch. He was part owner, he said. But if they preferred they could stop at Steptoe Lodge just as they could at an inn—engage rooms, that is. His cousin, Brek Steptoe and his wife often had boarders—people who came for their health.
Nebraska was filled with Easterners who were trying to gain health in the West, and the good State not only often gave them health but wealth too—fine strong bodies and work that paid.
Therefore the motorists had taken down detailed directions from Barney McGee, but they had not arrived at Steptoe Lodge as soon as they had expected. An exploded tire had caused a long delay. No doubt Mrs. Steptoe had given them up for the day now, for it was long after dark when they finally found themselves at the rancho.
A light streamed out from a door suddenly opened, and the voices in the court yard grew louder as the song progressed.
“There is musical Doh-Reh-Mi-Fah,
There is the nightingale Doh-Reh-Mi-Fah.”