lahoma(拉霍马)-第36节
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but must； so you'll know everything。 He means to have you arrested and
tried for his brother's murderand he says HE CAN HANG YOU！
〃And Mr。 Gledware is his witness。 That's why Red has come after him。
You'll think it strange that after his gang were about to kill Mr。 Gledware
in the prairie； that he should come to ask him to act as witness against
another man。 That's what Mr。 Gledware told him。 But Red Kimball
answered that it was all a bluffthey had never dreamed of shooting him
or his little girl。
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〃When No…Man's Land was added to Oklahoma； a pardon was offered
to Red Kimball and all his gang if they would come in and lay down their
arms and swear to keep the peaceyou see； most of their crimes had been
committed where no courts could touch them。 Well； all the gang came in
But what do you think？ That terrible Red Kimball swears that YOU
WERE ONE OF HIS GANG； and that as you didn't come in and surrender
yourself； THE PARDON DOESN'T APPLY TO YOU！ It was all I could
do to keep from stepping right out and telling him you were one of the
most peaceable and harmless of men and that you just HAPPENED to be
riding about when you saw Mr。 Gledware's danger； and just HAD to shoot
Kansas Kimball to save me and my stepfather。 You； a highwayman； indeed！
I could laugh at that； if it didn't make me too mad when I think about it。
〃Then Mr。 Gledware talked。 He said maybe it was a bluff against him；
that standing him up against the moon to be shot at； but it wasn't one he
was apt to forget； and he could never be on any kind of terms with Red；
besides； he said； if Brick Willock hadn't saved his life； he'd always thought
so； so wouldn't witness against him though he had no doubt he belonged to
Red's gang。 But that was nothing to HIM。 And he couldn't understand how
Red could have the face to come to him about ANYTHING； but was
willing to pay a sum to keep all the past hushed up； as he didn't want any
'complications' from being claimed as a stepfather by Lahoma！ The past
was over； he said； and Lahoma had a home of her own； and he was
satisfied to be free of herand he would pay Red something to keep the
past buried。
〃Then Red spoke pretty ugly； saying it wasn't the past he was anxious
to have buried； but Brick Willock。 And he said that Mr。 Gledware was a
witness to the murder； whether he wanted to be or not； and Red was
willing to confess to everything； in order to have Brick hanged。
〃Then Mr。 Gledware； in a cold unmoved voice； said he must go back
to the picnic and 'Mr。 Kimball' could do as he pleased。
〃But that wasn't the end。 'Do you know；' says 'Mr。 Kimball；' 'that Red
Feather is in town； laying for you？' he says。 Mr。 Gledware gave a dreadful
kind of low scream； such as turned me sick to hear。 It reminded me of the
cry of a coyote I heard once； caught in the trap； that saw Bill coming with
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his knife。 The room was as still as death for a little while。 I guess they
were looking at each other。
〃At last Red says； pretty slow and calm； 'Would you like to have that
Indian out of the way？' Mr。 Gledware didn't answer； at least not anything I
could hear； but his eyes must have spoken for him； for Red went on after a
while 'It's a go； then； is it？ Well； that'll take timebut in a few days
maybe in a few hoursI'll deal with the chief。 And I want your word that
after that's accomplished； you'll go with me to Greer County and stay on
the job till Brick Willock swings。'〃
〃There was a longer silence than before。 It lasted so long； and the
room was so still； that after a while I almost imagined that they were gone；
or that I had just waked up from a dreadful dream。 My nerves all clashed
in the strangest waylike the shivering of morning ice on a poolwhen Mr。
Gledware's voice jarred on my ears。 He said； 'How will I know？'
〃'Well；' says Red Kimball roughly； 'how WOULD you know？'
〃There was another of those awful silences。 Then Mr。 Gledware said；
'When you bring me a pin that he always carries about him； I'll know that
Red Feather will never trouble me again。'
〃Kimball spoke rougher than before： 'You mean it'll show you that he's
a dead 'un； huh？〃
〃'I mean what I said；' Mr。 Gledware snapped； as if just rousing himself
from a kind of stupor。
〃'Well； what kind of pin？' That was Kimball's question。
〃Then Mr。 Gledware described the pin。 He said it was a smooth…faced
gold…rimmed pin of onyx set with pearls。 And Kimball said boastingly that
he would produce that pin； as he was a living man。 And Mr。 Gledware told
him if he did； he'd go to witness against Brick Willock。 So both left the
room； and pretty soon； from the window； I saw them going away on
horseback； in opposite directions。
〃I mustn't hold back this letter to add any more； it must get off by the
mail that's nearly due。 The moment I learn anything new I'll write again。
Of course I know you're no more a highwayman than myself； but since it's
true that you did shoot Red's brother； and since he evidently died of the
wound； I suppose Red could cause you a great deal of trouble。 You could
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swear that if you hadn't killed Kansas Kimball； he would have killed my
stepfather； and that they had ordered you to kill me； in my sleep。 The
trouble is that Mr。 Gledware seems to be in terror about Red Feather； and
if Kimball gets him rid of the Indian； I'm not sure that Mr。 Gledware
would tell the whole truth。 It might be the word of those two against yours。
It's certain that if they tried you and failed to convict； Kimball would try a
knife or a gun as the next best way of getting even。
〃My poor dear Brick； it seems that there's long trouble before you； hut
the consciousness of innocence will uphold you； and just as soon as I do
all I can at this end of the trail； by acting as your faithful scout； I'll come
out in the open in my war clothes with my belt well…lined with weapons；
and we'll defy the world。 In the meantimebetter keep hid！ Good…by。
Think of me when the wild winds blow。
〃Your little girl；
〃Lahoma。
〃P。S。 Tell Bill he can still claim his share。
〃P。P。S。 Got Bill's note of a few lines； read it with the greatest joy in the
world； and guessed at the news。 He says Wilfred Compton is there。 What
for？
〃L。〃
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CHAPTER XVII
BRICK MAKES A STAND
As soon as Wilfred had finished the letter； not without a wry smile
over the query concerning himself； Bill Atkins exclaimed：
〃THEN！ Ho！ And so she's no more kin to you； Brick； than to me； and
her name's no more Willock than Atkinsand being but a stepdaughter to
old Sneak； neither is it Gledware。 Yet you have everlastingly had your own
say about Lahoma； from claiming to be a cousin！ I want you to know from
this on that I claim as big a share in Lahoma as anybody else on this green
and living earth。〃
Wilfred looked up； expecting Brick to consent to this on the ground
that in all likelihood Bill's claim would last but a few years； anyway。 It
seemed too good an opening for Brick to lose； but instead of refreshing
himself with his customary gibe； the huge fellow sat dark and glowering；
his eyes staring upward at the crevice in the rock roof； the lantern…light
showing his forehead deeply rutted in a threatening scowl。
〃Another point needs clearing up；〃 Bill said sharply。 〃What about Red
Kimball's charge？ DID you belong to his gang？ ARE you a highwayman？〃
Brick waved impatiently toward the letter that still gleamed in the
young man's hand。 〃We goes on document'ry evidence；〃 he said。 〃I takes a
bold and open stand on the general plea of 'Not guilty' to nothing。 That's
technical； and it's arbitrary。 Should you be asked had I ever expressed an
opinion as to being a highwayman； or a lowwayman； you can report me as
saying 'Not guilty；' according。〃
〃Brick；〃 interposed Wilfred； returning him th
