"I don't know that. Folks goes into the Territory, and somehow they
contrives to come out loaded down. But I hope to the Almighty it's
a different Gledware!"

"Lahoma can hold her own," Bill remarked confidently. "You just
wait till her next letter comes, and see if she ain't flying her
colors as gallant as when she sailed out of the cove."

Wilfred reflected that his invitation to remain had been sincere;
there was nothing to hurry him back to the Oklahoma country--he
would, at least, stay until the next letter came. His interest in
Lahoma was of course vague and dreamy, founded rather on the fancies
of a thousand-and-one-nights than upon the actual interview of a
brief hour. But the remarkable change that had taken possession of
Willock at the mention of Gledware's name, had impressed the young
man profoundly. In that moment, all the geniality and kindliness
of the huge fellow had vanished, and the great whiskered face had
looked so wild and dangerous, the giant fists had doubled so
threateningly, that long after the brow smoothed and the muscles
relaxed, it was impossible to forget the ferocious picture.

"That's what I'll do," Wilfred declared, settling back in his seat,
"I'll wait until that next letter comes."



CHAPTER XV
THE DAY OF FENCES