tigation. Hardy learns in a CHAPTER Viil—Continued. Ne Vandervyn had arranged to be gone a week. There was no cause to dis cuss the time of his retu and as Ma- rie seldom mentioned him, Hardy was not often annoyed by the vision of the handsome young fellow interposing be- tween himself and the girl. From day to day it could plainly seen how the rides in the pure moun- tain air and the delight of the girl's companionship were bringing back strength and vigor to the officer's tropic-weakened 1 a healthy red appeared under his cheeks. The lines of and re- pressed grief began t away. On the morning of t when he rode in Marie a ride out to the butte on Wolf ten years seemed to have droppe him. Even when he the girl and exposed at his temples, he twenty-five than thirty shaved off his bristly “Positively, wey Lady 1 Ho ody, Soon the tan severity 0 smooth he to ov Jf er “you startle nu young! First thin mow, I shall be feeling ther contrast.” “Impossible,” g “You are the Yo with you what makes me much younger than I Yet never see thirty-two again.” “You're barely of age this n she said, smiling at his shapely shaven lip. “In that case you mu i callowness by my ald to moun She put one hand, rose feather and on her man's saddl strange behav buck. Hz: by the hs and proceaded t exhibition of an. With or horn of he cult seat pony “You've n he Spirit of gallantly replied. Being seem uth. is |0 am clean- umor vou my need 1 small booted foot in his light HED rdy sprang to ss Marie waved him aside uel. ‘ romaptu 0 Swoon round the r diffi- subs wr noved the £14 aa police h camp site suggested With subtl the privile ledges, the could 1 outelin mounted to the where they sat down on the to the plains through Hardy's gl stillness and the lless blue the great sweep of the la all tended to guiet the excitement of their lively ascent, A hush fell upon them. Marie let the hand that held the glasses sink into her lap. She gazed off up the river, dreamy-eyed. After prolonged murmured in a half-whisper: alone we are! The world Is young--it is the beginning of time. And in all the new, young world, you and I are alone—Marie,” It w the first time that he had ever used her given name in speaking to her, She started from her day- dream, the color deepening in her ks, In the same moment she be- aware that she had been looking at a moving object, “Look I” ghe sald, lifting the glasses to her eyes. “That must be the head and shoulders of a man. He is rid- ive ed y top of the highest crag, rock mountains The utter tude, the immensity of them, bare view and ARSON, 3011 nbove clone dome ndscape- a gllence as ches ame an Indian; his head is muffled In blanket.” “Marie!” softly repeated Hardy. The girl sprang her feet. “He has disappeared-—but we are no longer alone in the world, Captain Hardy. I#t us go down.” With Instant repression of his dis appointment, Hardy took the glasses and offered his himd to nasist her down the first ledge, She ignored the offer Nor did she permit him to help her ai all during the descent, Her pony leaped away with the usual jumping start of a bronco. The mare gtepped clear of the low scrub near the rill edge, out upon the sandy level of the coulee bottom, She was in the wt of hroaking Into a trot when ber to few months ago, She I had, Now I shall always have the thought was all memory of her,” away from him, “I cannot endure You shall not think of me that way! “I beg your pardon, Miss Dupont,” he apologized. *It Is most inconsiderate ing your sympathy on false pretenses I feel my strength coming back, It must be that the bullet merely grazed head.” efore she could prevent him, rider's hat whirled from his head and | he pitched sideways out of the saddle as if struck by lightning. A moment later the report of the shot reached Marie, She glanced over her shoulder and saw Hardy outstretched on the ground, flaceid and Inert. | With a suddenness that almost threw her pony off his feet, she The mare had | and twist- | ed her head about to look at her fallen hich he had | the shot had come Flinging herself lucked Hardy's it nimble The manner in w showed that up the her pony ut of coulee, its the saddle. could leveled she bent over Her own and for a bound them on rsd of8 served ahove his leeding. When at last he ad was in her lag + down-bent A ter 0 opened bh He his still in pain creased hi He murmured, in the queru- of a sick child: ) 3 YOR J. gazed up Into | face, I | frown of " vid HnaG dnze. forehead. lous tons “Mother soft hand began to his fi ad. ly his eyelids lifted, and he clear, He 2 stroke rehen bright gaze BIW “Iu shot in tt} erious it “Shot? idering dangeronsly if i After a pause, he with the cal n inost prof you iil i I love yo I thought you the most be I had ever seen “Mariel” He Murmured. “it Is You!” you to be the most lovely-—your soul as | beautiful as your face. Do not shake | your head. It is the truth” She averted her shame-flushed face, | “I-—1 cannot permit you to speak to me this way.” “You are too good and kind to refuse to hear me,” he replied In the same calm voice. “I know about him. 1 know I have no chance, dear. He is young and handsome ; while I" The pale lips curved In a quizzical smile, The girl's bosom heaved. The tears overran her brimming eyes. “You are —ure generous! 1 did not think any man could be so generous!” Agnin his lips curved whimsically, “Perhaps I am generous because there is mo other course open. I would ask you—-would urge you-to marry me, if I thought I had even a fighting chance of winning you.” “Marry you! You would nsk me? Yet you know what my father is Hike: ands you army people are so proud. I an Indian quarterbreed, and my father what he is!" “My mother—passed away--only a *" “Oh” she remonstrated. He forced a laugh between clenched teeth. “No, it's what 1 thought—only scratch. All right now, except for I have been impesing Did you see wher the came from? I must go rout out the rascal” The girl grasped his r up away from him, “You shall not g “I'm sure he ran away fell” Hardy str a shot 141 ie ant " 0, she 7 the mor Knees ightened on bh as firm as hig pose was tottery “Be so kind as to help m« Hardy turned his n M The Coquette. » endure the jar of fn up the slope from Sioux cr “It is Mr. Vandervyn,’ an even tone." “Yes,” she replied but di YI rod have beer in Hardy to Did he get order out I wish presume Re turned a sco the butte, as if an I in pursuit of the would- | 7. “Charlie went back Thunderbolt’s camp to g along all right with I told him that if he was he had better stay a few If he and the girl make them % gril gri sO i f Le chie " ter chance to quiet the tribe. “You found conditions still unfavor- “Yes. Al the chiefs took a dislike to you; and they had stirred up Charlie and 1 talked | talked. You know a white can talk Indians into anything, if he violent “What result?” snapped Hardy. Vandervyn shrugged. “I know we made some impression, especially on old Thunderbolt, The chiefs no doubt would be willing to let you visit the but I doubt if they could keep the wild- est of the young bucks in hand, This shooting proves it. 1 tell you, captain, leas of you If you cut the whole busi- ness” “I shall start for the mountains to- morrow,” “Tomorrow? remonstrated Marie. “Your wound-«wou must wait at least | until it has begun to heal. And in the meantime Redbear and Oinna will be talking Ti-owa-konza and his camp into a milder mood.” “That Inst is a most excellent argu- ment,” said Hordy, and his firmly compressed lips curved in a smile at the girl. “I shall take your advice, Miss Dupont.” Vandervyn had frowned over the concern in Marie's volee, Hardy's re- | sponse started the of his fore head swelling, veins Jake unable to make can inter if 'm them un- | ind.” " “Good!” said Hardy. Vandervyn shot at Marie a glance of anger, and put spurs to his to, jut when they reached the pin quad of agency, police only just leaving the Marie conjectured that the had to a walk] I up the valley. Mar reached the | With the assistance of Van the Dupont he ped in the open air slowed ile going At last agency. house to n from hi » to an cot the dowi hady po and took sev. th to- hed the wound ernl draw edges @ gether. During the OneTe i stood witching qulousy. ed the her prot Jealousy geen His did you answer him? cept—you refused th hii hi humble, that i "Yos girl Vandervyn grasped her ee 80 and teased, no stepped arm 8 tO kind relesse Mr. Yandervyn.” “You coquette! You're play me against him.” “80 that is what you think of me?” | The girl wrenched herself free and | turned from him haughtily. He stepped forward, and again] grasped her arm. His voice shook | with jealous anger: “You shall have nothing to do with him! He shall not | 0 "oe a me, trying to “Indeed! May I ask what right you | have to dictate?” “You love me, that is why,” he flung back at her. “You love me, Marie. You can’t deny it.” His volce sank to n deep, ardent, golden note that sent a tremor through her. “You are mine | ~mine! You know it. Your arm | quivers-~that look in your eyes! You cannot hide your love, Mario——swoet- | heart!" He gought to embrace her, Put again she wrenched herself free from him. She could no longer feign hau- | tour, Her face was rosy with blushes; her bosom heaved; her lashes, glowed Yet she kept behind with ten- her head | eyes, wal! volee: Unlike Oinuna, she was not so | unsophisteated thinking her, “You take a good deal Mr. Va mocking tone, sweetheart, be.” He came ne color of violets as he persisted in for granted, attempted a not yet your sure 1 shall “1 am nor am 1 ndervyn ghe sO arer to her, his eyes and sparkling with tiny Id out his arms VS and enticing: sweetheart I” hin golden glean His “Sweetheart She YOlO Fog! of show vhen Hardy quits” “Does he intend to quit?” “If you turn him he ust as soon as he finds the tribe still i him. Then—don’t you sweetheart ?--1 shall the appoint ment Your into the little old mine as fast as we please, IU's real mine, heart. In a few months we'll have ugh ore shipped to the smelter for me to from my uncle and do as I please. You know what that down, il gainst get as agent, in a sweet of cut loose Again he came townrd her, his eyes his arms open to em- brace her. And again she eluded him, this time with no hesitancy or waver. ing. Her smile showed she was once “Aren't you rather previous, Reg. gie?" she asked, from the other side of the tea table. “We are not yet en- gaged.” “You coquette!” cried, “You know I can't formally propose to you until I have got rid of Ella.’ “How honorable you arel” praised him, and he could detect no irony in her voice or look. Vandervyn stifled an oath. “By-- I''N have you yet! You shan't gat away from mel” he § i i H ardor in emotion she woman of French blood can “That is to be seen, Mr. Vandervyn., And now, you'll kindly excuse me, 1 mu ve a falr her devoted from the passionate To cover her only shrug. 114 ' (juivered i $M . YOiCe, reed his oO | shrugs as time to my the h be He went into the of Dupont's dainty little onto pore could interfere, and gel one of the Vandervyn uttered CHrse ing to vhigky bottles a fiir oom out ideboard CHAPTER X. At the When, a Broken Mountain. afer is said 0 neral 1 few young L r me bbe n at “Tou are ir there wu of attack. Pere, chance one in danger « e and I go, as well as that much 11 party firing at you." “Very well,” acquiesced Hardy. “1 ! 's judgment. It test chance of danger jut as yon are to be with the party, 1 shali take Mr. Vander you may remain in charge of the if you prefer.” thanks™ intend to be less of father's h your ! tha here is the slig ! along a squad of police. snapped Vandervyn let Marie run the { risk of getting into a massacre, | most shall go along.” The girl was unusually gracious te Hardy at supper. At breakfast she df vided her smiles between the two with strict impartiality. But when, shortly | before sunrise, the party started off up {the valley, Hardy began talking about tribal customs with Dupont and be | came engrossed in the discussion | that he falled to give his usual courts eous attention to Marie. Vandervyn was quick to make the most of the girl's pique. The half<dozen Indian po lice of the escort were strung out in front with the pack horses. He sug- gested that it would be well to avold the dust by getting in the lead. ! “ly you RTT certainly 820 A , Deo you believe that Marie is deliberately aiding the plotters against Mardy, and do you fear an ambuscade for the new agent on this visit to the Indians? (TO BE CONTINUED
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers