I
THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
A Modem Indian Recreation
Story by Robert Ames Beneet
f The Ouarterbraadl
m
IN tills serial you aro given a
picture of present-day Amer
ican Indiana on government
reservations. Tho author depicts,
too, tho manner In which tho
original Americans have been
exploited In the past by unscru
pulous men with strong political
Influence. On the oilier hand,
assuming that you hnvo n tnsto
for wholesome romance, you will
enjoy tho powerful love clement
In "Tho Quarterbrced." And
Mr. Bennct's portrayal of tho
principal characters Is as much
n study as an entertainment.
Wo feel sure our readers can
look forward with plcasuro to
tho perusal of each Installment
of tho story.
THE EDITOlt.
CHAPTER I.
Under Flro.
In Its spring freshness tho usual
dreary brown of tho Montana rango
wns tempered with a pleasant green.
But tho midday sun was bllsterlngly
hot, and tho rider turned his eyes to
tho snowy crests of tho Llttlo Paw
mountains. Tho nearest of tho rugged,
pine-clad spurs were now only four or
flvo miles away. Ho had almost reached
tho reservation. Wolf river marked
tho boundary. Tho rangy strldo of his
thoroughbred maro was us easy and
unfaltering as when slio hnd borno
him away from tho half-dozen shacks
of the nearest "town" on tho railroad,
fifty miles back over tho open range.
But as they began to top the rise, ho
drew her down to her rapid walk, and
took out his flcldglasscs.
Hardly had ho focused tho powerful
llttlo binoculars when from ncross tho
coulee, a short dlstanco downstream,
como the crack of a high-power rifle.
A moment later the shot was followed
by thrco deeper reports from up
stream. Tho first shot was smokeless.
Not so tho others. Tho bluish smoko
puffs of their charges of black powder
directed tho gazo of tho rider to tho
dozen or moro swarthy, half-nuked In
dlnns crouching near tho top of tho
couleo bank, across from tho nearby
butte. All wero warily peering down
tho coulee.
Tho rond ran obliquely across tho
narrow valley to a sldo gullcy that
gashed tho far bank a hundred ynrds
er so downstream. Back In tho shelter
of this gullcy four or llvo ponies stood
grouped boforo a buckbonrd. Abovo
them n man was crouched under tho
edge ot tho bank. Another man lay
behind u small bush, just outsldo tho
entrance of tho gullcy. A woman In
fclvlllzed drcsa was coming around from
tho rear of tho buckboard. Tho erect
figure of tho rider tensed with quick
decision. Ho wheeled his maro out of
tha road, to cut down tho sharp slopo
directly towards tho Indians. Ills
voice rang across tho couleo-with tho
clearness of n bugle call : "Ho, there
Cease firing 1"
At his command, tho Indians twisted
about to glaro at him In a half panic,
Three or four started to slink away,
' .i "Ho, Therel Cease Flrlnal"
Bu' ono swung his rlflo around nnd
fired. Tho bullet grazed tho rider's
ct- it collar. Ho flung up his right hand,
ptiira outward. Tho reply to tho peace
sign was a second bullet, that cut tho
crown of his campaign hat.
Two bullets wero enough to chungo
the tactics of tho rider. At a word
from him and a touch of tho rein, his
maro swerved and plunged obliquely
down tho sldo of tho coulee. Tho In
dluns burst Into exultant yells, and
Ycral opened flro on tho fugltlvo ns
tho mnro leaped down to tho couleo
and dnshed across tho bottom toward
Alio gulloy.
Urged on by volco and spurless heel,
tho maro sprinted over tho sandy level
Tvltb tho rush of a rucehorso on tho
Jiomo stretch. Coming to tho narrowed
tream, sho covered it in n slnglo tro-
nendoun lean, ana uaslicu on, un
checked, up into
y, safe out of
reach of those wb
den hornet.
As they swept past tho low bush
at tho entranco of tho gullcy, tho rider
looked down at tho man behind It Ho
saw a blond, florid young fellow, whoso
blue eyes and small rcd-llpped mouth
wero ugly with hate. A glimpse, and
ho was past tho outlier.
Tho woman, crouched just beyond,
under tho edge of tho bnnk, wns blaz
ing nwny toward tho Indians with an
automatic revolver. An Instant later ho
pulled up his maro alongside the buck
bonrd and looked up with cool alert
ness at tho third member of tho party,
under tho brink ot tho bank. Tho roan
ceased firing and twisted his thickset
body hnlf about so that ho could stare
down at the newcomer.
Tho fuslllndo of tho Indians hnd
ceased tho Instant their view of tho
fugltlvo wns cut off. Yet, after a sin
gle hard look, tho man on tho bank
turned awny to thrust his rlflo up over
the edgo and shoot Tho rider wheeled
his mnro and rodo bock past tho skit
tish ponies. The woman had crept In
from tho entranco of tho gulley to
whero she could stand upright without
exposing herself to tho flro of the
Indians.
She camo up tho slopo with nn easy,
springing step that told of youthful
buoyancy. From under tho hem of her
neat gingham dress peeped tho toes of
small, blue-beaded moccasins. Having
reloaded her pistol, sho raised her
head to look up at tho rider. Ho was
lifting his hand to touch his hat with
perfunctory courtesy. Then ho saw
her face calm, proud, vividly beauti
ful.
Ho removed his hat, with a sudden
chango in his manner that brought a
gleam Into tha girl's bluo-black eyes.
A trlflo disconcerted by tho girl's
cool scrutiny, ho brusquely demanded:
'What Is tho trouble hero?"
Sho looked from his cavalry puttees
to his army saddle and tho butt of his
rlflo. "I guess you needn't worry about
your scalp," sho assured him, her rich
contralto volco as soft as It was sweet
ly mocking. "You camo near getting a
hair brand, I sec. But you're snfo
enough now if you keep close."
Tho raillery brought a slight flush In
to his willow checks. Yet his guzo did
not flinch boforo her look of disdain.
Ho asked another question: "Have
they taken tho agency?"
"No. Wo saw this bunch ud tho
bank. Itegglo cut looso nt them before
Pero could stop hlra."
"l'oro7' Ah your father. Tho
other man flrcd nt them first, you say?"
1 J - ... I
juh you uinmo mm no was ulong
when tho agent was shot down, last
week. You may hnvo heard of tho
murder."
"Yes. Still It was wrong for him to
Invito nn attack, with a woman In his
party."
"Oh, I'm only a qunrterbreed. you
know," replied tho girl with ironical
lightness. "Besides, Rcgglo thought
the party wus trying to head us off.
Don't worry. Charlie Itedbcar crawled
up tho rond hulf an hour ago. The
chances nro wo can hold out until ho
fotches tho police" A rlflo shot punc-
tuatcd tho remark.
Tho ruler looked over tho couleo
bnnk across nt tho jagged crest of tho
butte. "If they slip over there," ho
suld, "this position will becomo untcn
nblc. Tho butto Is tho key to tho situ-
ntlon."
Ho looked at tho girl, between con
corn and swiftly growing admiration ot
her remnrkahlo beauty. Her eyes wero
llko blue-black diamonds. An nlmost
Imperceptible film of old-gold enriched
tho cream nnd roso of hor checks. Her
Jet-blnck hair wus of French fineness.
Tho curvo of hor rather largo mouth
wns perfect.
But tho red lips wero ngoln parting
Iti n disdainful smile. Sho replied with
out seeking to conceal hor scorn : "If
you're afraid they'll take tho butto,
you might got away by bolting down
tho coulee. Wo'll do what wo can to
draw their fire."
"You will?" ho said. "Thank you for
your suggestion. I bcliovo I'll follow
It. Kindly stop aside."
Sho stood motionless, her eyes gilt
terlug with cold contempt of his cow
ardice. Unchecked by tho look, ho
leaned forward in tho saddle. Tho
maro leaped awny llko startled deer.
Onco clear of tho gulloy sho swerved
sharply nnd raced nwny down tho cou
lee. Tho flight was so unexpected, so
daring nnd so swift that tho fugltlvo
hud boon borno n good fifty yards down
nlong tho foot of tho near slopo beforo
tho Indians opened lire on him.
Tho girl had crept forwnrd nnd
crouched In tho cntrunco ot tho gullcy
to peer after him.
"Tho cowardl" sho cried. "Tho cow-
urd I I hope thoy got him 1"
But beforo ono of tho ninny bullets
ponl.l flml tho Iwinlncr. reeiullnir murk,
maro nud rider shot out of sight behind
n clump ot willows. At onco tho firing
" - "
censed.
Tho blond young man under tho bush
glanced around nt tho girl und called
Jccringly: "I say, Mario, how's that
for n bobtail visit? Toojc him for a
gentleman."
"nentlomnn? That's tho word." sho
mocked. "Conduct bocomfng un officer
and gentleman."
"Officer?" ho repeated. "You don't
mean to say "
"Yes," sho asserted. "He's nn army
officer. I could see It sticking out all
over him."
The man stared at her In blank
nmazomcnt, but suddenly bethought
himself to roll over and send a bullet
pinging up the coulee.
Tho girl continued to peer down tho'
river bottom. After several moments
maro and rider dashed Into vlow, rac
ing directly across tho coulee. Though
tho Indians at onco opened fire, tho
marc had skimmed over tho lovel and
up Into a gulley In the far bank beforo
they could got tho range.
Hopeful that one or moro of the
enemy might cxposo themselves during
tho excitement, tho young man behind
"Tho Coward, the Cowardl I Hope
They Get Hlm.'J
tho bush hnd not looked around. As
tho firing ceased, ho called scofllngly
"How about tho strategic retreat? Does
General Fablus make his getaway with'
out casualties?"
"Lo bon DIou bo praised 1 Ho has
escaped," tho girl mocked In turn. "Wo
aro saved. In a week or ten days he
will return to tho rescue with threo
troops of cavalry."
"If those sneaking coyotes havo sent
a delegation around to climb tho butto
from tho upside, we'll get ours beforo
Chnrllo can como back with tho po
Ucc " erunibled tho young man
(tVnfl Oil. tnl1lfni.tf uttii-
Yes. Our military expert saw that
nt once, Ho said tills position would
becomo untenable."
"So he ran, leaving a woman in the
lurch tho skunk I"
"Well, ho has gone. You'd better bo
thinking how to get us out of tho holo
you'vo got us into," suggested tho slrL
"All I did wns to knock up the dust
In front of thera. Tho way they camo
back nt mo proves they really wero
scheming to get us."
"Much you know about It," scoffed
tho girl. "Just becnuso somo of tho
trlbo aro feeling ugly is no sign that "
"How about tho murder of Nogen?"
"Well, how? You and Charlio boUi
say there was only tho ono buck who
did tho shooting. No; If this bunch
had been planning to get us, they'd
llftV b?cn out of Blght under edS
of tho bunk or over on tho butto when
wo first camo nlong."
"Hnvo It your own way only toss
mo n bottlo of beer, that's a good girl
I'm dry ns a fish."
Itccklcssly he sat up nnd looked nt
her, his small mouth curving in a smllo
under tho neat mustache A bullet
whizzed closo over his head.
Tho girl did not wait for him to reach
her. Satisfied as to his safety, sho
went up the gulloy to tho buckbonrd
and drew n canteen from tho box under
tho sent. Her father glanced down
and saw what sho was doing. His fnco
wns powdered with dust. Ho spat nnd
beckoned to her,
"Good I Bring it up. Bullet hit tho
edgo of tho bnnk."
Tho girl climbed nimbly up tho gul
ley Bldo with tho canteen. Her father
spat again, took a doep drink, and said
"Better git tho ponies round behind tho
buckboard. Unless Charlio gits back
soon, wo may huvo to leave tho oro and
mako a break for tho agency."
"All right, Pore," cheerfully respond
cd tho girl. "Thcro haven't any of
them been hit so far, I guess. They
may bo willing to lot us off with n big
scare."
"I'll glvo them a scaro and something
moro when tho pollco come," declared
tho youug man, who had taken a now
position in tho opening of tho gullcy.
"No. vou won't" remonstrated tho
girl as sho started down to him with
tho canteen. '(When old Tl-owa-konzn
sent in word that ho'd call it quits over
tho shootlncr of Noircn's killer, ho meant
I ' .
it But this tlmo you flrcd tho first'
shot, und if you kill ono of them, it will !
mean a blood feud, if not nn uprising."
Tho young man snapped his fingers.
"I don't glvo thnt much for tho wholo
pack of coyotes!"
"Don't forget tho mlue, Mr. Vnn,"
protested the older man.
"Yes, nnd how nhout mo?" asked the
girl us sho held out the canteen.
"That settled it," he replied.
"To
please you, I'll what do you say?
111 call It quits." Winking a gush of
water out over tho spout, ho lifted tho
canteen In gallant salute and carried it
to his Hps.
"Better hurry with them ponies, Ma
rie," called her father.
She did not wait for tho canteen, but
walked swiftly up tho gulley to tho
restlvo ponies. As sho led tho two
saddle horses around to tho rear of
the buckboard, the young man called
up to her: "Shorten my stirrups. That
pinto is the best runner in tho bunch."
"Can you mnko it bareback?" sho
asked.
"Ho can hold on to tho harness,"
said her father. "Tlo the tugs so they
won't drng."
"Yes, I guess I can hold on. I'll try
the calico marc."
"Any sign on tho butto?" she in
quired, her supplo gloved Angers deftly
freeing tho harnessed ponies from the
buckbonrd.
"Nothing yet," nnswercd tho young
man. "I'm expecting n uuiiet soon."
"Tills nln't no Joke, Mr. Van," com
plained the other man. Ho glowered at
tho butto. Suddenly his trained eyes
caught sight of an object moving up
tho steep slopo of n crag. He clapped
his rlflo to his shoulder, sighted It,
paused and lowered tho weapon, with
un astonished oath.
"Pero I" cried the girl. "What is
it?"
"Walt I" he replied. "If It Is by Gar,
If It Is I Git ready, Mr. Van. Only
don't shoot unless they rush us."
The report of a rlflo came down from
tho butto crest. Tho young mnn low
ered his rifle and peered over tho
edge of tho gulley. At tho snmo moment
whirl of yelling horsemen swept
down tho couleo bnnk opposite tho
butte, nnd went flying away up the val
loy in a wild race for tho nearest grove
of cottonwoods.
From the butto several shots cracked
In rapid succession. The fugitive In
dians yelled nt their ponies in a frenzy
qf urgency, nnd dug their heels into
tho flanks of tho straining beasts nt
every jump. Tho rifleman on the butto
was firing towards them, not towards
tho party in the gulley.
"Hold on, Marie I" said her father,
jumping down tho bank to her. "We'll
hitch up again, and cross over to meet
him."
"Who?" asked tho girl.
She had been too Intent on her task
to see what was happening.
"Tho man who ran away." ho an
swered. "Tho joke's on you Mr. Van."
"How?"
Her father grinned as he bent to re-
fasten a tug. "You took him for a quit
ter. Ho had tho nerve to run their flro
ng"ln and you thought ho was heading
back for tho railroad."
Tho girl flushed. "He's not tho man
on tho butte?"
"Yep. Jumped tho whole bunch, first
Bhot. Wo better hustle. It'll look good
for us to cross over to meet him."
"Marie says he's an army officer,"
added tho young man. "It will bo ns
well to get tho oro off tho reservation.
There's no telling what ho has como
for."
CHAPTER II.
The Acting Anent
Within a few minutes the party had
nenrcd tho ton of tho ridge. The
thoroughbred mare came trotting up
from the hollow on tho other side. At
sight of them her rider brought her to
a stnnd. The older man spurred his
pony up tho round of tho summit "By
Gar, that wasn't no bad play you made,
partner," he called. "Taking tho butte
gnvo you tho drop on 'cm."
Tho man whoso strategy had routed
tho Indians did not reply. Tho girl
looked up at him with confident ex
pectancy In her sparkling eyes. Ho did
not move. Tho expression of his harsh
features was severe, but there wus a
flush under tho tropical tan on his
checks.
Sho hesitated, her rich color deepen
ing. Then her plquo gnvo wuy to n
moro generous Impulse. She drew tho
gauntlet glovo from her right hand
Under his cold gazo hor eyes again
hardened with offended pride, nnd
ngnln they softened nnd glowed with
frank approbation.
"Can you forglvo mo?" sho asked.
Ho bowed formally. "If you think
thcro Is unythlng to bo forgiven."
"You know thci 8. I wish to npolo
glze."
Sho stood up In tho buckboard nnd
held out her hand to him. It wns very
whlto and shapely. Ho bowed over It
with gravo courtesy, as ho took it in
i 11,3 nervous clasp.
! ou nnvo no
need to apologize,
, M,ss
uuponi aiano uuponi,
, 11T If . , 1 .
wimiuycr, imss uupowr
went on- shouU1 uavo explained my
Intentions."
"Why didn't you mako for tho butte
first thing, Instead of crossing tho cou
lco?" broke In tho blond young man,
"I did not wish to shoot until I un
derstood tho causo of the trouble. There
was also tho chuueo that they would
ceaso tiring when I rodo townrds them."
"Thut wus nervy of you," remarked
the girl's father "that and making
tho second run when they'd como so
nenr'gltting you the first time."
"You aro Jacques Dupont, the Indlnn
trader?"
"That's me only they mako it Jako'
tills sldo of Ottnwn. Mario guessed
you're nn nrmy offlcer.'r
Captain Floyd Hardy, United States
cavalry," stated tho newcomer as ho
raised his glasses.
Tho blond young man strulghtencd
out of his Insolently careless pose, nnd
spoko In the tone of n gentleman:
"Pleased to meet you, Captain Hardy.
You were in command of the Philip
pine constabulary force that sup
pressed the recent insurrection In tho
Sulu lslnnds. You received favorable
mention from congress. I am Reginald
Vnndervyn of the Vnndervyns of Stat
en Island. Senator Clemmcr is my
uncle."
The captain responded to tho intro
duction with a curt bow.
"Seo anything of the p'lcece, Cap?"
asked Dupont
"Yes. They should be here in a few
minutes."
"I seo them," said the girl. "They're
coming down the slope tills sldo of tho
Sioux Creek divide."
"They're slow," growled Vnndervyn.
"I'll ride back and head them 'cross
country. They hnvo good horses. They
Shall run out every buck In tho bunch."
He spun his pony nbout to sprint
down the road into the coulee. Hardy
uttered a stern order: "Haiti"
Angered nt the commnnd and still
more nt the Impulse that compelled
him to obey it, Vnndervyn twisted
about In his saddle to face the officer
with a challenging stare.
"Keep that talk for your inferiors,"
ho said. "I nm nctlng ngent of this
reservation. What I say goes. I'll havo
thoso bucks trailed till every one of
them Is in the guardhouse or feeding
tho crows,
"You nro mistaken, Mr. Vnndervyn,"
replied Hardy, nnd he drew nn offlclnl
envelope from nn Inside pocket. "You
nro only the chief clerk on this reser-
vntion. I hnvo been detailed to servo
ns acting ngent"
"You?" cried Vnndervyn. "Why, It
wns all fixed for me to be .appointed
ngent My uncle wired me that my
name would go through for the promo
tion without a hitch. So you pulled
the wires to cut mo out?"
"I pulled no wires, Mr. Vnndervyn,"
Hardy coldly met the accusntlon. "On
my return from tho Islands, last month,
asked for n detail to active service
in tho open, preferably hero In the
northwest, on account of my health."
"Do you mean to say you did not
ask for this place In particular?"
"No. The detail . was given me. be
cnuso of the killing of tho into ngent
nnd tho reported restlessness of tho
tribe."
"You'll find these ugly bucks differ
ent from Moros."
"Perhaps," said Hardy. Ho looked
at the two big, lumpy sacks that were
lashed on tho buckboard. "You had
started for tho railroad?"
"Pere and Mr. Van wished to ship
out tho ore," explained tho girl
"Oro?" Inquired Hardy.
"Well, yes, it's d sort of ore," ad
mitted Dupont. "You sec, mo nnd-
Til mnko it clear to Captain Hnrdy
in two words, Jake," broke in Van
dervyn. Ho looked nt the new ngent
with n frank, direct gnze. "You see,
captain, some of the Indians hnve been
getting ore, back .In tho mountains.
Jnko trades them goods for it The
barter has been u good thing for them,
nnd so far, I believe, Jnko has lost
nothing."
Dupont nnrrowed his shrewd gray
eyes ns if culculntlng. "Well, no, that's
no He, Cnp. Take it In the long run, I
nln't lost nothing. It might figure out ,
I've broke even or mebbo somo better."
Vnndervyn winked nt Hardy. "When
nn Indian trader admits he muy hnvo
done some better than to havo come
out oven, we cun guess what thati
means."
"Norn d'un chlen I" grumbled Dupont.
"Ain't tho risk to count?"
"It hag been nn unnecessary risk for
you to keep your daughter on tho res
ervation after tho killing of Mr. No
gen," reproved Hnrdy. "I presume sho
Is now going nwny, not to return until
tho trouble has pussed."
"You nro quite mistaken, Cuptnln
nnrdy," said tho girl. "I am going for
the drlvo nnd to send off a mall order.
We can rely on tho police. Anyway,
none of tho trlbo would hurt me."
Dupont scratched hip head and mut
tered : "Well, mebbo so. You can't nl
ways tell what they'll do."
"Why, Pore," exclaimed Marie, "you
know thcro's not tho slightest danger
to me."
"Well', mebbo not to you," ho nc
oulcsccd. "Yet it will be advisable for you to
remain away until I hnvo the situation
well In hand," said Hardy.
The girl's eyes flashed, at the Blight
suggestion of dlctntlon. "I'll do as I
please, thank you," sho rejoined.
"In tins Instance you may," ugreed
i Ilnrdy, "slnco your father admits that
you aro in no danger. Otherwise
would order you to remain away."
"You'd daro to orde?"
"Certainly. You should know tho
scope of the agent's authority. It in
cludes tho right to order off the reser
vation nnyono not a member of tho
tribe."
Tho girl smiled mockingly. "You for
get I told you I nm a qunrterbreed."
"Mnrlol" remonstrated Vandervyn.
"Mind your own business 1" sho
flashed hack at him. "I am not
nshnmcd that Tm a member of tho
tribe, and I don't caro how soon ho
knows It, even if ho 13 an officer of
your little American army."
Sho turned upon Hardy, flushed, de
fiant, hnughty. "My mother was tho
granddaughter of Sitting Bull. What
havo you to say to that, Mr. West
Pointer?"
"Nothing, Miss Dupont, unless" ho
paused, smiled and continued "unless
It is to remark that I nm glad tho po
lice arc so near."
Tho girl's eyes flashed with anger.
With a swift movement she bent over
nnd snutched her driving-whip from
its socket on tho dashboard nnd stood
poised, the whip upraised to strike.
Dupont's heavy jowl dropped. Van
dervyn swung his rifle around, his
large blue eyes glinting with eagerness.
JETUrdy faced tho girl with no chango in
his Bmlle. Had his steady gazo wavered
for lin Instant, she would havo slashed
hiitf ncross the face.
"You you I" sho whispered. "Twit
me with the treacherous killing of my
great-grandfather, would you?"
Treacherous? How Is that?" ho
naked.
"He wns murdered by tho police I"
sho cried. "You know It."
"I beg your pardon," he replied. "I
had not tho slightest idea of alluding
to what to you must bo n painful oc
currence. But slnco you hnvo referred
to it, I wish to say that you aro misin
formed. Sitting Bull wns shot whllo
resisting nrrcst The pollco were act
ing under orders. The man who shot
the chief hd first been shot by ono of
tho chief's niijjv"
Tho scarleKhat flamed in tho girl's
cheeks decpcBad to crimson. Her gazo
wavered. Iffltcad of striking Hardy,
the whip lashed down across the backs
of tho team. Tho young broncos
plunged and Jumped forwnrd; they
whirled the buckboard down the slopo
away from tho river.
Tho girl's companions Jerked their
ponies nbout to gallop after her. Hardy
spoke to them In peremptory com
mand: "Waltl Dupont, I" shall ask
you to Drmg my naggago irom tho rail
road. Here come tho police. I shall
detail four of their number to go with
you ns escort"
"Wo don't need no escort," said Du
pont "Do wo, Mr. Vnn?"
"They will go In plnco of Mr. Van
dervyn," explained Hardy. "I must
usk him to accompany mo to tho
agency."
The young man looked the now agent
up nnd down with nn insolent smllo on
his handsome, boyish face. "What if I
do not choose to go back?"
"It would put mo to tho necessity of
finding n new ' chief clerk," countered
Hnrdy.
The other evidently hnd expected an
arbitrary order. Ho bit his lip. It was
Hardy Uttered a Stern Order: "Haiti"
plain thnt ho was puzzled over tho
adroitly worded reply. Was It a threat,
or merely a statement duo to misap
prehension? "If you wish to resign," added tho
captain, "may I request you to tele
graph for your successor to bo Imme
diately appointed nnd ordered here?"
"I'd resign quick enough if I could,"
said Vandervyn. "You're tho last man
I'd let order mo around If I could help
it."
Hardy turned to the stolid-faced
trader.
"Please remember my baggage. You
had better rldo on after your daugh
ter. Tho escort will soon follow."
In tho next Installment Cap
tain Hardy discovers conditions
vhlch lead him to believe there
is a conspiracy on foot. Can you
gueoo the nature of It?
(TO BE CONTINUED.)