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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1917)
THE 8EMLWEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA, A Tale of Adventures on An Indian Reservation CHAPTER XX Continued. 11 Mumbling nn npology, Dupont has tlly unfolded tho deed, skimmed through it, nnd grasped the fact that It purported to convey to him n full hnlMntercst In the mine. Ho had Bturtcd to read It over more carefully when nn oath from Vnndervyn caused him to look up. The younger rnnn pointed along tho coulee hank to where tho road topped tho spur rldgo of the buttc. "Tho dcvlll" ho exclaimed "What brings him back here?" "Cap I It Hiiro Is Oapl" muttered Dupont. "Nom d'un chlen I You don't think he's got on to tho game, do you?" "Wouldn't do him any good If he bad." "Then why d'you think ho's " "To onter tho contest 1" divined Vnndervyn. "Tlioro's tlmo enough to wire Washington nnd have him put mi ller arrest for disobeying orders." "Ilold on I" cautioned Dupont. "What If ho does try his luck? In tho moun tains tliero ain't no horse nor mare neither can break up your pinto com bine." Vandervyn's face cleared. "You ought to know. I'll chnnco It If " "Ain't no chanco to It," put In Du pont. "It's n dead cinch." "He'll think ho's going to do me," ex alted Vnndervyn. "Let him register. Ho's como back for tho mine first; then Mnrle. I don't wnnt her to see , blm or to know ho has como back Sou havo your deed. Suppose you Itnrt at once." "If sho'B willing. I'll see," qualified Dupont "Look out you don't slip up. I'll tend to my end. So long good luck I" Ho rodo off down tho butto sldo of tho coulee. Vnndervyn cantered ntralght ncross, And met Hnrdy a few ynrds below tho tent of tho commissioners. "Good day, captain," he spoko in livll greeting. "I am surprised to sco ou back here. Ilnvo your orders been tountennanded?" "No," replied Hnrdy with equal cl rlllty. "I havo resigned." Vnndervyn could not conccnl his Olank astonishment. "Not not ro llgned from tho nrmy?" "Yes. I telegraphed tho war depart Aiont, received nil answer, nnd mailed toy resignation and application for lonvo of nbsenco to my commanding Dfllcor nt Vnncouver barracks. As an sHlcer It was not proper for mo to en tor tho contest." "Ah I" Vnndorvyn's smllo gnvo placo to a look of pained surprise. "So you Intend to enter tho contest. Hut do fou think that qulto honorable, cap tain, in tbo circumstances?" "I do not enro to discuss questions jf honor with you, Mr. Vnndorvyn," replied nardy with utmost coolness. "That I can well understand," coun tered Vnndorvyn. "Knowing that wo ean mako no protest, you Intend per lonally to tako ndvnntngo of tho lnfor- Emtlon that you pledged yourself to eep socrot." Hardy dismounted without roplylng, And placed himself nt tho end of tho Una of registering ontrymon. Tho sun "The Dcvlll What Brlnos Him Bnck Hero?" M-aa far down In tho sky when ho enmo boforo tho secretary's table, at tho bnd of tho line. Vnndorvyn roso from bis easy seat to tako a position behind klin. Tho secretary hesitated nnd looked Inquiringly at Vondervyn. Ho (set with a nod to proceed. "You wish to reglBter?" ennio tho curt question of tho chairman. "Yes," replied Hardy with equal curtness. "Is an army ofllcer entitled to enter tho contest?" questioned tho smallest commissioner. "You need not dobato tho matter," Mid Hardy. "I havo resigned my com mission." Again Vnndorvyn nodded, and thuro were no further objections raised. ttardy and ho signed tho register, and Wttdo their thumb prints, nnd wcro Holy described In writing by tho boc- Wary. Hnrdy at once mounted his maro, fend rod3 away up tho coulco. Ho did jj jjjffi jygg IF5 imiMiULiuiiiinJHifU,M,iiiiuuiiiii iw luaMUlinamB lagaaamamiaM not return until Vnndervyn and tho commissioners hnd left for tho agency. That evening he drew up the legal notices required In tho posting of u mining claim, and pnld three or four of tho older prospectors to check them for errors. To all who hundred, ho described tho trail by which he had gone Into the-mountains, and frankly stated that ho knew of none other tlmt led to tho nearest of tho four prominent peaks which had been named ns tho corners of tho mineral land boundary. Tho rest of tho evening nnd most of the following day he spent In groom ing his in a re. He gave her no grass and little water, but n good allowance of onts. lioth morning and nfternoon he took hor out for short rides up the coulee, and each tlmo repeatedly climbed nnd descended the bnnk. He did not cross over to the reservation Hide, much less go to the agency. The day set for the opening dnwned still nnd clear, with tho promise of burning heat by noon. After breakfast tho more uneasy spirits began wandering about tliu camp or lldgetlng with their packs. Nearly all tho older and more experi enced men gnvo their ponies a feed of oats, and stretched out to loungo in tho shade of their tents. Two hours boforo tho tlmo set for tho start Vnndervyn nppenred, and crossed over to tho camp. Ho was "ng ms pinio nnu icnmng a puck JMIIJ. i UUU 11117 U1U i UOytUJi O D(1T his heavy pick and shovel nnd large, poorly lashed pack of food and bed ding, they crncked many dry Jokes on tho grand chances of tho tenderfoot. Their own picks and shovels were ns light as such tools could bo mndo with out Impairing their clllclency, nnd their packs woro as lean as Vnndcr vyn's pack was swollon. Hardy nlono divined tho deceptive mockery of his rival's cumbersome dis play. Hut ho was bound by his word and could say nothing. It was he, and not Vnndorvyn, who wns looked upon with suspicion by tho crowd. Soon tliero was n gathering of a mobllko group, that rumbled awhile, and ended by presenting Itself before Hurdy us a commltteo of Inquiry. "You been ngent nt this hero reser vation," explained their spokesman. "Wo wnnt to know If you'vo got a frame-up to havo somo feller meet you with your pack animals over in tho mountains." "No," replied Hardy. "Thero aro four days' rations in my saddlebugs. A poncho is nil ono needs in Bleeping before u flro this tlmo of yenr." "You ain't got no tools," criticized a rnnn who had been drinking. "Tho snmo is truo of soverul among you," Hnrdy rojolncd. Ono of tho cowboys who was Includ ed in this remark called back resonant ly: "You'vo been Into tho mountains. I hot you a bluo chip you've got n good prospect spotted, rendy for branding." "I nm not malting any bets," said Hardy. "You havo heard all I know nbout tho trnll. Mr. Vnndervyn hns mndo tho trip several times. Ho was with mo during tho ono trip I made I hnvo no objection to your qucstonlng him nbout it." Thero wns somo muttering over tills. But Hardy's manner was so cool and quiet that tho lnclplont mob left him, nnd straggled over to whero Vnnder vyn had hired nn expert to throw tho diamond hitch on his ridiculous pack Hardy turned his bnck on them, nnd set to grooming tho satiny coat of his mare. Ills unconcern was well found ed. Whatovor mcuns Vnndorvyn used, thoy woro sulllclcnt to Batlsfy tho crowd. Tho muttering soon censed, nnd tho men dispersed. CHAPTER XXI. Tho Rnce. Tho commissioners camo down from tho ngoncy barely in tlmo to mako their Identification of tho contcstnnts. Lust of all Hardy and Vnndervyn Identified them solves and hurried over to tho end of tho waiting line. Thero wns n sennt flvo minutes remaining. Vnndervyn wns u-qulvcr with cnger excltemcut nnd mndo no attempt to conceal tho fact, no smiled nnd waved his hand to tho commissioners, and looked about with snorkling oyes. Thoro wns no anxiety or envy or innllco In his look, Nover had ho appeared handsomer or more boyish. Tho other commissioners had climbed Into tho touring cur. Ono of thom held up his watch. Another com missioner aroso, thrust a small pistol above his head with a melodramatic llourlsh, nml fired. At tho signal tho lino of contestants wavered and plunged forwnrd Into tho shallow stream. Thero woro, however, qulto enough hasty ones to ralso a wild splashing and turmoil, ns, whoop Ing nnd yelling, thoy spurred their po nlos through tho wntor nnd whirled away at n gallop. Somo wheeled up tho coulco; a few rodo straight across at tho steep bank. Vnndervyn, wild' est and noisiest of all, headed down stream for tho road, spurring his pinto. Ho was followed-by a largo bunch. By Hardy started uftcr these last, hold ing his maro to her usual steady trot. When ho camo up the road to the head of the gulley, those who had gono bo foro him were nil qulto n dlstnnco ahead, with Vnndervyn still in tho. lend. MIdwny between the mouth of the valley and the agency, tho long striding mnre began to pass ponies whoso riders had thought better of their whirlwind stnrt. Others were still loping In swift pursuit of Vnnder vyn. Hardy walked tho mare up tho slopo of the agency terrace. Ho saw noth ing of Dupont or Mnrle, and tho In dians hnd moved nway with their to pees. Hut In the rear of tho ware house ho cnught n gllmpso of two In dian policemen removing the load frcjtn loaded. Ho put tho mnre Into n gal lop. All the way to tho head of tho val ley Hardy held to a steady cnllop. Ono ftor another, he passed the remaining lenders. Tho best of tho ponies were no match In speed with tho big thor oughbred. At last only Vnndervyn was abend. As Hardy overhauled and forged past Vnndorvyn, tho young fellow turned and met his gnzo with a look of mock ing hate. Hnrdy glanced back sev eral times, prepnrcd to fling himself flat alongside tho pommel of his sad dle. Ills uneasiness did not lessen when a few minutes later Vandervyn halted, and scrambled down from tho trnll to get n drink out of tho creek. Tho crcaso In Hardy's forehead deep ened. Ahead, the walls of tho canyon woro sloping bnck Into tho widened vullcy whero had been tho first Indian enmp. Dogs, Indians nnd tepees, all wero gone. Only n brush-wnllcd dance lodge remained to tnnrk tho camp site. As tho maro pounded pnst, she curved her outstretched neck toward tho lodge and whinnied. Hnrdy heard no answer to tho call, but his frown sud denly deepened. Ho reached forward and stroked the mare's sleek neck. Hot as had been tho raco from tho agency, sho had not turned n hair. His frown ro- lnxed. Yet his tight lips showed tlmt ho wns still uneasy. Ho balanced him self In his stirrups, and begnn to ride as. lightly ns possible. Ascending tho mountnlnslde, ho was compelled to content himself with tho mure's nervous, long-strlded wnlk. Hut whenever tho trnll was not too steep or rough, ho put her into n trot, and varied tho pace with an occasional short gnllop. An hour passed. Ho was already well Into tho mountnlns. Ho camo to a succession of steep climbs nnd de scents that held tho maro down to a walk, Presently ho thought ho heard hoofbeats behind him. Ho listened. Ho hnd not been mistaken. Au un shod horso wns coming up with him nt n steady Jog trot. It seemed lmposslblo thnt Vander vyn's pinto could havo so rccupcruted from thnt whirlwind heading of the rush as to bo ablo to tako this steep trail at a trot. Hardy gazed back, ex pecting to see ono of tbo cowboys. As ho went down over n rldgo crest, tho rider cumo up thu rldgo back ncross tho Intervening gulch. Tho man snatched off his broad-brimmed hat to wavo a salute. Tho sun glinted with a golden sheen on tho unmistakable blond head of Vnndorvyn. At tho first small break In tho do- scent Hnrdy dismounted, unsaddled, nnd sponged out tho mnro's mouth nnd nostrils with water from his canteen Ho then shook out nnd refolded his Nuvajo saddle blanket, and started to resnddlo. Hut beforo ho buckled tho clnch-strnp ho shifted tho pistol from his breast to n frout pocket In his rid lug breeches. Ho wns vigorously grooming tho mnro when Vnndervyn enmo Jogging down through tho thickets of tall brush that grew closo on each sldo of tho trail. Ho did not pauso In his rub bing until tho nimble-footed unshod pony nmbled Into view, less than n dozen yards up tho trull. Then ho glanced about, straightened, nnd stood stnrlng. Tho pony wns a pinto. Vnndervyn, smiling with Insolont ex ultnnco, rodo down to him, Ids right hand Jauntily poised on his hip, over tho hilt of his rovolvor. Uls oyes challenged his rlvnl with nn nudnelous, provoking stnro. Hut nardy looked only nt tho pinto. Thero wns no sign of sweat lather on his rough coat, no weariness In his gait. Ho was fresh "Lots of come-back to n bronco, captain," purred Vnndervyn. "Sorry to rco thnt you've stovo up your mare. She's too highbred for a rocky road llko this. But you might tnko off her shoos and travel light, tho way I've done." Tho pony wns now ambling down tho slopo past tho mare. Hardy looked at tho unshod hoofs. Thoy woro cov ered with a coating of clny mire from tho bottom of tho last gulch, and tho beast's shudllng pnqo did not expose tho uuder surfaco of tho hoofs. Whoth or tho pony hnd or had not been re cently unshod could not bo seen. "Groat horse, my llttlo old pluto, eh?" mocked Vnndervyn. "By-byl I'll toll Mnrlo you'll be nlong later." Hnrdy perceived In n Hush why ho had seen neither tho girl nor her fa ther at tho agency. Swiftly he wheeled nbout to mount. Stnrtlcd by tbo quick notion, Vnndorvyn spurred his pony, nnd went down tho steep descent nt a gait far from ensy on even n moun-tuln-brcd horse's knees. Hurdy fol lowed nt n wnlk. The opposite rise was gradual. Ho let the mare take It nt n slow trot. At the top wns u fair ly level stretch of trull. Vandervyn was fur nhend. Hnrdy put tho maro Into n fast gullop. A few minutes brought her up so close behind the lop ing pluto thnt Vundcrvyn spurred his beast to sprinting speed. Hnrdy fol lowed nt an easier yet swift puce thut ngaiu brought him near, as the pluto slackened to n lope. A steep ridge mude n brenk la the gutne. The pinto crossed it at u jog trot. Tho mare had to walk. Beyond wns a long stretch of broken eouutry Hint fnvorcd the pinto. Ho could Jog over ground thut held the mure to a wulk, nnd ennter whero she could no moro than trot. On such a trail ho wns fully equal to traveling nt these puces for twelve hours nt u stretch, nil the time In the lead of the mare. Of this Hardy wns ns well nwnro ns wns Vandervyn. Though he steadily lost ground, ho kept on In pursuit, coolly studying the landmarks nhend nnd "lifting" his mnro ulong over tho heurtbrenklng trnll. To have given way to the Impatience that betrayed Itself In his Hashing eyes would Inevitably havo lost him tho race by overstraining the mare. Ho held himself grimly in hand, nnd wised tho going for his eager mount with consummate horseman ship. When they reached better ground, Vnndervyn wns nguln far uhead. But Hardy had his reword for his restraint In tho resilient stride of the mnre us sho swung Into u full gnllop. Up nnd down the long, easy slopes, around a curving mountainside, nnd nlong tho lovel bench of u stream bank, sho held to tho cross-country ruclng pace thut rnpldly rolled up mile nfter mile of the trnll. In less than half an hour she brought her rider nround a sharp bend only n few hundred ynrds behind tho pinto. Vnndervyn, over-conlldent, was Jogging nlong tho level when the sound of the approaching hoofbeats throw him Into a half-panic. Thero wns still n long stretch of easy trail abend. Ho put his pony into n gallop. Tho long-legged thoroughbred, still running ns smoothly ns clockwork, continued to gain. Vnndervyn began to swing his spurs. Tho pinto stnrted to pull nhead. Hardy held the mnro to tho snmo speed as before. It was a speed that ho know sho could mnlntnln for miles, Ho could see thnt the pinto was being forced to a killing pnee n paco that must strain If not break him before thoy camo to the next rough ground. On up tho vnlloy rushed tho pursued, now barely holding his own. Tho cruel spurring nnd whlp-slnshlng could not sting tho falling beast to greater ox ertlons. Ho wus blowing hnrd; his rough coat was lathered with sweat Ho began to lose. At last tho trail mado a sharp turn, and started to zigzag up tho mountain side. Tho pinto wns staggering when ho renched tho foot of tho uscent. The quicker and longer strldo of tho maro soon brought them up nt Vnndorvyn's heels. Tho pitch of tho mouutnln was too precipitous for Hardy to risk passing on tho lower sldo of the nnr row trnll with the mare, and Van dervyn kept tho pinto closo to the upper side. "You huvo no right to block tho trull," said Hurdy. "Allow mo to pass." Vandervyn looked over his shoulder with un lusolcnt sneer. "Go on jmd puss, If you'ro In a hurry. You'vo got all outdoors to do It In. If there's not room enough, shoot mo In the buck nnd tnko tho trnll. I'll not get out of It for you." Hardy did not reply nor did ho at tempt to force n passage. At last twelve miles from the goal of tho heartbreaking race, cume tho opportu nlty for which ho hnd boon waiting, Tho trnll smoothed out In unother easy stretch. For this ho had boon holding tho mnro In baud. Ho started nt n ennter, nnd gradually lot her strlko Into her long, swift gullop. Van dervyn suw them coming, nnd at onco put spurs to his luckloss pony. As before, Hardy held tho mnro down to hor host loifg-dlstnnco speed. Tho mnro enmo up nlongsldo tho pluto nnd forged abend. Hardy eyed Vandervyn with utmost wnrlness. And, us before, nt the hend of tho cuuyon of Sioux crook, Vnndor vyn turned In tho Bnddlo, nnd looked full nt him with a hateful, mocking smile. Ho pulled In his stnggorlug pony to a wnlk tho moment Hnrdy swung into tho trail ahead. At onco Hardy cased down tho mnro to n trot. Though ho saw no third pinto waiting In tho thickets, his oyes grow hard and cold with grim dotor mluntlon. Ho was examining his rifle when n turn of the trnll suddenly gnvo 1 him his ilrst view of the brokon-topped i I mountain and tho rldee-slde where I Hedbeur hnd made the second attempt to assassinate him. As ho looked nt the shattered summit, his hazel eyes flashed. He thrust the rifle bHck Into Its shonth, and drew the mare down to n wnlk. Behind him he heard n muffled drum ming of unshod hoofs. Vnndervyn wus coming up nt n gnllop. When the mocking trickster cumo up behind Hnrdy, ho reined In to u og trot, nnd, as before, rode pust him with his hnnd on his hip. There were marked differences be tween tho third pinto, nnd tho two first. He wus tnller nnd lenner, nnd one of Ids feet wns white. But Hurdy np penrcd to bo too dejected to heed the fnct. As the pinto nmbled nwny In tho lead, Vandervyn smiled, nnd looked bnck at his rival with all tho hate gono from his fnce. "By-by again, old man," ho buntcred. "Sorry I can't stny to keep you compnny. The lady Is wultlng nnd tho mine. It mny also please you to hear that I have a duly signed uud witnessed contract with tho tribe, giving rac n fee of 20 per cent on all moneys npproprlnted In pnyment to the tribe for their mln crnl lunds. Let's henr you congrutu Into me. Show you'ro gumel" But Hurdy did not rnlse his eyes. As soon ns Vnndervyn wns out of sight around tho cnstelluted rocks nt tho top of tho ridge, Hurdy stopped tho mnre nnd dropped from the saddle, His shapely mouth wus curved In a resolute smile, nnd his hand was rap idly transferring from tbo snddlebngs to his pockets a pocket ax, a hundful of pistol cartridges and tho legal no tlces for posting a mining claim. He glanced up the slope, nnd, seeing no sign of Vnndervyn, stripped off the mare's bridle, sponged out her nostrils uud mouth with the lust wnter In his ennteen. Hardy took the steep slopo nt nn un hurried pace. Ho reached tho place where ho had found the bloody trnll of Bedbear. Up the cleft the climbing wns not stiff. Ho cumo out on tho valley slope, extremely hot nnd dry but not out of brenth. Drawing nn airline ncross to the opposite moun tulnside, where, ho hnd seen tbo light of TI-own-konzn's enmpflre through the darkness, lie stnrted down into tho vnlley nt n Jo'g ns brisk us thnt of tho third pinto. He wns almost spent ns ho tottered through the pines up tho last slope. The camp was gono, but ho know tho neurest way to tho spring, He rested two or three minutes, re peutedly cooling his hend in the spring and rinsing out his mouth, but drink Ing only n very few sips. Again re freshed, he half filled his canteen, und sturted on up tho eusy mountuln slopo nt a steudy jog, Ten minutes brought him over the summit to the sharp pitch above the mine. Ho stared down at tho terraco several moments, however, beforo he mnde out the figures of n rnnn and woman waiting nt tho first turn of the trnll. Thero could bo no doubt thut the two were Mnrle nnd her fa ther. It wns no less certnln that Vander vyn had not yet arrived. Even had ho suspected his opponent's stratagem, he scarcely could havo covered tho seven miles of trail In ns short a tlmo ns Hardy hnd taken to make tho three miles across eouutry, Tho two watchers never thought to look about and up the mountain. They hnd not yet looked nbout when ho cumo down upon the crest of tho spur A lurge, newly cut stuko gnvo him n hint whero ono of tho upper corners of the clnlm should be locnted. Ho cut his own stake, drove it, nnd tacked on one of his lcgnl notices. Another stnko lndlcnted the other upper corner. nnd ho swiftly repented the making of his own stake and posting of tho notice, At the curb of the mine shaft ho posted unother notice. Ho was now In plain view from the cabin, but out of sight of tho wntchers down on tho trnll. On the terrnce, ns ho wns work ing the third stnkc Into n bed of loose rocks, ho henrd nu nngry exclumatlon over near tho cabin. Dupont and Ma rio had como nround tho end of tho building, nnd wero staring nt him. In a frenzy of dlsnppolnted avarice, tho trader reached for his revolver. Still moro Bwlftly Murle flung herself upon him. "No I no I you shnll not I" sho cried, "Leuvo It to him ho Is so nearl Lot them piny out tho gnmol" Hnrdy run ncross to cut his last stake. Between tho nx-blows could bo heard tho hoofbeats of a galloping horso. He tneked tho notlco on chopped u smnll hole with his ax in the hard soil, und set It up. The inlno was his own. CHAPTER XXII. The Owner of the Mine. At that moment Vnndorvyn loped up ovor tho odgo of the terrace, waving his lint to Mnrle. Then ho cnught sight of nardy, over beyond the girl, and tho exultant yell died on his Hps. Ho put tho curb on his pony, nnd sprang off beside Dupont and the girl, his face frightful with rage. Ills volcowas high-pitched and light, nlmost airy: "So ho cut across afoot! Ho thought to do mol" "Has, you ineunl" snarled Dupont. "Got his notices posted. That's his last stake." Vnndorvyn whirled nnd snatched his rifle from Its saddle shoath. Mario cnught hor father's arm to drag him aside; but ho was already backing away, his eyes fixed apprehensively on nnrdy. It was tlmo for bullets to como strenmlng from tho automatic pistol, nnrdy could havo drawn and opened flro whilo Vundcrvyn was free ing his rifle. To the astonishment of ntl three, Hnrdy mnde no attempt to "get tho drop" on his opponent. Instead, he started to advance upon Vnndorvyn nt n quick, deliberate pace, his hands hanging empty ut his sldoe, his fnco calm and stem. 'Tut down that gunl" ho commnnd- ed. Vnndervyn wns leveling the rifle, no took nlm straight between Hnrdy's eyes, ins linger msseu the trigger. The slightest twitch would hnvo sent the bullet crashing through Hnrdy'a bruin, and the slightest sign of fear or hesitancy on Hnrdy's pnrt would have caused that twitch. Ho wns looking death in the fnce. Vandervyn wns In u murderous fury. Yet Hurdy cumo on quick, stendy, absolutely calm. His gaze passed above the deadly muzzle, along tho foreshortened bnrrel, to the nnrrow- Jldded, bloodshot eyes of Vnndervyn. Ills voice rung out nguln, clear and sharp with authority: "Put down thnt rifle put It down, slrl" The muscles of Vnndorvyn's neck twitched. Along the top of the barrel he was glaring buck at Hardy glar ing Into those hnzel eyes that met his fury with the clear, cool gaze of The Trader Reached for His Revolver. nbsoluto courage. The sheer nervo of that steady approuch to his rifle muzzle compelled him to puuse. It disconcerted him; It struck u chill into the heat of Ids frenzy. Still Hnrdy ndvnnced, swift nnd stendy, his gaze never so much ns flickering. Now his eyes nnd foreheud, close beyond the foresight of the rifle, nppenred enormously enlnrged to Vnn- dervyn's distorted vision. Stendlly Hnrdy put up his hnnd, took hold of tho rifle bnrrel, und turned tho muzzle nsidc. "Ah-h-hl" gnsped Mnrle. Hurdy drew the rifle out of Vander vyn's relaxing grasp. "Stand nslde, slrl" ho quietly com manded. "I wish to speak nlono with Miss Dupont." Vnndervyn hnd parted with his rlfio us if duzed. At the sound of Hnrdy's voice n fresh wnvo of crimson flooded his face, no stepped back, and Jerked out his revolver. Hnrdy leaped upon htm like a panther, and struck tho wenpon aside. The heavy bullet whizzed pnst Hnrdy's hend. A moment Inter, Vnndervyn, though the younger nnd perhnps tho stronger of the two, reeled nwny, clutching his lacerated trigger finger. Hardy stood with tho revolver in his hand. He turned to Marie. "May I ask for a few words nlono with you?" "Nol" Vandervyn honrsely forbado tho girl. "You shall not speak with him. Jake, you're her futher tell her sho shall not." "You know sho don't never mind what I say," mumbled Dupont. "Any way, it sort of looks like Cap is run ning this here shindy." nardy had not glanced away from Marie. Throughout tlmt supreme test of the will power nnd courage of her two lovers, sho had stood tense nnd silent, ns If spellbound. She now looked from ono to tho other,her face lnscrutnbly cnlm, her black eyes futh omless. "I will henr what Captain Hardy has to say," she said. Hnrdy motioned her father and Van dervyn toward tho inlno dump. They obeyed. "Wo nro nlone," said Marie. Hardy smiled. "I won the race." "Was It fair, cutting across coun try?" "Fair? Then you did not know of his scheme." "What scheme? I do not under stnnd." ' "It docs not now matter. I won tho race and tho mine." "Do you expect mo to rejoice with you?" asked tho girl. "It has cost my father his half of tho mine." "How so? Ho is not an entryinan." "Itegglo gnvo him a deed to a half Interest." "I see," Bnld Hnrdy. "Quito In keep ing. Tho deed Is absolutely void, and would havo been no less so even had tho grantor been first to reach here." "You doubt his good faith I" Tho girl glanced post him toward tho sul len figure of Vnndervyn on tho mlno dump with her father. "So you thought it better to tako it all yourself than to let him tako It all?" "Yes," agreed Hardy. Tho girl's red Hps curved In nn Iron ical smilo. "I do not go with tho mine neccs snrlly." "No. But tho mlno necessarily goes with you now," replied Hnrdy. . " (TO BE CONTINUED.)