LIC TICE IL] CCIE LCCC] tribesmen. CHAPTER Vi—Continued. waif nodded engouragingly to Redbear and smiled at the Indians. turned his steady gaze from konza. “The chiaf is not angry,” he sald. “We shall soon be friends, Tell him that I come in peace, with a good heart toward all the tribe. I do not blame the killing of Mr. Nogen on If white men have done any wrong to the tribe, I shall stop the wrongdoing. Ti-owa- who are doing wrong, the chiefs should help me make all do right. He faced the assembly aad rolled out a flood of Lakotah wit pidity. Almost immediately konza rose to reply, his face with indignation, his voice i When he had spoken, he standing. “He says he is bear. “No,” brusquely “Look at his face. gered. Ie anderstanding interpret correctly. “He says he is bear, his sidelong Hardy to Vandervy reassuringly. * keep it hold it inside. gO away Hardy his sharply: Ti-owa- ablaze angry,” began Red. contradicted The others There is careful 1 Hardy. are an- some mis that is not. Be you insisted Red ance look ano ang gle ry,” who was n inside, {to or straigl look be 1. 3A to me to send for will come ups Redbear's lowed by a } is any int ush n or outcries. ned to the § gestures tily becks a alone nr ed HE Ul 1 warehouse until the; white men. Hardy scuffle of their mocen He “How is this?" bh particularly wished no »f force aid Hardy. “Well, since polic 1iin't you bet £ will . lust, looked ar the be close h work rap, and the fun.” Hardy turned 1d to 1 laring girl. She stood « nidway between the assens ind her father's cabin. “Take her back to the house” lered. 3ut would it be wise for you and Charlie just now? y loyal if—" Ome to a s«¢ 0 See at {1} ht kr bied Ind 28] 9 aro n a slig he or- nay not sta i “Go! The command was peremptory. Van- Ti-owa-Konza Rose to Reply, His Face Ablaze With Indignation, change glances with Redbear. Hardy studied the semicircle of waiting In- dians with a resolute gaze, and, as before, fixed his atteation upon Ti-owa- konza. “We must learn what is the cause of this {ll feeling,” he remarked to the halfbreed. “Ask them why they are opposed to their young men trading ore for Dupont's goods.” Redbear spoke slowly to the Indians, his manner unlike that of a man who approaches a barrel of gunpowder with a lighted torch. There was no explosion, but the old head chief flared with unmistakable anger. He replied with a flery declamation that won grunts of approval from his fellows, The halfbreed’s voive was unsteady “He barter that of ore. this { shall be no more ys all over i land of his tri no right again is the be, here, and he hates all Long- knives. “Tell him that he is mistaken. have always been of the Indians, 1 next spring, no more are to be ed the Sooner or later, white men Will come | and take the ore if the Indians do not {dig it themselves. Another thing, the tribe should to the up of their land, so that each of an family ean have his and work it after Other tr €y are no longer poor.” hesitated, more aside from Hardy, and be to pour cotah, The soldiers the friends after goods {food to fast believe agree lividing ibes have ite men, stepped gun torrent of 1a He ken only a fe ¢8 when a wave i of agitation passed over the Indians. Hankets slipped n copper-red shoulders; fierce eyes glared menacingly Hardy Several of the more excl ¢ bucks leaped up ith how and rifle in hand, rdy thrust ind raised his he the out a Ww senten of down { fro: ft tabl out from among ils to Ti gn. The to his fellows and turned upon the nt with del peace 8i he led age The Hardy calls a council of head The new agent tache, leave “It is for you to decide to for the good of the tribe, or to stay and take the chance of an up- | i ol Wd CHAPTER VIL The Common Law. . “you sure wk of it th all-fired he “That was very th ptain,” said Marie, 3 3 $8 wou he far more consider if you would leave the rs added Vamgiervyn, “How 807" queried Hardy. “Of course, you'll fancy I am think ing of my promotion. But it's not Ask Jake : “I got it from nt. “The y shoot you; mrlie sings o going away.” “He said that?” “Oh, captain, don't be interceded Marie at all, the p'leece bunch ‘d done it. whole they to "em that agent, was crazy only Mr. Van too, ut be 18 fo { lie, “But why? I could not friendly. more Yet everything I said “I told you they're a ornery hunch” “1 all soldiers like pizen. old ones was in the Most ghost-dance craze, “They may cool down and be willing " argued Hardy. “Cool down? They'll go back and stew and stew till hell Next thing up the young bucks. and boils my business to take care of my ! old age and give Marie a chance to be a lady<to stand to loge eyerything “You are free to leave here with her whenever you wish.” “No, I ain't, I can't leave my store -ull my property.” “There would be no danger if it were not for you,” sald Marie, her eyes flashing with indignation. “If only you had not come here! “If there is an outbreak, it will be all your fault!" “Mine?” “Oh, I know you mean well, But if they've taken this violent dislike to you Why ever did you come? You saw how they like Mr. Van. Had they thought you would Insist on staying, nothing could have kept them from attacking you. But the promise that Mr. Vaan is to be thelr agent, that paci- fied them, Had you never come here, all this would not have happened. The chiefs would have dome to talk with Mr. Van, and would have gone back satisfied.” Hardy swung around in his chair to scrutinize the gulleless face of Van- dervyn., “What do you say to that, sir?” he interregated, | “What can T say? replied Vander “The way you put it—" considered Hardy. “Perhaps it might be better for all concerned If I should leave.” “You bet it would, Cap,” eagerly broke in Dupont. *“'Tain't no Them ornery cusses 'Il git you with Nogen, just shooting.” Vandervyn shot a farious glance the blunderer., Marie was looking a Hardy. But she did not need to the tightening of his lips to realize what her father had done. “Oh, Pere!” she reproached. say it? You should known Captain Hardy could not after that” “Quite Hardy. “You mean, joke like done sure they as as “Why have leave ' right, Miss Dupont,’ you won't leave?” Dupont, “How can he? Vandervyn st cut in. “You've put it up to h would © ire. ye deserting ) his post He's an army offi now r—he woul leave i meant in mas followed by certain the troops.” until I have made ort to pa 13 “You never you pl ceria ore i Sacre mas ere of “lw emalin Xd En whe I » me oo ren } Fy dpa verb Cogs t UENO ca that I am the only I be endang “This belng so, ero for the excite: 11 mountains, her spler ys concern, urie, er # an instant’'s hesits right to throw J captain, BSuppos wake a trip to the camps, cannot quiet the tribe and t fs into giving you another If you have no objection, we could tell them that you cannot leave just but that you will do so as soon as you have tried to benefit them.” “And that Mr. Van'll be next agent,” uselessly, nn i } & if the chi to Boe we « £ rive? now, “Will you tell them that I am hore queried Hardy. “Trust me to put it to them strong, captain,” assured Vangdervyn., “I know “After I have done what I ean do to improve conditions among them,” qual- “I do so hope Mr. Van can persuade them to be friendly with you,” said Marie. “I know he and Charlie will But it will be hard to talk them out of thelr strange dis like to you, When will you start, Reg- gle?” “Early tomorrow morning, if the cap- tain has no objections.” “The sbdoner the better” Hardy. “I'll go and remove my council cos: tume,” sald Vandervyn, smiling at his irreproachable frock coat, Marie and her father rode with him. Hardy bowed out the girl and returned to his desk. He was deep in the midst of a report on the tribe when, half an hour later, Vandervyn returned to the office in his riding togs. “Charlie may not come back this afternoon,” he remarked. “I thought I might ride down and tell him about the trip. I could fetch your mare for you." “Very well, I shall be obliged,” re- plied Hardy, and he returned to his study of the report. Vandervyn rode down along the far side of the stream, keeping the thick. ets as much as possible between him. self and the Dupont house. He did not recross the creek until he was op posite Redbear's home, He found the cabin door closes. But at a Slight movement of the window curtains his hand went up te beckon with a lordly #® agreed gesture, There was a short pause, Then the door opened a scant inch, “Hello!” he said, brother?" “He has has gone to tell families,” “On the agent's mare,” dervyn., “Please—he didn't me please don't tell on him. “That depends,” replied Vandervyn, “Do you think I eare to favor him when you act if you hate me?” “Hate? No, no!” The aoor opened several inches and as suddenly closed to a narrow crack. the lice gucssed Vane ie " as tut Vandervyn had caught a glimpse of the girl's blushing face, His voice dropped to a caressing tone: “You're not afraid of me, are you, just because I wanted a kiss? Come out here and talk, I won't bite you.” “You promise not to “Not unless “But—but 1 " -to kiss me? to, back “ wish me do!” eam you © Impulzively his pony. a bang. 1 waited a ily arted with saddle cabin door shut shtened in the s moment, frowned heav- , and started to ride away. From the came a plaintive cry; fig yh. Aad He window plea dismon hor e's ‘head, indow, blus ped In 3 valked the opene The to ¢ ior It Will Be Hard to Talk Them Out of Their Strange Dislike for You" it the do You are my ge are wild roses and are as like Lion rf Another Kiss 8 mu it. You're learnir JOW, Now at me,” She her dro ping the desperate of who is very shy, and gaze her tender eves starlike wi glow of her love and on “You really whispered. “No. I hate firewater. wants it all. “Ch arlie 1 white n I You say you want me! a halfbreed girl, and you “You're my honey-sweet and open the door.” She looked up at him again full and | direct, and his gaze sank before the | trust in her clear eyes. “You want me to be your engaged | girl!” she murmesed. “When people are engaged, they are going to be mar. ried. Charlie said I must marry a white man, a good white man. You are kind to me. It is wonderful. I have read that even army officers have married halfbreed girls, But you are grander than" any officer, and you are very good to think of marrying me” Vandervyn forced a smile, and re. plied to Her adulation without meeting her enraptured gaze: “What else did you think I meant when 1 kissed you? Of course we shail be married. As we are here on the reservation, it will be according to the custom of the tribe” . “Married? Oh, my heart sings!” cried the girl, “I will be your wife— yours! 1 can't belleve it—= There comes Charlie, I must run and tell him.” Vandervyn hastily released her, and drew his arm out of the window as he looked around. “Wait!” he commanded. “He's com- ing fast enough. Leave the door barred.” The halfhreed was racing Hardy's’ mare up the creek bank at a furious Your eyes re like look raised ids sud ©" ith fon. srage of one » up at him, th the soft doration, like me?” you she him a taste, I want you.” said I must Give e marry a girlie. - —_ | saddle and advanced upon Vandervyn, | his face dark with suspicion. | “What you saying tb my sister?” he demanded, | The white man met his threatening {look with a half-contemptuons, half- | amused smile, “I've been showing the girl what 1 think of her,” he replied. Redbear eame to a sudden halt, muscles of his face pegan t “Oh, Charlie!” reproached “What makes look nt way? Why don't you thank She unbarred ide, “For what?’ questior in a harsh, “Because The © twitch, trinnn him that him?” you the door and stepped outs ed her strained volce, brother he is going to be going to take me for his “Marry you? halfbreed could Through his daze “Fy wife,’ Olnna~ bel shot a you?" The his f angry not Ove Cars. flash o you—you w | her!" Vandervyn manner, er. “| “Yous i | by ot 1 i town, Oinna married aco Again ened Arejess rFruess ves," You'll take her ber Ili} ui | marry her? 0 town and m arry > ople? ! “ru vu jue arry her as some I'll not vy i ¥ i "0 1 take her to and I have agreed to be ding to tri} om.’ Redbear’'s weak face dark- with suspicion apd {won't have it. You're white is half white W hite { marry Indian fashion “You know a + Ha vent you wmrringes? Lots of narried that way." “What way?” “You must kn going to a let of over ministers and people just take each band apd wife and g narry oO al cust anger «opie dou't lot ab n ever heard of common it, Charlie. nw reat white people get Instead and bother about it. fuss YW of licen Hes, other many for hus- ing. “gis that a real white marriage?” asked Oinna. rvyn frowned, Vande “You lying, you? Why, don't I'm do you i n “oe mon-law wives getting their sh dead husbands’ estates, us they had gone fuss Ask t does not often happen. “Well, If it uttered Re are of - i HT the just if - it thr gt of weddings me Oug 8 real marriag dbear, lie, if he uff didn't work. So for wit} t the RO oid a her jut it must be geacy that you } Who could you sen “Ti-owa-konzs our m ther. Not Mr. Du pont knows that,” said Redbear. “Before he came here, she ran off with a bad white man. They went to the Blackfeet, After n time he got an arrow through his back My mother came home. "Ti-owa Konza i | would not her face, She had to | work for the agent till they made us go away to school. hen she died” “Old Thunderbolt your grandfather?” remarked Vandervyn, seizing upon that one fact in the squalid tragedy. {he know it?" “I told him so today. facew— ut maybe } will like me¥® He said to bring Oinna for him to look at her.” “That's great! hody. nnd «i ders ive sent 1h to 1 to?" Ld is ther's fa- oYven ROP | 1 | { “Does He said my 16 come to | i i ardy and I am agent. | go all right for all of us. savvy that, Charlie? by until tomorrow morning.” CHAPTER VIIlL. Best.Laid Schemes. Hardy had goane to the Duponts’ for supper: when Vandervyn returned to the agency. He made a hasty tollet and followed. Marie met him with marked coldness, This, however, meit- ed before he had finished his report to Hardy. All agreed that the old chief probably would take a fancy to Oinna, and that, as a result, there would be a fair chance of pacifying the tribe. When Mardy turned to the girl, he found her and Vandervyn exchanging glances and murmuring remarks. His habitual gravity softened to a smile tunity he excused himself, had passed before the light in the little citified parlor of the Dupont house was extinguished, When, at sunrise, Hardy went for breakfast, Marie's eyes were very bright and her look was pensive, She ate little, and her manner toward Hur dy was cold and ungracious, » Te000900090 After the officer left, Dupont squing- ed across the table at her and began to scratch hls head “You and Mr. Van burned & lot of coal ofl last night He didn't git far enough along to ask you to hitch up with hi A in, dig he? red blush flamed cheeks, Without looking inured a regretful “No.” “Guess hie figures he'll wait and zee Like Hardy hold on the girl's she mur- in up if Hardy is going to bust us up. not he'll skip and chokes off our i nek f ne east if pits sore the mine,’ “What Fou mean? away The I hate him!” “Kusy, girl!” No use plunging when you're the snubbing post. Just no got us roped, He'll have tied If we go to bucking to makeshim think we're “What if we act feel?” “You don’t that mir Me and Nogen discovered It and pald honest for developing it, as you know, we Mr. Van ip on it. Then Nogen up #% killed, That makes it half and half between me and Mr, Van, according to all that's fs and juare. But do you believe Hardy will at it that way? Not ~COn- derable. He'll talk about the tribe's resere because it's de He'd solemn send stify old fogy CARY, soothed Dupont. hitched “ to he's Ow us all We've gentied, toward him as we hog- got sayvy about 1e, let o and git ale Ail by a- it being the vit JUS on vation, wy her nos and Re see!” The girl trils dilated. rok £3 grie of 3 eyes flashed, “He a fortune—y and vill rob you *t you wish Oo bu ce to him!” Can't you be Ww Ww git the biuffed got to the o y ko { HIKE : 546 nine.” “Oh “yy Yep them Wo ere ny is of is he's of what stand so they lean backwards. We talked to him about how it would help » tribe if he joined us In opening the He mighty h. Guess | have to give him Nogen's third to nto our camp. shame! The 8. He hasn't done a thing one tt A a traight was offis ca a mine is yours “What He's our with Zens. can rob fri us of don’t nds make you savvy?” Carmo Marie re- ith a ed the 3 efore meal they were chatting brought a twinkle nt's cunning eves, wased a ride up the-val- greatly pleased. He ped the simple details usiness, and now, pend- » of Vandervyn acd Red- ing to do except instruct his of cleanliness Cipiine, Marie er looked more charming than whgn on a horse. She took her new friend for a long ride around one mountains, Every cliff and piney slope was familiar to courteous ww greeting that soon ty fh lighten very O iz look. af the ideas r ¥ nes “leis That a Real White People’s “Marriage ?™ Asked Oinna. her. She pointed out all the grandest and most beautiful views, and showed herself even better versed in the lore of the wild than she had seemed to be posted on the culture and graces of polite society. After that there was no break tn her friendly manner towhnrd the captain for several days. Fre quently they took other rides, over or around the nearest hills and monn. tains, Do you believe that Vanoer- vyn's deceitfulness with little Olnna will be punished by the Indians—or do you think she will escape harm at his hande? eeeeRcenRseeOReR INNO VAR (TO BE CONTINURDS S9p00000000°
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