The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-29

though when you deals with Red it be- hooyes you 70 have your gun ready against chances. You want to know about Red KimbaH? But I think I'd best wait till Lahoma's letter comes, so my story can tally with hers
 Her word says he can prove every thing. What is 'everything?
 That's what we'll learn from her let ter. We'll just watch him do his prov ing!"
 And her word says to hide this min ute''
 'I don't do my hiding in daylight, but when it's good and dark I'm going to put out. I would tell you the hiding place. for trusts you both-but if you knowed where it was and if officers of the law come to you for information you'd be in n box; know you wouldn't give me up, but neither would you swear to a lie. Not knowing where I hides your consctences are as free as mine that hasn't never been bridled.''
 Wilfred asked, But when Lahoma writes, how will you get her letter?''
 "You or Bill will go for the mail. If letter comes you'll take it to that crev- ice into which Miss SelliIher was drug by that big InJun, and you'll walt in there till comes, not opening that let ter till am with you. We'll read it to- gether, down in the hollow where pore Miss Sellimer's life was saved by La homa; then you two will go back to the cove and leave me to sneak away to my hiding place"
 When the next letter came from Lahoma Wilfred Compton and Bill At kins hurried to the crevice in the noun tain top according to agreement. It af% hui En farther end of the retreat the light of the lantern was necessary for its pc rusaI Brick Wfllock, who was there before them, read the letter in silence before handing it to the young man to read aloud.
 Wilfred took the letter, tingling with excitement. The strained watching and waiting for the sudden appearance of an unknown Red Kimball had made his bed in the cabin as sleep1ess as had been Bill's pallet in the dugout. They sQuatted about the lantern that rested on the stone floor. Willock always with eyes directed toward the narrow slit in the ceiling that they might not be taken by surprise.
 Dear Brick-By this time you have hiG- den where nobody can find you, for you've got my telegram and you know wouldn't have sent 1t if 1t hadn't been necessary. You believe in me and, as you would say-how I'd love to hear you!- you act "according.' We'll, and I believe in you, Brick, and you needn't imagine as long as you live that anybody could make think you anything but what know you to be-the kindest. most tender hearted, most thoughtful man that ever lived. Get that fixed in your mind so when I tell what they say about you you won't care, knowing I'm with you and will believe in you till death. Maybe t0s eriY1 wit lef7H 0 you'll know more about him when I be- gin on the main news.
 The first time I met MT. Giedware he acted in a curious way. Of course was introduced Miss Willock,'' and he started at the name and at sight of me two separate little movements just as plain as anything. Then he said he had heard the name '.Willock' in urusS1al sur roundings and that my face reminded him of somebody who was dead. That was all there was to it then. But afterward he heard AnnabeI call me tLahoma," and his face turned perfectly white:
 The first chance he had after that he sat down to talk to me in a corner where we wouldn't be overheard. and he asked me questions So, of course. told about father and mother taking me across the prairie to the Oklahoma country.
 Then he asked if I thought I had ever seen him. for he thought he could member having seen somewhere. And I said wasn't sure, I4had met so many people, and there was something familiar
 
 hadn't ever met unless accidentally on the trail somewhere, he had once been down in Texas-and that was all.
 don't like MT. GIedware's eye because 1t always looks away from you. He would be considered handsome by any body not particular about eyes. After ward heard about his trip to Texas. An mabel and her mother were talking about MT. Gledwares past. It seems that once MT. G1edware and his first wife q say his first because I look upon Annabel as rfa in he he ir1fra aad fHA lahoma boomers and they were attacked by Indians. just as my father and mother were, and they had with them his wifes little girl for he had married a widow, just as my father had (my stepfather) and there was terrible battle. And MT Gledware, oh, he was so bravei He killed including his wife and daughter. had been slain, and he broke through the attacking party and escaped a horse-the only one that got away.
 He doesn't look that brave Later, I asked him if 1t could be possible that he was with the wagon train we were in. but he said there wasn't any MT. or Mrs. Willock in his party and no little girl named Lahon1a Willock But ne's been through what my father went through, and it made me feel kinder to him some how.
 Now, I've come to the day when ], sent you the telegram and why l sent it. be prepared! There was to be big picnic today near town called Independence and, as 1t happened, didn't feel like go- ing, so begged on-let tell you why: began a novel last night, full of bright conversation, the pages all broken up ia little scraps of print that hurry you along as if building steps for you to run down-1 1t was ever and ever more interesting than real people can be. So stayed to finish that book.
 Now, there Is a nook in ETv. Gledware's library, sort of a1cove where you have a window all to yourself, but are shut off from the rest of tho room, and that is where was when two men came in soft ly and cloEed and locked the door behind theIn- I couldn't them, but just as I was starting up to find out what it meant one of them-it was MT. Gledware, which surprised me greatly. he had gone with the rest to the picnic-spoke your name, Brick. As soon as I heard that name and particularly account of the way he <da%<.r slrrr a<...r