Brick tore it open,and found within another envelope,the inner one of yellow.It's a telegraph,he said uneasily.Lahoma had telegraphed to the end of the wire,and at Chickasha they puts it in the white wrapper and sends it on.Do you see?
I don't see anything yet,snapped Bill.Rip 'er open!
Brick looked at Bill Atkins.Better set down,Bill,he remarked.If they's any kind of shock in this,YOU ain't got no nerve to stand it.He broke open the yellow envelope and stared at the message.As he did so,the hand clutching the telegram hardened to a giant fist,while his brow wrinkled,and his eyes grew dark and menacing.Wilfred was reminded of the sinister expression displayed at the first mention by Lahoma of Gledware's name,and he experienced once more that surprised feeling of not being nearly so well acquainted with him as he had supposed.
After a dead silence,Willock handed the telegram to Bill,who wrinkled his brow over it a minute or two before handing it to Wilfred.
The young man read it hastily,then turned to Bill.His face wore a decidedly puzzled look.
I don't understand,he said.
Neither do I,returned Bill rather blankly.I guess if there is to be any setting down,it's Brick that needs a chair.
The telegram was as follows:
The second you get this,hide for your life.Red Kimball says he can prove everything.Will explain in letter.
Lahoma.
Don't say nothing to me for a spell,growled Brick,thrusting his hands deep into his pockets.I've got to think mighty quick.He strode toward the dugout,leaving Wilfred and Bill staring at each other,speechless.
In a short time,Willock reappeared,bringing from the dugout his favorite gun.Come along,he bade them briefly.When he had ascended the rounded swell of Turtle Hill,he stretched himself between two wide flat rocks and lay with his face and gun directed toward the opening of the cove.
Now,Bill,he said sharply,if you will just set facing me with your eye on the north wall,so you can tell if anybody tries to sneak over the mountain-top,I'll make matters clear.Wilfred,you can go or stay,free as air,only IF you stay,I can't promise but you may see a man killed--me,or Red Kimball,I don't know which,though naturally I has my preference,he added,his harsh voice suddenly changing to the accent of comradeship.As to Bill,he ain't got no choice.He come and put up with me and Lahoma when nobody didn't want him,and now,in time of danger,I 'low to get all the help out of him that's there in spite of a begrudging disposition and the ravages of time.
What I want to know is this,Bill interrupted:Who and what is this Red Kimball?And if you have to hide from him,why ain't you doing it?
I puts it this way,Bill:that the telegram traveled faster than old Red could,so no need to hide till tonight,though when you deals with Red,it behooves you to have your gun ready against chances.You want to know about Red Kimball?But I think I'd best wait till Lahoma's letter comes,so my story can tally with hers.I got my reasons for not wanting to tell all about Red Kimball which I reckon he wouldn't be grateful for,but that's for him to say.So I 'lows to tell only as much as I has to tell,that depending on what Lahoma has picked up,according.
I suppose you've met him face to face?growled Bill.
They don't seem to be no harm in that question,Bill,but you never knows where a first question is leading you.If I refuses to answer what seems fair and square,no suspicions is roused when I refuses to answer what might sound dark and shady.So I banks myself against my general resolution to say nothing beyond Lahoma's word.
Her word says he can prove everything.What is 'everything'?
That's what we'll learn from her letter.We'll just watch him do his proving!
And her word says to hide this minute.
I don't do my hiding in daylight,but when it's good and dark,I'm going to put out.I would tell you the hiding-place,for I trusts you both--but if you knowed where it was,and if officers of the law come to you for information,you'd be in a 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 never 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 comes,you'll take it to that crevice into which Miss Sellimer was drug by that big Injun,and you'll wait in there till I comes,not opening that letter till I am with you.We'll read it together,down in the hollow where poor Miss Sellimer's life was saved by Lahoma;then you two will go back to the cove,and leave me to sneak away to my hiding-place which may be near and may be far.When you get a letter,bring your ladder and the lantern,and be sure nobody is watching you--because if you let Red Kimball or any of his gang follow you to that hiding-place,you'd have to see a man killed--and such as that ain't no sight for eyes as civilized as Wilfred's,or as old as Bill's.
