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°