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Kimball's band。 That word has been handed down。 Now whether I'm that
man； or just thought to be that man； makes little difference。 I'm a fugitive
on the face of the earth without an ark of safetyreferring to my cove。
That's ME。
〃Now look at LAHOMA。 She has folks； not meaning you； Wilfred； but
Boston kin that stands high。 A woman ain't nothing without family； out in
the world。 You're going to be a great man some day； if I don't miss my
guess； a great man in Oklahoma government and laws。 Lahoma's going to
be proud of you。 You'll take a hand in politics； you'll be elected to
something high。 If I lived near at hand； I'd all…time be hiding； and having
her a…conniving at something that would hurt your reputation if found out；
and that would kill me because I couldn't breathe under such a load。 And if
away from her； wellI'm too old； now； to live without Lahoma。 She's
she's just a habit of mine。
〃So you puts me in jail。 They does what they likes with me； hangs me
or gives me time； but the point as I see it is this： I'll be disposed of； I'll be
given a rank； you may say； and classified。 Lahoma won't be hampered。
She's young； young people takes things hard but they don't take 'em long。
In due time； them Boston kinfolks will be inviting her and will be visiting
her； and you'll be in congress； like enoughif you wasn't a western man；
I'd say you might be president。 And everybody will honor you and feast
youand as to Brick Willock； he'll simply be forgot。
〃Which is eminent and proper； Wilfred。 I belongs to the pastI'M a
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kind of wild creature such as has to die out when civilization rolls high；
and she's rolling high in these parts； and it's for me and Bill to join the
Indians and buffaloes； and fade away。 Trappers is out of date； so is
highwaymen； I judge。
〃I don't know as I makes myself clear or well put； but if you'll catch up
the ponies I guess your sheriff can handle my meaning。〃
Without much difficulty； Wilfred effected another compromise。 They
waited till night before leaving the retreat。 The reason accepted for this
delay was that in the daytime the deputies would stop them and Willock
wanted to give himself up to the chief in command。 When it was dark they
slipped down the gully whose matted trees； though stripped of leaves；
offered additional shelter。 In the cove； they saw the light streaming from
the window of the dugoutthat famous window that had given Lahoma
her first outlook upon learning。 As the beams caught his eye； a sigh heaved
the great bulk of the former master of the cove； but he said nothing。
In oppressive silence they skirted Turtle Hill and emerged from the
horseshoe bend； finding in a sheltered nook the three ponies that Wilfred
had provided at nightfall。 He had hoped to the last that Willock could be
prevailed on to alter his decision； and even while riding away toward
Mangum； he argued and coaxed。 But it was in vain； and as they clattered
up to the hotel veranda； Willock was searching the crowd for a glimpse of
the sheriff。
The street was unusually full for that time of night； some topic of
engrossing interest seemed to engage all minds until Willock's figure was
recognized； then； indeed； he held the center of attention。 Men gathered
eagerly； curiously； but without the hostility they would have displayed had
not a message regarding Red Feather reached the town。 Brick was still an
outlaw； to be sure； but whatever crimes he had committed were unknown；
hence unable to react on the imagination。 The surviving friend of Red
Kimball； giving up his efforts against Willock on the liberation of Bill； had
left the country； harmless without his leader。
Conversation which had been loud and excited； eager calls from street
corners that had punctuated the many…tongued argument and exposition；
dimmed to silence。 There was a forward movement of the men； not a rush
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but a vibratory swell of the human tide； pushing toward the steps of the
hotel。 The two riderless horses danced sidewiseBrick Willock had
jumped upon the unpainted floor of the veranda； and Wilfred had sprung
lightly to his side。
〃I'll just keep on my horse；〃 muttered Bill； resting one leg stiffly over
the pommel。 〃I can't get up as I used to； and I expect to stay with ye； Brick；
to the jail door。〃
Willock did not turn his shaggy head to answer。 He had seen the
sheriff at the other end of the piazza； and he made straight for him； not
even condescending to a grin when the other； mistaking his intentions；
whipped out his revolver。
〃Put it up； pard；〃 Brick said gruffly。 〃When you come to me in the
cove； a few years ago； I give you a warm welcome； but now I ain't a…
coming to you； I'm a…coming to the Law。 Where's that there warrant？〃
The crowd that had been listening to the sheriff's discourse before the
arrival of the highwayman； scattered at sight of the drawn weaponall
except Lahoma。
〃Brick！〃 she cried； 〃oh； Brick； Brick！〃
There was something in her voice he could not understand； but he
dared not turn to examine her face； he could not trust himself if he once
looked at her。
〃Get out your warrant；〃 he cried savagely； 〃and get it out quick if you
want ME！〃 His great breast heaved with the conflict of powerful emotions。
〃I'm sure sorry to see you； old man；〃 Mizzoo declared。 〃We know Red
Feather done what we was charging up against you。 But I guess there's no
other course open to me。 As my aunt used to say （Miss Sue of Missouri） 'I
got a dutydo it； I must。'〃 He thrust his hairy hand into his bosom and
drew forth the fateful paper。
Lahoma laughed。 〃Read it； Mizzoo； read it aloudread all of it！〃 she
cried gleefully。 Wilfred looked at her； bewildered。 The crowd stared also；
knowing her love for Brick； therefore dazed at the sound of mirthful music。
Brick turned his head at last； he looked； also； not reproachfully but with a
question in his hard stern eyes。
Mizzoo turned red。 〃Well； yes； I'll read it；〃 he said； defiantly。 〃Sure！ I
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guess as sheriff of Greer County I'll make shift to get through with it
alive。〃
He began to read； slowly； doggedly； Brick； without movement save for
that heaving of his bosom； facing him with a mingling on his face of
supreme defiance for the reader and superstitious awe for the legal
instrument。
〃That's all；〃 Mizzoo at last announced。 〃You'll have to come with me；
Willock。〃
〃Hold on！〃 came voices from the crowd。 During the reading； they had
been watching Lahoma； and her expression promised more than fruitless
laughter。 〃Hold on； Mizzoo； Lahoma's got something up her sleeve！〃
Lahoma spoke clearly； that her voice might carry to the confines of the
crowd： 〃Mizzoo； I think you read in that warrant； 'county of Greer； state of
Texas'？ Didn't you？〃
〃That's what I done。 Here's the words。〃
〃But； you see；〃 returned Lahoma； 〃that warrant's no good！〃
Mizzoo stared at her a moment； then exclaimed violently； 〃By〃
Propriety forbade the completion of his phrase。
The crowd instantly caught her meaning； a shout rose； shrill；
tumultuous； broken with laughter。 She had reminded them of the subject
which a short time ago had engaged all minds。
〃It's no good；〃 cried Lahoma triumphantly。 She took it from Mizzoo's
lax fingers and deliberately tore it from top to bottom。
〃I guess I'm a…getting old； sure enough；〃 said Bill。 〃This is beyond
me。〃
Wilfred looked at Lahoma questioningly。 Brick； stupefied by violence
done that sacred instrument of civilization； stood rooted to the spot。
Mizzoo was grinning now。 〃You see；〃 he explained； 〃word come today
that the Supreme Court has at last turned in its decision。 Prairie Dog Fork
is now Red River； and 'Red River