Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-11-18
Copyright, 1918, by the Bobbs- Merrill
Company.

Wilcox in dreary solitude conditions
about him had changed. The hardships
of pioneer life which fifty years ago
had obtained in the middle states vet
prevailed in 1882 in the tract Of land
claimed by Texas under the name of
Greer county, but the dangers of pio-
neer life were greatly lessened. AS
Lahoma made the acquaintance Of the
mountain range and explored the plain
extending beyond the natural horse
shoe, Wilcox believed. she ran little
danger from Indians. He himself had
ceased to preserve his unrelaxing
watchfulness. After all, it had been
the highwaymen rather than the red
men whom he had most feared, and
after two years it did not seem likely
that such volatile men would preserve
the feeling Of vengeance.
With the wisdom derived flom his
experience with wild natures, he care
fully abstained from any attempt to
force Lahoma's friendship; hence it
was not long before he obtained it
without reserve. In the meantime he
talked necessarily, and to his admira-
ton he presently found her manner of
speech wonderfully like his own-both
fluent and ungrammatical.
! He knew nothing Of grammar, to be
sure, but there were times when his
mistakes, echoed from her lips, struck
upon his ear, and, though he might not
always know how to correct them. he
was prompt to suggest changes, test
ing each. as q natural musician judges
music-by ear. Dissatisfied with his
own standards, he was all the more
impatient to depart on the expedition
after mental tools, despite the dangers
that might beset the journey.
His first task, prompted by the COM
ing of Lahoma, had been to partition
off the half of the dugout containing
the stove for the child's private cham
Der. Cedar posts set in the ground
and plastered with mud higher than
his head left a space between the top
and the apex Of the ceiling that the
temperature might be equalized in both
rooms. Thus far, however, they did
not stay in the dugout except long
enough to eat and sleep, for the au-
tumn had continued delightful, and the
cove seemed. to the child her home, Of
Which the dugout was a sort Of cellar.
Concerning the stone retreat in the
crevice she knew nothing. Wilcox did
not know why he kept the secret since
he trusted Lahoma with all his treas
l1rpS h1t fhn I1nrnocopirr rotinonoa of
the man Of great loneliness still rested
on him.
"Lahoma," he said one day, there's
a settler yer yonder in the mountains
across the south plain. How'd you like
to pay him a visit?"
II don't want anybody but you," said
Lahoma promptly.
Wilcox stood on one leg, rubbing
the other m%editatively with his delight
ed foot. Not the culver Of a muscle,
however, revealed the fact that her
words had flooded his heart with sun
shine. well, honey, that's in reason.
But I've got to take you with me after
books and winter supplies, and l don't
like the idea Of travelling alone. 1t
come to me hat I might get Mr.. Set
tier to 60 too. Time was not so long
ago when Injun bands was coming and
going, and, although old Greer is be-
ginning to be s%prinkled up with set
tiers here and there, I can't get over
the feel Of the old times. They amt
no sensation as sticks by a man when
he's come to be wedged in between
forty-five and fifty as the feel Of the
old times"
WELL" said Lahoma earnestly, ~
wish you'd leave me here when you
go after them books. 1 don't want to
be with no strangers. l want to just
squat right here and bear myself COM
pany."
That's in reason. But, honey, while
you might be safe enough while bear
ing the same I would be plumb crazy
worrying about you. I might not have
good cause for worrying, but worry
lng-it amt no bird that spreads it's
wings and goes north when cold
weather comes; worrying-its indie
pendent Of causes and seasons"
"1f you have got to be stayed with
to keep you from worrying they amt
nothing more to be said"
Just so. That there old settler, l
have crossed q few words with him,
and I believe he would do noble to
travel with. He's as gruff and growly
as a grizzly bear if you say a word to
him, and if he'll just turn all that
temper he's vented on me on to any
strangers we may run up against on
the trail he'll do invaluable"
"IIl go catch up the pony" said La
homa briefly, 'for 1 see the thing is
to be did. This will be the first visit
I ever made in my life when l wasn't
drug by the %Injuns."
"You mustn't say drug honey, III
less specifying medicines and herbs.
You must say dragged The Injuns
dragged you from one village to an
other" He paused meditatively, NUT