“Hey! He has a fiddle!” Bud exclaimed.
Mounting the platform, the stout cowpoke raised his hands and shouted for attention.
“Ladies an’ gents, we’ll start off with that good old dance known as the Texas Star!”
As everyone took his place, Chow tuned up hastily. Then he tucked the fiddle under his chin, stomped out the rhythm, and launched into a lively rendition of “Turkey in the Straw” while he called out the accompaniment: “Ga/5 to the middle, then back so far! Gents step up for a clockwise star!
Now shift hands and twirl t’other way, We’ll keep on dancin’ till the break o’day . .
.”
The dance number finally ended to thunderous applause. Chow, puffing and red-faced but
108 THE ELECTRONIC HYDROLUNG
wreathed in smiles, was soon ready for another. Half an hour later, a dance band of high school boys, hastily summoned by Sandy, arrived to spell the Texan.
The irrepressible chef, however, continued to call out most of the numbers and proved to be the hero of the evening. He gained even more acclaim for his delicious French fried potatoes and “steerburgers” served during the pause for refreshments.
“Oh, Chow! What would we ever do without you?” Sandy said, and the cook beamed.
Suddenly, in the midst of the lively chatter and laughter, the dance floor was plunged into total darkness!
Phyl clung fearfully to her escort. “Tom!” she gasped. “This is another trick of your enemy’s to harm you I”
CHAPTER XII
DETECTION TEST
“DON’T worry, Phyl. It may be only a blown fuse,” Tom tried to assure the fearful girl.