Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-12-16
, use to stare at that there word"

Nv aS0 l " az SIdl klSIS WIN
you'd be in u box; I know you wouldn't
give me up, but neither would you
swear to a lie. Not knowing where I
hides, your consciences are as free as
mine that hasn't ever been bridled."
Wilfred asked, But when Lahoma
writes, how will you get her letter."
You or Bill will go for the mail. If a
letter ONE you'll take it to that crew
ice into which Miss Sellimer was drug
by that big 1njun, and you'll wait in
there till l comes, not opening that let
ter till l am with you. Well read it to-
| Miss Sellimer's life was saved by La
bona; 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. 1t
was q cloudless afternoon, but at the
farther end Of the retreat the light Of
the lantern was necessary Tor it's Pc
rusal. Brick Wilcox, 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 sleepless as had
been Bills pallet in the dugout. They
Squatted about the lantern that rested
on the stone floor. Wilcox 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 hid
den where nobody can find you for
you've got my telegram and you know
I wouldn't nave sent it if it hadn't been
necessary. You believe in me and, as you
would say-how I'd love to lea you!-
you act "~accordinG.'' Well, and I believe
In you, Brick, and you needn't imagine
as long as you live that anybody could
make me think you anything but what I
know you to be-the kindest, most tender
hearted, most thoughtful man that ever
lived. Get that fixed in YOU 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 1
ought to begin with Mr.. Gledware, so
you'll know moro about him when I be-
gin on the main news.
The first time I met Mr.. Gledware he
acted in a curious way. OF course 1 was
introduced as miss Wilcox" and he
started at the name and at sight Of me
two separate little just as
plain as anything. Then he said he had
heard the name "Willock' in unusual 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 Annabel call me "Lahoma." and
his face turned perfectly white.
The first chance he had after tina he
sat down to talk to me in a corner where
we wouldn't be overheard, and he asked
me questions. So, of course. l told about
father and mother taking me across the
prairie to the Oklahoma country.
Then he asked il I thought I had ever
seen him. for he thought he could re-
member having seen me somewhere. And
l said 1 wasn't sure, I had met so nan
people, and there was something familiar
about him. Then he said he guessed we
hadn't ever met unless accidentally OH
the trail somewhere, as he had once been
down in TeXas-and that was all.
/ don't like Mr.. Gledware's eye because
1t always looks away from you. He would
be considered n handsome man by any
body not particular about eyes. After
ward l heard about his trip to Texas. An
mabel and her mother were talking about
Mr.. Gledware's past. 1t seems that once
Mr.. Gledware and his first wife Il say
his first because I look upon Annabel as
certain to be the second) Joined the Ok
lahoma m and they were attacked
by Indians, just rs my father and mother
were. and they had with them his wife's
little girl. for he had married n widow.
Just as my father had (my stepfather)
ana there was n terrible battle. And Mr.,
GledWare, oh, lie was SO brave! lie killed
ton l2dlhG. after the reat Of his party,