Courier Democrat., 1916-01-27


The crowd that had been listening
to the sheriff's discourse before the ar
rival of the highwayman scattered at
sight Of the drawn weapon, all 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, land get it out quick if you
want me" His great breast heaved
with the conflict of powerful emotions.
Pm sure sorry to see you, old man,"
Mizzoo declared. I'VE know Red
Feather done what we was charging
up against you, but l guess there's no
other course open to me. AS my aunt
used to say (iiss Sue Of MissourD I
got 4 duty-do it 1 must" He thrust
his hairy hand into his bosom and
drew forth the fateful paper
Lahoma laughed. Read it, Mizzoo;
read it aloud-read 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 Il question in
his hard, stern eyes.
Mizzoo turned red. well, yes. I'll
read it, he said defantly. Sure. l
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
Il mingling on his face Of supreme de-
fiance for the reader and superstitious
awe for the legal instrument.
"That's ALL" Nlizzoo at last an
nounced You'll have to come with
me, Wilcox"
Hold on" came voices from the
crowd. During the reading they had
been watching Lahoma. and her ex-
preston promised more than fruitess
laughter. Hold on. Mizzoo. Laho-
mas got something up her sleeve"
Lahoma spoke clearly, that her voice
might carry to the confines Of the
crowd: "Mizzoo. think you read in
that warrant county of Greer, state of
| Texas" Didn't you?"
That's what done. Here's the
words.'
"But. you see" returned Lahoma.
that warrants no good!'
Mizzoo stared at her moment, then
exclaimed violently, BY Propriety
forbade the completion Of his phrase.
| The crowd instantly caught her
meaning; shout rose, shrill, tumlltu-
GUS. 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 tri-
umphantly. She took it from Mizzoo's
lax fingers and deliberately tore it from
Top to bottom.
Il guess I'm a-getting old. sure
| enough" said Bill. This is beyond
me-
Wilfred looked at Lahoma question
| ingly. Brick, stupe6ed by violence
done that sacred instrument of civili-
| Zation, 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 it's decision. Prairie Dog
| Fork is now Red River. and Red Riv-
er' is only the North Fork Of Red Riv-
Grand that means that Greer county
| don't belong to Texas and never did
| belong to her, but is a part of Okla
| homa."
"And you'll never have an Oklahoma
| writ served on you," cried Lahoma,
mot while I'm living. And you'll go
with US to our farm and live with us,
you and Bill and"-
| I,ahoma had expected to be very
calm and logical for she knew she had
all the advantage on her side. But
when she saw the change in Bricks
eyes she forgot her rights; she forgot
all that watching crowd; she forgot
even Wilfred. and with spring she
was in Bricks arms, sobbing for joy.
He tried to say something about her
Boston kin. but he could not express
the thought coherently, for, giant as
he was. he was sobbing too.
eff there's ever a meeting" she said
between tears and laughter. ''the east
| will have to come to the west"
"Those Boston folks" cried Bill. with
a sudden upheaval Of unwonted hu-
NOR. ''can simply go to-beans! I'm
a-getting down." he added. cautiously
lowering himself from his pony. II
guess I'm in this too."
You're in it," growled Brick. but
you're on the outskirts. Don't come no
nearer" He stroked the head that
rested on his breast, his great hand
moving with exceeding gentleness. He
gazed over her brown glory at the SYM
pathetic crowd.
Fellows" he cried, "just look what