按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
coward； was terrified night and day lest the suspicions of the Indians
might finally cost him his life。
〃It wasn't ten days after the massacre of the emigrants till he decided
to give a proof of good faith。 Too great a coward to try to get away and。
caring too much for his wife's rich lands to want to leave； he told about the
pearl and onyx pinhe said he wanted to give it to Red Flower。 A pretty
173
… Page 174…
LAHOMA
good Indian； Red Feather wastrue friend of mine； HE wouldn't rob
graves！ But he said he'd take Mr。 Gledware to the place； and if he got that
pin； they'd all know he meant to live amongst them forever。 THAT'S why
the band was standing there when Brick Willock looked from the
mountain…top。 Mr。 Gledware dug up the body； after the Indians had rolled
away the stonesthe body of his wifemy motherthe body whose face
Brick Willock wouldn't look at； in its helplessness of death。 Mr。 Gledware
is the principal witness against Brick。 If you don't feel what kind of man
he is from what I've said； nobody could explain it to you。〃
From several of the intent listeners burst involuntary denunciations of
Gledware； while on the faces of others showed a momentary gleam of
horror。
Red Kimball's confederate spoke loudly； harshly： 〃But who killed Red
Kimball and his pard and the stage…driver； if it wasn't Brick Willock？〃
〃I think it was Red Feather's band。 I'm witness to the fact that Kimball
agreed to bring Mr。 Gledware the pearl and onyx pin on condition that Mr。
Gledware appear against Brick。 After Mr。 Gledware deserted Red Flower；
or rather after her death； Red Feather carried that pin about him； Mr。
Gledware knew he'd never give it up alive。 He was always afraid the
Indian would find himand at last he did find him。 But Red Kimball got
the pincould that mean anything except that Kimball discovered the
Indian's hiding…place and killed him？ But for that； I'd think it Red Feather
who attacked the stage and killed Red Kimball。 As it is； I believe it must
have been his friends。〃
〃Now you've said something！〃 cried Mizzoo。 〃Boys； don't you think
it's a reasonable explanation？〃
Some of them did； evidently； for the grim resolution on their faces
softened； others； however； were unconvinced。
A stern voice was raised： 〃Let Brick Willock come do his own
explaining。 Bill Atkins knows where he's hiding outand we got to know。
We've started in to be a law…abiding county； and that there warrant against
Willock has got the right of way。〃
〃You've no warrant against Bill；〃 cried Wilfred； stepping to the edge of
the platform； 〃therefore you've violated the law in locking him up。〃
174
… Page 175…
LAHOMA
〃That's so；〃 exclaimed Red Kimball's former comrade。 〃Well； turn 'im
loose； that's what we askLET him goopen the jail door！〃
〃He's locked up for his own safety；〃 shouted Mizzoo。 〃You fellows
agree to leave him alone； and I'll turn him out quick enough。 You talk
about the lawwhat you want to do to Bill ain't overly lawful； I take it。〃
〃If he gives up his secret we ain't going to handle him rough；〃 was the
quick retort。
Lahoma found that the softening influence she had exerted was
already fast dissipating。 They bore with her merely because of her youth
and sex。 She cried out desperately。
〃Is there nothing I can say to move your hearts？ Has my story of that
pearl and onyx pin been lost on you？ Couldn't you understand； after all？
Are you western men； and yet unable to feel the worth of a western man
like Brick？。。。 How he clothed me and sheltered me when the man who
should have supported the child left in his care neglected her。。。。 How he
taught me and was always tender and gentlenever a cross worda man
like THAT。。。。 And you think he could kill！ I don't know whether Bill was
told his hiding…place or not。 But if _I_ knew it； do you think I'd tell？ And
if Bill betrayed him；but Bill wouldn't do it。 Thank God； I've been raised
with real MEN； men that know how to stand by each other and be true to
the death。 You want Bill to turn traitor。 I say； what kind of men are YOU？〃
She turned to Wilfred； blinded by hot tears。 〃Oh； say something to
them！〃 she gasped； clinging to his arm。
〃Go on；〃 murmured Wilfred。 〃I couldn't reach em； and you made a
point； that time。 Go ondon't give 'em a chance to think。〃
〃But I can'tI've said all I had to say〃
〃Don't stop； dear； for God's sakethe case is desperate！ You'll have to
do itfor Bill。〃
〃And that isn't all；〃 Lahoma called in a broken pathetic voice； as she
turned her pale face upon the curious crowd。 〃That isn't all。 You know
Brick and Bill have been all I hadall in this world。。。 You know they
couldn't have been sweeter to me if they'd been the nearest of kinthey
were more like women than men； somehow； when they spoke to me and
sat with me in the dugoutand I guess I know a little about a mother's love
175
… Page 176…
LAHOMA
because I've always had Brick and Bill。 But one day somebody else came
to the cove andand this somebody else； wellhethis somebody else
wants to marry me today。 This was the end of our journey；〃 she went on
blindly； 〃andand it is our wedding…day。 I thought there must be SOME
way to get Brick to the wedding； but you see how it is。 Andand we'll
have to marry without him。 But Bill's herein that jailbecause he
wouldn't betray his friend。 And I couldn't marry without either Brick or
Bill； could I？〃
She took her quivering hand from Wilfred's sturdy arm； and moving to
the top of the steps； held out her trembling arms appealingly：
〃MEN！ Give me Bill！〃
The crowd was with her； now。 No doubt of that。 All fierceness gone；
tears here and there； broad grins to hide deep emotion； open admiration；
touched with tenderness； in the eyes that took in her shy flower…like
beauty。
〃You shall have Bill！〃 shouted the spokesman of the crowd。 And other
voices cried； 〃Give her Bill！ Give her Bill！〃
〃Bring him out！〃 continued the spokesman in stentorian tones。 〃We'll
not ask him a question。 Fellows； clear a path for