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〃And where are you going to find the man？〃
〃I'm going to help Lahoma find him。 I'm like you； Bill； I hates that
lover like a snake this minute； though I ain't no idea who； where； or what
he is； or may be。 I hates himbut I ain't going to stand in Lahoma's way。
No； sir； I 'low to meet civilization half…way。 There it islook！〃
Willock stood erect and pointed toward the plain； where perhaps
twenty tents had been pitched within the last two weeks。 Bill gave an
unwilling glance； shrugged his shoulders disdainfully； and resumed
progress up the difficult defile。
Willock continued： 〃Two weeks ago； there wasn't nothing there but
naked sand。 Now there's three saloons； a hardware store； a grocery； a bank…
…all of 'em under canvasand the makings of a regular town。 Right out
there in the broiling sun！ Carloads of lumber and machinery is on its way；
and the stage…coach will be putting off mail there before long。 That's how
civilization is a…seeking out our little gal。 But I means to meet it halfway。〃
〃Oh； come on； don't say anything more about itwhen I look at those
tents I can't breathe freely。 What do you gamble ona skunk。 or a coyote；
in the traps？〃
〃'Tain't them tents that's seeping your breath； it's pure unalloyed age。
Yes； sir； I means to meet civilization half…way。 I've already been
prospecting。 There's a party over there in Tent City that's come on from
Chicago just from the lust of seeing pioneer…life at first hand； people that
haven't no idee of buying or settlingit's a picnic to them。 They're
camping out； watching life developand what's life…and…death earnestness
to others is just amusement to them。 That there's a test of people high…up。
Real folks in the big world don't do nothing； it takes all their time just
being folks。 You and me could bag a dozen polecats whilst a fine lady was
making her finger…nails ready for the day。 And these Chicago people is that
kind。〃
〃Do you think they'll make friends with Lahoma just to suit you？ The
kind of people you're talking about are more afraid of getting to know
strangers than they are of being set on by wildcats。〃
〃They'll make friends with Lahoma； all right； and invite her home with
'em。 That's the way I 'low to set her out in the big world。 Lahoma don't
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know my plans and neither do they； but I was never a man to make my
plans knowed when I was going to hold up people。 Of course I'M speaking
in a figger； but in a figger I may say I've held up several； in my day。〃
〃THEY won't invite Lahoma to Chicago； not if they are the right sort。〃
〃They will invite Lahoma to Chicago；〃 retorted Willock firmly； 〃and
they are the right sort。 Wait and see； and when you have saw； render due
honor to your Uncle Brick。〃
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LAHOMA
CHAPTER XIII
A SURE…ENOUGH MAN
〃Pardner； I sure am glad to see youput 'er there again！ How are you
feeling； anyhow？ Look mighty tough and wiry； I do say； Here； Bill！〃
Willock raised his voice to a powerful shout； 〃Bill！ come and see what's
blowed in with the tumbleweed and tickle…grass。 A sure…enough man；
that's what I call him； and me to fight if any dispute's made to the title；
according。〃
The tall bronzed man who was leading his horse along the road
entering the mountain horseshoe； smiled with a touch of gravity in the
light of his gray eyes。 Willock found his chin more resolute； his glance
more assured and penetrating； while his step； firm and alert； told of
dauntless purpose。 He was no longer the wandering cowboy content with a
bed on the ground wherever chance might find him at night； but a mature
man who had taken root in the soil of his own acres。 Only twenty…five or
six； his features were still touched with the last lingering mobility of youth；
but the set of his mouth and the gleam of his eyes hinted at years of battle
against storms； droughts and loneliness。 He was already a veteran of the
prairie； despite his youth。
〃Everything looks very natural！〃 murmured Wilfred Compton； gazing
about on the seamed walls of granite in whose crevices the bright cedars
mocked at winter's threatening hand。
〃Yes； mountains is lots more natural than humans。 They just sets there
serene and indifferent not caring whether you likes their looks or not； and
they let 'er blow and let 'er snow； it's all one to them。 I reckon when we've
been dead so long that nobody could raise a dispute as to whether we'd
ever lived or not； that there same boulder what they calls Rocking Stone
will still be a…making up its mind whether to roll down into the valley or
stay where it was born。 Wilfred； if you knowed how glad I am to see you
again； you'd be sort of scared； I reckon； thinking you'd fell amongst
cannibals。 Wonder where that aged trapper is？〃 He shouted more lustily；
and a bristling white head suddenly appeared on the summit of Turtle Hill。
〃Great Scott！〃 yelled Bill Atkins； glaring down upon the approaching
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figure； 〃if it ain't Wilfred Compton again！ Come on； come on； I was never
as glad to see anybody in all my life！〃
The young man looked at Willock somewhat dubiously。 〃He's very
much altered； then； since I met him last。 I'm afraid he has a gun hidden up
there among the rocks。〃
〃Oh； nux； nux；〃 retorted Willock。 〃He's a…speaking fair。 Come along！〃
As they ascended the winding road； Wilfred vividly recalled the day
when； from the same elevation； he had watched Lahoma buried in her day…
dreams。 A sudden turn brought the cove into view。 Lahoma was not to be
seen； but there was the cabin； the dugout and the three cedar trees in
whose shade he had made the discovery that he could not regard Lahoma
as a little girl。 It seemed that the cabin door trembledwas Lahoma's hand
upon the latch？ And when she opened the door； what expression would
flash upon that face he remembered so well？ Would she be as glad as
Willock and Bill Atkins； when she recognized him？ Even one half as gla