THE 8EMLWEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
CHAPTER XXIV Continued.
13
lie, In turn, was so Intent upon ma
neuvering to have himself spoken to
by that most gcnlnl of hosts, tho
president, that ho failed to see Mnrlo
until she spoke to him. Tho first sight
of her bewildered him, and his how
did not altogether hide tho effects of
the delicious shock given him by her
dazzling benuty. nut he quickly re
covered his self-possession when ho
Baw that sho was with Vnndervyn.
That young man, though moro boyish
ly handsome thnn over, boro himself
with rather a sullen nlr. Ho met Har
dy's clear gnzo with a forced smile.
The smllo beenmo still moro forced
when the girl transferred her hund
from his arm to Uurdy's.
'Only n very few minutes," sho
soothed tho disappointed lover.
"Whatover you say I" ho deferred to
her caprice, and ho drew back to spenk
to a sharp-eyed man near tho presi
dent. Ilnrdy was gazing into tho wonder-
6ul blue-black eyes of his companion.
?hcy were as lnscrutnblo as when ho
had last looked Into their depths. IIo
tried to spenk calmly, hut his volco
shook.
"Do you know that you aro by far
the most beautiful woman here?"
Her long lashes drooped and roso
gain to dlscloso tho sumo lnscrutnblo
ook.
"So I have Dcen told several times
already I wished n few moments
with you, tlint I might thank you for
your generosity. It has given mo tho
(treat opportunity of my trip abroad
nnd this visit In Washington."
"I am saving nil tho reports of your
Social triumphs," ho said. "They hnvo
indc mo very happy."
Again tho girl's lashes drooped.
.That Is good of you It Is quite nec
BBsary for mo to becomo tho rages If
i am to forco a recognition from Reg
gie's relatives. Ho says that, fortu
nately, his flanceo has becomo Interest
ed In another man who Is quite as eli
gible as himself."
Hardy's eyes contracted, yet bo did
pot falter:
"Since It will bring you happiness, I
wish him good fortune."
"Yon do?" Tho question was al
most an exclamation. But the girl at
bnco . regained tier quiot composure,
I do not understand. If you wish him
good fortune, why then do you seek
to prevent him from receiving his
compensation as attorney for tho
trlbo?"
"I said good fortune," replied Har
dy. "Any money pnld him on that
contract would bo tainted."
Mario arched her black eyebrows.
"Is It not true Uiat ho will get through
a much larger appropriation than oth
frrwlso would havo been mado?"
"Tho lands aro fully worth tho
amount agreed upon," stated Hardy.
"Tho trlbo should recelvo all tho up
proprlatlon. Honest lobbying would
carry tho bill through at a cost of a
tow hundred dollnrs. Thcso supposod
friends of tho trlbo want millions."
"Do you wish to deprlvo mo of tho
sharo that I would rocelvo through
hlin?"
"Yes of every dishonest dollar,"
said Hardy, his mouth stern, though
his oyea besought her to forgtvo his
harshness. "You havo enough nl
ready."
"Are you certain?" sho rojolnod
MYou may havo heard thnt mines often
pinch out or run Into valueless oro
'You can guess why l'cro and I hnvo
told no one, least of all Ilcgglo."
Hardy rcmalnod unshaken. "If ho
la worthy of you, that will umko no
difference to him."
' "But myself? I am already used to
luxury," pleaded tho girl.
; "Down In your heart you know tho
.values In life that aro real," ho Bald,
"You do not wish for wealth galued
through fraud."
"I have not admitted that thoro Is
any fraud In tho contract."
i "Perhaps It Is as well," ho remarked.
You ehduld not doubt your futuro
husband."
Sho flnshod him an odd, quizzical
look. "No, I cannot doubt my futuro
husband now, Captain Hardy. I must
hollovo In him If I am to bo happy,
must I not?"
"Yes," agreed Hardy.
She uttered n gay Httlo trill of
laughter.
"That la so good of you to say It,
Captain I It makes mo feel that I
really must do something for you la
rotum. May I not offor you a llttlo
Soan of, say, threo or four thousand
lollars? I understand that, for soino
trango reason or unreason you
have refused your pay a& captain."
"My resignation has not boon with
draws, and I am engaged In n prlvnto
enterprise. I cannot draw pay as an
lOfllccr In tho service," explained
Hardy.
"Fow would bo so quixotic," Bho nr
jrued. "Most would mako tho oxcuso
Jhat an attempt to fruatmto what tlioy
jconsldored u wrong to others la not to
fee considered a private euterpilso."
"I must beg to differ with you, Miss
IDs goat"
l "Tbea 144 It pass. But Uie little
weJ
"Very good of you to offer. How
ever, I believe I havo enough left to
Inst me through. And In any ovent, I
could not Imposo on your generosity.
Tho money would bo used ngatnst him
which, you see, would hardly do."
"Then you refuse any loan?"
"It was most kind of you to mako
tho offer."
"Don Qulxoto do la Mondial" sho
murmured.
"Tilting nt machlno windmills 1" ho
replied.
Though thero was no trace of bitter
ness or Bntlro In his wit, her chin lift-
cd to the nngle of offended pride.
"That Is sufficient, Captnln Hnrdy.
May I ask you to take mo back to
him?"
Vnndervyn was waiting for her near
tho president. As they approached
him, she gave Hardy a look of hulf-
rclentmcnt. "You must understand,
Captain, thnt I must do ns my heurt
dlctntes, though I confess that lobby
ing Is fur from agreeable to me. I
have already met his excellency, nnd
he has been so kind us to promise mo
n hearing."
"I ennnot wish you success," ho re
plied.
She gavo hi in n quizzical glance and
turned away with Vundervyn.
Standing In tho cngcr, Jostling
crowd thnt waited for n word or oven
n nod from tho president, ho fully ap
preciated tho easo with which, In tho
midst of so grcnt a crush, sho man
aged to obtain sovernl moments' con
versation npnrt with tho nation's chief
mnglstrato.
Sho was still bcsldo tho president
when tho sharp-eyed man to whom
Vnndervyn had spoken camo around
bcsldo Hardy and murmured a few
words In his car. Hardy looked him
In tho eye, bowed, nnd quietly started
to movo away. Tho mnn followed him
until ho had left tho Whlto House.
CHAPTER XXV.
Condemned.
Tho court-mnrtlal began Us session
nt nlno in tho morning, and tho trlnl
of Hardy was over before threo In the
uftcrnoon. Vnndervyn testified to tho
suppression by tho accused of tho ex
istence of tho developed mlno nnd of
Ilcdbenr's misconduct
Hardy's statements in explanation
of his actions wero as brief as they
wero cold and dry. Acting as n civil
officer, ho had considered tho question
of withholding nny mention of tho
mlno ns a mnttcr within his discretion.
When Interrogated whether ho had not
taken advantage of this suppression
to enter tho contest and win tho mlno
for himself, his bald admission of tho
fact, unuccompnnled by any cxplana-
tlon of his motives, was received by
his officer Judges with marked gravity.
Tho other chnrges wero far moro
serious, and ho opposed them with
vigor. Ho denied emphatically nny In
tention to desert or to remain perma
nently nbscnt from his proper duties
without leave, nnd showed tho tele-
"I Could Not Impose on Your Gene
rosity."
gram from a high official In tho war
department thnt led him to bellovo his
resignation and application for leavo
of ubBenco would bo nt onco favorably
nctod upon by his. commanding offlcor
at Vancouver bnrracksv This, In eomo
circumstances, might hnvo boon con-
Bldorod suiucicnt excuso for his con-
duct. But his refusal to explain his
reason for taklnir navantaKO ot li b so-
cret knowlcdgo of tho mlno perceptibly
luflucnccd tho members of tho court
to doubt tho statement of his purposo
ln coming to Washington.
Though tho court-martial adjourned
without rendering Its findings, ho left
tho courtroom ten years oldor ln ap
pearance than when ho entered. Tho
regretful, commiserating glnnco of tho
most friendly of his Judges seemed
plainly to lndlcnto what would bo tho
findings, Tho thought of voluntarily
resigning from tho servlco had bceu
hard. To bo cashiered was almost un
endurable.
Yet ho walked out with his back
straight and his head well up. Ho
went directly to tho Whlto House and
sent ln a wrlttcu application for an
Interview with tho president It was
rerused. Ho Went to his lodgings nnd
spent tho remainder of tho day nnd
hnlf the rilght drafting nnd redrafting
a concise stntcmcnt of his nrgumcnt
ngnlnst Vandcrvyn's contract. This ho
addressed to tho president nnd
stamped for mailing. Ho wrote noth
ing with rcgnrd to his own case.
When, near morning, he nt last fell
asleep, he was so near exhaustion that
ho did not waken until Into. Tho hour
set for tho reconvening of tho court
mnrtlal had already come, no sprang
Into his uniform with a celerity that
might hnvo reminded n J:!!ow officer
of reveille In cadet barracks nt West
Point.
The worn soles of his highly pol
ished shoes beat n tattoo on tho car
pctlcss old stairs by which ho descend
ed to the street. Ho did not turn to
go In for a belated breakfast nt tho
meager table of his landlady. Ho
hastened nlong the few feet of narrow
hall to tho street door. As ho drew
It open, another man In uniform
stepped Into tho doorway nnd con
fronted him. Tho other officer saluted.
Ilnrdy responded mechanically. For
all his cool look, ho was astonished.
Tho man before him was the prcsl-
dent's military nldc.
"Cnptuln Floyd Hardy?"
"At your service."
"You should now bo In attendanco
upon tho court-martial," stated the
nldo with cold Boverlty.
"I shall explain to tho court," re
plied Hardy. "If not delayed, I shall
bo only n few "
"You will como with me," Interrupt
ed tho nldc, still moro severely. "Your
conduct hns been brought to the at
tention of tho president It Is to be
seen, sir, whether you will contlnuo to
refuse to nnswer tho Inquiries of your
superiors."
Hnrdy went white, but his Jnw set
firm with grim resolution. Ho stepped
out besldo tho nldc, nnd crossed the
sidewalk to tho waiting motor. As
they wero whirled nwny over tho sleety
asphalt, tho aide sat with moro thnn
military stiffness, his head and body
hnlf uverted from his companion as If
to avoid contamination. Hardy But
as stiffly at tho other extreme of the
scat.
Tho rldo was short Tho car mado
a sudden turn, and curved around to
the executive offices of tho president.
Hnrdy looked at his companion, per
plexed. Tho face of tho aide showed
only the stern watchfulness of ouo
who hns a reputedly dnngcrous pris
oner under arrest At tho entranco ho
stepped behind, as If apprehensive thnt
Hardy might attempt to escape. A
doorkeeper conducted them nlong a
corridor Into a small waiting room.
IIo passed Into tho room beyond, but
reappeared In n few moments and
signed to Hardy to enter.
Hnrdy stepped Into tho room, nnd
tho door wns closed behind him. The
aide and tho doorkeeper had remained
outside. Hardy looked around with a
frown of perplexity. Across tho room
u man sat writing nt a buslnessllko
desk. Thero wns no ono elso pres
ent.
Tho man turned In his swivel chair
and abruptly mnde a beckoning ges
ture. Hardy's hand went up In saluto
ns ho stepped forward. Ho was In tho
prcsenco of the commander In chief of
tho army nnd navy.
Tho president looked him up and
down with a sovero glnnco.
"You nro Captain Floyd Hardy?"
"Yes, Blr."
"Tho snmo who suppressed tho lato
Insurrection In tho Snlus?"
"I happened to bo in command at
tho time, sir."
"After that you obtained a detail,
your conduct In discharge of which
has resulted in your trial by court-
martial on serious charges. I havo be
fore mo tho findings of the court Tho
circumstances nro exceptional. Be
cause of your record and of certain
statements that have been presented
to me, I have been persuaded to glvo
you an opportunity to explain your
conduct"
Hardy saluted. "Permit mo, sir, to
first present for your consideration a
matter relating to the Interests of tho
trlbo which"
"Stop I" ordered tho president,
"Others nro waiting for Interviews. I
can glvo you only ten minutes. If you
expend them on tills other matter, you
will havo no further opportunity to
state your own case."
"Tho ovldenco beforo tho court-mar
tial covered tho facts, sir. If thoso
facts sustain tho chnrges against mo,
then I am guilty, and dcslro no clem'
ency. That la all I have to say on my
own caso, sir. With regard to tho mat
tor which I deslro to present"
"Sit down!" ordored tho president
"You havo nlno minutes. Bo brief."
Hardy seated himself and proceeded
to present his argument ngulnst tho
Vandervyn contract Ho spoko dellb-
orntoly, but with a conciseness that
covered what ho had to say fully and
clearly. In words as forceful as thoy
wero fow. Tho president listened at-
tontlvcly, but with no chnngo ln his ex-
nronBinn. At- thn ml of o cut m nutea
Hardy stopped.
The president Bhowcd a traco of sur
prise. "Is that all you havo to say?
Thero Is still a mlnuto."
"That Is all, sir," ropllod Hardy, rls
lng.
Tho president touched a call button,
but raised his finger. "Ono moment
What If I should confront you with
witnesses?"
"As I havo stated, sir, my only ro-
quest Is thnt all tho witnesses in tho
caso bo examined."
"Thero aro some already at hand.
You shall see what they havo to say
about your charges."
Tho aldo appeared and Immediately
went out OBOln at a sign from tho
nrofililnnt. Ho returned with Vnndoiv
vyn nnd Marie. At Bight of Ilnrdy tho
young man stopped short, but, meet-
lng tho president's cordial smile, carao
forward with easy assurance. Mnrlo
did not look nt Hardy, as sho fol
lowed.
Tho president addressed Vandcrvyn :
"Captain Hardy has declined to ask
for clemency. I hnvo decided to bus-
tnln tho findings of tho court-martial.
In the face of all this, ho has had the
temerity to mako a charge of fraud
against your Indian contract.
Vnndervyn nodded: "Captain nnrdy
Is too skilled a strategist not to realize
that the best way to shield himself Is
to raise tho cry of 'stop thief I' ngnlnst
others. Does he allege that the signa
tures to my contract aro forged?"
"Tho signatures are genuine. They
wero obtnlned by rrnuu," uiunuy
charged Hardy.
"My word Is ns good or perhaps
somowhat better than that of a cash
iered officer," rejoined Vandcrvyn.
"You deny tho charge," tho president
stated rather than Inquired.
"Most emphatically," pleasantly
agreed Vnndervyn. IIo looked slgnlfl-
enntly from Hardy to Marie. "As a sol-
s 11(1
mi'
"My Word's aa Good or Better Than a
Cashiered Officer's."
dlcr until recently the gallant cap-
tain probably believes In tho saying
that ail Is fair In war and love.'
Mario lowered her eyes. Tho presi
dent looked thoughtful. "Of course,
Mr. Vandervyn, thero can bo no ques
tlon, when It Is n matter of your word
ngnlnst his. Yet wero thero nny other
witnesses than yourselves and tho In
dlans?"
"Your excellency evidently has not
seen tho contract," said Vnndervyn. "It
Is duly witnessed by Chnrllo Redbear,
tho official Interpreter, nnd by his sis
ter.1
"Ah, tho Interpreter, you say? This
matter may be rumored In tho house
and even In tho senate. It will bo
well for you to send for the man,
Vandervyn shrugged. "Cnn't do It,
oven to oblige you, Mr. President. Tho
fellow hns gono to tho placo where
cold storage is unknown. My undo
told you nbout tho affair. Tho fellow
was drunk; ho aimed his 'gun' at me,
I supposed It loaded, and shot him In
self-defense. Hardy was present. Ho
can't deny what I Bay, without for
swearing himself."
Hardy met the president's look of
inquiry, and bowed in confirmation of
tho statement Tho president again
looked thoughtful. "That leaves tho
man's sister as the only witness to tho
contract It would be well If sho could
bo produced."
Tho aldo left tho room. Vandervyn
again shrugged. "Search has been
mado for her, Mr. President All that
could bo learned from her Indian rela
tlves was that sho had been very sick
and had gono away. Of course that
meant to tho happy hunting grounds.
Thero wns no other placo that sho
could havo gone."
Tho aldo returned to tho room lend
lng a tnll young womnn who was
dressed In a Parisian tailored suit
that Vandervyn had last seen on
Marie. Sho was gloved and heavily
veiled, and sho entered tho room with
porceptlblo timidity. Mario went to
take her arm In a reassuring clasp nnd
ralso tho veil. At no tlmo slnco their
coming to Washington had Vandervyn
been given so much as a glimpse of
Miss Dupont's reputed Hindu maid.
This undoubtedly wns tho woman, nnd
ho looked at hor with sharp curiosity
as Mario raised tho veil. Mario step
ped asldo and gave him a full vlow of
tho girl's faco.
"Olnnal" ho exclaimed.
"Yes. Is It not a happy surprlso?"
said Mario.
Sho smiled at the shrinking girl,
nnd drow nor nbouut t0 Ul JP,ldt
"M? dear, this Is tho great Whlto Fa-
iner 01 nu iaamns aaa 01 ur u-iuo
110 18 our laincr your excellency, row
18 Mrs n8lnald Vandcrvyn.
xno ul0W WUB lvcu WIW1
force. As Vandcrvyn gapcu nt Mario,
er eyes uuuieu wiro u duuuuu uy
leaping of fierce cxultnnce.
He gasped nnd choked out: "You.
you I All thcso months this you
Indian 1"
"Yes, Indian to you, even as sho
was Indian to youl" cried tho girl.
"You have been so eager to marry a
'breed girl hero Is ono, already your
wife!"
"It's a Ho a black llo I" denied Van-
dervyn. "I nover married her I"
"You took her by tribal custom, and
you told her that you were taking her
legally according to tho common law.'
"Sho cannot prove I lived with nor
openly as hor husband," rojolned van-
dervyn.
The president lookod at tho shrink-
1 lnir Olnna With kindly KT&Vlty. "Do
s mil I 1
you wish him to ncknowlcdgo yon an
his wife?"
"No, no, slrl" she dlsclnlmcd. "I
don't want him any more."
"I nm pleased to hear you say thnt."
replied tho president. He turned to
Vnndervyn. "I understand this witness
Is prepared to testify thnt tho signa
tures to your contract were obtnlned
on the false reprcscntntlon thnt It was
a second copy of tho minutes of the
trlbnl council."
"It's n llel" hoarsely replied tho
young mnn. "Ilnriiy Knows nouung
about It There's only her word
against mine."
"Wo can send for the Indian wit
nesses, If necessnry. Another matter
at tho Inquest you testified under
oath that a certain Indian killed Agent
Nogen, nnd thnt you nnd Ilcdbenr then
killed tho murderer. When you shot
Ilcdbenr, you rodo off, certain that ho
was dead. He lived long enough to
confess himself tho murderer of Agent
Nogen. Why did you perjure yourself
at tho Inquest?"
"You cnn't prove It," defiantly chal
lenged Vnndervyn. "I stand by my
testimony. This squaw and Hardy
havo hntched up tho Ho between them,
Even If Redbear mado such a confes
sion, It Is only hearsay and not legal
evidence."
"Your friend Redbear seems to hnvo
enjoyed shooting nt agents," remarked
tho president. "Ho nlso confessed to
having mndo tho two attempts on the
life of Captnln Hnrdy. In view of your
perjured testimony nt the Nogen In
quest, one Is led to Infer a not Im
probable connection between thoso at
tempts nnd your enmity to Captain
Hardy. But tho point nt present is
whether you still Insist upon tho vnl-
Idlty of your contract Do you wish
an official Investigation that will take
tho evldcnco of tho Indian witnesses?"
A cold swent wns gathering on Van-
dervyn's forehead. He looked at Marie.
Sho turned from him, ufrald that ho
might misconstrue the womanly soft
ncss Into which her fierce resentment
1ind melted. Ho wheeled about, and left
the room, sullen, unrepentant, defiant.
"A very great pity," commented the
president "Young and clever, hand
some, well educnted, good soclnl stand
ing yet all wasted I Courage misdi
rected ; no sense of shame ; unmoral,
rather than Immoral. He will ride
hard to still harder falls than this
one, or elso to what tho world calls
success. But I am too busy a man to
moralize. If you will pardon me,
ladles, there Is to bo a cabinet meet
ing." Ho bowed to them, and then con
fronted Hnrdy. "Sir, I wnrned you
that If you did not speak in your own
defense, you would have no other op
portunity. I shall not reverse my ap
proval of tho findings of the court
martial." Hardy had stood an amazed and
dumfounded spectator to tho rejection
and disgrace of his rival. But through
out It all Marie had never once looked
nt him. If her scornful casting off of
Vnndervyn had roused any hopes for
himself, they must havo been dashed
when she led Olnna away without fa
voring him with so much ns a glanco
of recognition. There was a slight
stoop In his shoulders as he saluted
tho president
"If tho sentence approved by your
excellency docs not mako association
with mo scandnlous," ho said, "I beg
leavo to express my thanks for tho
Intimation that you will Invalidate tho
fraudulent contract"
Without replying, the president
abruptly faced about to his desk.
Hardy again saluted, and marched
from the room as If on dress parade.
CHAPTER XXVI.
The Sentence.
In the anteroom the doorkeeper
waved Hardy to a door on tho right,
It led him into n stenographers' room.
Ho saw tho ilounco of a woman's skirt
behind a revolving bookcaso near the
far end of tho room, and paused.
Someono stepped into the room after
him, nnd touched him authoritatively
on tho shoulder.
"Ono moment, Captain Hardy
your sentence."
He turned and faced tho president's
aldo with tho clear, unflinching gaze
of a bravo man about to bo shot. Tho
aldo saluted with punctilious formal
lty. Hardy responded with equal for
mality. Tho aldo presented an official
document, saluted, and withdrew from
tho room.
For a long moment Hardy stood with
tho decreo of his f ato slowly crumpling
in his hand. His eyes were fixed on
vacancy. Doubtless ho was seeing tho
years of soldierly comradeship and
duty that now lay in the past and tho
vision of the career to which ho was
to havo given tho utmost of his pow
crg no Ulld nlwnys iovca nis pr0feg.
8i0n and now
Tno womnQ whoso-sklrt ho had seen
j wnH ln front of him beforo he becamo
aware of her presence. Ho found him
looking Into tho cool, half-mocking
faco of Marie.
"Are you afraid to read your sen
tence?" sho taunted. "Had It not been
for you, ho would havo had tho mine
and a million from his contract and
me. Tho president conferred with Sen
ator Olcmmer an hour ago. Tho treaty
appropriation bill will bo passed with
a clause that no commission Is to bo
paid for tho services of any tribal
agent or reprcsentatlvo. Ho has lost
everything. And now I am waiting
to seo you rend that paper."
Hardy drow himself up, opened tho
envelope, took out tho document and
read.
As Mario saw the look of blank in
credulity that camo Into his face, her
eyes flashed under tho lowering veil of
their long lashes. Ho stared up at her,
but was too dazed to pcrcclvo th
cbango ln her expression.
"Acquitted honorably on all
charges 1" ho murmured. "On nu
charges 1 Honorablo mention recom
mended Approved tho President"
Mnrlo smiled with cool condescen
sion.
'Merely n question of doing Justlco
to jvDU, Captain Hardy. When n man
has done his duty, however hnrshly,
It is the duty of others to see that ho,
receives Just compensation. I tako
credit for hnvlng helped to bring this
nbout"
"You?" ho cxclnlmed. "Of courso,
though, if you really did not lovo
him"
"That docs not follow. You must
know I did love him. But to find that
I hnd for rival another 'breed girl
ono not half so beautiful as I I could
not endure tho thought. You hnvo
seen the proof that there la a good deal
of my mother's red grandfather ln my
blood. No, I had to give him up, and
I have decided to marry another man."
"Another I" echoed Hardy.
"Will you not congratulate me?"
she asked.
Ho rallied. "I congratulate him.
After what has happened, I feel confi
dent thnt you must havochosen some
one more worthy of you."
"Ho lsl" declared the girl, her glo
rious eyes melting with tenderness.
"He is far more worthy of me thtth I
am of him!"
With an effort sho recovered her cool
composure.
"But now, beforo going, I wish to
take this opportunity to dlscbargo ln
a way tho obligation that, as a member
of tho tribe, I owe to you for your
services. I shall thercforo return tho
mine to you."
She held out a document He
stepped bnck.
"No, Miss Dupont," he said. "I can
not nccept It."
"You must I took It from you.
Though I have used tho income from
It not altogether for personal gratifi
cation, you must realize) that my prldo
will not permit mo to keep It any
longer. Let me ndd thnt It hns not
pinched out, as you may havo Inferred
from what I said at the ball. It is a
bonanza."
"I regret thnt I ennnot accept It" he
replied. "A captain's pay Is quite suf
ficient for n bachelor."
Mnrlo gave him a mocking glnnco.
"Really now, Captain Hardy, you do
not expect me to believe, you will long
remain unmarried?"
He tried his best to conceal how her
frivolity tortured him. "You may not
believe it, Miss Dupont. Yet It Is
true."
"It is not," she contradicted. "When
we wero abroad, Pero and I went to
Monte Carlo. I fancy tho gambling
spirit Infected me. Let us settlo the
ownership of tho mlno with a wager.
If you do not marry this year, I agree
to keep It But If you marry within
that time, you will accept it back from
mo on your wedding dny."
"It Is not fnlr for mo to bet on a cer-
tninty ; but if you Insist, I agree to the
wager," said Hardy.
"Then be prepared to take the mine
a week from today," sho bantered.
He toro his gaze away from tho
lovely face whose gay smllo appeared
so heartlessly mocking.
"You cannot realize how this "
She handed blm another sealed en
velope, t
"Here Is tho order detailing you to
special servlco with tho general staff
for the winter. You will then bo re
quired to return to the reservation and
carry out all tho plans recommended
byyou for the civilizing of tho tribe.
Your maro is In tho same stablo as the
thoroughbred that I havo bought to
use as her riding mate."
Tho changed tone In the girl's voice
compelled Hardy to look up. In her
rudlant eyes bo saw a look that could
not bo mistaken. The smllo that had
seemed so mocking was now tenderly
tensing.
"Marie you " he stammered. "Are
you certain It Is lovo not a passing
feeling of pity?"
"Pity! For you?" Bhe cried. "Do
you think I could dare pity you? a
man llko you I I could not have been
so presumptuous even had thoso
treacherous conspirators succeeded In
crushing you. Do you think It was
pity that mado mo llvo a He all this
time that forced mo to flout you and
accept his detestable attentions?"
Her volco sank to a noto of deep
humility.
"I know how very unworthy of you
I am. Yet I hopo I am not so un
worthy as that first day at the coulee,
when I scorned you, and you, with
your skill and courage and moderation,
saved us without harming thoso whoso
attack ho bad wantonly brought upqn
us. I was a coquette a coquette In
fatuated with tho kind of man with
whom a coquette deserves to be Infat
uated. But I was not altogether frlv
oIoub. I soon perceived your Immeas
urable Buperlorlty over him. Only my
head could not overcomo the fascina
tion that had bound my heart My
soul sought to free Itself from the
spell I struggled and prayed Yet
not until thero at tho mine, when you
showed yourself the bravest, tho most
generous "
Sho flung out her arms to him ln
piteous appeal. "Captnln 1 My cap
tain I Say that you do not think mo
altogether what ho thought mo!"
Hardy drew her hands together, and
bent to kiss them with reverent pas
Blon. "Dearest," ho replied, "you forget
that othor day ln tho coulee that day
when you thought mo dying. I gazed
up Into your eyes, and X saw tho look,
of my mother." ,
(THE END.)