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〃S…H…H！ He knows me； for he was a porter in our hotel。 When he sees
us he'll know I've come home to warn Brick。 S…H…H！ Then he'll try to keep
me from doing it。 Looksome of his gang are speaking to himthey've
been waiting here to meet himthey'll go with him； I expect。 We'll all be
in the stage…coach together！〃
〃What do you want me to do to 'em； Lahoma？〃
〃I want you to pretend that you don't know meand they mustn't find
out your name is Compton； or they'll think Mr。 Edgerton got word to you
to join me here。 Be a stranger till we're safe in the cove。〃
〃All right。 Good…bybut suppose I hadn't come？〃
〃Oh； I could have done without you；〃 said Lahoma。 〃Or I think I
could。〃
〃You could never have done without me！〃 Wilfred declared decidedly。
〃I can right NOW〃 She drew away。 〃I'll get into the stage； don't
follow too soon。〃
There were three stage…coaches drawn up at a short distance from the
platform； and Lahoma went swiftly to the one bound for her part of the
country。 She was the first to enter； she was seated quietly in a corner when
the two long seats that faced each other began filling up。 The last to come
were four men： one； tall； slender； red…faced and red…haired； two others of
dark and lowering faces； who looked upon the former as their leader； and
the last； Wilfred Compton； who had unobtrusively joined himself to this
remnant of Red Kimball's gang。
The stage； which was built after the manner of the old…fashioned
omnibus； afforded no opportunity of moving to and fro in the selection of
seats； hence； when Red Kimball discovered Lahoma's identitythe exact
moment of the discovery was marked by his violent startshe was
safeguarded from his approach by her proximity to a very large woman
flanked by a thin spinster。 These were two sisters； going to the evening's
station where the coach would stop for supper； and Lahoma discussed with
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them their plans and hopes with bright cheerfulness and ready friendship。
Wilfred watched Red Kimball as he glared in that direction； and
guessed his thoughts。 Although Kimball knew Lahoma； he was not sure
that she knew him； and though he was convinced at once that she was on a
mission of warning； that might be true without her knowing that he had
left Kansas City。 Red Kimball was burning to find out if he were a
stranger to her； but at the same time fearful of disclosing himself。 He
muttered to his companions hoarsely； careful that Wilfred； whom he
regarded askance； should overhear nothing that he said。
The situation was such as could not very well continue during the days
it would take the coach to reach Mangum but although Wilfred was
conscious of the strain； he felt excitedly happy。 Very little of his attention
was given to Kimball； and a great deal to Lahoma。 She was talking to the
sisters about the baby of the one and the chickens of the other； offering
advice on both subjects from the experience of a certain Mrs。 Featherby
whom she had known as a child。
〃Mrs。 Featherby was a very wonderful woman；〃 Lahoma announced
with conviction； 〃and the first woman I ever knew。 And when her baby
was teething。。。〃 The very large lady listened with great attention。
〃She told me this when I was a small girl；〃 Wilfred presently heard
Lahoma saying。 〃And I treasured it in my mind。 I stored myself with her
experience about everything there is。 It came to me； then； that if she
moved away from Headquarters Mountainthat's my mountainmaybe no
other woman would ever come there to live； so I stored myself； because I
was determined to learn the business of being a woman。〃
The large woman gazed upon her admiringly。 〃I guess you learned； all
right。〃
They had not gone five miles before the large woman and her younger
sister were in love with Lahomabut it hadn't taken Wilfred five miles。 As
he listened to her bright suggestions； and noted her living eyes； her
impulsive gesturesfor she could not talk without making little
movements with her handsand her flexible sympathetic voice； he saw her
moving about a well…ordered household。。。。 It was on his farm； of course；
and the house was his；and she was his Lahoma。。。。
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Red Kimball watched her with the same sidewise attention； but his
face was brooding； his half…veiled eyes were red and threatening。 What
would happen in the nighttime as the stage pursued its lonely way across
the bleak prairie？ Since Red Kimball meant to appeal to the law in his
revenge against Brick； there was no danger of his transgressing it openly。
But in the darkness with two unscrupulous companions under his
command； he would most probably execute some scheme to prevent
Lahoma from reaching her destination。
The evening shadows were stretching far toward the east from the few
trees that marked the dried bed of a stream； when the coach stopped
among a collection of hovels and tents。 As the horses were led away； the
passengers dismounted； and both Wilfred and Red Kimball hurriedly drew
close to Lahoma。
Lahoma； however； appeared unaware of their presence。 The sisters had
been met by the husband of the older； and as they gathered about the big
wagon； Lahoma was urged to go home with them to supper。 〃We're only a
little ways out；〃 she was told； 〃and we'll sure get you back before the stage
leavesthe victuals at the station ain't fit to eat。〃
A very little insistence induced Lahoma to comply； and both the young
man and the former highwayman saw her go with disappointment。
Kimball and his friends went into the 〃Dining Hall〃 to gulp down a hasty
meal； and Wilfred entered with them。 He remained only a moment；
however； just long enough to purchase a number of sandwiches which he
stored away； as if meaning to eat them in the coach。
As soon as he was in the single street with the door closed behind him；
he darted toward the stage barn； and by means of a handsome deposit
obtained two horses。 Springing upon one； he rode rapidly from the
settlement； leading the other； and in a short time； came in sight of a cabin；
which； with its outhouses； was the only building in all the wide expanse。
From its appearance he knew it to be the one described to Lahoma； and he
galloped up to the door with the certainty of finding her within。 The big
wagon had been unhitched； and the horses were fastened to its wheels；
eating from the bed。
The family was about to sit down to supper； the first to discover
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Wilfred as he flitted past the single window in the side of the cabin； was
Lahoma。 Before he could knock on the door； she had opened it。
〃Oh； Wilfred！〃 she reproached him； 〃they'll miss you and know you've
come to consult with me about warning Brick。〃
〃Quick； Lahoma！〃 said Wilfred； as if she had not spoken； 〃you can ride
a horse； I suppose？〃 He smiled； but his eyes were sparkling with
impatience。
In a flash； Lahoma's face was glowing with enthusiasm。 She looked
back into the room and cried； 〃Good…by！〃 Then Wilfred swung her to the
back of the led horse。 〃We'll beat 'em！〃 cried Lahoma； as he sprang upon
his horse。 〃Fast as you pleaseI've never been left behind； yet！〃
The young man noted with sudden relief that she was dressed for the
hardships of the prairie。 It came to him with a sense of wonder that he had
not noticed that before； perhaps from never having seen her in fashionable
attire。 As they galloped from the cabin； from whose door looked
astonished faces； Lahoma answered his thought
〃Up there；〃 she said； nodding her head toward the East； 〃I dressed for
peoplebut out here； for wind and sand。〃
Looking back； she saw the family running out of the cottage； waving
handkerchiefs and bonne