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The young man read it hastily； then turned to Bill。 His face wore a
decidedly puzzled look。
〃I don't understand；〃 he said。
〃Neither do I；〃 returned Bill rather blankly。 〃I guess if there is to be
any setting down； it's Brick that needs a chair。〃
The telegram was as follows：
〃The second you get this； hide for your life。 Red Kimball says he can
prove everything。 Will explain in letter。
〃Lahoma。〃
〃Don't say nothing to me for a spell；〃 growled Brick； thrusting his
hands deep into his pockets。 〃I've got to think mighty quick。〃 He strode
toward the dugout； leaving Wilfred and Bill staring at each other；
speechless。
In a short time； Willock reappeared； bringing from the dugout his
favorite gun。 〃Come along；〃 he bade them briefly。 When he had ascended
the rounded swell of Turtle Hill； he stretched himself between two wide
flat rocks and lay with his face and gun directed toward the opening of the
cove。
〃Now； Bill；〃 he said sharply； 〃if you will just set facing me with your
eye on the north wall； so you can tell if anybody tries to sneak over the
mountain…top； I'll make matters clear。 Wilfred； you can go or stay； free as
air； only IF you stay； I can't promise but you may see a man killedme； or
Red Kimball； I don't know which； though naturally I has my preference；〃
he added； his harsh voice suddenly changing to the accent of comradeship。
〃As to Bill； he ain't got no choice。 He come and put up with me and
Lahoma when nobody didn't want him； and now； in time of danger； I 'low
to get all the help out of him that's there in spite of a begrudging
disposition and the ravages of time。〃
〃What I want to know is this；〃 Bill interrupted： 〃Who and what is this
Red Kimball？ And if you have to hide from him； why ain't you doing it？〃
〃I puts it this way； Bill： that the telegram traveled faster than old Red
could； so no need to hide till tonight； though when you deals with Red； it
behooves you to have your gun ready against chances。 You want to know
about Red Kimball？ But I think I'd best wait till Lahoma's letter comes； so
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my story can tally with hers。 I got my reasons for not wanting to tell all
about Red Kimball which I reckon he wouldn't be grateful for； but that's
for him to say。 So I 'lows to tell only as much as I has to tell； that
depending on what Lahoma has picked up； according。〃
〃I suppose you've met him face to face？〃 growled Bill。
〃They don't seem to be no harm in that question； Bill； but you never
knows where a first question is leading you。 If I refuses to answer what
seems fair and square； no suspicions is roused when I refuses to answer
what might sound dark and shady。 So I banks myself against my general
resolution to say nothing beyond Lahoma's word。〃
〃Her word says he can prove everything。 What is 'everything'？〃
〃That's what we'll learn from her letter。 We'll just watch him do his
proving！〃
〃And her word says to hide this minute。〃
〃I don't do my hiding in daylight； but when it's good and dark； I'm
going to put out。 I would tell you the hiding…place； for I trusts you both
but if you knowed where it was； and if officers of the law come to you for
information； you'd be in a box； I know you wouldn't give me up； but
neither would you swear to a lie。 Not knowing where I hides； your
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。 W