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〃Look out there； brother！〃 The sense of kinship tingled in the air； opening
men's hearts and supplying aid to weaker brethren。 Those who gathered
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along the track awaiting the arrival of the trains had already the air of old…
timers； eager to extend the hospitality of a well…loved land。
In such a crowd Wilfred was standing when he first caught sight of
Lahoma among those descending to the jostling platform。 He had not
known how she would look； and certainly she was much changed from the
girl of fifteen； but he made his way to her side without the slightest
hesitation。
〃Lahoma！〃
She turned sharply with a certain ease of movement suggesting
fearless freedom。 Her eyes looked straight into the young man's with
penetrating keenness which instantly softened to pleasure。 〃Why I how
glad I am to see you！〃 she cried； giving him her hand as they withdrew
from the rush。 〃But how did you know me？〃
〃How did YOU know？〃 he returned； pleased and thrilled by her
glowing brown hair； her eloquent eyes； her warm…tinted cheeks； her form；
as erect as of yore； but not so thinas pleased and thrilled as if all these
belonged to him。 〃How did you know ME？〃 he repeated； looking and
looking； as if he would never be able to believe that she had turned out so
much better than he had ever dreamed she would。
〃Oh；〃 said Lahoma； 〃when I looked into your face； I saw myself as a
girl sitting under the cedar trees in the cove； with Brick and Bill。〃
〃Just you three？〃 demanded Wilfred wistfullyalso smilingly。
〃Oho！〃 exclaimed Lahoma； showing her perfect little teeth as if about
to bite； in a way that filled him with fearful joy； 〃and so they showed you
that letter！〃
〃JUST you three？〃 repeated Wilfred。 〃Just room enough in the cove
for youand Brickand Bill？〃
〃Listen to me； Wilfred； and I will do the talking。〃
〃Well？〃
She lowered her voice to a whisper 〃Lean your head closer。〃
Wilfred put down his head。 〃Is this close enough？〃 he whispered；
feeling exalted。 Men； women and children circled about them； the air
vibrated with the shock of trunks and mail bags hurled upon the platform。
〃No；〃 said Lahoma； rising on tiptoe。
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Wilfred took off his hat and got under hers。
She whispered in his ear； 〃Red Kimball came on this trainthere he is…
…he hasn't seen me； yetwas in another coach。〃
〃Well？ Go on talking。 LahomaI'd get closer if I could。〃
〃S…H…H！ He knows me； for he was a porter in our hotel。 When he sees
us he'll know I've come home to warn Brick。 S…H…H！ Then he'll try to keep
me from doing it。 Looksome of his gang are speaking to himthey've
been waiting here to meet himthey'll go with him； I expect。 We'll all be
in the stage…coach together！〃
〃What do you want me to do to 'em； Lahoma？〃
〃I want you to pretend that you don't know meand they mustn't find
out your name is Compton； or they'll think Mr。 Edgerton got word to you
to join me here。 Be a stranger till we're safe in the cove。〃
〃All right。 Good…bybut suppose I hadn't come？〃
〃Oh； I could have done without you；〃 said Lahoma。 〃Or I think I
could。〃
〃You could never have done without me！〃 Wilfred declared decidedly。
〃I can right NOW〃 She drew away。 〃I'll get into the stage； don't
follow too soon。〃
There were three stage…coaches drawn up at a short distance from the
platform； and Lahoma went swiftly to the one bound for her part of the
country。 She was the first to enter； she was seated quietly in a corner when
the two long seats that faced each other began filling up。 The last to come
were four men： one； tall； slender； red…faced and red…haired； two others of
dark and lowering faces； who looked upon the former as their leader； and
the last； Wilfred Compton； who had unobtrusively joined himself to this
remnant of Red Kimball's gang。
The stage； which was built after the manner of the old…fashioned
omnibus； afforded no opportunity of moving to and fro in the selection of
seats； hence； when Red Kimball discovered Lahoma's identitythe exact
moment of the discovery was marked by his violent startshe was
safeguarded from his approach by her proximity to a very large woman
flanked by a thin spinster。 These were two sisters； going to the evening's
station where the coach would stop for supper； and Lahoma discussed with
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them their plans and hopes with bright cheerfulness and ready friendship。
Wilfred watched Red Kimball as he glared in that direction； and
guessed his thoughts。 Although Kimball knew Lahoma； he was not sure
that she knew him； and though he was convinced at once that she was on a
mission of warning； that might be true without her knowing that he had
left Kansas City。 Red Kimball was burning to find out if he were a
stranger to her； but at the same time fearful of disclosing himself。 He
muttered to his companions hoarsely； careful that Wilfred； whom he
regarded askance； should overhear nothing that he said。
The situation was such as could not very well continue during the days
it would take the coach to reach Mangum but although Wilfred was
conscious of the strain； he felt excitedly happy。 Very little of his attention
was given to Kimball； and a great deal to Lahoma。 She was talking to the
sisters about the baby of the one and the chickens of the other； offering
advice on both subjects from the experience of a certain Mrs。 Featherby
whom she had known as a child。
〃Mrs。 Featherby was a very wonderful woman；〃 Lahoma announced
with conviction； 〃and the first woman I ever knew。 And when her baby
was teething。。。〃 The very large lady listened with great attention。
〃She told me this when I was a small girl；〃 Wilfred presently heard
Lahoma saying。 〃And I treasured it in my mind。 I stored myself with her
experience about everything there is。 It came to me； then； that if she
moved away from Headquarters Mount