went to Lakotah reservation
uprising of the Indians.
inald Vandervyn, agency clerk
disaffected because old
tribal mine deal.
as acting agent
s owned by Indians.
Con-
The army officer, you will recall,
Hardy learns the Indians are
CHAPTER XVI—Continued.
se Ge
So began the second period of Har-
and the intimacy appeared as sincere
and friendly as the first one, w
dervyn in the
Redbear. Almost every day
out to Wolf
shed, and estimate as best
without surveying instruments
number of acres that could be put
der ditch.
h
was
examine the
could
the
for re
poris on similar
fore receiving them
Moial
surprised by an o
Washington inst
on the t
Redb«
ructing
send
ge of
Sing of
was
use
him
alin.
80
of
become
insist
moun
egation
fered
home while }
Redbear
wished
Hardy
as far a
Dupont
pany. He pr
aboard train
sole
with
and a fu
help them in the
sion.
to
might
us
EO
the
away
“They
“fron
toward the |
will
“You sure
for them, Cap
ain't got no license y
Mr. Van is there to bo ‘om
“Besids
added Marie
pletely diverted
They
be HE e
“You
nohow, |
along.
ork here,”
rough
shack misnamed a hotel, and at dawn
the
Lie
it, animated.
after day they
for the
after dav her
sed.
her
good
of the tril
gracio vard
And day
deepened
Isness to
¥
afte
incre:
and
until it could be seen in h
and and heard in
flection of his veolce when he spoke to
her, Though her manner toward him |
showed no trace of overt coquetry, she
made effort to repulse
devotion or to check the
his passion,
A after the departure of the
delegation found him fully looking the
part of a gallant lover—ardent, youth-
ful, almost handsome. He had
every
look act, every
no his silent
growth of |
week
severity,
his seemed to be
their original ruddy brown.
A few days later one of the lines of
levels happened to bring him and the
girl to the edge of the coulee, across
from the butte. He suggested that
they go down and across to the spring
rill for a drink.
As they turned back, Marie recog-
nized the exact spot where he had
been shot, Womanlike, she shud
tlered and turned pale at the recol-
lection, though at the time of the oc
she had been so brave.
“Look!” she sald In a half-whisper,
“Here Is where you fell. I thought
you were kilted!”
“The experience was well worth
temples regaining
currence
1s
wn
His
passion
| while,” he replied. shoo
the irresistible
“Dearest !—let me call you that
this It here 1 first
1 into the depths of your heart,
learned how and kind you
volee
| with
love,
of his
here, once! Was
i look
good
The
from
to hide her face
adoration of his
turned
reverent
girl
the
”
no,” she 1
“No,
It
how
“I must speak, dear,
nothing of you.
to tell you
gain that
I came from
st one dearer to me
the
he replied. “1
that I
made me
life is worth living.
the Coast, 1
that
Saiiiil
anyone
all world- mother,
18 a little womar
eyes were din
but
rd
“You restored
"It
awl
anyt
10
insisted.
to ask
"”
me
“It would be useless—
cried.
He
ure
she
was too little
to realize
indicate
versed in feminine
that her
an effo
of
vehemence
to suppres
the assertion. Had
he been youth-
ful von him
that which his reverent respect shrank
urging. He had her
ind. He pressed it to his lips,
and freed her.
“yt 11 not annoy
sald, “Yet I cannot take
wait he
shall take my fighting chance.
“You will?”
shall
“1
od
1
a few years younger,
impetuosity might have
from taken
gloved hs
sl you, dear,” he
that as final,
until returns
"
she whispered,
not give up until you have
edged yourself to him, If I ean, 1
prevent that. He eannot pos.
love you as I love you. If it i
ible to win you for my wife,
do it."
quivered,
as If startled.
4
I
from
when
and shrank
“You say,
“My Friend, Jake Dupont, Gentlemen.” |
he comes back-—— But until then |
you--you will not" i
“Until then we shall continue to be |
the same good comrades that we have
been.”
The girl drew In a deep breath,
“Then-let us go back to work)”
i Hardy accepted the suggestion with
an self-control that was as remarkable
ns it was misplaced.
CHAPTER XVIL
The Only Woman.
During the pleasant, busy days that
followed, to all appearances Marie en-
Joyed the work and planning and the
long hours of companionship fully as
much as Hardy. Dupont, now ever
bluff and genial, kept close to his
store. But during the long evening
discussions his eyes often twinkled
cunningly under thelr gray thatch.
No word had been received from
except tw notes from
Vandervyn to Dupont, reporting favor-
able progress and Inclosing sealed let-
to Marie. She told
these contained, even to her fa-
QO
ters
what
ther.
Hardy's first—and last—message in
regard to the new treaty was an offi-
that it had been duly
gned, after fifteen mil-
lion dollars had been decided upon as
cial notification
approved and signed
mineral
had
erva
lands, Special commissioners
been named to proceed to the res-
tion arrange for the Immedi-
opening of the mineral lands to en-
y, and the allotment of the rem
Lie
18 to the
and
nit in
ill
members of the tribe,
wis sed wi
the
ad alr
ad al
ardy red
Bul i
th
¢ time
the
pereel ve
wn
they
in the bottom, a
They 1
five rough-l« r
MIRIDE Net
ril
und tw
tha
few
number had the a 1
of prospecting They stared
Marie respectful
of typleal Westerners for an “honest”
wrirds
pring
wera
pearance and u 4
at
tion
with ition
adm
in, and readily answered Hardy's
questions,
the mineral lands of the
had been published In a fe
SCUre We kly papers,
gave Hardy a blurred sheet of a lit
country journal, and pointed out
notice,
reservation
Ww very ob
the
It was printed in
the midst of several uninteresting legal
The old fellow winked know-
remarked thst,
1 on the game, he didn't care
it was played.
“What that man have
¢ing In on a quiet
Hardy, they rode '
to the road back t
and as long
could meant
ns n
take 0
agency.
“I believe I understand,
ot altogether like It,” rep
The fellow probably is ri
ng that
and I
ied Hardy.
do
undue influence
u pos.
gible
to the opening of the mineral
lands to entry.”
“Do you really think so?
it is not rig! Yet where is the
harm? These men have enter
prising enough to seize the opportu
nity, and they deserve the chances of
good fortune.”
“The
1 4 av
is
been
transaction has rather too
scheme,” replied Hardy. His thought-
face darkened with
“if I could be it
pe
anxiety. sure
The profound tenderness and
in his seemed to
Marie. She leaned forward, and put
voice startle
The day before, immediately upon
receipt of the official statement from
Washington, Hardy had sent a messen-
Two days
rge family, Including Oinna. Marie
insisted that the girl should come to
stay with her until the return of Red-
girl with good dresses from her own
“It is little enough to do for any-
one, captain, I was tired of those old
gowns, Anyway, as a quarterbreed, 1
a full-blood woman.”
“Her brother will
pleased.”
“I had no thought of him. He Is
rather a worthless fellow, It Is strange
be greatly
snys nothing, but one can see that
gpenk, and thought better of it,
“You were golng to say—1"
served Marie,
“Something that must be left unsaid,
ob
question of accommodations for the
commissioners,
The arrival of the commissioners
early in the afternoon of the following
day would have taken the agency by
surprise if Hardy had not posted a
lookout on the signal mountain, The
prearranged smoke-sign gave warning
of the approach of the party
it was yet many miles away
the plains. Even at that,
and Marie and Dupont
quite ready to greet
i when they « into the
| The ex fon of thelr quick
trip from the rallrosd at once becan
evident, CC Indian dele-
8 and wed in
tlarge touring
Vandervyn wasn
Hardy
were not
the vi
view down
sitors
valley
ssioners,
fits
Ea were sits
cars,
driving the foremost
He brought It up 1
a
car.
agency terrace with
it around
the porch of
second
the
a curve tha
the
Car roi
to
in
Dupont
led straight
terrace the
konza.
Most cordial of all
in who had sat in the
greet
ww st
and wi
ndervyn.
that
most
; epped out to
visito
Vie
posure
nily in
by
wi
the
ito
| rooms,
invited
\ of the com-
tt invita.
ie
viel
i
sit
They
from Chicage
Pe
id
Hows,
accommodate
up
£4 oop
«1
on
now
ray crore
shrugged
ile a trifle
W a
hi
f Dupont's ordial
of hospits 5
Marie
By the time
ery member of
sky.
herself to the
reappeared ev
ith good feell
HUHNE.
whi
guests,
lw angle T
at once became the target for a
of compliment all in «
he
al
Lf joubtful ta
and some decidedly too f }
She looked to Vandervyn, ar
only with
that he wou
| to the of
{ nity that altered their bearing
| toward her, They were puzzled to find
ia garden rose in this rough wilderness,
une
Id say
enders
goOm
an
nothing, ghe replied
with a wit and dig
ir
{ zation that they were not at
to splash mud on her
| luncheon completed her conquest,
petals,
uneasiness from
{all the
i mile,
fed to extol Marie's skill as a
Oinna, bearing a tray, came in, and
began to serve luncheon. Though ex
tremely shy, she started with a deft
that careful training.
gone
ness showed
dervyn looked up and perceived her.
| The surprise was too sharp even for
{his assurance. He stopped short in
{his talk, and stared at her, discon.
{eerted.,
At sight of his frown the girl
{dropped her tray, now fortunately
| empty, and with a little, gasping cry
{fled from the room. She did not re-
appear. Marie off the awk.
ward incident with a smile and a tact.
ful explanation of Olnna's excessive |
{ shyness, The Indian boy finished the |
| serving,
| Vandervyn
| messages,
passed
had delivered Hardy's!
They bad been received |
one of the commissioners brusquely
attend upon them. Vandervyn
posed with the suave suggestion that
the acting agent might
safe some of the papers necessary
a full understanding of the a
the agency.
leave in
flairs
a parting nip at Dupont’s liquid h
pitality., Assuring Marle that
would return in time for di
left under their
With the he had
at, Vandervyn returned
room. When he came
Marie was a
suppre
4
they
the e host.
excuse mi
to
out,
) .
ie door
All the
1¢
f
lone in
ssed fire of
“How o:
gz to
n I hel}
melt her
response to the deep,
her
her
ig voice, yet hele
the strength «
a
1
' |
ghe rejoined.
arriag
asked
he
“You
in an
that
at won't
until
bi
are
An-
know
iisgioners
is of my
Once l—woe-—get
» a free man, and then,
drew back from his
“No,” she said,
you,
“If 1 must wait, so
nust If you mean what you say,
y have to wait.”
‘You mean-—what?" he stammered.
She clenched her hands convulsively,
I not have known him first?”
“I see,” he muttered. “It's that
that tin soldier.”
“Yea, it is—that gentleman!"
flached back. Again the slender finger
nails cut into her palms,
“Nice fatherly old foggy!” sneered
vour feeling toward him for love.
Love! that's the word, sweetheart
You
and I, sweetheart I”
She blushed and trembled. But she
had spent all the days of his absence
in that intimate comradeship with
Hardy. At the moment when Vander.
her will rallied, her eyes hardened |
with resolution, i
“I have said that I will wait. That |
is enough, You also shall wait” }
His eyes narrowed,
out after the first
few hundred (}
Fm in on another deal that
to net a cool million, When I
get that In bank, I can have any girl
I choose to go after.”
“If 1 had ten times
uld b
1og-
sands,
stands
a million, and
iis face would
He stared at
long moment, while the full
of the
a
words ent thro the
nor of hi
furious
He
wolf KY engoly oe r
CLL - CRO. aon,
tc
I wanted to
If he con
gay
sieeve for him.”
ot
ing to ask you
We Roing
about the
the
nn walt
How're to work
of a
e oAd-
to make a show
It's to be run on th
vi got
sil contest.
“Suppose one of them there men at
the bu has the best horse?”
Vandervyi thrust out
“Don’ ast urself. I'm
This my
.' He lea
in Dunont’s
hook his head.
his
rong
jaw.
to
of
ned over
ear
is idea
“Umm!
work.
make you
uld do the enters
I'd be a sooner.”
“The mine would be entered by me,
of the un-
derstanding that you were to get your
replied Vandervyn., He stepped
to the door. “Come, 1 guess
WE
the only one what ¢
course we would have
briskly
Still frowning dublously, Dupont fol-
lowed him over to the office, where
Hardy and the commissioners sat walt.
ing for them, stiff and constrained.
What sort of conspiracy do
you think that Vandervyn and
these crooked commissioners
have formed against Captain
Hardy? When the Indians find
they have been tricked will they
shed white blood?
TO BE CONTINUED)
! Safe wet,
A woman in Pottsville, Pa., Inughed