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point； that time。 Go ondon't give 'em a chance to think。〃
〃But I can'tI've said all I had to say〃
〃Don't stop； dear； for God's sakethe case is desperate！ You'll have to
do itfor Bill。〃
〃And that isn't all；〃 Lahoma called in a broken pathetic voice； as she
turned her pale face upon the curious crowd。 〃That isn't all。 You know
Brick and Bill have been all I hadall in this world。。。 You know they
couldn't have been sweeter to me if they'd been the nearest of kinthey
were more like women than men； somehow； when they spoke to me and
sat with me in the dugoutand I guess I know a little about a mother's love
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because I've always had Brick and Bill。 But one day somebody else came
to the cove andand this somebody else； wellhethis somebody else
wants to marry me today。 This was the end of our journey；〃 she went on
blindly； 〃andand it is our wedding…day。 I thought there must be SOME
way to get Brick to the wedding； but you see how it is。 Andand we'll
have to marry without him。 But Bill's herein that jailbecause he
wouldn't betray his friend。 And I couldn't marry without either Brick or
Bill； could I？〃
She took her quivering hand from Wilfred's sturdy arm； and moving to
the top of the steps； held out her trembling arms appealingly：
〃MEN！ Give me Bill！〃
The crowd was with her； now。 No doubt of that。 All fierceness gone；
tears here and there； broad grins to hide deep emotion； open admiration；
touched with tenderness； in the eyes that took in her shy flower…like
beauty。
〃You shall have Bill！〃 shouted the spokesman of the crowd。 And other
voices cried； 〃Give her Bill！ Give her Bill！〃
〃Bring him out！〃 continued the spokesman in stentorian tones。 〃We'll
not ask him a question。 Fellows； clear a path for 'em。〃
A broad lane was formed through the throng of smiling men whom the
sudden； unexpected light of love had softened magically。
While Mizzoo hastened to Bill's cell； some one exclaimed； 〃Invite us；
too。 Make it a town wedding！〃
And another started the shout； 〃Hurrah for Lahoma！〃
Lahoma； who had taken refuge behind Wilfred's protection； wept and
laughed in a rosy glow of triumphant joy。
Mizzoo presently reappeared； leaving the door wide open。 He walked
to the stairs； the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deep…cut with
appreciation of the situation。 〃Fellows；〃 he called； 〃he says you carried
him in there； and dinged if you won't have to carry him out； for not a step
will he take！〃
At this unexpected development； a burst of laughter swelled into a roar。
After that mighty merriment； Bill was as safe as a babe。 Twenty volunteers
pressed forward to carry the wedding…guest from his cell。 And when the
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old man slowly but proudly followed Wilfred and Lahoma to the hotel
where certain preparations were to be made particularly as touching
Bill's personal appearancethe town of Mangum began gathering at the
newly…erected church whither they had been invited。
When the four friendsfor Mizzoo joined themdrove up to the
church door in the only carriage available； Bill descended stiffly； his eyes
gleaming fiercely from under snowy locks； as if daring any one to ask him
a question about Brick。 But nobody did。
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CHAPTER XXIV
MINE ENEMY
The general suspicion that Bill Atkins knew more about Brick
Willock than he had revealed； was not without foundation； though the
extent of his knowledge was more limited than the town supposed。 Bill
had carried to his friendhidden in the crevice in the mountain…topthe
news of Red Kimball's death； since then； they had not seen each other。
Skulking along wooded gullies by day； creeping down into the cove at
night； Willock had unconsciously reverted to the habits of thought and
action belonging to the time of his outlawry。 He was again； in spirit； a
highwayman； though his hostility was directed only against those seeking
to bring him to justice。 The softening influence of the years spent with
Lahoma was no longer apparent in his shifting bloodshot eyes； his
crouching shoulders； his furtive hand ever ready to snatch the weapon
from concealment。 This sinister aspect of wildness； intensified by
straggling whiskers and uncombed locks； gave to his giant form a kinship
to the huge grotesquely shaped rocks among which he had made his den。
He heard of Red Kimball's death with bitter disappointment。 He had
hoped to encounter his former chief； to grapple with him； to hurl him；
perhaps； from the precipice overlooking Bill's former home。 If in his fall；
Kimball； with arms wound about his waist； had dragged him down to the
same death； what matter？ Though his enemy was now no more； the sheriff
held the warrant for his arrestas if the dead man could still strike a mortal
blow。 The sheriff might be overcomehe was but a man。 That piece of
paper calling for his arrestan arrest that would mean； at best； years in。 the
penitentiaryhad behind it the whole state of Texas。
To Willock's feverish imagination； the warrant became personified； a
mysterious force； not to be destroyed by material means； it was not only
paper； but spirit。 And it had come between him and Lahoma； it had shut
him off from the possibility of a peaceful old age。 The cove was no longer
home but a hiding…place。
He did not question the justice of this sequel to his earlier life。 No
doubt deeds of long ago； never punished； demanded a sacrifice。 He hated
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the agents of this justice not so much because they threatened his liberty；
his life； as because they stepped in between himself and Lahoma。 Always
a man of expedients； he now sought some way of frustrating justice； and
naturally his plans took the color of violence。 Denied the savage joy of
killing Red Kimballand he would have killed him with as little
compunction as if he had been a wolfhis thoughts turned toward
Gledware。
Gledware was the only witness of the deed for which the warrant
demanded his arrest。 Willock wished many of his other deeds had been
prompted by impulses as generous as those which had led to Kansas
Kimball's death。 Perhaps it was the irony of justice that he should be
threatened by the one act of bloodshed which had saved Lahoma's life。 If
he must be hanged or imprisoned because he had not； like the rest of the
band； given himself up for official pardon； it was as well to suffer from
one deed as from another。 But it would be better still； as in the past； to
escape all consequences。 Without Gledware； they could prove nothing。
Would Gledware testify； now that Red Kimball； who had bought his
testimony with the death of the Indian； no longer lived to exact payment？
Willock felt sure he would。 In the first place； Gledware had placed himself
on record as a witness； hence could hardly retreat； in the second place； he
would doubtless be anxious to rid himself of the danger of ever meeting
Willock； whom his conscience must have caused him to hate with the
hatred of the man who wrongs his benefactor。
Willock transferred all his rage against the dead enemy to the living。
He reminded himself how Gledware had caused the death of Red Feather；
not in the heat of fury or in blind terror； but in coldblooded bargaining。 He
meditated on Gledware's attitude toward Lahoma； he thought nothing
good of him； he magnified the evil。 That scene at the grave of his wife
and Red Feather's account of how he had dug up the body for a mere pin
of pearl and onyx。。。。 Ought s