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consciences are as free as mine that hasn't never been bridled。〃
Wilfred asked； 〃But when Lahoma writes； how will you get her
letter？〃
〃You or Bill will go for the mail。 If a letter comes； you'll take it to that
crevice into which Miss Sellimer was drug by that big Injun； and you'll
wait in there till I comes； not opening that letter till I am with you。 We'll
read it together； down in the hollow where poor Miss Sellimer's life was
saved by Lahoma； then you two will go back to the cove； and leave me to
sneak away to my hiding…place which may be near and may be far。 When
you get a letter； bring your ladder and the lantern； and be sure nobody is
watching youbecause if you let Red Kimball or any of his gang follow
you to that hiding…place； you'd have to see a man killedand such as that
ain't no sight for eyes as civilized as Wilfred's； or as old as Bill's。〃
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CHAPTER XVI
THE ONYX PIN
When the next letter came from Lahoma； Wilfred Compton and Bill
Atkins hurried to the crevice in the mountain…top according to agreement。
It was a cloudless afternoon； but at the farther end of the retreat the light of
the lantern was necessary for its perusal。 Brick Willock； who was there
before them； read the letter in silence before handing it to the young man
to read aloud。
〃It's just addressed to me； this time；〃 he remarked grimly； in
explanation of his proprietary act； 〃they ain't no foolishness of 'Dear Brick
and Bill。' But I treats you as friends should be treated； and lays before you
everything Lahoma has found out。 For Brick Willock； he says 'Friends is
better friends when they don't know all about each other；' says he； and I
tells you only what Lahoma has been told； according。〃
Wilfred took the letter； tingling with excitement。 The strained watching
and waiting for the sudden appearance of an unknown Red Kimball had
made his bed in the cabin as sleepless as had been Bill's pallet in the
dugout。 They squatted about the lantern that rested on the stone floor；
Willock always with eyes directed toward the narrow slit in the ceiling
that they might not be taken by surprise。
The long natural corridor was bare； except for the old Spanish sword
hanging upon the wall。 A stout cedar post； firmly fixed in the extremity of
the walls； formed a rude barricade against the abyss of unknown depth that
yawned a few yards away from where they sat。 This railing and the sword
were the only evidences of man's possession； save for the ladder that
would presently be carried back to the cove。 No inquiries were made as to
how Brick came and went； where he found food and a bed； or how he
happened to be present at the precise moment of the arrival of the bearers
of news。
〃Dear Brick；〃 Lahoma began： 〃By this time you have hidden where
nobody can find you； for you've got my telegram and you know I wouldn't
have sent it if it hadn't been necessary。 You believe in me； and； as you
would say；how I'd love to hear youyou act 'according。' Well； and I
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believe in you； Brick； and you needn't imagine as long as you live that
anybody could make me think you anything but what I know you to be；
the kindest； most tender…hearted； most thoughtful man that ever lived。 Get
that fixed in your mind so when I tell what they say about you； you won't
care； knowing I'm with you and will believe in you till death。
〃I'm going to skip everything except the part about you； for this letter
goes by next mail。 There's ever and ever so many other things I'd love to
tell you； and I don't see how I can wait； but I'm going to find out； for wait I
must。 Maybe I ought to begin with Mr。 Gledware so you'll know more
about him when I begin on the main news。
〃We are at his house now and the house…party is in full swing。 Mr。
Gledware is pressing his suit to Annabel with all his might； and her mother
is helping him。 Nothing stands in the wayfor she wants to marry him
except her love for Mr。 Edgerton Compton。 She told me all about her old
romance with Wilfredyou remember him； I guess？ She got to liking
Edgerton after Wilfred went away because he looked so much like Wilfred。
Maybe he does； but he isn't the same kind of man。 Mr。 Edgerton has spent
all his money on fixing up the outside of the house； but Wilfred has spent
his on the furnishings。 Well！ If Annabel could change her heart from one
brother to the other just because Edgerton reminded her of Wilfred； I guess
she won't have a very hard time making another transfer； especially as Mr。
Gledware is traveling her way。 When I love anybody； my love is the part
of me that comes alive whenever that person is present； or is mentioned。
So how could I slide it from one man to another； any more than the man
himself could change to another man？ And that's the way I love you； Brick；
and not all the wealth or fame or good looks in the world （and you have
neither） could get my heart away from YOU！
〃Or from Bill。
〃The first time I met Mr。 Gledware； he acted in a curious way。 Of
course I was introduced as 'Miss Willock' and he started at the name； and
at sight of metwo separate little movements just as plain as anything。
Then he said he had heard the name 'Willock' in unusual surroundings； and
that my face reminded him of somebody who was dead。 That was all there
was to it； then。 But afterward he heard Annabel call me 'Lahoma；' and his
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face turned perfectly white。
〃The first chance he had； after that； he sat down to talk to me in a
corner where we wouldn't be overhead； and he asked me questions。 So； of
course； I told about father and mother taking me across the prairie to the
Oklahoma country； and how mother died and father was killed； and I was
with the Indians a while and then was taken to live with my cousin； Brick。
He listened with his head down； never meeting my eye； and when I had
finished all he said was； 'Did you ever bear my name before？'
〃And I said I never had。 Then he asked if I thought I had ever seen him；
for he thought he could remember