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dared not turn to examine her face； he could not trust himself if he once
looked at her。
〃Get out your warrant；〃 he cried savagely； 〃and get it out quick if you
want ME！〃 His great breast heaved with the conflict of powerful emotions。
〃I'm sure sorry to see you； old man；〃 Mizzoo declared。 〃We know Red
Feather done what we was charging up against you。 But I guess there's no
other course open to me。 As my aunt used to say （Miss Sue of Missouri） 'I
got a dutydo it； I must。'〃 He thrust his hairy hand into his bosom and
drew forth the fateful paper。
Lahoma laughed。 〃Read it； Mizzoo； read it aloudread all of it！〃 she
cried gleefully。 Wilfred looked at her； bewildered。 The crowd stared also；
knowing her love for Brick； therefore dazed at the sound of mirthful music。
Brick turned his head at last； he looked； also； not reproachfully but with a
question in his hard stern eyes。
Mizzoo turned red。 〃Well； yes； I'll read it；〃 he said； defiantly。 〃Sure！ I
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guess as sheriff of Greer County I'll make shift to get through with it
alive。〃
He began to read； slowly； doggedly； Brick； without movement save for
that heaving of his bosom； facing him with a mingling on his face of
supreme defiance for the reader and superstitious awe for the legal
instrument。
〃That's all；〃 Mizzoo at last announced。 〃You'll have to come with me；
Willock。〃
〃Hold on！〃 came voices from the crowd。 During the reading； they had
been watching Lahoma； and her expression promised more than fruitless
laughter。 〃Hold on； Mizzoo； Lahoma's got something up her sleeve！〃
Lahoma spoke clearly； that her voice might carry to the confines of the
crowd： 〃Mizzoo； I think you read in that warrant； 'county of Greer； state of
Texas'？ Didn't you？〃
〃That's what I done。 Here's the words。〃
〃But； you see；〃 returned Lahoma； 〃that warrant's no good！〃
Mizzoo stared at her a moment； then exclaimed violently； 〃By〃
Propriety forbade the completion of his phrase。
The crowd instantly caught her meaning； a shout rose； shrill；
tumultuous； broken with laughter。 She had reminded them of the subject
which a short time ago had engaged all minds。
〃It's no good；〃 cried Lahoma triumphantly。 She took it from Mizzoo's
lax fingers and deliberately tore it from top to bottom。
〃I guess I'm a…getting old； sure enough；〃 said Bill。 〃This is beyond
me。〃
Wilfred looked at Lahoma questioningly。 Brick； stupefied by violence
done that sacred instrument of civilization； stood rooted to the spot。
Mizzoo was grinning now。 〃You see；〃 he explained； 〃word come today
that the Supreme Court has at last turned in its decision。 Prairie Dog Fork
is now Red River； and 'Red River' is only the North Fork of Red River
and that means that Greer County don't belong to Texas； and never did
belong to her； but is a part of Oklahoma。〃
〃And you'll never have an Oklahoma writ served on you；〃 cried
Lahoma； 〃not while I'm living！ And you'll go with us to our farm and live
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with us； you and Bill and。。。〃
Lahoma had expected to be very calm and logical； for she knew she
had all the advantage on her side。 But when she saw the change in Brick's
eyes； she forgot her rights； she forgot all that watching crowd； she forgot
even Wilfredand with a spring she was in Brick's arms； sobbing for joy。
He tried to say something about her Boston kin； but he could not
express the thought coherently； for giant as he was； he was sobbing； too。
〃If there's ever a meeting；〃 she said； between tears and laughter； 〃the
East will have to come to the West！〃
〃Those Boston folks；〃 cried Bill； with a sudden upheaval of unwonted
humor； 〃can simply go tobeans！ I'm a…getting down；〃 he added；
cautiously lowering himself from his pony； 〃I guess I'm in this； too。〃
〃You're in it；〃 growled Brick； 〃but you're on the outskirts。 Don't come
no nearer。〃 He stroked the head that rested on his breast； his great hand
moving with exceeding gentleness。 He gazed over her brown glory； at the
sympathetic crowd。
〃Fellows；〃 he cried； 〃just look what I've raised！〃
〃Boys；〃 exclaimed Mizzoo； 〃what do you say？ Let's give three cheers
for Lahoma。〃
Wilfred's voice cut across the last word； proud and happy： 〃Make it
Lahoma of Oklahoma！〃
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