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〃I reckon it ain't right；〃 said Brick Willock to Bill Atkins as they went
one morning to examine their traps before Lahoma was astir； 〃to keep our
little gal to ourselves as we're doing。 You're getting old； Bill； awful old〃
〃Well； damn it；〃 growled Bill； 〃I guess I don't have to be told！〃
〃You ain't very long for this world； Bill； not in the ordinary course of
nature。 And when I've laid you to rest under the rock…pile； Lahoma ain't
going to find the variety in me that she now has in the two of us。 Besides
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which； I'm in the fifties myself； and them is halves of hundreds。〃
〃Yes；〃 Bill growled； 〃and give Lahoma time； she'll die； too。 Nothing
but the mountain'll be left to look out on the plains。 Lord； Brick； who do
you reckon'll be living in that cove； when we three are dead and gone？〃
〃Guess I'll be worrying about something else； then。〃
〃Do you reckon；〃 pursued Bill； in an unwonted tone of mellowness；
〃that those who come to live in our dugout will ever imagine what happy
hours we've passed there； just sitting around quiet and enjoying ourselves
and one another？〃
〃They wouldn't imagine YOU was enjoying of yourself； not if they
was feeding their eyes on you every day。 But I'm awful bothered about
Lahoma。 I tell you； it ain't right to keep her shut up as in a cage。 Can't you
see she's pining for high society such as I ain't got it in me to supply； and
you are too cussed obstinate to display？〃
〃I guess that's so。〃 Bill drew himself stiffly up by the tree abovethey
were ascending the wooded gully that extended from base to mountain…
top。
〃Well； what's the hurry？ She's only seventeen years old。〃
〃Yes； she was only seventeen years old； two years ago； but she's
nineteen； now。〃
Bill Atkins sank upon a rock at the foot of a bristling cedar。 〃Nineteen！
Who； LAHOMA？ Then where've I been all the time？〃
〃You've been a…traveling along at a pretty fast clip toward your last
days； that's where you've been。 Just look at yourself！ Ain't you always
careful in making your steps as if scared of breaking something？ And now；
you're out of breath！〃
〃It was knocked out by the thought of her being so oldbut I guess
you're right。 Well； I wouldn't call her life caged…up。 The settlers have been
moving in pretty steadily； and she has friends amongst all the families
where there's women…folks。 She has her own pony； and is gone more than
suits me； and although there's no young man disposable； we ain't fretting
about that； nor her neither。〃
〃I used to think she might be foolish about Wilfred Comptonbut
Lahoma； she ain't foolish about nothing。 Nevertheless； Bill； it ain't right。
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Settlers is settlers； and what she yearns for is the big world。 I would long
since of took her out to see it； but dassn't from a liability to be catched up
for divers deeds that was unlawfully charged to me in times past。 You
could have guided her along the city trails； but was too cussed obstinate。〃
〃She's your cousin；〃 retorted Bill； 〃and it wasn't for me to act her
guardian。 Besides； did you want to lose her？ You couldn't take Lahoma
where she'd be seen and known； and expect to get her back again。 Maybe
it isn't exactly fair to keep her boarded upbut the times are changing all
that； and sorry am I to see it。 Do you know； Brick； I once thought you and
me and Lahoma could just live here in the cove till time was no more；
reading our books； and smoking our pipes； and taking peaceful morning
trips like thisto see whether we'd caught a coyote in our traps； or a
bobcat； or a skunk。〃
〃Yes； that's all right for us； but Lahoma ain't smoking no pipe； nor is
her interest in skunks such as ours。〃
〃Just sobut see how Greer County is getting settled upthat's what's
going to save us； Brickcivilization is coming to Lahoma； she won't have
to go out gunning after it。〃 〃Of course I've thought of that。 I ain't got your
grammar； but my mind don't have to wait to let in an idea after it's put its
clothes on。 Maybe they comes in nothing but a nightshirt； but I ain't ever
knowed YOU to think of nothing yet； that I hadn't entertained in some
fashion。 Of course； civilization is a…creeping up to the mountain； and I
reckon by the time Lahoma is my age it'll be playing an organ in church。
But she's at the age that calls for quick workshe's got the rest of her life
to settle down in。 Most all of a person's life is spent in settling and it's
befitting to lay in the foundation aforetime。 Look at that dear girl in The
Children of the Abbey； all them love…passages and the tears she shedsshe
was being a young woman！ What would that noble book of been had that
lovely creature been shut up in a cove till nineteen year of age？ Is Lahoma
going to have a chance like that amongst these settlers？ Will she ever hear
that high talk； that makes your flesh sort of creep with pride in your race
when you read it aloud？〃
〃Do you want Lahoma to have a lover； Brick Willock？〃
〃Bill； if he is fit； I say she ought to have a chance。〃
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〃And where are you going to find the man？〃
〃I'm going to help Lahoma find him。 I'm like you； Bill； I hates that
lover like a snake this minute； though I ain't no idea who； where； or what
he is； or may be。 I hates himbut I ain't going to stand in Lahoma's way。
No； sir； I 'low to meet civilization half…way。 There it islook！〃
Willock stood erect and pointed toward the plain； where perhaps
twenty tents had been pitched within the last two weeks。 Bill gave an
unwilling glance； shrugged his shoulders disdainfully； and resumed
progress up the difficult defile。
Willock continued： 〃Two weeks ago； there wasn't nothing there but
naked sand。 Now there's three saloons； a hardware store； a grocery； a bank…
…all of 'em under canvasand the makings of a regular town。 Right out
there in the broiling sun！ Carloads of lumber and machinery is on its way；
and the stage…coach will be putting off mail there before long。 That's how
civilization is a…seeking out our little gal。 But I means to meet it halfway。〃
〃Oh； come on； don't say anything more about itwhen I look at those
tents I can't breathe freely。 What do you gamble ona skunk。 or a coyote；
in the traps？〃
〃'Tain't them tents that's seeping your breath； it's pure unalloyed age。
Yes； sir； I means to meet civilization half…way。 I've already been
prospecting。 There's a party over there in Tent City that's come on from
Chicago just from the lust of seeing pioneer…life at first hand； people that
haven't no idee of buying or settlingit's a picnic to them。 They're
camping out； watching life developand what's life…and…death earnestness
to others is just amusement to them。 That there's a test of people high…up。
Real folks in the big world don't do nothing； it takes all their time just
being folks。 You and me could bag a dozen polecats whilst a fine lady was
making her finger…nails ready for the day。 And these Chicago people is that
kind。〃
〃Do you think they'll make friends with Lahoma just to suit you？ The
kind of people you're talking about are more afraid of getting to know
strangers than they are of being set on by wildcats。〃
〃They'll make friends with Lahoma； all right； and invite her home with
'em。 That's the way I 'low to set her out in the big world。 Lahoma don't
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know my plans and neither do they； but I was never a man to make my
plans knowed when I was going to hold up people。 Of course I'M speaking
in a figger； but in a figger I may say I've held up several； in my day。〃
〃THEY won't invite Lahoma to Chicago； not if they are the right sort。〃
〃They will invite Lahoma to Chicago；〃 retorted Willock firmly； 〃and
they are