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coveWilfred read the letter with great attention； but there was no further
reference to himself。
Brick Willock rode over to Mangum nearly every afternoon to hear
from Lahoma； but it happened that on the day of the great news； neither he
nor Bill had returned from a certain hunting expedition in time for the
stage； so Wilfred went for the mail。 There was only one letter； addressed to
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〃Mr。 B。 Willock；〃 and it seemed strangely thin。 The young man wondered
during all his ten…mile return…trip if Lahoma had fallen ill； and after
reaching the log cabin； he kept looking at the slim missive； and turning it
over； with vague uneasiness。
Brick and Bill had ridden far； and it was dusk before they reached
home with a deer slung over one of the horses。
〃They're getting scarcer every year；〃 complained Bill； as he climbed
stiffly to the ground； 〃I guess they'll finally go the way of the buffalo。〃
〃Get a letter？〃 asked Brick； hurrying forward。 〃Huh！ THAT it？ She is
sure getting fashionable！ I reckon when she's plumb civilized； she won't
write nothing！〃
He took the long white envelope and squinted at it inquisitively。
〃Well； why don't you open 'er？〃 snapped Bill。 〃Afraid you'll spring a
trap and get caught？〃
〃Ain't much here；〃 replied Brick slowly； 〃and I'm making it last。〃
〃Huh！ Nothing is a…lasting when it hasn't been begun；〃 retorted Bill
crossly。 〃See what the little girl says。〃
〃I'm afraid she's sick；〃 observed Wilfred； eying the envelope with
something like Bill's irritable impatience。
Brick tore it open； and found within another envelope； the inner one of
yellow。 〃It's a telegraph；〃 he said uneasily。 〃Lahoma had telegraphed to the
end of the wire； and at Chickasha they puts it in the white wrapper and
sends it on。 Do you see？〃
〃I don't see anything yet；〃 snapped Bill。 〃Rip 'er open！〃
Brick looked at Bill Atkins。 〃Better set down； Bill；〃 he remarked。 〃If
they's any kind of shock in this； YOU ain't got no nerve to stand it。〃 He
broke open the yellow envelope and stared at the message。 As he did so；
the hand clutching the telegram hardened to a giant fist； while his brow
wrinkled； and his eyes grew dark and menacing。 Wilfred was reminded of
the sinister expression displayed at the first mention by Lahoma of
Gledware's name； and he experienced once more that surprised feeling of
not being nearly so well acquainted with him as he had supposed。
After a dead silence； Willock handed the telegram to Bill； who
wrinkled his brow over it a minute or two before handing it to Wilfred。
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The young man read it hastily； then turned to Bill。 His face wore a
decidedly puzzled look。
〃I don't understand；〃 he said。
〃Neither do I；〃 returned Bill rather blankly。 〃I guess if there is to be
any setting down； it's Brick that needs a chair。〃
The telegram was as follows：
〃The second you get this； hide for your life。 Red Kimball says he can
prove everything。 Will explain in letter。
〃Lahoma。〃
〃Don't say nothing to me for a spell；〃 growled Brick； thrusting his
hands deep into his pockets。 〃I've got to think mighty quick。〃 He strode
toward the dugout； leaving Wilfred and Bill staring at each other；
speechless。
In a short time； Willock reappeared； bringing from the dugout his
favorite gun。 〃Come along；〃 he bade them briefly。 When he had ascended
the rounded swell of Turtle Hill； he stretched himself between two wide
flat rocks and lay with his face and gun directed toward the opening of the
cove。
〃Now； Bill；〃 he said sharply； 〃if you will just set facing me with your
eye on the north wall； so you can tell if anybody tries to sneak over the
mountain…top； I'll make matters clear。 Wilfred； you can go or stay； free as
air； only IF you stay； I can't promise but you may see a man killedme； or
Red Kimball； I don't know which； though naturally I has my preference；〃
he added； his harsh voice suddenly changing to the accent of comradeship。
〃As to Bill； he ain't got no choice。 He come and put up with me and
Lahoma when nobody didn't want him； and now； in time of danger； I 'low
to get all the help out of him that's there in spite of a begrudging
disposition and the ravages of time。〃
〃What I want to know is this；〃 Bill interrupted： 〃Who and what is this
Red Kimball？ And if you have to hide from him； why ain't you doing it？〃
〃I puts it this way； Bill： that the telegram traveled faster than old Red
could； so no need to hide till tonight； though when you deals with Red； it
behooves you to have your gun ready against chances。 You want to know
about Red Kimball？ But I think I'd best wait till Lahoma's letter comes； so
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my story can tally with hers。 I got my reasons for not wanting to tell all
about Red Kimball which I reckon he wouldn't be grateful for； but that's
for him to say。 So I 'lows to tell only as much as I has to tell； that
depending on what Lahoma has picked up； according。〃
〃I suppose you've met him face to face？〃 growled Bill。
〃They don't seem to be no harm in that question； Bill； but you never
knows where a first question is leading you。 If I refuses to answer what
seems fair and square； no suspicions is roused when I refuses to answer
what might sound dark and shady。 So I banks myself against my general
resolution to say nothing beyond Lahoma's word。〃
〃Her word says he can prove everything。 What is 'everything'？〃
〃That's what we'll learn from her letter。 We'll just watch him do his
proving！〃
〃And her word says to hide this minute。〃
〃I don't do my hiding in daylight； but when it's good and dark； I'm
going to put out。 I would tell you the hiding…place； for I trusts you both
but if you knowed where it was； and if officers of the law come to you for
information； you'd be in a box； I know you wouldn't give me up； but
neither would you swear to a lie。 Not knowing where I hides； your
consciences are as free as mine that hasn't never been bridled。〃
Wilfred asked； 〃But w