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by means of a flight of six steps leading to an unroofed platform before the
door of the story proper。 Mizzoo and Wilfred； standing on this platform；
were lifted above the heads of perhaps a hundred men who watched
eagerly the dangling bunch of keys。 Mizzoo had stationed three deputies at
the foot of the steps to keep back the mob； for if the excited men once
rushed into the jail nothing could check their course。 The deputies； tall
broad…shouldered fellows； pushed back the threatening tide； always with
good…natured protests；words half bantering； half appealing； repulsive
thrusts of the arms； rough but inflicting no hurt。 So peaceful a minute
before had been the Square； it was difficult to comprehend the sudden
spirit of danger。
Mizzoo whispered to Wilfred； 〃We'd better get in as quick as
possible。〃
The words were lost in the increasing roar of voices。 He spoke again：
〃When I swing open the door； that bunch will try to make a run for it。
You jump inside and I'll be after you like a shot。。。。 We'll lock ourselves in
〃
〃Hey； Mizzoo！〃 shouted a voice from the crowd； 〃bring out that old
cuss。 Drag him to the platform； we want to hear what he's got to say。
〃Say； Mr。 Sheriff！ Tell him if he won't come to us； we'll go to him。
We've got to know where Brick Willock's hiding； and that's all about it。〃
〃Sure！〃 growled a third。 〃What kind of a town is this； anyway？ A
refuge for highwaymen and murderers？〃
A struggle took place at the foot of the stairs； not so good…naturedly as
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heretofore。 A reasoning voice was heard： 〃Just let me say a word to the
boys。〃
〃Yes！〃 called others； 〃let's hear HIM！〃
There was a surging forward； and a man was lifted literally over the
heads of the three deputies； he reached the platform breathless； disheveled；
but triumphant。 It was the survivor of Red Kimball's band。
Mizzoo； mistaking his coming for a general rush； had hastily relocked
the door； and he and Wilfred defended themselves with drawn revolvers。
〃I ain't up here to do no harm；〃 called the ex…highwayman。 〃I ain't got
the spirit for warfare。 My chief is killed； my pards is dead。 Even that
innocent stage…driver what knew nothing of us； is killed in the attack that
Brick Willock made on us in the dark and behind our backs。 How're you
going to grow when the whole world knows you ain't nothing but a den of
snakes？ You may claim it's all Brick Willock。 I say if he's bigger than the
town； if he murders and stabs and you can't help it； then the town ain't as
good as him。 My life's in danger。 I don't know if I'll draw another breath。
What kind of a reputation is that for you to send abroad？ There's a man in
this jail can tell you where Willock's hiding。 Good day！〃
The speaker was down the steps in two leaps； and the deputies drew
aside to let him pass out。 Civic pride； above all； civic ambition； had been
touched to the quick。 A hoarse roar followed the speech； and cries for Bill
grew frantic。 Mizzoo； afraid to unlock the door； stared at Wilfred in
perplexity。
〃I told you they had civilization on the brain；〃 he muttered。 〃The old
times are past。 I daresn't make a move toward that lock。〃
〃Drop the keys behind youI'll get 'em；〃 Wilfred murmured。 〃Step a
little forward。 Say something to 'em。〃
〃Ain't got nothing to say；〃 growled Mizzoo； glaring at the mob。 〃These
boys are in the right of it； that's how I feelcuss that obstinate old bobcat！
it's his own fault if they string him up。〃
〃Here they come！〃 Wilfred exclaimed。
〃Steady now； old Mizzoowe've whipped packs of wolves before
todaycoyotes crazy with hungerbig gray loafers in the rockseh；
Mizzoo？〃 He shouted to the deputies who had been pushed against the
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railing： 〃Give it to 'em； boys！〃
But the deputies did not fire； and the mob； though chafing with mad
impatience； did not advance。 It was a single figure that swept up the steps；
unobstructed； aided； indeed； by the mass of packed men in the streeta
figure slight and erect； tingling with the necessity of action to which every
vein and muscle responded； tingling so vitally； so electrically； that the
crowd also tingled； not understanding； but none the less thrilled。
〃Lahoma！〃 Wilfred was at her side。 〃You here！〃
〃Yes； I'm here；〃 she returned breathlessly； her face flaming with
excitement。 〃I'm going to talk to these peoplelet me have that〃 She
took the revolver from his unresisting hand； uncocked it； and slipped it
into her bosom。 Then she faced the mob and held up her empty hand。
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CHAPTER XXIII
FACING THE MOB
It was the first time Lahoma had ever faced an audience larger than
that composed of Brick and Bill and Willock； for in the city she had been
content to play an unobtrusive part； listening to others； commenting
inwardly。 Speech was now but a mode of action； and in her effort to turn
the sentiment of the mob； she sought not for words but emotions。 Bill's life
was at stake。 What could she say to make them Bill's friends？ After her
uplifted hand had brought tense silence； she stood at a loss； her eyes big
with the appeal her tongue refused to utter。
The mob was awed by that light in her eyes； by the crimson in her
cheeks； by her beauty； freshness and grace。 They would not proceed to
violence while she stood there facing them。 Her power she recognized； but
she understood it was that of physical presence。 When she was gone； her
influence would depart。 They knew Brick and Bill had sheltered her from
her tenderest years； they admired her fidelity。 Whatever she might say to
try to move their hearts would come from a sense of gratitude and would
be received in tolerant silence。 The more guilty the highwayman； the more
commendable her loyalty。 But it would not change their purpose； as if
waiting for a storm to pass； they stood stolid and close…mouthed； slightly
bent forward； unresisting； but unmoved。
〃I'm a western girl；〃 Lahoma said at last； 〃and ever since Brick
Willock gave me a home when I had none； I've lived right over yonder at
the foot of the mountains。 I was there when the cattlemen came； before the
Indians had given up this country； and I was here when the first settlers
moved in； and when the soldiers drove them out。 I was living in the cove
with Brick Willock when people came up from Texas and planted miles
and miles of wheat； and I used to play with the rusty plows and machinery
they left scattered aboutafter the three years' drought had starved them
back to their homes。 Then Old Man Walker came to Red River； sent his
cowboys to drive us out of the cove； and your sheriff led the bunch。 And it
was Brick and myself that stood them off with our guns； our backs to the
wall and our powder dry； and we never saw Mizzoo in our cove again。 So
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you see； I ought to be able to talk to western men in a way they can
appreciate； and if there's anybody here that's not a western manhe
couldn't understand our style； anyhowhe'd better go where he's needed；
for out West you need only western menlike Brick Willock； for
instance。〃
At reference to the well…known incident of Mizzoo's attempt to drive
Willock from the cove； there was a sudden wave of laughter； none the less
hearty because Mizzoo's face had flushed and his mouth had opened
sheepishly。 But at the recurrence of Willock's name； the crowd grew
serious。 They felt the justice of her claim that out West only western men
were needed； they excused her for thinking Brick a model type； but let any
one else hold him up before them as a model！。。。
Lahoma's m