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sight of the point。 This here is 1880； which I may say is a recent date。
Time was when a fellow could live in Cimarron； and come and go free and
no questions askedand none answered。 But civilization is a…pressing us
hard； and these days is not our fathers' days。 We are pretty independent
even yet in old Cimarron； but busybodies has got together trying to make
it a regular United States territory； and they ain't going to stand for a real
out…and…out band of highwaymen such as used to levy on stage…coaches
and wagon…trains without exciting no more remarks than the buffaloes。
You may be sorry times is changed； so am I； but if times IS fresh； we
might as well look 'em in the face。 Us fellows has been operating for some
years； but whatever we do is blamed on the Indians。 That there is a secret
that would ruin our business； if it got out。 Tomorrow； a gang of white men
will be depredating in the Washita country to get revenge for today's
massacre； and me and my men couldn't join in the fun with easy
consciences if we knowed you was somewheres loose； to tell your story。〃
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Again Gledware protested that he would never betray the band。
〃Oh； cut this short；〃 interposed Kansas Kimball； with an oath。
〃Daylight will catch us and nothing done； if we listen to that white…livered
spy。 We don't believe in that wagon he talks about； and as for this kid； he
brought her along just to save his bacon。〃
〃No； as God lives！〃 cried Gledware。 〃Can't you see she is dead for
sleep？ She was terrified out of her wits all day； and I've ridden with her all
night。 Don't kill her； men〃 He turned impassioned eyes on the leader。
〃Look at herso youngso unsuspecting you can't have the heart to
murder a child like that in cold blood。〃
〃Right you are！〃 exclaimed the man with the ferocious whiskershe
who had been spoken of as Brick Willock。 〃You'll have to go； pard； but I'm
against killing infants。〃
The leader darted an angry glance at the man who； but for the
untoward arrival of Gledware； would have won from him his share of the
booty。 But his voice was smooth and pleasant as he resumed： 〃Yes； pard；
the kid must die。 We couldn't do nothing with her； and if we left her on
some door…step； she's sure old enough； and she looks full sharp enough； to
tell sufficient to trammel us good and plenty。 If we sets her loose in the
prairie； she'd starve to death if not foundand if found； it would settle our
case。 And as Kansas says； this debate must close； or daylight will catch
us。〃
Brick Willock； with terrible oaths； again expressed himself as strongly
opposed to this decision。
〃Well； Brick；〃 said Red； with a sneer； 〃do YOU want to take the kid
and raise her； yourself？ We've either got to do away with her； or keep her
hid。 Do YOU want to be her nurse； and keep with her in some cave or
other while we go foraging？〃
Willock muttered deep in his throat； while his companions laughed
disdainfully。
〃We've had enough of this！〃 Red declared； his voice suddenly grown
hard and cold。 〃Kansas； take the prisoner； Brick Willock； as you're so fond
of the kid； you can carry HER。〃 He opened the door and a rush of wind
extinguished the candle。 There was silence while it was being relighted。
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The flickering light； reddening to a steady glow； revealed no mercy on the
scowling countenances about the table； and no shadow of presentiment on
that of the still unconscious child。
Red went outside and waited till his brother had drawn forth the
quivering man； and Brick Willock had carried out the girl。 Then he looked
back into the room。 〃You fellows can stay in here；〃 he said authoritatively。
〃What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about；
looking on。〃
The man who had relighted the candle； and who crouched to shield it
with a hairy hand from the gust； nodded approval。 His friends were
already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling
consciousness of what was about to be done。 Red closed the door on the
scene； and turned to face the light。
The wind came in furious gusts； with brief intervals of calm。 There
were no clouds； however； and the moon； which had risen not long before；
made the prairie almost as light as if morning had dawned。 As far as the
eye could reach in any direction； nothing was to be seen but the level
ground； the unflecked sky； the cabin and the little group near the tethered
ponies。
Gledware had already been stationed with his face toward the moon；
and Kansas Kimball was calmly examining his pistol。 Between them and
the horses； Brick Willock had come to a halt； the little girl still sleeping in
his powerful arms。 Red's eagle eye noted that she had unconsciously
slipped an arm about the highwayman's neck； as if by some instinct she
would cling the closer to the only one in the band of ten who had spoken
for her life。
Red scowled heavily。 He had not forgiven Willock for beating him at
cards； still less for his persistent opposition to his wishes； and he now
resolved that it should be Willock's hand to deal the fatal blow。 He had
been troubled before tonight by insubordination on the part of this man of
bristling whiskers； this knave whose voice was ever for mercy； if mercy
were possible。 Why should Willock have joined men who were without
scruple and without shame？ As the leader stared at him sullenly； he
reflected that it was just such natures that fail at the last extremity of
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hardihood； that desert comrades in crime； that turn state's evidence。 Yes
Willock would deal the blow； even if Red found it necessary to call all his
men from the cabin to enforce the order。
The captain's fears were not groundless。 He would have been much
more alarmed； could he have known the wonderful thoughts that surged
through Willock's brain； and the wonderful emotions that thrilled his heart；
at the warm confiding pressure of the a