One day,Lahoma resumed,Brick saw a white man with some Indians standing near that grave.He couldn't imagine what they meant to do,so he hid,thinking them after him.Years afterward Red Feather explained why they came that evening to the pile of stones.The white man was Mr.Gledware.After Red Kimball's gang captured the wagon-train,Mr.Gledware escaped,married Red Feather's daughter and lived with the Indians;he'd married immediately,to save his life,and the tribe suspected he meant to leave Indian Territory at the first chance.Mr.Gledware,great coward,was terrified night and day lest the suspicions of the Indians might finally cost him his life.
It wasn't ten days after the massacre of the emigrants till he decided to give a proof of good faith.Too great a coward to try to get away and.caring too much for his wife's rich lands to want to leave,he told about the pearl and onyx pin--he said he wanted to give it to Red Flower.A pretty good Indian,Red Feather was--true friend of mine;HE wouldn't rob graves!But he said he'd take Mr.Gledware to the place,and if he got that pin,they'd all know he meant to live amongst them forever.THAT'S why the band was standing there when Brick Willock looked from the mountain-top.Mr.Gledware dug up the body,after the Indians had rolled away the stones--the body of his wife--my mother--the body whose face Brick Willock wouldn't look at,in its helplessness of death.Mr.Gledware is the principal witness against Brick.If you don't feel what kind of man he is from what I've said,nobody could explain it to you.
From several of the intent listeners burst involuntary denunciations of Gledware,while on the faces of others showed a momentary gleam of horror.
Red Kimball's confederate spoke loudly,harshly:But who killed Red Kimball and his pard and the stage-driver,if it wasn't Brick Willock?
I think it was Red Feather's band.I'm witness to the fact that Kimball agreed to bring Mr.Gledware the pearl and onyx pin on condition that Mr.Gledware appear against Brick.After Mr.Gledware deserted Red Flower,or rather after her death,Red Feather carried that pin about him;Mr.Gledware knew he'd never give it up alive.He was always afraid the Indian would find him--and at last he did find him.But Red Kimball got the pin--could that mean anything except that Kimball discovered the Indian's hiding-place and killed him?But for that,I'd think it Red Feather who attacked the stage and killed Red Kimball.As it is,I believe it must have been his friends.
Now you've said something!cried Mizzoo.Boys,don't you think it's a reasonable explanation?
Some of them did,evidently,for the grim resolution on their faces softened;others,however,were unconvinced.
A stern voice was raised:Let Brick Willock come do his own explaining.Bill Atkins knows where he's hiding out--and we got to know.We've started in to be a law-abiding county,and that there warrant against Willock has got the right of way.
You've no warrant against Bill,cried Wilfred,stepping to the edge of the platform,therefore you've violated the law in locking him up.
That's so,exclaimed Red Kimball's former comrade.Well,turn 'im loose,that's what we ask--LET him go--open the jail door!
He's locked up for his own safety,shouted Mizzoo.You fellows agree to leave him alone,and I'll turn him out quick enough.You talk about the law--what you want to do to Bill ain't overly lawful,I take it.
If he gives up his secret we ain't going to handle him rough,was the quick retort.
Lahoma found that the softening influence she had exerted was already fast dissipating.They bore with her merely because of her youth and sex.She cried out desperately.
