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all his money on fixing up the outside of the house； but Wilfred has spent
his on the furnishings。 Well！ If Annabel could change her heart from one
brother to the other just because Edgerton reminded her of Wilfred； I guess
she won't have a very hard time making another transfer； especially as Mr。
Gledware is traveling her way。 When I love anybody； my love is the part
of me that comes alive whenever that person is present； or is mentioned。
So how could I slide it from one man to another； any more than the man
himself could change to another man？ And that's the way I love you； Brick；
and not all the wealth or fame or good looks in the world （and you have
neither） could get my heart away from YOU！
〃Or from Bill。
〃The first time I met Mr。 Gledware； he acted in a curious way。 Of
course I was introduced as 'Miss Willock' and he started at the name； and
at sight of metwo separate little movements just as plain as anything。
Then he said he had heard the name 'Willock' in unusual surroundings； and
that my face reminded him of somebody who was dead。 That was all there
was to it； then。 But afterward he heard Annabel call me 'Lahoma；' and his
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face turned perfectly white。
〃The first chance he had； after that； he sat down to talk to me in a
corner where we wouldn't be overhead； and he asked me questions。 So； of
course； I told about father and mother taking me across the prairie to the
Oklahoma country； and how mother died and father was killed； and I was
with the Indians a while and then was taken to live with my cousin； Brick。
He listened with his head down； never meeting my eye； and when I had
finished all he said was； 'Did you ever bear my name before？'
〃And I said I never had。 Then he asked if I thought I had ever seen him；
for he thought he could remember having seem ME somewhere。 And I
said I wasn't sure； I had met so many people； and there was something
familiar about him。 Then he said he guessed we hadn't ever met unless
accidentally on the trail somewhere； as he had once been down in Texas；
and that was all。
〃I don't like Mr。 Gledware's eye because it always looks away from
you。 He would be considered a handsome man by anybody not particular
about eyes。 Afterward； I heard about his trip to Texas。 Annabel and her
mother were talking about Mr。 Gledware's past。 It seems that once Mr。
Gledware and his first wife （I say his FIRST because I look upon Annabel
as certain to be the second） joined the Oklahoma boomers and they were
attacked by Indians； just as MY father and mother were； and they had with
them his wife's little girl； for he had married a widow； just as MY father
had （my stepfather） and there was a terrible battle。 And Mr。 Gledware； oh；
he was SO brave！ He killed ten Indians after the rest of his party； including
his wife and daughter； had been slain； and he broke through the attacking
party and escaped on a horsethe only one that got away。
〃He doesn't look THAT brave。 Later； I asked him if it could be possible
that he was with the wagon…train we were in； but he said there wasn't any
Mr。 or Mrs。 Willock in his party； and no little girl named Lahoma Willock。
But he's been through what my father went through； and it made me feel
kinder to him； somehow。
〃But his eye is bad。 Maybe it got in the habit of shifting about looking
for Indians in the sagebrush。 Sometimes he seems still to be looking for
Indians。 Well； I see where's he's right there； and I'm going to tell you why；
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which brings me to the biggest news yet。
〃Now I've come to the day when I sent you the telegram； and why I
sent it； so be prepared！ There was to be a big picnic； today； near a town
called Independence； and； as it happened； I didn't feel like going； so
begged offlet me tell you why： I began a novel； last night； full of bright
conversation； the pages all broken up in little scraps of print that hurry you
along as if building steps for you to run downit was ever and ever more
interesting than real people can be。 It was a story about a house…party and
the writer just made them talk to suit himself and not to suit their dulness
as a real house…party must； you know。 So I stayed to finish that book。 Oh；
of course if I had had a lover to be with！ But that's something I'll never
have； I suppose； but I don't complain； Brick； for you've given me
everything else I ever wanted。
〃The reason I would like to have a lover is as follows： So I would
understand the experience of being regarded that way。 It would be like
plowing up the sage…brush to plant kafir…corn and millo…maize； because
until such time； there is bound to be a part of my nature unworked。
〃Now； there is a nook in Mr。 Gledware's library； a sort of alcove where
you have a window all to yourself but are shut off from the rest of the
room； and that is where I was when two men came in softly and closed
and locked the door behind them。 I couldn't see them but just as I was
starting up to find out what it meant； one of themit was Mr。 Gledware；
which surprised me greatly as he had gone with the rest to the picnic
spoke your name； Brick。 As soon as I beard that name； and particularly on
account of the way he spoke it； I determined to 'lay low' and scout out the
trouble。 So I just drew up as small as possible in my chair； as you would
slip along through the high grass if Indians were near； and I listened。
Maybe if I had finished my civilization I would have been obliged to let
them know I was there； but fortunately； I haven't reached the limit； yet。
〃The other man； I soon found； was Red Kimball； they had about
finished their conversation before coming into the room； so the first part
was lost。 Mr。 Gledware had come for his check…book； and the check was
for Red Kimball。 Red Kimball used to be the leader of a band of
highwaymen up in Cimarron； when it was No…Man's Land； it was his hand
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that attacked the wagon…train when Mr。 Gledware acted the heroonly； as
they were disguised as Indians； Mr。 Gledware didn't know they were such
till later。 He came on them； afterward； without their disguises； and they
would have killed him if YOU； Brick； hadn't knocked down Red； and shot
his brother！ So； as I listened； I found out that Mr。 Gledware wasn't the hero
he claimed to be； but was THE MAN YOU SAVED； and he is MY
STEPFATHER； and I was carried away BY HIM； and taken FROM HIM
by the Indians； but he wasn't killed at all。 And my name； I suppose is
Lahoma GLEDWARE； at least not as Red Feather had taught me；
〃Lahoma WILLOCK。〃 And I am NO kin to you； at all； Brick； you just
took me in and cared for me because you ARE Brick Willock； the dearest
tenderest friend a little girl ever hadand these lines are crooked because
there are tearsbecause you are not my cousin。
〃I'd rather be kin to you than married to a prince。
〃Red Kimball says you were one of his gang of highwaymen but I
know it ISN'T TRUE； so you don't have to say A WORD。 But he is
determined to be revenged on you for killing his brother。 And the reason
he's waited this long is because he didn't know where you weregood
reason； isn't it？ Tell you how he found outit all comes from my getting
civilized！ He's a porter at our Kansas City hotel。 So when he heard the
men talking about how I had once been kidnaped by the Indians； and
wrote nearly every day to my cousin Brick Willock； which they thought an
odd namehe guessed the rest。
〃It makes my blood turn cold to think that all the time we were living
quietly and happily in the cove； that awful Red Kimball was hunting for
you； meaning to have your lifeand in a way that I'm ashamed to write；
but must； so you'll know everything。 He means to have you arrested and
tried for his brother's murderand he says HE CAN HANG