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highwaymenmurderers！ Imagine Brick Willock in a Boston drawing…
room。。。 But you couldn't。〃
〃No；〃 Annabel agreed。 〃Poor Lahoma！ And I know she'd never give
him up。〃
〃That's itshe's immovable。 She'd insist on taking him along。 But he
belongs to another agea different country。 He couldn't understand。 He
thinks when you've anything against a man； the proper move is to kill 'im。
He's just like an Indiana wild beast。 Wouldn't know what we meant if we
talked about civilization。 His religion is the knife。 Wellyou see； if he
were out of the way； Lahoma would have her chance。〃
〃But couldn't he be arrested？〃
〃That's my only hope。 If he were hanged； or locked up for a certain
number of years； Lahoma'd go East。 But as long as he's at large； she'll wait
for him to turn up。 She'll stay right there in the cove till she dies of old age；
if he's free to visit her at odd moments。 It's her idea of fidelity； and it's true
that he did take her in when she needed somebody。 There's a move on foot
now； to arrest him for an old crimea murder。 I witnessed the deedI'll
testify； if called on。 Lahoma will hate me for thatbut it'll be the greatest
favor I could possibly do her。 She knows I mean to appear against him；
and she thinks me a brute。 But if I can convict Willock； it'll place Lahoma
in a family of wealth and refinement〃
He broke off with； 〃Wonder why that old deaf boatman doesn't come？〃
He walked impatiently to the head of the steps and stared out over the lake。
〃Somebody out there now；〃 he exclaimed。 〃Oh；it's Edgerton； rowing
about！〃
He returned to the bench； but did not sit down。 〃Annabel；〃 he said
abruptly； 〃you promised me to name the day； this morning。〃
〃Yes；〃 she responded very faintly。
〃And I am sure； dear；〃 he added in a deep resonant voice； 〃that in time
you will come to care for me as I care for you nowyou； the only woman I
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have ever loved。 I understand about Edgerton； but you see； you couldn't
marry himin fact； he couldn't marry anybody for years； he has nothing。。。。
And these earlier attachments that we think the biggest things in our lives…
…well； they just dwindle； Annabel； they dwindle as we get the true
perspective。 I know your happiness depends upon me； and it rejoices me to
know it。 I can give you all you wantall you can dream ofand I'm man…
of…the…world enough to understand that happiness depends just on that
getting what you want。〃
Annabel started up abruptly。 〃I think I heard the boat scraping
outside。〃
〃Yes； he's there。 Come； dear； and before the ride is ended you must
name the day〃
〃DON'T！〃 she exclaimed sharply。 〃He〃
〃He's as deaf as a post； my dear；〃 Gledware murmured gently。 〃That's
why I selected him。 I knew we'd want to talkI knew you'd name the day。〃
He helped her down the rattling boards。
Brick Willock rose softly and stole toward the opening； his eyes filled
with a strange light。 They no longer glared with the blood…lust of a wild
beast； but showed gloomy and perplexed； the words spoken concerning
himself had sunk deep。
The boatman sat with his back to Gledware and Annabel。 He wore a
long dingy coat of light gray and a huge battered straw hat； whose wide
brim hid his hair and almost eclipsed his face。 Willock； careful not to show
himself； stared at the skiff as it shot out from the landing； his brow
wrinkled in anxious thought。 He felt strange and dizzy； and at first fancied
it was because of the resolution that had taken possession of himthe
resolution to return to Greer County and give himself up。 This purpose； as
unreasoning as his plan to kill Gledware； grew as fixed in his mind as half
an hour before his other plan had been。
To go voluntarily to the sheriff； unresistingly to hold out his wrists for
the handcuffsthat would indeed mark a new era in his life。 〃A wild
Indian wouldn't do that；〃 he mused； 〃nor a wild beast。 I guess I understand；
after all。 And if that's the way to make Lahoma happy。。。。〃
No wonder he felt queer； but his light…headedness did not rise； as a
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matter of fact； entirely from subjective storm…threatenings。 There was
something about that boatmannow； when he tilted up his head slightly；
and the hat failed to concealwas it possible？。。。
〃My God！〃 whispered Willock； 〃it's Red Feather！〃
And Gledware； with eyes only for Annabel； finding nothing beyond
her but a long gray coat； a big straw hat and two rowing armsdid not
suspect the truth！
In a flash； Willock comprehended all。 The Indian had dropped the pin
in Kimball's path； and Kimball； finding it； had carried it to Gledware as if
Red Feather were dead。 The Indian had led his braves against the stage…
coachKimball had fallen under his knife。 Yonder man in the corner；
bound and gagged； was doubtless the old deaf boatman engaged by
Gledware。 Red Feather had taken his place that he might row Gledware far
out on the lake。。。。
But Annabel was in the boat。 If the Indian。。。
Far away toward the east； Edgerton Compton was rowing； not near
enough to intervene in case the Indian attempted violence； but better able
than himself to lend assistance if the boat were overturned。 Willock could；
in truth； do nothing； except shout a warning； and this he forebore lest it
hasten the impending catastrophe。 He remained； therefore； half…hidden；
crouching at the doorway； his eyes glued to the rapidly gliding boat； with
its three figures clear…cut against the first faint sun…glow。
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CHAPTER XXV
GLEDWARE'S POSSESSIONS
Red Feather's mind was not constituted to entertain more than one
leading thought at a time。 Ever since the desertion and death of his
daughter； revenge had been his dominant passion。 It was in order to find
Gledware that he had haunted the trail during the years of lahoma's youth；
always hoping to discover him in the new countrygliding behind herds of
cattle； listening to scraps of talks among the cattlemen； earning from
Mizzoo the uneasy designation； 〃the ghost。〃
Thanks to the reading aloud of Lahoma's letter； he had learned of
Gledware's presence in the city which he had known years before as
Westport Landing。 He went thither unbewildered by its marvelous changes；
undistracted by its tumultuous flood of lifefor his mind was full of his
mission； he could see only the blood following the blade of his knife；
heard nothing but a groan； a death…rattle。
Gledware's presence in the boat this morning had been made possible
only by the interposition of Lahoma； but for the Indian's deep…seated
affection for her whom he regarded as a child； the man now smiling into
Annabel's pale face would long ago have found his final resting…place。 It
was due to the Indian's singleness of thought that Lahoma's plan had
struck him as good。 Gledware； stripped of all his possessions； slinking as a
beggar from door to door； no roof； no bed； but sky and earth that is what
Red Feather had meant。
He had believed Gledware glad of the respite。 That he should accept
the alternative seemed reasonable。 There was a choice only between death
and povertyand Gledware wished to live so desperatelyso basely！ The
chief cared little for life； still； he would unhesitatingly have preferred the
most meager existence to a knife in his heart； how much more； then； this
craven white man。 But the plan had failed because Gledware did not
believe death was the other alternative。 Never in the remotest way had it
occurred to the avenger that Gledware could be spared should he prove
false to his oath。 Red Feather was less a man with passions than a cold
relentless fate。 This fate would surely overcome the helpless wretch；