The evening world. Newspaper, October 3, 1914, Page 9

jLAHOMA JOHN BRECKENRIDGE ELLIS OS O00GSOG08 080000 a hill brought it Into view, the win- dows not yet aglow. Nearer at hand was the boat-house, seemingly de- serted, But as Willock, now grown wary, crept forward among the post- oaks and blackjacks, well screened from observation Wy chinkapin masses of gray interlocked network, he dis- covered two figures near the piat- form edging the lake. Neither was the one he sought; but from their being there—they were Edgerten Compton and Annabel—he knew Gled- ware could not be far away. wit “No,” Annabel was saying decisively, wrest is and yet with an accent of regret, “No, Se later, whee, be to id iad that La Edgerton, I can't.” “But our last boat ride,” he urged. to think about all my life. I'm going away to-morrow at noon, as I prom. ised. But early in the morning’— “I have promised him,” she said with Ungering sadness in her voice. “So I must go with him. He has already engaged the boatman. He'll be here at 7, waiting for me, 80 you see”— “Annabel, I shall be here at 7, alaol” he exclaimed impetuously. “But why? I must go with him, Edgerton. You see that.” “Then I shall row alone” “Why would you add to my unhap- piness?"” she pleaded. “I shall be here at 7,” he returned grimly; “while you and he take your She turned from him with a sigh, and he followed her dejectedly up the path toward the clubhouse. At break of dawn Willock crept into the boathouse like a shadow, barefooted, bareheaded—the club- house was not yet awake. He looked about the barn-like room for a hiding place. Walls, floor, ceiling were bare. Near the door opening on the lak was a rustic bench, impossible as a refuge. Only in one corner, where empty boxes and @ disused skiff formed a barricade, could he hope for concealment. He glided thither, and on the floor between the dusty wall of broad boards and the jumbled par- tition he found a man stretched on his back. At first, he thought he had surprised @ sleeper, but as the figure did not move, he decided it must be @ corpses. He would have fied but for his need of this corner, He bent down—the man was bound hand and foot. In the mouth, a gag was fastened. Neck and ankles were tied to spikes in the wall. Willock swiftly surveyed the lake and the sloping hill leading down from the clubhouse. ‘“°’CHAPTER XVI. Mine Enemy. me KULKING along wooded gul- lies by day, creeping down S into the cove at night, Wil- * lock had unconsciously re- verted to the habits of @enght and action belonging to the ime of his outiawry. We heard of Red Kimball's death with bitter disappointment. He had eped to encounter his former chief, @ grapple with bim, to hurl him, per-, from the precipice. If in his Kimball, with arms wound about his waist, had dragged bim down to fhe came death, what matter? Though hia enemy was now no more, the G@herift held the warrant for his ar- gest—as if the dead man could still etefke a mortal blow. The Sheriff tight be ovecome—he was but s man. That piece of paper calling for his ar- gest—an arrest that would mean, at Dest, years in the penitentiary—had fhe warrant became personifie force, not to be destroyed @A age. The cove was no [leore home vat a Biding place. Be 414 not question the justice of Gis coquel to his earlier life. No Gout deeds of long ago, never pun- Gemanded © sacrifice. He the agents of this justice not Deoause they threatened his this life, as because they fm between himself and La- ‘Would Gledware testify, now that JRed Kimball, who had bought his (testimony with the death of the In- Gan, ne longer lived to exact pay- ment? Willock felt sure he would. Ia the first place, Gledware had placed himeclf on record as a witness, fhence could hardly retreat; in the @eson4 place, he would doubtless be @axious to rid himself of the danger @f ever meeting Willock, whom his eemecience must have caused him to hatred of the man the front opened. corner. “Pardner,” he said, “I got to ask your hospitality for a spell, and if you move #o es to attract attention, I got to fix you better. I didn't do this here, pardner, but you shore !ok Uke some of my handiwork in ciys past and gone. I'll share this corner with you for a while, and if you don't give me away to them that’s coming, I promise to set you free. That's fair, I guess. Just Jay still and comfort- able, and we'll what's coming.” Presently there were footsteps in the path, and to Willock’s intense dis- appointment, Gledware and Annabel came in together. They were in the midst of a conversation and at the first few words he found it related ‘o Lahoma. The boatman who had promised to bring the skiff for them at seven—it developed that Gledware had no intention of doing the rowing —had not yet come, They eat down on the rustic bench, thelr voices dis- tinctly audible in all parts of the small building. “Her closest living relative,” Gled- ware said, “is a great-aunt, living in Boston. As soon as I found out who she was—lI'd always supposed her liv- ing among Indians, and that it would be impossible to find her—but as soon as I learned the truth, without saying anything to her, I wrote to her great. aunt. I've never been in a position to door of He darted back to the | Weether, not in the heat of: fury oF fm Ditnd terror, but in cold-blooded g. He meditated on Gled- ware's attitude toward Lahomai he ought nothing good of bim, he Magnified the evil. That scene at fhe grave of his wife—and Red Veather’s account of how he had dus up the body for a mere pin of pearl jewa onyx. . . Ought such a crea- tae to live to condemn him, to bring on the stepdaughter he had refused to acknowledge? wait for the coming of the wit- would be to lose an opportunity might never recur. In doing #0, he would not only take Gledware by gurprise, but would leave the only meighborhood in which search would be made for himself, Thus it came @bout that while the environs of the cove were being minutely examined, Brick, riding his fastest pony, was on the way to Kansas City. He reached Kansas City without i ee eo Parner or take care of Lahoma—I felt that I ‘West. Had his appearance been twice CUsht to place her with her own ( as uncouth, twice as wild, it would family, I got an answer—about what \ have accorded all the better with you would expect. They'd give her a \ western guperstitions that prevailed home—I told them what a respectable ta this city, fast forgetting that it had irl sho is—falrly creditable appear- ance—intelligent enough ° But been o western outpost. At the Beta Pov agg cali eater OR ear at ee en bet eae tat Ges: lives with—criminals, you know, An- an lege agra nabel, highwaymen—murderers! Im- f ware was neither there nor at his L heme ia the country. The country *sine Brick Willook in # Boston draw. house was closed up and, in fact, there ‘9S room * * © But you couldn t* wes Aas that it was sold, or was | No,” Annabel agreed. = “Poor La- ' i homa! And I know she'd never give ee coca happened to Dm up.” Immow that Gledware had gone for # “That's it—she's immovable, She'd ‘week's diversion down in the Ozarks Insist on taking him alcng, But he Phere wore a lake, # clubhouse, a belongs to another age—a different \\ @ancing hall, as yet unopened, country, He couldn't understand, ‘\\ @even Bours brought him to alone- He thinks when you've anything Wy wagon-trail called Osdrk Lodge against a man, the proper move Is to ‘after winding amiong bills kill ‘im, Ho's just Ike an Indian—a miles it at last reached the wild beast. Wouldn't know what we of that name overlooking meant if we talked about civilization. @e lake. He left the train in the His religion is the knife. Well—you @msk of the evening, and walked see; if he were out of the way, La- Weigkly away, the only moving figure homa would have her chance.” the wilderness. “But couldn't he be arrested?” ‘SEs pace did not slacken till a “That's my only hope. If he were fallen sky cupped in hanged, or locked up for a certain the number of yeara, Lahoma'd go East. But a0 long as he's at larg ebe'll tty hd “Don't refuse me the last ride—a bao wait for him to turn up. She'll stay right there in the cove till she dies of old age, if he's free to visit her at o@d moments. It's her idea of fidelity, and it’e true that he did take her in when she needed somebody. There's & move on foot now to arrest him for an old crime—« murder. I witnessed the deed—I'll testify if called on. La- homa will hate me for that—but it’ be the greatest favor I could possibly do her. She knows I mean to appear inst him, and she thinks me @ ite, But if I can convict Willock, it'll place Lahoma in a family of wealth and refinement”— He broke off with, “Wonder why that old deaf boatman doesn’t come?” He walked impatiently to the head of the steps and stared out over the lake. “Somebody out there now,’ exclaimed, “Oh, it’s Edgerton, row- ing about!” He returned to the bench, but did not sit down. “Annabel,” he said abruptly, “you promised me to name the day this morning.” “Yes,” she responded very faintly. “and I am sure, dear,” be added in @ deep resonant voice, “that in time you will come to care for me as I care for you now—you, the only wo- man I have ever loved. I under- stand about Edgerton, but, you see, you couldn't marry him—in fact, he couldn't marry anybody for years; he has nothing. And these earlier at- tachments that we think the biggest things in our livee—well, they just dwindle, Annabel; they dwindle we get the true perspective, I know your happiness depends upon me, and {t rejoices me to know it. I ean give you all you waat—ell you cam dream of—and I'm man-of-the-world enough to understand that happiness depends Just on that—getting what you want.” Annabel started up abruptly. “I think I heard the boat scraping out- aide.” “Yea, he's there. Come, dear, and before the ride is ended you must name the day”—— “Don't!” she exclaimed sharply. “He"— “He's as deaf as a post, my dear,” Gledware murmured gently. “That’ why I eclected him. I knew we'd ‘want to talk—I knew you'd name the day.” He helped her boards. Brick Willock rose softly and stole toward the opening, his eyes filled with a strange light. They no longer glared with the blood-lust of @ wild beast, but showed gloomy and per- plexed; the words spoken concerning bimeelf had sunk deep. The boatman sat with his back to Gledware and Annabel. He wore a long dingy coat of light gray and a huge battered straw hat, whose wide brim hid his hair and almost eclipsed his face, Willock, careful not to show himself, stared at the skiff as it shot out from the landing, his brow wrin- kled tn anxious thought. He felt otrange“and dizsy, end at first fancied it was because of the resolution that had taken possession of him—the reso- lution to return to Greer County and give himeelf up. This purpose, as unreasoning as his plan to kill Gled- ware, grew as fixed in his mind ae half an hour before his other plan had been, , Togo voluntarily to the sheriff, un- veaistingly to held out his wrists for down the rattling Dail ™M PLAYING 'POSSUM $ ~~ iu _ the hbandcuffe—that would indeed mark a new era in his life. “A wild Indian wouldn't do that,” he mused, “nor a wild beast. I guess I under- etand, after all. And if that’s the way to make Lahoma happy” bd ahd Mo wonder he felt queer; but his light-heartedness did not rise, as & Matter of fact, entirely from sub- Sective storm-threatenings. There was something about that boatman “now, when he tilted up his head @lightly, and the hat failed to con- ceal—was it possible? * * °& “Lord!” whispered Willock; Red Feather!" And Gledware, with eyes only for Annabel, fluding nothing beyond her but a long gray coat, a big straw hat ‘and two rowing arms—did not sus- pect the truth! In a flash, Willock comprehended oll, The Indian had dropped the pin in Kimball's path, and Kimball, find- ing it, had carried it to Gledware as if Red Feather were dead. The Ii dian had led his braves against the stage coach—Kimball had fallen un- der his knife. Yonder In the cor- ner, bound and gagged, was doubtless the old deaf boatman engaged by Gledware. Red Feather had taken his place that he might row Gledware far out on the lake © * * But Annabel was in the boat. the Indian, * © ® Far away toward the east, Edger- ton Compton was rowing, not near enough to intervene in case the In- dian attempted violence, but better able than himself to lend assistance if the boat were overturned. Willock could, in truth, do nothing, except shout a warning, and this he fore- Dore lest it hasten the impending catastrophe. He remained, therefore, half-hidden, crouching at the door- way, his eyes glued to the rapidly Gliding boat, with its three figures clear-cut against the first faint sun- slow, “it's It CHAPTER XVII. » Gledware’s Possessions. 1D FEATHER'S mind was not constituted to entertain more than one leading thought at a time, Ever @ince the desertion and death of his daughter revenge had been bis dominant passion. Gledware's presence in the boat this morning had been made possible only b; the interposition of Lahoma: but for the Indian's deep-seated affection for her, whom he regarded as a child, the man now smiling into Annabel's pale face would long ago have found his final resting-place. It was due to the Indian's singleness of thought that Lahoma’s plan had struck him as good, Gledware, stripped of all bis possessions, slinking as a beggar from door to door, no roof, no bed, but sky and earth—that is what Red Feather bad meant. He belleved Gledware glad of the respite. That he should accept the alternative seemed reasonable. There was a choice only between death and poverty—and Gledware wished to live so desperately—so base- ly! The chief cared little for life; stil, he would unhesitatingly have Preferred the mont meager existence to a knife in his heart; how much more, them, this graven white mas, agazine, Satur a nswcse™ § By Robert Minor|} it : ay, Ue tobd But the plan had failed because Gled- Ware did not believe death was the other alternative. As Red Feather skimmed the water with long sweeps of his oars, never looking back, the voices of his passen- wera came to his ears without mean- ing. He was thinking of the last few days and how this morning’s ride was thelr fitting sequel. The early gun- beams were full on bim as he tilted back his head, but they showed no emotion on bis face, hard-set and dully red in the clear radiance. Crouching near the summer house At Gledware's place, he had overheard Red Kimball boast to bring Gledware the pearl and onyx pin. Then bad shot through his darkened mind the suspicion that Gledware meant to es- cape the one condition on which his life was to be spared, With simple cunning he had left the pin where the outlaw must find it; bis own death would be taken for granted— what then? What then? This ride in the boat, Gledware had made his eholce; he had clung to his possessions—and now Death held the oars. He was scarcely past middie age. He might have lived ao long, he who 60 loved to live! But no, he had chosen to be rich and to die. When Red Feather brought his mind back to the present, Gledware was describing to Annabel a ranch in California for which he had traded the house near Independen.» He would take her far away; he would build a house thus and thue— rooms 60; terraces here; marble pillars. © © © “Beautiful one,” the Indian beard Gledware say, speaking in an altered tone, 1 that is in the future—but see what I have brought you; this ts for to-day. It's yours, dear—let me wee it around your neck with the sun full upon it"—— Red Feather turned his head, curiously, Gledware held outstretched a mag- ficent diamond necklace which shot forth dazzling rays as it swung from his eager fingers. Annabel uttered a smothered cry of delight as the iridescence filled b eyes, She looked across the water toward the pagoda-shaped club- house where her mother stood, faint- ly defined as a speck of white against the greon wall shingles of the piasza. It seemed that it needed this glance to steady her nerves, Edgerton was forgotten, She reached out her hand. And then, perplexed at the necklace being suddenly with- drawn, she looked up, She caught a glimpse of Gledware's face, and her blood turned cold. That face was frozen in horror, At the turning of the boatman's head, he bad instantly recognized under the huge-brimmed bat, the face of his enemy as if brought back from the grave. There was a momen nse silence, filled with mystery for her, with in- deacribable agony for him, with sim- ple waiting for the Indian. Annabel turned to discover the cause of Gled- wal terror, but she saw no malice, no threat, in the doatman's eyes, Gledware ceased breathing, then his form quivered with @ sudden inrush of breath ag of a man emerging trom Giving, Mis ayes yelled tn Bis end #8 he turned about scanning the ghore, glaring at Edgerton’s distant boat. Why had be come unarmed? How could he have put faith ia Red Kim- dalle assurances? He tortured his brain for some gleam of hope. “This ts all I havel” he shrieked, as tf the Indian's foot wae already upon Die neck. “This ie all I havel” He flung the necklace into the water. “It was a lie about the California ranch— it’s a He about all my got nothing, Annabel! I sold the last bit te get you the necklace, but I shouldn't have done that. Now it's gone. I have nothing!” The Indian rose slowly. The cars allpped down and floated away in the flashing stream of the sun's rays. Annabel, realising that the Indian, Gespite his impasaive countenance, threatened some horrible catastrophe, started up with @ scream. Edgerton hed elready turned toward them; alarmed at the sound of Gledware's terror. He bent to the cars, compre- hending only that Annabel was in danger. ‘ “Edgerton!” she shrieked blindly. “Edgerton! Edgerton! Edgerton!” Gledware crouched at her feet, ory. ing beseechingly, “I swear I have nothing! I sold everything—gave it away—left it—nothing in all the world! I'm willing to beg, starve-- I don't want to own anything—I only want to live—tolive * © * My God! to live © ¢ o Red Feather did not utter a word. But with the stealthy lightness and Utheness of @ panther, he stepped over extremity, despairing of the inter- position of some miraculous chance, was forced back upon himself. With the vision of an inherent coward he saw all chances against him; but with the desperation of a maddened soul, he threw himself upon the defensive, Red Feather had not expected to see him offer resistance. This show of clenched teeth and doubled fists sud- Genly enraged him, and the old lust of vengeance flamed from his eyes. Hat and disguising coat were cast aside. For a moment his form, rigid and erect, gleamed like a statue of copper cut in stern relentless lines, and the single crimson feather in his raven locks matohed, in gold, the allver brightness of his upraised blade. The next moment his form shot forward, bis arm gripped Gledware about the neck, despite furious resis- tance, and both men fall into the water, y The violent shock given to the boat sent Annabel to her knees, Clutching the side she gazed with horrified eyes at the water In her wake. The men had disappeared, but in the glowing white path cut across the lake by the sun appeared @ dull red streak that thinned away to faint purple and dim pink. She watched the sinister dis- coloration with fascinated eyes. What was taking place beneath the smooth tide? Or was it all over? Had Red Feather found a rock to which he could cling while he drowned himself with his victim? Or had their bodies been caught in the tangled branches of @ submerged forest tree? It was one of the myastorios of the Ozarks never to be solved. @he was still kneeling, still atering Wi Gigtened ayes, sull wanderiag, e Sa ¢ 3 “He sali he had nothing,” she mtammered, as he helped ber to rise. “He eaid he had nothing © ° * How true it is!” Edgerton gently lifted her to his skiff, them stepped im beside her. He, too, was watch- ing the water for the possible emerg- ence of @ ghastly faces. Annabel began trembling as witt the ague. “Edgerton! * ° ° He oaid it was all @ lie—about bis > jerty—and so it was. Everything te |@ Me except—this” * * © Bhe chung to him. CHAPTER XVIII. Just a Habit. BIN Atkine with ea alr of impenetrable mystery in- ‘ved Wilfred Compton te a ride that might keep him from hie bride several days the young man guessed that Willock had been found. In the mountains they found rt Now, whether I'm that mas, or thought to be that man, makes lit Gifference. I'm « fugitive on the of the earth without an ark of safety ea) —referring to my cove. That's me, “Now look at Lahoma, She has folks, not meaning you, Wilfred, but woman ain't nothing without family, And if away from her, well—I'm too old, now, to live without Lahome. Ghe's—she's just a habit of mine “Bo you puta me in jail. They what they Iikes with me, hangs me gives me time, but the point as I see fe this: I'll be disposed of, I'll give a rank, you may eay, and clasel- fied’ Lahoma won't be hampered. Ghe's young; young people things hard, but they don’t take long. In due time them Boston folks will be inviting ber and will visiting her, and you'll be in Congress, ike enough—if you wasn't a Western man, I'd say you might be President. And everybody will honor you and feast you-and as to Brick Willook, he'll simply be forgot. “Which is eminent and proper, Wit- fred. I belongs to the past—I'm a kind of wild creature such as has to die out when civilization rolls high; and #) and it’s for me and Bill to join the Indians and buffaloes, and fade away. ‘Trappers |s out of date, so is highway- men, I judge, “I don't know as I makes myself clear or well put, but if you'll cateh up the ponies I guess your sheriff can handle my meaning.” Without much diMeulty Wilfred effected another compromise, They feist: sit waited till night before leaving the 4%. retreat, The reason accepted for this delay was that in the daytime the deputies would stop them and Willook wanted to give himself up to the chief in command. When it was dark they slipped down the gully whose matted © tre though stripped of leaves, of- fered additional shelter, In the cove they saw the light streaming from the window of the dugout—that fa- mous window that had given Lahoma her first outlook upon learning. As the beams caught his eye a sigh heaved the great bulk of the former & master of the cove, but he sald noth- ing. In oppressive silence they skirt- ed Turtle Hill and emerged from the horseshoe bend, finding in a sheltered nook the three ponies that Wilfred had provided at nightfall, He bad 7, Raped to she lest thas Willech could Next Week's Complete in THE EVENING WORLD ATALE OF RED ROSES rolling high in these parts, mj Novel i H 7 § i E | i £ = % 5 ¥ 5 H : i # | ils 33° : i want me!” jeaved with the confi! tions, “T'm 80: e3i ie 22: E does nounced. ‘The crowd instant!; ught meaning; a shout roe. shill tuous, broken with laughter. She had reminded them of the subject & short, time ago had engaged “Ite no good,” cried Laboma ere. bad bent is from Mii * ani tore bs top to ottom, hes guess I'm a-gett ich,” said Bul. “This ie Wilfred looked at Lahoi ingly, “Brick, stupefiec by done that sacred instrument of sation, stood rooted to the spot. Missoo0 nay atinning now. Red River, River ts only the North Fork of River—and that means that Gin County, don't belong to bey) 24 r on, aes oe is to her, but is "And row never have an writ served on ‘id Le “not while Ta ving Ms Ive with us, sou'and Bill eget ou an p ecahoma had. expected ie bo Sa im and lor had all the Ay ‘ed sai y' forgot ghe forgot all that wa H rece « on Win “ spring she was in Brick's arma, bing for joy. é! “Boys,” exclaimed do you say? Let's five tne for Lahoma.' = ‘Wilfred’ voice cut across ord, ud