按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 manner changed； it grew deeper and more forceful：
〃Men； I want to talk to you about this casewill you be the jury？
Consider what kind of man swore out that warrant against Brickthe
leader of a band of highwaymen！ And who's his chief witness？ You don't
know Mr。 Gledware。 I do。 You've heard he's a rich and influential citizen
in the East。 That's true。 But I'm going to tell you something to show what
he ISand what Brick Willock is； just one thing； that's all I'll say about the
character of either。 As to Red Kimball； you don't have to be told。 I'm not
going to talk about the general features of the caseas to whether Brick
was ever a highwayman or not； as to whether he killed Red's brother to
save me and my stepfather； or did it in cold blood； as to whether he held
up the stage or not。 These things you've discussed； you've formed opinions
about them。 I want to tell you something you haven't heard。 Will you
listen？〃
At first no one spoke。 Then from the crowd came a measured impartial
voice： 〃We got lots of time。〃
She was not discouraged by the intimation in the tone that all her
speaking was in vain。 Several in the crowd looked reproachfully at him
who had responded； feeling that Lahoma deserved more consideration； but
in the main； the men nodded grim approval。 They had plenty of timebut
at the end of it； Bill would either tell all he knew； or。。。。
Lahoma plunged into the midst of her narrative：
172
… Page 173…
LAHOMA
〃One evening Brick came on a deserted mover's wagon； he'd traveled
all day with nothing to eat or drink； and he got into the wagon to escape
the blistering sun。 In there； he found a dead woman； stretched on her pallet。
He had a great curiosity to see her face； so he began lifting the cloth that
covered her。 He saw a pearl and onyx pin at her throat。 It looked like one
his mother used to wear。 So he dropped the cloth and never looked at her
face。 She had died the evening before； and he knew she wouldn't have
wanted any one to see her THEN。 And he dug a grave in the sand； though
she was nothing to him； and buried hernever seeing her faceand
covered the spot with a great pyramid of stones； and prayed for her little
girlI was her little girlthe Indians had carried me away。 You'll say that
was a little thing； that anybody would have buried the poor helpless body。
Maybe so。 But about not looking at her facewell； I don't know； it WAS a
little thing； of course； but somehow it just seems to show that Brick
Willock wasn't littlehad something great in his soul； you know。 Seems to
show that he couldn't have been a common murderer。 It's something you'll
have to feel for yourselves； nobody could explain it so you'd see； if you
don't understand already。〃
The men stared at her； somewhat bewildered； saying nothing。 In some
breasts； a sense of something delicate； not to be defined； was stirred。
〃One day；〃 Lahoma resumed； 〃Brick saw a white man with some
Indians standing near that grave。 He couldn't imagine what they meant to
do； so he hid； thinking them after him。 Years afterward Red Feather
explained why they came that evening to the pile of stones。 The white man
was Mr。 Gledware。 After Red Kimball's gang captured the wagon…train；
Mr。 Gledware escaped； married Red Feather's daughter and lived with the
Indians； he'd married immediately； to save his life； and the tribe suspected
he meant to leave Indian Territory at the first chance。 Mr。 Gledware； great
coward； was terrified night and day lest the suspicions of the Indians
might finally cost him his life。
〃It wasn't ten days after the massacre of the emigrants till he decided
to give a proof of good faith。 Too great a coward to try to get away and。
caring too much for his wife's rich lands to want to leave； he told about the
pearl and onyx pinhe said he wanted to give it to Red Flower。 A pretty
173
… Page 174…
LAHOMA
good Indian； Red Feather wastrue friend of mine； HE wouldn't rob
graves！ But he said he'd take Mr。 Gledware to the place； and if he got that
pin； they'd all know he meant to live amongst them forever。 THAT'S why
the band was standing there when Brick Willock looked from the
mountain…top。 Mr。 Gledware dug up the body； after the Indians had rolled
away the stonesthe body of his wifemy motherthe body whose face
Brick Willock wouldn't look at； in its helplessness of death。 Mr。 Gledware
is the principal witness against Brick。 If you don't feel what kind of man
he is from what I've said； nobody could explain it to you。〃
From several of the intent listeners burst involuntary denunciations of
Gledware； while on the faces of others showed a momentary gleam of
horror。
Red Kimball's confederate spoke loudly； harshly： 〃But who killed Red
Kimball and his pard and the stage…driver； if it wasn't Brick Willock？〃
〃I think it was Red Feather's band。 I'm witness to the fact that Kimball
agreed to bring Mr。 Gledware the pearl and onyx pin on condition that Mr。
Gledware appear against Brick。 After Mr。 Gledware deserted Red Flower；
or rather after her death； Red Feather carried that pin about him； Mr。
Gledware knew he'd never give it up alive。 He was always afraid the
Indian would find himand at last he did find him。 But Red Kimball got
the pincould that mean anything except that Kimball discovered the
Indian's hiding…place and killed him？ But for that； I'd think it Red Feather
who attacked the stage and killed Red Kimball。 As it is； I believe it must
have been his friends。〃
〃Now you've said something！〃 cried Mizzoo。 〃Boys； don't you think
it's a reasonable explanation？〃
Some of them did； evidently； for the grim resolution on their faces
softened； others； however； were unconvinced。
A stern voice was raised： 〃Let Brick Willock come do his own
explaining。 Bill Atkins knows where he's hiding outand we got to know。
We've started in to be a law…abiding county； and that there warrant against
Willock has got the right of way。〃
〃You've no warrant against Bill；〃 cried Wilfred； stepping to the edge of
the platform； 〃therefore you've violated the law in locking him up。〃
174
… Page 175…
LAHOMA
〃That's so；〃 exclaimed Red Kimball's former comrade。 〃Well； turn 'im
loose； that's what we askLET him goopen the jail door！〃
〃He's locked up for his own safety；〃 shouted Mizzoo。 〃You fellows
agree to leave him alone； and I'll turn him out quick enough。 You talk
about the lawwhat you want to do to Bill ain't overly lawful； I take it。〃
〃If he gives up his secret we ain't going to handle him rough；〃 was the
quick retort。
Lahoma found that the softening influence she had exerted was
already fast dissipating。 They bore with her merely because of her youth
and sex。 She cried out desperately。
〃Is there nothing I can say to move your hearts？ Has my story of that
pearl and onyx pin been lost on you？ Couldn't you understand； after all？
Are you western men； and yet unable to feel the worth of a western man
like Brick？。。。 How he clothed me and sheltered me when the man who
should have supported the child left in his care neglected her。。。。 How he
taught me and was always tender and gentlenever a cross worda man
like THAT。。。。 And you think he could kill！ I don't know whether Bill was
told his hiding…place or not。 But if _I_ knew it； do you think I'd tell？ And
if Bill betrayed him；but Bill wouldn't do it。 Thank God； I've been raised
with real MEN； men that know how to stand by each other and be true to
the death。 You want Bill to turn traitor。 I say； what kind of men are YOU？〃
She turned to Wilfred； blinded by hot tears。 〃Oh； say something to
them！〃 she gasped； clinging to his arm。
〃Go on；〃 murmured Wilfred。 〃I couldn't reach em； and you made a
point； that time。 Go ondon't give 'em a chance to think。〃
〃But I can