"You're the fellow that come to town night before last? Uncle Tim was tellin' me about you."
"Yes; I got here night before last. Who is Uncle Tim?"
"Uncle Tim Gilsey."
She walked up and extended her hand to him with the most perfect friendliness, adding, with a laugh as natural as a child's:
"We'll have to be friends; Uncle Tim says you're a white man, and that's more than some he brings over the road these days are."
"Yes, I hope so. You are Mr. Gilsey's nieces I am glad to meet you"
The young woman burst out laughing.
"Lor', no. I ain't anybody's niece; but he's my uncle--I've adopted him. I'm Terpy--Terpsichore, run Terpsichore's Hall," she said by way of explanation, as if she thought he might not understand her allusion.
Keith's breath was almost taken away. Why, she was not at all like the picture he had formed of her. She was a neat, quiet-looking young woman, with a fine figure, slim and straight and supple, a melodious voice, and laughing gray eyes.
"You must come and see me. We're to have a blow-out to-night. Come around. I'll introduce you to the boys. I've got the finest ball-room in town--just finished--and three fiddles. We christen it to-night. Goin' to be the biggest thing ever was in Gumbolt."