Nebraska Newspapers

    THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
THE QUARTERBREED
The Story of an Army Officer on an Indian Reservation
By ROBERT AMES BENNET
It was told In the first Installment of this story how Capt Floyd
Hardy, U. 8. A., Just back In tho States from the Philippines where ho
had put down a savage uprising of Moros, arrives at Lakotah Indian
reservation In the Northwest. He finds a party of angry Indians firing
on three whlto persons who have sought shelter In the canyon. The
whites are old Jake Dupont, a trader, his beautiful daughter, Marie, and
a young Easterner named Vandervyn. They are Ill-mannered toward
Captain Hardy, but ho risks his life and routs the Indians. He becomes
friendly with the whites and learns that Vandervyn, nephew of a United
States senator, had expected to get the agency appointment, following
the killing of Nogen, the regular agent, by an Indian. Also, he dls
covers that Mario Is a great granddaughter of Chief 8lttlng Bull, and
that she has been educated In a French-Canadian convent This Install
ment contains come revelations of conditions on the reservation.
CHAPTER III.
2
Confidences.
Tho rescuers from the agency hud
reined In their sweating ponies to a
lopo when they first caught sight of tho
party on tho butto sldo of tho coulee.
Thoy strngglcd down tho gullcy tit n
walk, eight short-haired Indian police
men In blue uniform, and n tall, loose
lipped young halfbrced In ordinary
frontier clothes. An they stopped In
tho stream to water their ponies, each
furtively studied tho rider who was ap
proaching on tho big, rangy innro.
"You'ro too late, Charlie," culled
Vandervyn. "Captain Ilardy climbed
tho butto, and tho wholo bunch hit
out."
"Soldiers?" queried tho halfbrced.
"No, ho's alone our now agent," ex
plained Vandervyn as his pony brought
him nlongsldo Hardy at tho edge of tho
stream. "Captain, this Is Charlie Rcd
bear, our Issuo clerk nnd Interpreter."
"Intorprotcr7" repeated Hardy. "Red
bear do any of tho. police understand
English ?"
"No, sir, only a few words," mumbled
the halfbrced.'
"Tell them I nm a captain of tho
uorso soldiers tho Longknlvcs. I havo
been scut hero to bo tho agent"
Rodbenr Interpreted In musical La
kotah, accompanying his words with
wlft signs. Tho swarthy policemen
grunted approvingly, aud their louder
rolled out a sonorous reply. Tho holf
brccd interpreted mechanically: "Ho
suys your cyo Is straight. Ho says
they aro ready to trail and fight tho In
dians whoso hearts nro bad."
"Thoy aro not to pursue tho party,"
ordered nurdy, "I shall call n coun
cil of tho chiefs, and ascertain tho
causa of tho tribal unrest. Toll them."
Redbear hesitated, and looked uncer
tainly at Vandervyn. Tho chief clerk
spoko to him In sharp reproof: "Do as
you'ro told, Ghnrlloi Captuln Hardy Is
now In command of tho reservation."
Tho halfbroed stared In astonish
ment, but hnatencd to Interpret At
onco tub faces of tho policemen be
canio Btolld. Tliey enst covert' glunces
at Vandervyn. Without seeming to no
tlco their sudden change of inunnor,
nardy sclectod four to act as escort. to
tho Indian trader and his daughter.
Tho rest of tho party followed him
back up tho gulloy.
From tho first tho maro walked out
It Ui lead. Sho would soon havo left
behind oven Vandorvyn's quick-step-
ping pinto had not hor rider happened'
to glance about ami catch tho troubled
expression on tho younger man's face.
Hardy waited for him to como along
side, nnd gravely remarked: "I wish
to express my rcgrot, Mr. Vandervyn,
that my detail hero has deprived you
of your cxpoctcd promotion."
f Vandorvyn's small mouth curved
with a cynical smile, but softened to a
moro agrceablo expression as ho met
tho othcr'a gaze. "You admit It?" ho
uuttcrcd.
"Having accepted tho detail, I cannot
new ask to bo rellovcd," said Hardy.
"But tho extra pay was not ono ot tho
Inducements. Permit mo to suggest
that arrangements can bo nindo to di
vert to your salary tho amount In ex
cess of my regular compensation as an
officer.'
I Tho offer was as unexpected as It
was generous. Vandervyn flushed, bit
Wa Up, nnd replied half lnaudlbly:
You needn't think Just becauso No,
that's not qulto You may mean well,
but that's no excuso "
"My fault, sir. Purdon mo," apolo-
cIcdHnrdy.
Vandervyn looked ahead at tho
j.tintalns, considered, and turned to
I ti.. companion with what seemed n
cordial smllo. "I nm not used to bo-
patronized, captalu; but as you did
j;nt mean it that way
"Not at all."
Vandervyn. nodded. "You. nbw un-
feratand that I'm not ouo ot tho com
na run of Indian service employees.
I was slated for attache to our em
bassy at tho Court of Saint James
celebrated tho coming event with somo
friends, nnd vound up- by heaving a
kick through a window or tno wnuo
House Undo shipped mo out nero un
m tho storm should blow over."
Hardy may havo recalled tho hnzlngs
u which ho had shared at West Point
His only comment was: "You wcro
Oh I don't know." carelessly replied
Vandervyn "I didn't wako Uio presl-
anutrvyn. i uumv
f"1' .n. " u,1 I""
kMW WmCIHBHH )B uw .u . w
- nnn unt nun
peached. I got this Instead of Lon
don." "IJcst thing for you."
"You think, so?" said Vandervyn, his
wide-open eyelids drooping. 'Tvo been
six months In this God-forsaken Jump-lug-off
place. I wouldn't have stuyed
six days If'lt hadn't been for Mario."
"Miss Dupont seems to bo a very
spirited young woman," dryly com
mented Hardy.
"Wult till you sco her put on dog.
Sho was thrco or four years at a con
vent In Ottnwa. They must havo
funned her out as n parlor-maid In
some select British family. Sho can
give u perfect Imitation of a real lady
when sho chooses."
"Yes?" Bald Hardy.
"You'd take It for tho sure-nuff ar
ticle," went on Vandervyn. "And that's
not all. Sho can cook llko an nngcl.
Says she took n courso In domestic
science. Hut It must bo hereditary. I'll
glvo odds, ono of her paternal ances
tors wns n French chef. French, that's
tho word. Tho way she hus with men I
Even this halfbrced Itcdbear thinks
ho Is In tho running. Nogen was
mad over her. Ho even would havo
married her. But ho was not n man of
family or culture. Fancy Jnko Dupont
"I'm Not Used to Being Patronized,
Captain."
for a father-in-law I Only thine. Ida
squaw died llvo or six years ugo. Thut
was when ho sent tho girl to Ottawa."
Hardy looked at tho mountains nnd
changed tho subject : "May I ask you
to glvo tho particulars of tho killing of
Mr. Nogen?"
Vundcrvyn's oyellds drooped low and
opened again In n wldo, guileless stare.
'There's llttlo to tell. Nogen and I
and Itcdbear wcro riding into tho mouu-
I tains. Wo met tho murderer, no and
Nogen quarreled. He shot Nogen
killed him. Then Itedbcnr nnd I fired,
I and ono of us got him wo don't know
which of us It wns. That's nil. You'll
find It lu tho coroner's report. I kept
a copy In tho ofllco at tho ifgoncy."
"Strango that an Indian should at
tack a whlto man that way," observed
Hardy. "Was tho cau90 uscertulned?"
Vandervyn - twisted tho tip of his
blond mustache. "Well, It may bo all
talk, but I gather thut tho troublo was
over this orc-buylng. Nogen thought It
a good thing to encourage. Tho chiefs
felt ugly becauso tho goods wcro not
paid to them Instead of to tho laborers
tho bucks nnd squaws who dug tho
oro, you know. Tho chiefs stirred up
a lot ot bud blood. No doubt thoy In
stigated tho murder. Thoy want to
boss tho trlbo their own way."
"Let us trust that wo shall havo
them In hand beforo full."
"Fall?" echoed Vandervyn. "You ox-
pect to stuy all summer? That shuts
mo out of my promotion."
"You may receive tho unnolntmcnt of
w i
attache."
"Perhaps I dou't want it Just now.
You forget Mario."
Tho gravity of tho officer's face hard-
encd to sternness. "Mr. Vandervyn,
kindly bear in mind that, as agent of
this reservation. I urn In clmrca of tho
moral as well ns tho matorlal welfaro
of every member of tho trlbo."
Vnndcrvyn quivered llko u thorough-
bred flecked with tho lash. His volco
shook with nasslon:
"Damn your impudence I I'll havo
you understand you'ro not tulklng to
ono of your rough-neck recruits. My
Worn ccnn0mcn boforo yours
' hd of
- " . . tn
i -i msrrui uiui juu u uvw ov v
havo Inherited their gentlemanly man
ners," enmo back tho cool rejoinder.
Vandorvyn's reddened fnco went
crimson. Tho veins of his forehead be
gan to swell. But with a strong effort
lie repressed his anger and forced a
smile. "You went mo one better, Hardy.
1 1 throw down."
j Tho olllcer responded with Instant
sympathy :
i "I sco no reason why wo should not
I become friends and work together for
the good of the tribe."
i "It's a'go," agreed Vandervyn, and ns
If cleared of all 111 temper by his out
burst, he began n lively conversation
on official society In tho national cup!-
tal.
Tho party topped tho rlso between
tho river and Sioux creek, and rode
down the winding road that skirted Its
wlllow-f ringed bnnk to tho crossing of
tho strenm. As thoy rounded tho Bpur
rldgo on tho far side, Itcdbear rodo up
on Hardy's right, nnd pointed to a
small cabin among tho quaking asps
In tho mlle-wldo curve of the stream to
tho left
"Seo my house, sir," ho said.
"Looks well built," remarked Hnrdy,
Ids fieldglasscs at his eyes. "Quito
now, I sec. You havo still to put dirt
on this corner of tho roof."
"And to put a squaw Inside," added
Vandervyn.
Tho lmlfbrccd's Jaw muscles
twitched, but ho did not look away
from Hnrdy. "I got n letter from my
sister OInna. She says she can't stay
at school. Sho says sho will dlo If ihey
make her stay nt school. I want her
to como nnd cook for mo till I get mar
ried." "How old Is sho?"
"More than seventeen. Sho is sick to
come. Sho says sho will dlo."
"Very well. But you must take good
caro of her until she Is married."
"Yes, sir. I'vo got a lot of money,"
replied tho halfbrced, with tho pronc
ncss of a weak naturo to boast "I'vo
got almost "
Almost enough to buy you two
squaws," cut In Vandervyn.
Itcdbear started to speak, caught tho
other's eye, and reined In his pony.
Hardy did not hotlco this. They had
rounded the too of the spur ridge, nnd
ho wns gnzlng up the green valley that
lay outstretched In a circle of hills
larger and far moro picturesque than
tho Catskllls. Sioux creek swirled out
of a canyon at tho fur end, to meander
down a winding channel fringed with
bushes and aspens and other smull
trees.
On a natural terrace, or "bench," two
miles up, tho glasses showed tho log
buildings nt tho agency. Mtdwny down
to Itedbcar's cabin but across tho creek
was a largo post-and-rnll corral. Van
dervyn had resumed with zest his talk
about tho social gaieties of which ho
had been deprived for half a year.
nardy said little, but his cyo was busy
taking In tho natural features of tho
beautiful valley.
When they caruo to tho slope of tho
bench, or terrace, Vandervyn noticed
tho Intent look of his companion, and
inquired: "Well, what do you think
of It? Talk about Siberian exile I That
is tho Dupont placo over here."
Hnrdy glanced at tho largo double
cabin a hundred yards off to tho right
of tho road. Tho broad front porch
gavo It a homcllko appearance. Tho
two cnblns before him wero very small.
Beyond them Btood tho big ngency
warehouse. Its overhunglug upper
story showed that It had been built for
uso as a blockhouso, but tho many
windows had rendered It less defens
lblo than ono of tho cabins. Tho only
persons In sight wcro tho two Indian
p0Hco who had been left In chargo by
Itcdbear.
"Well?" repeated Vandervyn.
"Not nn easy placo to itcfend," suld
Hardy. "Where- is tho ofllco and tho
guardhouse?"
"Tho ofllco Is in tho near front cor
ner of the warehouse. Tho police quar
ters nro In the other end. You seo tho
whlto tepees over thcro across tho
creek? Most of tho relations ot tho
pollco camp near tho agency. This
first cabin is Nogen's yours, I should
Knv. Thn Heennd is mine."
"Your quarters? May I ask you for
blto of lunch ns -soon ns I havo
rubbed down my maro?"
' board with tho Duponts, but I can
scaro up a cold lunch," said Vandervyn
Ab they dismounted, Redbear -camo
up and successfully curried favor with
tho now agent by offering to curry his
mure, no led her away to the low
brush stablo beyond tho warehouse.
After lunch, though still weary from
his long rldo, Hnudy put in tho rest of
tho day inspecting tno agency property
and examining tho accounts of tno two
clerks. With tho exception or two or
throo small Items on Redbenr's books,
everything checked accurately.
Vaudcrvyn brought bacon, coffee,
crackers and canned food, and tho now
agent cooked supper with tho skill of
an old campaigner. After thoy had
eaten, tho chief clerk produced cigars
In anticipation or a social ovemng. ut
nurdy was so drowsy that ho asked to
bo excused. Tho moment ho was alone,
ho luld his rlflo nnd automatic pistol
In tho bunk, blew out tho candle, and
. - . ' lllo ManUeta without
i iwumiu - i -r
Troubling to close cither tho door or
tho ono small window.
Tho next morning Hardy nnd Van
dervyn wero seated In tho agency of
fice when Itcdbear came In and started
to shuffle around to his desk, on tho
other sldo of the office partition.
"Wnltl" said Hardy. "I wish tho
chiefs and hendmen of Uio trlbo sum
moned to meet rao In council ns soon
ns possible."
It Is n day's rldo to tho camps
farthest back in tho mountains," re
marked Vandervyn.
Hardy .considered, nnd looked up at
Itcdbear.
"Docs not this trlbo use smoke sig
nals?"
"Not for a long time, not since I wns
boy, sir. I never learned how to do
It"
"That old sergeant of pollco will
now," predicted Hardy. "Comer
Vandervyn lingered behind the oth
ers, nnd followed them only to tho
ear corner of tho wurchouse. When
ho had seen them ride off across Sioux
creek towards tho highest of the moun
tains that encircled tho valley, he went
buck into the office, opened tho safe,
and carefully sorted ovCr its con
tents. All letters addressed to tho late
agent nnd to himself he took out and
locked In his desk.
Meantime Hardy and Itedbcnr with
tho pollco scrgennt passed through tho
cump of tho families of tho police,
here thoy ndded two old bucks to
their party. A pony trull led up through
tho pines on the mountainside to the
bnre grnnlto crag of tho summit. Mld
nftcrnoon found tho Indians standing
around a greenwood fire, nlternntely
covering It with a blanket and permit
ting puffs of tho dense smoke to rlso
In tho still nir.
In less than half an hour Hardy's
glasses showed him nn answering
smoko on a peak fifteen or twenty
miles distant. When ho called attention
to it, the pollco scrgennt pointed out
still another smoko signal off to the
left of tho first and several miles fur
ther nway. The old bucks turned from
tho firo nnd sturtcd down to where the
mnro and ponies had been left.
"Tho chiefs will como tomorrow,"
Redbear Interpreted their answer to
Hardy's Inquiry.
The Jaded buckboard ponies wcro
tugging their load up tho slope of the
terrace when nnrdy cume down l".o
lino of ngency buildings at a gallop.
Mario Dupont was driving; but on tho
sent beside her wns n brown-eyed,
ollve-sklnncd girl, who averted her
hnndsomo fnco with childish shyness
ns Hardy wheeled his maro and reined
up alongside.
Mnrlo flushed under tho officer's di
rect gaze, though, unllko her compan
ion, she did not seek to avoid it Ho
rnlscd his hat with punctilious polite
ness. She bowed, and, gazing back at
him with a level glance, quietly re
marked: "Good afternoon, Captuln
Hardy. I hnvo brought your luggage."
"That was very kind of you," said
Hardy ns ho glanced at tho other girl.
Mario smiled In Instant appreciation
of tho fact that ho had spoken to her
as to an equal. Sho patted her com
panion's work-reddened hand with her
gloved fingers. "This Is Charlie Red
benr's sister Olnnu. Thoy did not trent
her well nt school, so sho ran away to
como home. I want her to live with
mo ; but sho says sho must bo with her
brother. You will not send her back?"
Tho young girl looked nt tho new
agent with a smile of timid appeal, and
us quickly drooped her head in bashful
embarrassment Hardy's gaze Boft-
cned, and ho answered reassuringly :
"Redbear spoke of his sister. It will
bo nil right."
"You aro most kind to sny it," ap
proved Mario with tho condescension
of a gracious young queen. "Captain
Hardy, wo shall expect you to dlno
with us this cvcnnlg. I Bhnll send over
your luggngo In a fow "minutes. You
need not dress for dinner."
CHAPTER IV.
Tho First Card.
As Hardy was unpacking his scant
wardrobe, an Indian boy camo to tho
door, thrust In his head and announced
gutturnlly : v
"M'rco him say you como six."
Hurdy nodded to tho boy nnd signed
him to go. Ten minutes Inter ho
stepped up on the porch of tho Dupont
house. Beforo ho could knock, Du
pont stepped from tho rear door of his
trade store, which f need away from' tho
porch.
"nello, Cap!" ho greeted the guest
with bluff cordiality. "Glad to sco you.
Walk right In."
nardy crossed tho threshold and
paused. Tho floor wns covered to re
semble waxed hardwood. Tho orlcntnl
rugs wero real. Tho walls were pa
pered with a quiet tapestry pattern.
Tho adobe fireplace was set with n
modern grato and faced with a tllo
mantel. Tho fow pictures wcro well
chosen. Thcro wns no sign of Uio
guns, skins aud Navajo blankets that
nardy had expected to see.
Vandervyn, lolling lu un ensy chair
besldo tho small, well-filled bookcaso,
looked up and smiled In boyish enjoy
ment of the new'ugent's surprise.
Dupont grunted apologetically :
"Don't think I'm plumb crazy. It's all
Mnrle Said she couldn't llvo hero
unless she had things Just llko In Ot
tawa. Cried till I had to glvo In."
"Don't you let him con you, cnptnln,"
chuckled Vandervyn. "It wns .Take who
wept becnuse Mario sent off tho mall
order and he had to foot tire bills."
"Well, anyway, there wasn't nobody
sho could hire to do tho work, and I
had to go out on roundup." Dupont
sought to" cover his discomfiture. "She
set to nnd done It all her own self. I
didn't havo td pny a cent for that. Sit
down, Cap: Make yourself to home.
Hey, Muriel you there? Hero's Cup
Ilardy. Bring In that bottle mo and
Mr. Van was sampling, will you?"
Hardy picked tho stlffest chair In tho
room, sat down and promptly rose to
n position of polite attention. A young
lady had appeared In tho doorway at
tho side of the room a young lady In
a semldecollcto gown, of lines lrrc
proachnble, tho crenmy whiteness of
her full, round throat displayed. Her
mass of coal-black hair was dressed In
the very fatest mode. Her checks wero
ns highly colored as if rouged.
Vandervyn gazed at her with tho
brand of admiration that passes over
the footlights from the first-row seats
to the prettiest girl In tho chorus.
Hardy bowed as Ife would have saluted
his colonel's lndy or tho daughter of a
Moro chief, If either had been his
hostess.
Tho girl's eyes sparkled as she noted
his change of dress, his Immaculate
linen, nnd elenn-shaven chin. His
bow won n smile that may have been
due either to gratified vanity or to a
commendable self-respect She greeted
him In a tone that caused Vandervyn to
straighten In his chair. "It Is a great
pleasure to havo you dlno with us."
"Tho pleasure Is mine, JVIlss Dupont,"
declared Hardy.
"You've hit It, Cup," put In Dupont.
'You can Just bet your bottom dollar
on It you won't kick yourself for com
ing when you git to her feed-trough."
Tho girl's sable-black eyes dilated
and her perfectly molded chin rose n
fraction of an Inch. Sho placed the
tray on a tea table, bowed composedly,
and left the room. Vandervyn looked
nt Hardy with an Ironical smile. Tho
silent mockery was, wasted. Hardy
wns watching Dupont uncock the
whisky bottle.
"Ono moment, Mr. Dupont," ho snld.
"As you are my host, the question Is
nn awkward one to nsk yet Is there
not n law or a rule of tho Indian bu
reau against bringing liquor upon a
reservation?"
Dupont stared around nt tho in
quirer in blank surprise. Before he
could find words to answer, Vandervyn
replied for him: "According to tho
strict letter of tho law, captain,; you
nro right. You can't fancy thut Jake
would bo fool enough to sell liquor to
tho Indians?"
"By Gar, you bet I don't not when
it's ten-year-old rye," qualified Dupont,
You can't git no better stuff out of
Canadn. Marie made mo buy somo
wine, too, to celebrato your coming.
Sho said It was up to us to loosen up,
seeing ns you had shooed off them
bucks."
"Ah, slnco you put It that way,
Ilardy accepted tho explanation. "I
must ask you, however, not to bring
anything moro of Uio kind across tho
river."
"Of courso ho will not, if you ob'
Jcct" assured Vandervyn. "Nogen
didn't read tho law as you do; but if
"Tho Chiefs Will Como Tomorrow,"
s Interpreted Redbear.
you bcllevo In do weaUiv for our
selves as well as for Uio Indians, you're
the boss."
"Sure, and hero's ono all round to
show thcro nln't no hard feeling," said
Dupont.
Ho poured out thrco drinks, each
measured to tho brim of a whisky
glass, nis own nnd Vandorvyn's dis
appeared at a gulp. Hardy took a sip,
and asked for a seltzer. Tho bottlo
was handed around another tlmo aud
found him not yet finished with his
first drink But Dupont had already
begun to mellow nnd wns In gay mood,
"Hero's to your boiled shirt, Cap," b
toasted.
Stand-up collar and a white shirt,
: sure n high-toned celebration. Bet
wear 'em cnfpfiil. Vnn'lt Imvn
It'
ter
' ait v vv
mall em a hundred miles to the near-
c tjmnamnn wncn they git dirty."
"Chenner to throw thorn nwnr. nn,i
m - w - - v vv , , f
send a mull order to Chicago for new
ones," put in vnnuervyn. iio added, as
he adjusted tho fashlonnblo tlo that
was hargiy In kecplug with his grny
liannci snirt: "juut you'll soon take
to the local styles."
Mario again appeared In tho door
way. Sho bowed to tho guests with lm
prcsslvo formality.
"If you will enter, gentlemen."
Hardy went in between Vandervyn
and Dupont. Ho avoided tho girl's
proud gnzo by looking nbout nt tho
dining room. It was as citified us tho
parlor nnd no less tasteful. The small
"If You Will Enter, Gentlemen."
oval table was spread with a cloth of
snowy French damask. Tho silver
was real antique ware. The unsmiling
hostess bowed nardy to tho scat of
honor.
"This here layout Is Marie's," ex
plained Dupont "She" was bound to
turn herself loose to even up on what
happened at the river yesterday.
Needn't figure on us dishing up the
same rations regular."
I have yet to learn whether I am to
have tho pleasure of boarding with
Miss Dupont," remarked Hardy.
You sure have, If you'ro ready to
shell out for it Grub comes high
hero."
"And Mario Is a real chef," added
Vandervyn.
Hardy waited unUl tho Indiun boy
had served tho soup. At last ho suc
ceeded In fixing the cool gazo of his
hostess. "Please do not consider that
hospitality requires you to do mo the
favor, Miss Dupont,' he said. "I do
not wish to Intrude, highly as I should
appreciate "
Tho deference of his manner soothed
the girl's wounded pride. She smiled,
and combined a friendly response with
a side thrust at her father:
"Indeed, we shall bo delighted to
huvo you Cnptnln Hnrdy I, becauso of
your company, and Pero becauso of tho
cash."
"By Gar, he won't git no better feed
In no hotel," vowed Dupont
"I can foreseo that," agreed Hardy,
nis faith was Justified by each suc
cessive course. Though all tho vege
tables had como out of cans, they wero
prepared with consummate skill. Tho
trout were fresh from tho creek; the
grouse and beef bad been hung exactly
Uio right length of Umo In tho dugout
Icehouse; tho champagno was frappe.
Between tho girl's vivid beauty, Uio
good cheer, and Uio cordiality of his
companions, his usually half-sad and
wholly severe expression had given .
place to genial anlmaUon.
Upon tho return of Uio hostess from
one of her visits to tho kitchen ho
spoko to her in a tono that drew a
stare of open resentment from Van
dervyn : "You aro wonderful, MiS3 Du
pont, wonderful I Ono day In an In
dian nttack, followed by a flfty-mllo
drive; tho next, fifty miles back, and
such a dinner as this I"
"First the great-granddaughter of
Sitting Bull, then la bonne culslnlero
Francnlse," flashed back tho girl.
"Where Is tho wonder? Two streakB
of heredity, plus childhood in Uio sad
dle and a courso In domcsUc science."
"Yet you must bo fatigued."
"When I havo done what I sot out to
I do, Uien I permit myself to consider
whether I need rest" Thero was a
tlmo when my red ancestors had no
horses. They ran down their garao
afoot."
"You will always ride or drive,"
bantered Vandervyn.
"By Gar, sho won't never be driven,"
declared Dupont with convlcUon.
Vnndcrvyn smiled over his cham
pagno glnss. He did not notice that
Mario was looking nt him. But Hardy
was watching her. Ho saw her proud
face soften nnd her brilliant eyes melt
with tender pnsslon. His own fnco
became grave. A moment later she was
rallying him for his seriousness, nnd
her animation soon compelled him to
forget what ho had seen. Vandervyn
had not been mistaken In his assertion
that sho could net tho lady to perfec
tion when sho chose. Though tho cigars
proved to bo Havanas, Uiey wcro
brought In much sooner Uian suited
nardy.
Do you believe that Marie and
Captain Hardy will becomo real
ly good frlends7 Will ho get
her Influence for his purposes In
dealing with the dissatisfied In
dians? (TO BE CONTINUED.)
TTppfti
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