eight o'clock to three
scoffed Joe , in high spirits , and Lem knew that he had blundered . A new caller-out had taken the floor , and was shouting , `` Seventeen to twenty-four , get on the floor and dance ! '' The pauses are short at a ranch dance , for each man , having a right in only one dance out of three or four , is eager for his turn . The women on this particular occasion might have been glad of a rest , for there were only ten of them to satisfy the demands of all the men , and steady dancing from eight o'clock to three is no light task . Nevertheless , each one rose with sufficient alacrity in response to the polite inquiry , `` Will you assist me with this dance ? '' and in a few minutes the same many-colored woollen gowns , and much befrizzled heads , which had diversified the last sets , were lending lustre to the present dance . Neither Bub Quinn nor Joe Keith was included this time among those admonished to `` get on the floor and dance , '' and Lem , thankful for the respite , stepped out on the piazza , where a group of men were lounging and smoking .