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LAHOMA
abruptly； and bent over the page。
〃What of it？〃 asked Bill in surprise。 Willock had uttered words to
which the dugout was unaccustomed。
〃That's what it is；〃 Willock growled； 〃it's Gledware！〃 His face had
grown strangely dark and forbidding； and Wilfred； who had never
imagined it could be altered by such an expression； handed him the letter
with a sense of uneasiness。
〃What of it？〃 reiterated Bill。 〃Suppose it IS Gledware； who is HE？〃
〃Do you know such a man？〃 Wilfred demanded。
〃Out with it！〃 cried Bill； growing wrathful as the other glowered at the
fire。 〃What's come over you？ Look here； Brick Willock； Lahoma is your
cousin； but I claim my share in that little girl and I ask you sharp and flat
〃
〃Oh you go to！〃 cried Willock fiercely。 〃All of you。〃
Wilfred said lightly； 〃Red Feather has already gone there； perhaps。〃
〃Eh？〃 Willock wheeled about as if roused to fresh uneasiness。 The
Indian chief had glided from the room； as silent and as unobtrusive as a
shadow。
Willock sank on the bench beside Bill Atkins and said harshly；
〃Where's my pipe？〃
〃Don't you ask ME where your pipe is；〃 snapped Bill。 〃Yonder it is in
the comer where you dropped it。〃
Willock picked it up； and slowly recovered himself。 〃You see；〃 he
observed apologetically； 〃I need Lahoma about； to keep me tame。 I was
wondering the other day if I could swear if I wanted to。 I guess I could。
And if put to it； I guess I could take up my old life and not be very
awkward about it； eitherI used to be a tax…collector； and of course got
rubbed up against many people that didn't want to pay。 That there
Gledwarewell！ maybe it isn't this one Lahoma writes about； but the one I
knew is just about middle age； and he's a widower； all right； or the next
thing to itI didn't like Gledware。 That was all。 I hate for Lahoma to be
throwed with anybody of the namebut I guess it's all right。 Lahoma ain't
going to let nobody get on her off…side； when the wind's blowing。〃
Bill inquired anxiously； 〃Did that Gledware you knew； live near
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Kansas City？〃
〃He lived over in Indian Territory； last time I heard of him。 But he was
a roving devilhe might be anywhere。 Onlyhe wasn't rich； why； he didn't
have nothing on earth except a littleyes； except a little。〃
〃Then he can't be the owner of a big estate；〃 remarked Wilfred； with
relief。
〃I don't know that。 Folks goes into the Territory； and somehow they
contrives to come out loaded down。 But I hope to the Almighty it's a
different Gledware！〃
〃Lahoma can hold her own；〃 Bill remarked confidently。 〃You just wait
till her next letter comes； and see if she ain't flying her colors as gallant as
when she sailed out of the cove。〃
Wilfred reflected that his invitation to remain had been sincere； there
was nothing to hurry him back to the Oklahoma countryhe would； at
least； stay until the next letter came。 His interest in Lahoma was of course
vague and dreamy； founded rather on the fancies of a thousand…and…one…
nights than upon the actual interview of a brief hour。 But the remarkable
change that had taken possession of Willock at the mention of Gledware's
name； had impressed the young man profoundly。 In that moment； all the
geniality and kindliness of the huge fellow had vanished； and the great
whiskered face had looked so wild and dangerous； the giant fists had
doubled so threateningly； that long after the brow smoothed and the
muscles relaxed； it was impossible to forget the ferocious picture。
〃That's what I'll do；〃 Wilfred declared； settling back in his seat； 〃I'll
wait until that next letter comes。〃
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CHAPTER XV
THE DAY OF FENCES
While waiting for Lahoma's letter； Wilfred Compton spent his days in
ceaseless activity； his evenings in dreamy musings。 Over on the North
Fork of Red Riverwhich was still regarded as Red River proper； and
therefore the dividing line between Texas and Indian Territoryhe
renewed his acquaintance with the boys of Old Man Walker's ranch。 Henry
Woodson； the cow…puncher； still known as Mizzoo was one of the old
gang who greeted Wilfred with extravagant joy which shaded away to
easy and picturesque melancholy in lamenting the passing of the good old
days。
〃These is the days of fences；〃 complained Mizzoo； as Wilfred； in
answer to his invitation； rode forth with him to view the changes。 〃Time
was； our cattle was bounded on the south by nothing but the south wind；
and on the north by nothing but the north wind； hut these unmitigated
settlers has spiled the cattle business。 I'm looking for the old man to sell
out and quit。 Why； look at all the little towns that has sprung up so
confusing and handy that you don't know which to choose to liquor up。
They comes like a thief in the night； and in the morning they're equipped
to rob you。 I can't keep no change by meI've asked the old man to hold
back my wages till the end of the year。 But I'm calculating to make
something out of these very misfortunes。 You know I always was sort of
thriftyyes； as they GOT to be a settled county round us； it'll needs call for
a sheriff； and if all signs don't fail； I'll get the job this week。 Then there'll
be no more riding of the line for old Mizzoo。〃
Wilfred rode with him to Mangum； and other villages； with names and
without； and he tingled to the spirit of the bounding West。 There might be
only a few dugouts； some dingy tents and a building or so of undressed
pine； but each hamlet felt in itself the possibilities of a city； and had its
spaces in the glaring sands or the dead sagebrush which it called 〃the
Square〃 and 〃Main Street〃 and possibly 〃the park。〃 The air quivered with
expectations of a railroad； maybe two or three； and each cluster of hovels
expected to find itself in a short time constituted the county…seat； with a
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gleaming steel road at its back door。
This spirit of optimism was but a reflection of the miraculous growth
of the new country of which Greer County； though owned by Texas； felt
itself； in a sense； an integral part。 Eight years before； Indian Territory was
the hunting…ground of the Indian； and whosoever attempted to settle within
its limits was driven forth by the soldiers。 It was then a land of dim
twilight； full of mystery and wildness； with vast stretches of thirsty plains
and bleak mountains around which the storms； unbroken by forests；
shrieked in the 〃straight winds〃 of many days； or whined the threat of the
deadly tornado。 And suddenly it became a land of high noon； garish and
crude； but wide…awake and striving with all the tireless energy of young
blood。
Scarcely had the Oklahoma country been taken possession of before
the settlers began agitating the question of an organized territory； and too
impatient to wait for Congress to act； held their own convention at Guthrie
and divided the land into counties。 Congress made them wait five months…
…an age in the new countrybefore approving the Organic Act。 The district；
which a short time before had been the Unassigned Lands； became the
counties of Logan； Oklahoma； Cleveland； Canadian； Kingfisher and Payne。
To these was added Beaver County which in Brick Willock's day had been
called 〃No…Man's Land；〃 and which the law…abiding citizens； uniting
against bandits and highwaymen； had sought to organize as Cimmaron
Territory。
Then came the rivalry between Guthrie and Oklahoma City for the
capital； adding picturesqueness to territorial history； and offering
incitement to many a