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and Red Feather's account of how he had dug up the body for a mere pin
of pearl and onyx。。。。 Ought such a creature to live to condemn him； to
bring sorrow on the stepdaughter he had basely refused to acknowledge？
To wait for the coming of the witness would be to lose an opportunity
that might never recur。 Willock would go to him。 In doing so； he would
not only take Gledware by surprise； but would leave the only
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neighborhood in which search would be made for himself。 Thus it came
about that while the environs of the cove were being minutely examined；
Brick； riding his fastest pony； was on the way to Kansas City。
He reached Kansas City without unusual incident； where he was
accepted naturally； as a product of the West。 Had his appearance been
twice as uncouth； twice as wild； it would have accorded all the better with
western superstitions that prevailed in this city； fast forgetting that it had
been a western outpost。 At the hotel； whose situation he knew from
Lahoma's letters； he learned that Gledware was neither there； nor at his
home in the country。 The country…house was closed up and； in fact； there
was a rumor that it was sold； or was about to be sold。 One of the porters
happened to know that Gledware had gone for a week's diversion down in
the Ozarks。 There were a lake； a club…house； a dancing…hall； as yet
unopened。 The season was too early for the usual crowd at Ozark Lodge；
but the warm wave that nearly always came at this time of year； had
prompted a sudden outing party which might last no longer than the warm
wave。
Willock took the first train south and rode with the car window upthe
outside breath was the breath of balmy summer though the trees stood
bleak and leafless against the sky。 Two days ago； snow had fallenbut the
birds did not remember it。 Seven hours brought him to a lonely wagon…
trail called Ozark Lodge because after winding among hills several miles
it at last reached the clubhouse of that name overlooking the lake。 He left
the train in the dusk of evening； and walked briskly away； the only moving
figure in the wilderness。
His pace did not slacken till a gleam as of fallen sky cupped in night…
fringe warned him that the club…house must be near。 A turn of a hill
brought it into view； the windows not yet aglow。 Nearer at hand was the
boat…house； seemingly deserted。 But as Willock； now grown wary； crept
forward among the post…oaks and blackjacks； well screened from
observation by chinkapin masses of gray interlocked network； he
discovered two figures near the platform edging the lake。 Neither was the
one he sought； but from their being therethey were Edgerton Compton
and Annabel；he knew Gledware could not be far away。
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〃No；〃 Annabel was saying decisively； and yet with an accent of regret；
〃No； Edgerton； I can't。〃
〃But our last boat…ride；〃 he urged。 〃Don't refuse me the last ridea ride
to think about all my life。 I'm going away tomorrow at noon； as I promised。
But early in the morning〃
〃I have promised HIM；〃 she said with lingering sadness in her voice。
〃So I must go with him。 He has already engaged the boatman。 He'll be
here at seven； waiting for me。 So you see〃
〃Annabel； I shall be here at seven； also！〃 he exclaimed impetuously。
〃But why？ I must go with him； Edgerton。 You see that。〃
〃Then I shall row alone。〃
〃Why would you add to my unhappiness？〃 she pleaded。
〃I shall be here at seven；〃 he returned grimly； 〃while you and he take
your morning boat…ride； I shall row alone。〃
She turned from him with a sigh； and he followed her dejectedly up
the path toward the club…house。
She had lost some of the fresh beauty which she had brought to the
cove； and her step was no longer elastic； but this Willock did not notice。
He gave little heed to their tones； their gestures； their looks in which love
sought a thin disguise wherein it might show itself unnamed。 He had
seized on the vital fact that in the morning； Annabel and Gledware would
push off from the boat…house steps； presumably alone； and it would be
early morning。 Perhaps Gledware would come first to the boat…house；
there to wait for Annabel。 In that case； he would not ride with Annabel。
The lake was deepdeep as Willock's hate。
Willock passed the night in the woods； sometimes walking against
time among the hills； sometimes seated on the ground； brooding。 The night
was without breath； without coolness。 Occasionally he climbed a rounded
elevation from which the clubhouse was discernible。 No lights twinkled
among the barren trees。 All in that wilderness seemed asleep save himself。
The myriad insects that sing through the spring and summer months had
not yet found their voices； there was no trill of frogs； not even the hooting
of an owl；no sound but his own breathing。
At break of dawn he crept into the boat…house like a shadow；
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barefooted； bareheadedthe club…house was not yet awake。 He looked
about the barnlike room for a hiding…place。 Walls； floor； ceiling were bare。
Near the door opening on the lake was a rustic bench； impossible as a
refuge。 Only in one corner； where empty boxes and a disused skiff formed
a barricade； could he hope for concealment。 He glided thither； and on the
floor between the dusty wall of broad boards and the jumbled partition； he
found a man stretched on his back。
At first； he thought he had surprised a sleeper； but as the figure did not
move； he decided it must be a corpse。 He would have fled but for his need
of this corner。 He bent downthe man was bound hand and foot。 In the
mouth； a gag was fastened。 Neck and ankles were tied to spikes in the
wall。
Willock swiftly surveyed the lake and the sloping hill leading down
from the club…house。 Nobody was near。 As he stared at the landscape； the
front door of the club…house opened。 He darted hack to the corner。
〃Pardner；〃 he said； 〃I got to ask your hospitality for a spell； and if you
move so as to attract attention； I got to fix you better。 I didn't do this here；
pardner； but you shore look like some of my handiwork in days past and
gone。 I'll share this corner with you for a while； and if you don't give me
away to them that's coming； I promise to set you free。 That's fair； I guess。
'A man ain't all bad；' says Brick； 'as unties the knots that other men has
tied；' says he。 Just lay still and comfortable； and we'll see what's coming。〃
Presently there were footsteps in the path； and to Willock's intense
disappointment； Gledware and Annabel came in together。 They were in the
midst of a conversation and at the first few words； he found it related to
Lahoma。 The boatman who had promised to bring the skiff for them at
sevenit developed that Gledware had no intention of doing the rowing
had not yet come。 They sat down on the rustic bench； their voices
distinctly audible in all parts of the small building。
〃Her closest living relative；〃 Gledware said； 〃is a great…aunt； living in
Boston。 As soon as I found out who she wasI'd always supposed her
living among Indians； and that it would be impossible to find herbut as
soon as I learned the truth； without saying anything to HER； I wrote to her
great…aunt。 I've never been in a position to take care of LahomaI felt that
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I ought to place her with her own family。 I got an answerabout what you
would expect。 They'd give her a homeI told them what a respectable girl
she isfairly creditable appearanceintelligent enough。。。 But they couldn't
stand those people she lives withcriminals； you know； Annabel；
highwaymenmurderers！ Imagine Brick Wi