BARRA LAAARRRARARRRARARS v N this serial you are given a 1 picture of present-day Amer lon’ Indinns on government reservatipns, The author depicts, too, the mannef in which the original “Americans have been exploited in the past by unscru- pulous men with strong political influence. On the other hand, assuming that you have a taste for whelesome romance, you will enjoy the powerful love clement in “The Quarterbreed.” = And Mr. Bennet's portrayal of the principal characters is as much a stully“ ds an eatertainment. We feel sure our readers can look forward with pleasure to the perusal of each installment of the story. THE EDITOR Astras hancsnasssnsnttanaas ALTELLLLLLLLALL LARC LLLL LLL RAB R BRR RRS ART AAR RAR AAA RRNRBRRRRABRBRRRS CHAPTER 1. w— Under Fire. In its spring freshness the dreary brown of the Montana range was tempered with a pleasant green. ‘ut the midday sun was blisteringly t, and the rider turned his eyes to Snowy f the Little Paw of mountains, nearest of the rugged, us it he crests The had almost reached Wolf The ro mare was ‘ vh as wie five miles away, H the the boundary, thoroughbred unfalteri him away from the of the nearest “town” fifty miles back over But as they began to irew her down to her ei Pen Hi oft reservation. river n ’y role ery Muggy 8 and easy ng on 1f-dozen Ol top took out his fleldginsses, Hardly had he fo d the i little binoculars when from coulee, a short eame the crack A moment later the shot by . stream. Not so puffs of their che directed the dozen or more sw dians crouching coulee bank, from th 3 butte. All were warily peering dowr the coulee, The road narrow valley gashed the far bank or so downstream. 1184 distance of a higl three des The the others, reges of black the arthy, hal of SNe HCTOSS ran the that obliquely across to in sles gulley of this gulley four or five grouped before buckboard. them a man was crouched edge of the hs behind a small bush, just outside the entrance of the A in civilized dress was coming the rear of the buckboard. figure of the rider tensed decision. Above under th man ink. Another gulley. woman with quick the road, to cut down the sharp slope directly towards tho Indians. His voice rang across the coules with clearness of a bugle call: “Ho, there! Cease firing!” At his command, the Indians twisted about to glare at him in a half panic. Three or four started to slink away, “Ho, There! Cease Firing!” a But one swung his rifle around and fired. The bullet grazed the rider's coat collar. He flung up his right hand, palm outward, The reply to the pence sign was a second bullet, that cut the crown of his campaign hat, Two bullets were enough to change the tactics of the rider. At a word from him and a touch of the rein, his mare swerved and plunged obliquely down the side of the coulee, The In- dians burst into exultaot yells, and several opened fire on the fugitive as the mare leaped down to the coulee and dashed across the bottom toward the gulley. Urged on by voice and spuriess heel, the mare sprinted over the sandy level with the rush of an racehorse on the home stretch, Coming to the narrowed stream, she covered it in a single tre- mendous leap, and dashed on, un- checked, up into the gulley, safe out of reach of those whirring leaden hornets, ‘ : As they swept past the low bush at the entrance of the gulley, the rider | looked down at the man behind it. He | saw f blond, florid young fellow, whose blue eyes and small red-lipped mouth were ugly with hate. A glimpse, and he was past the outlier. The woman, crouched just beyond, under the edge of the bank, was blaz- ing away toward the Indians with an | automatic revolver, An instant later he pulled up his mare alongside the buek- | board and looked up with cool alert-! ness at the third member of the party, | under the brink of the bank, The man ceased firing and twisted his thickset | body half about so that he could stured down at the newcomer. The fusillade of the Indians had | ceased instant their view of the fugitive was cut off. Yet, after a sin- gle hard look, the man the bank turned away to thrust his rifle up over The rider wheeled | » and rode back past the skit- ww, The womnn had crept in entrance of the gulley to » could stand upright without herself to fire of the on his the came up the slope with an en that told ler § peeped edd 1 $id 3 Khe i nging step Of the hem of her the sins From und ham dre toes of Having raised her He wa hat he saw POA the rider ‘h his Then vividly ook un at r fine hia d+ # ivyt etl $1} ing us hi nag 10 tou Wwitn riunciory courtesy. her face——calin, heautl ful. He removed his his manger the oliel® ike BiTL 8 proud, hat, ith a sudden change in brought el } VIACK the demanded : wm int bit 1 y OH ft i A trifle disconcerted 1 } 'yY gerutiny, he brusquely int is the trouble here?” 1 nl 1 ke ttees fais worry about from his cavalry pu nd the butt of X you needn't saddle a walp,” she assured him, her rich ito volce as soft as it was sweet “You came near getting n I. 1 zee tut you're gn fe L now If you keep close.” » raillery brought a slight flush to his sallow Yet dinoh before look sked they take “No. bank. in cheeks, his gaze did her another of disdain question “Have n the agency?” We Reggis saw this bunch up » cut loose at them bef Pere could stop him.” i . “Pere?” Abh—your father, The | “Can yout blame him? He was along when the agent was shot Inst You of the murder.” “Yes, Stil it was wrong for him to invite an attack, with a woman in his party” “Oh, I'm only a quarterbreed, you down, may have heard lightness, “Besides, Reggie thought the party was trying to head us off Don't worry. Charlie Redbear crawlibd up the road half an hour ago. The " fetches the police, tuated the remark. The rider looked over the coulee | bank across at the jagged crest of the | butte. “If they slip over there” he sald, “this position will become unten- able, The butte is the key to the situ- ation.™ He looked at the gi*l, between con- | cern and swiftly growing admiration of A rifle shot punc- Her eyes were diamonds, An almost Her But the red lips were agnin parting in a disdainful smile, She replied with- ig you're afraid they'll take the butte, you might get away by bolting down the cotlee, We'll do what we can to draw their fire.” “You will?” he sald. “Thank you for your suggestion. 1 belleve TH follow it. Kindly step aside.” She steed motionless, her eyes glit- tering with cold contempt of his cow- ardice, Unchecked by the look, leaned forward in the saddle. Once clear of the gulley she swerved sharply and raced away down the coun- lee. The flight was sn unexpected, so dating and so swift that the fugitive had been borne a good fifty yards down along the foot of the near slope before the Indians opened fire on him, The girl had erept forward and crouched In the entrance of the gulley to peer after him, “The coward I” she cried. “The cow- ard! 1 hope they get him!” But before one of the many bullets could find the leaping, receding mark, mare and rider shot ont of sight behind a clump of willows, At once the firing censed, The blond young man under the bush glanced around ut the girl and called Jeeringly: “I say, Marie, how's that for a bobtall visit? Took him for a gentleman,” “Gentleman? That's the word,” she mocked. “Conduet becoming an officer and gentleman” “Officer? he repeated; mean to say" “Yes," she asserted, officer, over him)" The man amazement, but suddenly bethought pinging up the coulee. river bottom. mare. and rider dashed into view, rac- ing directly across the coulee. Though the Indians at once opened fire, the they could get'thie range. Hopeful that ome or more the enemy might expose themselves during the excitement, the young man behind of “The the Coward! | Get Him.” Coward, They Hope the bush had not looked the firing « “Hoy General Fabius make hi Gut casualties? uy Dien be pra ape,” the girl 1 i avedd. In will return to the pescue with oops of caval ~ bon onl it ~ A Woe ry. “If biclevg i Geiegl those sneaking coyotes have sent tion around to clin side, come {the Our military ex He id this ome untenable “So he man, lurch--the skunk “Well, he has gone. You'd bx hinking how to get us out of the f (hiarile ean back gromble “Yea, once, Hee young 1 at Kn i 3 Yoong leaving a womas to you've got us into,” suggested the “All 1 did was fo knock in front of them. The way the back at they reall ‘rs # up ft 4 me proves ¥ che ming to get us™ “Much you know Ad the girl, “Just some of the tribe are feeling ugly is no sign that—" “How about the m1 “Well, how? You snd Charlie both there was only the the shooting. No; if this been planning to get us, they'd have been out of sight under the edge of the bank or over on the butte when about id because one buck who say did “Have it your own way-—only toss me a bottle of bier, that's a good girl. I'm dry as a fish,” Recklessly he sat up and looked at her, his small mouth curving in a smile under the neat A bullet whizzed close over his head, The girl did not wait for him to reach Satisfied to his safety, went up the gulley: to the buckbosard and drew a eanteen from the box under the seat. Her father glanced down and saw what she was doing. His face was powdered with dust. He spat and beckoned to her, “Good! Bring it up. edge of the bank.” The girl climbed nimbly up the gul- ley side with the canteen. Her father spat again, took a deep drink, and said : “Better git the ponies round behind the buckboard. Unless Charlie gits back mustache, ns Jullet hit the muke a break for the agency.” “All right, Pere,” cheerfully respond. ed the girl. “There haven't any of them been hit 80 far, I guess, They may be willing to let us off with a big scare,” i : i i i i to his lips, " rie,” called her father, She did not walked swiftly up the gulley to the restive ponies, As led the two saddle horses around the rear of the buckboard, the young man called up to her: “Shorten my stirrups. That pinto {8 the best runner in the bunch.” “Can you make it bareback?” asked, “He can hold gnid her father. won't drag.” “Yes, I guess I ean hold on. the she to she on to the harness “Tie the tugs so they I'l try enlico mare.” “Any sign the juired, her supple gloved finger r the harnessed ponies fro: on butte?” vot IR yet,” an “I'm expecting a bu joke, Mr, " answered the vounug Het man iit “This ain't plained the SOO, Van,” He glowered at trained no cCoOm- other man. butte. Suddenly hb of the COVES ot v 1 ob moving Pp sight } aught it gory i » Of n CTL. his shoulder, 2 I lowered the weapot wl onth, nt on her task 1 yor fii was happening. The man who ran away,” wered.' “The joke's on you Mr “How Y" Her father I he Van.’ an- rinned as he bent to re- KE “You took him for a quit- the nerve to run their fire heading } a thou roads” flushed. “He's not the man ght he was rail a ad “Yep. Jumped the whole bunch, first shot. We better hustle, It look good to meet him.’ “Marie says he's an an added the young man. “It will well to get the ore off the reservation. There's no telling what he ha for.” be as ® Come CHAPTER IIL. The Acting Agent Within a few minutes the party had ti top the ridge. The he of came P neared thoroughbred Ig uj from the hollow on the other side. At sight of them her rider brought her to a stand. The older man spurred his pony up the round of the summit, “By Gar, that wasn't no bad play you made partner,” he ca “Taking the ! gave you the drop on em.” The man whose strategy had routed Inclians did not reply. The girl looked up him with confident ex- pectaney in her sparkling eyes. He did The expression of his harsh features was severe, but there was a flush under the tropical tan on his cheeks, troftlin mare 1 Hed, witie at dO. more generous impulse. She drew the gauntlet glove from her right hand, Under his cold gaze her eyes again hardened with offended pride, and more when the police come.” declared the young man, who had taken a new position in the opening of the gulley, “No, you won't,” remonstrated the girl as she started down to him with the canteen. “When old Tiowa-konza sent in word that he'd eall it quits over the shooting of Nogen's killer, he meant it. But this time you fired the first shot, and if you kill one of them, It will mean a blood feud, If not an uprising.” The young man snapped his fingers. “I don't give that much for the whole pack of coyotes!” “Don’t forget the mine, Mr. Van" protested the older man, “Yen, and how about me?" asked the girl as she held out the canteen, "oat settles I" be repited. “Xo frank approbation, “Can you forgive me” she asked. He bowed formally, “If you think there Is anything to be forgiven.” “You know there is. 1 wish to apolo- gine” She stood up in the buckboard and held out her hand to him, It was very white and shapely. He bowed over it with grave courtesy, as he took it in his nervous clasp. “You have no Miss ween" “Dupont--Marie Dupont.” “None whatever, Miss Dupont,” he went on. “I should have explained my intentions.” need to first thing, instead of crossing the cou derstood the cause of the trouble. There was also the chance that they would cease firing when | rode towards them.” “That was nervy of you,” remarked the second run when they'd come so near gitting you the first time.” | trader?” this side of Ottawa. you're nn army officer.” Marie cavalry,” stated the newcomer as he raised his glasses The blond man out of his insolently careless pose, and spoke In the “Pleased to meet You pine pre sued young straightened tone of gentleman : you, ( mand the Philip- force that sup- insurrection fo the recelved favorable I am Reginald Stat- u were In of Of constabulary the recent Suin islands. You CONEress, Vandervyn of the Vandervyns of Island is uncle.” mention from on Senator Clemmer my The responded to the intro. a curt bow. yil of the p'leece asked Dupont, “Yes, ninutes,” nanme woul tion without | the wi “I pulled 1 Hardy cold] ny rat ira Crave I as in the res Lo « ~~ for a 4 7 open preferably northwest, on account of “Dia ask for this place in particul: “No. The detail » of the ki the reported tribe.” “Youll find these ugls Moros, “Perhaps,” Hardy | at the two big, lumps my You mean to : Ra be- late agent wis given me iting of the restiessness of the bucks differ- ent from He looked sacks that | Inshed buckboard. * “You | started for the rallroad 7 “Pere and Mr. Van wished to ship out the ore” “Ore?” “Well, mitted Dupont “T'll make it clear to Captain Hardy words, Jake, in Yan- He looked new agent frank, « e. “You see said on the had explained the inquired Hardy. wt ad- “You see, me and" girl yes, it's a = of ore” broke t the in two dervyn., with a captain, a t gaz Indians have been getting back in the ain Jake them goxls for it Ti barter has been a good thing for the = nea and Hre some of t 14 ore, mountains, trades { far I belie Take h nothing.” Dupont narrowed eyes g 80 as lost his shrewd gray itlenlating, “Well, no, that’ Take it in the long run, ain't lost nothing. It might figure I've broke better.” Vandervyn winked at Hardy. “When { an Indian trader admits he may have done better than to have come out can guess what that means.” “Nom d'un chien !” grumbled Dupont. “Ain't the risk to count?” if « ns no lie, Cap. even or mebbe some some even, we “Certainly, You #hould know the scope of the agent's authority. It in- cludes the right to order off the reser vation dnyoné not. a member of «the The girl smiled mockingly, “You fore get I told you I am a quarterbreed.” “Marie!” remonstrated Vandervyn. “Mind your own husinéss!” shed back. at him. “lL an that I'm a gvewmber of ribe, nud I don eare how soon ve it, « if He 1% an "6fMicer Hitle American army.” She turned upon Hardy, flushed, de- int, hh rl ow § 4 wus the i Sitting Bull. What that, Mr t wr Went he not the he of fin ashamed on ven our moter My to Migs Dupont, nnleas ed} 1 I am giad 1 { ana oonpun wed no escort,” sald Nin. Mr. Van? in place of Mr, Van- “lI must te the Eo lained Hardy. accompany me agency.” The young man looked the new agent ip and down with an insolent » boyish face. “What if 1 mile on 8 handsome do not choose to go back ™ “It would put me to the necessity of f chief clerk,” countered ng a ing new Hardy. . The othe: evidently had expected an arbitrary order. He bit Lis lip. It was ~v f yy, i we oH ervation after the killing of Mr. No- gen,” reproved Hardy, “I presume she is now going away, not to return until the trouble has passed.” “You Hardy.” said the gis. the drive and to serd off a mail order, | We can rely on the police. Anyway, | none of the tribe would hurt me." i § - Hardy Uttered a Stern Order: “Malti™ plain that he was puzzled over the miang- “If you wish to resign” added the capiain, “may I request you to tele tered: “Well, mebbe so, You can’t al- way tell what they'll do.” “Why, Pere,” exclaimed Marie, “you | know there's not fhe slightest danger to me.” | “Well, mebbe not-—to you,” he ace “Yet it will be advisable for you to The girl's eyes flashed at the slight suggestion of dictation. “TH do as I “In this instance you may,” agreed | Hardy, “since your father admits that Otherwise 1 would order you to remain away." “You'd dare to erder me?" “I'd resign quick enough if I could,” suid Vandervyn, “You're the last man I'd let order me aronnd if I could help i." Hardy turned to the stolid-faced trader, {3 “Please remember iny baggage. Yon had better ride on after your daugh- ter. The escort will soon follow." PRrassssssssssaanssaanates In the next installment Cap. ¢ tain Hardy discovers conditions which lead him to believe there is & conspiracy on foot. Can you guess the nature of it? RRR RRRR RRR R ARR RRR. (TO BE CONTINUED)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers