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 canvas--and 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 it--when I look at those
tents I can't breathe freely. What do you gamble on--a 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 settling--it's
a picnic to them. They're camping out, watching life develop--and
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."