The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-08-20
CHAPTER XVI.
IAfe On One Condition.

CHAPTER XVI.
IAfe On One Condition.
Hitherto Wilfred. as guest OF
honor, had been offered the cabin
as his sleeping quarters. and he
had accepted il because of the
countless reminders of Lahoma;
but this night. he shared the dug
out with Bill. from a sense of
impending danger. Until a late
hour they sat over the glowing
Goals. discussing their present sit
uatfon and offering conjectures
about Wiilock's younger days
Sometimes Wilfred rose and
passing to the window. raised the
curtain to stare out on a stormy
night; and once, in doing SO, he
surprised a pair of red eyes under
bristling gray hair which seemed
to glow hot as molten lead.
"If my arms we're tied, re-
marked Bill, I'D rather trust my
self to that coyote than to Red
Kimball. ] hate to think of Brick
out yonder on the mountain all
alone. Well. this kind of thing
can't last long. that's plain"
II was Wilfred's conviction that
this kind of thing" could not,
indeed, last long. Lshoma's next
letter came confirmatory of his
worst fears.
Just read IL aloud, Wilfred,"
said Brick, as all gathered in the
retreat at the mopntain-top.
Dear Brick and Bill:
.'This is fidnight. / expect to
probably this letter viii get away
There was a bright moonlight.
and l was sitting at my window Mss be-
big summer house at the far end of
the lawn. The first thing that
saw was Red Kimball come out and
as 1 saw him. / guessed that he
and Mr.. Gledware had been eonspir-
ing in the summer-house.
Pretty soon something passed
through the gate. like the shadow
of a cloud. Only there wasn't any
cloud: and in the flash of moon
light 1 saw our old friend-Red
almost as soon as I recognized
him, he had disappeared behind a
lilac bush; but 1 had seen long
hind his back. The lilac bush stood
close to the summer-house.
First thing L knew, was run
ming down stafrs-and l was at the
There was a wide path of moonlight
across the concrete floor and right
I'm that glare was Red Feather.
heart He held Mr.. Gledware by
the throat with one hand, and his
other held the knife up for the
~"When 1 reached the doorway, L
blotted out most of the moonlight,
ana 1 drew back to Red Feather
could see who | was. He looked up
and let go Mr.. Gledware's throat,
but didn't move. otherwise. Red
Feather 1 said. Give me that
knife
came any nearer. or IL 1 cried for
help. he would murder that man and
escape but that If I would step into
the shadow and listen he'd give his
reason for doing it before II was
Then Red Feather said that
when that man rode with me among
the Indians, Red Feathers daughter
had taken a fancy to him, and Mr..
Gledware had married her; and I
had been Kept away from him so
he'd forget me and not turn his
thoughts towards his own people;
and they had taught nNe that my
name was WILCOX because they
were going to take me TO you,
a ssaek Won fanna the @S deaerted wagon
and buried my mother. Red Feather
was watching you from the noun
tain and he wouldn't kill you be-
cause you made that grave and
knelt down to talk to the Great
when Red Feathers daughter
It was so. And Red Feather gave
them a great stretch of land, and
Mr.. Gledware got to be important
AT the end of a few years, there
was talk of the land being thrown
open. The Indians didn't want ".
to be done. and they Joined together
address congress on the subject
Mr.. Gledware was such an orator
that they thought him Irresistible.
so they elected ,, him and, for ,, bis
thousand dollars Think of II
''of course he didn't go near
Washington. 1t was the time of
thereRnd bought mp city lots. and
sold cut at the right time. and
that's why he IL rich today. In the
w mSsf' haS become 81 him ana Red
Feathers daughter died from shame
over her desertton. That's why Red
Feather meant to XIII Mr. Gledware-
Il never felt 50 helpless. so hor-
ribly weak and useless Then I
had a thought. Let him live Red
Feather l said, but strip him OF
him loose in the world without a
penny: it'll be punishment enough.
Z don't know why I thought of
that. and ] don't know Why ! made
mind. I saw at once that he was
so IL was arranged. Mr.. Gled-
swearing that he would keep his
word .s, Bat whss he MI 90 when hen
other thingi knew his ,r lie Il Is as as
promise. But IL re breaks ft--wsil