Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1916)
BED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF ii U I? K. B feftfefftRHgl BTHE A A TpHe of Adventures on An indian Reservation nitinrciwpa'itFffiRiiRiiiin.'KnnnniiiinniniKiinnniHiminninKin The two preceding Installments described the rescue of a quarter breed girl and two men from an Indian attack at the edge of Lakotah Indian reservation, by Capt. Floyd 'Hardy, U. S. A., the new Indian agent. The rescued ones are Reginald Vandervyn, nephew of United States Senator Clemmer and agency clerk, Jacques Dupont, post trader, and his daughter, Marie. Vandervyn tells Hardy of disaffection among the Indians, of the murder of Nogcn, the last agent, and of his hav Ing been promised the agency. Hardy calls a council of chiefs at the agency. Redbcar, the halfbrecd Interpreter, brings his 6lster, Oinna, to the valley. Captain Hardy accepts a dinner Invitation from the Du ponts and learns something which amazes him and causes all sorts of trouble. Imama CHAPTER. IV Continued. The hostess signed her Indian boy to take thu Ijnx Into tlio parlor, together with tlio Ico bucket, In which was still left n bottle of champagne. As he obeyed, she bowed her dismissal of the guests from the table. "I slinll now permit myself to bo fatigued," sho said. "Good evening Mr. Vnndcrvyn. Good evening, Captain Hnrdy." Vnndcrvyn nodded, nml followed Du pont with a nonchalant bearing that drew nttcntlon from the slight uncer tainty of his step. Hardy lingered for ft word of appreciation: "This has been a taoBt enjoynblo evening, Miss Dupont." , She chose to disregard tlio sincerity and warmth behind the formal phrase. "Yon are very kind, Captain Hardy. But pray do not overestimate. Where all else Is off-color, three-quarters white seems dazzling." "Believe me, it Is not n question of contrast or comparison," he protested. "Not oven In New York or Washing ton" "You flatter me. And now, as I am tired" He bowed and left her, concealing tho sting of her polite rebuff under hlB grave smile. Tho Indian boy, who was standing at tlio parlor door, closed It behind tlio guest nt n sign from Marie. Dupont took tho drink that he had poured out for himself and undertook tho perilous operation of opening tho champagne. He fumbled the bottle and would hnvo dropped It had not Van dervyn jumped up and taken it from him. Thrust nsldo by tho younger man, ho lurched and sat down in a chair near Hardy. "Shollpp'ry ben In Ice," lie ex plained with solemn emphasis. He threw back his head and burst Into an uproarious laugh. "Shclipp'ry liko that gobe-raoucho Redbenr. Illtn trying to smooth mo down zlf that'd glvo htm n show with M'rlol An' me tho Rqunrost trader In tho U. S.l Why, lash time I got goods on credit, they slient mo a Kkeshulo to llsht my ll'birtles, 'n' I jush took my pen in linn' 'n' wrote 'cross tha' shero llshf I don't owe no man nushlng,' " He again drew back his head nnd let out a hoarso laugh. "Poor grommar, but rich rhetoric, Jake," remarked Vandervyn as he filled tho champagne glasses. "You told me they gave you the credit you asked for." "I got tho goods," said Dupont, pull ing himself together and sobering his tongue with an effort "Nothing like being on tho square. That's what mokes me Bore at them there chiefs, Cap. Won't let me help out the bucks and squaws what's aching for work good pay tn trade goods, and us tak ing all risks on tho ore smelting out N. G. What'll tho trlbo do after they gtt their last Isbuo next spring? That's what I'd like to know." "Yes, captain," sold Vandervyn. "Next spring will como tho laBt Issue of goods that Is provided for In the government treaty with this tribe. They will bo In a bad fix If something Is not done to get them used to white ways." "now about a now treaty, to parti tion tho reservation and glvo land In severalty to each head of a family?" suggested Hardy. "That would tnko a long time to bring about, and meantlrao tho young bucks should be taught to work. Why wouldn't It be a good Idea for us to take charge of tho mine pay all who want to work at fair wages, and take the rlBk of getting our money back out of tho ore shipments?" As Vandervyn mado the suggestion, lie smiled ingenuously, and his hand some, lushed face shone with philan thropic enthusiasm. Hardy's face light ed with a rcsponslvo glow. He smiled Into tho boyish blue eyes. "The proposal does you credit," ho responded. "Yon may count on mo to contribute my share." "Yon will, will you, Cap?" exclaimed Dupont Ho reached out his thick-lingered hand, "You're In, hey? Put It there, old pard I Just you mako them damn kl-yl-s savvy they've got to feustlo for what wo glvo 'em, llko No gen done, and we'll round up fifty thousand apiece before Bnow flies." "What's that?" demanded Hardy, In stantly Btltfanlng to stern rigidity. I Ho failed to catch tho furious glanco from Vandervyn that sent their half fuddled host lurching over to tho whisky bottle. When ho did turn, tho chief clerk met his hard glanco with n knowing wink nnd a chuckling com- tMt: "SfittHedl" QUARTERBREED EmncinRnniinjnuniniauHiiuimnmiimnmimmmniniRiriRinniRfnnfRiiniiniiiisiin Hardy did not smile. "Explain," he ordered. "Oh you mean Jake's pipe dream that this low-grade stun1 may some time turn Into u utrenk of solid gold. But of course you wouldn't stand for tho three of us dividing up the pro ceeds, even If It did turn out a bo nanza?" "Certainly not." "Your Idea would be to glvo all" the profits to tho tribe, even If wo had bought the ore and taken tho risk of Its turning out worthless?" "I nm the acting agent, not a trader." "Nom'chlen I" muttered Dupont. "Thnt ain't no way to treat n white man, Cap. Won't you let 'cm trade mo no more ore?" "I shall investigate beforo I decide," said Hardy, and ho roso to leave. "Good evening. Good evening, Mr. Vandervyn." Ho went out. Dupont gaped after him, nnd grunted Incredulously: "Fifty thousand mude It fifty thousand, nnd ho didn't Jump at ltl" "Told you so," snapped Vandervyn. "But we'll fix him yet two more enrds up our sleeve. If one falls to take the trick, we'll play tho other. We're not going to be bluffed out at this stago of the game." Dupont caught at tho whisky bottlo with a shaking hand. "No, by Gar," ho protested. "Wo don't play that other card, Mr. Van. I quit first." "Oh, well," replied Vandervyn, "If yotj'ro going to throw down, I shall not try to pluy It alone. But you're in on tho next play." Dupont grunted, and poured himself a full glass of whisky. CHAPTER V. 1' ,i By-Play. Sunrlso found Vnndcrvyn riding down tho valley on his nimble-footed pinto. Ho left tho1 road and cantered across Into tho bend where Rcdbear had pointed out his new houso to Hardy. When Vandervyn rode up, lledbenr was shoveling clay upon tho uncovered brush thatch at one corner of tho roof. Tho halfbrecd did not stop work until his visitor drew rein nlmost within arm's reach. Vandervyn met his civil greeting with u cynical smile. "So you'vo bullded you n home. Charlie, now's your sister Wlnna? That's the name, Isn't It?" "No, wo say It O-ec-nnh. Tho school pcoplo mado her get up nt four. I told her to sleep all day, If sho liked." "Come up tho creek. I want to tell you something," replied Vandervyn. When they had gono beyond earshot of the cabin, ho stopped his pony nnd faced the uneasy halfbrecd with a look of sympathetic concern. "Charlie, It's all up." Rcdbcar's face turned a mottled gray. "AH all up?" ho gasped. "Amounts to tho samo thing," an swered Vandervyn. "We sounded him last night. Ho won't sit In to tho game tho board-backed fooll No chance "It's Up to Us to Bluff Him or Throw Down." to deal with him, und you know what that means. Next thing, he'll have It all out of the chiefs the mine every thing." "No, no, Mr. Van 1 Ho can't find out. They don't know about what you and mo Nobody saw us nobody. If there'd been u fresh track anywhere inside a quarter-mile, I couldn't have missed It." Vandervyn shrugged. "I'm not so sure of that. You are not a full-blood tracker. But whut If that Is covered? - SMftmv1f Cr By Robert Ames It's bad enough. As soon as ho finds out about tho mine, ho wilt kick tho whole bunch of us off tho reservation. That's tho kind of fool ho Is." "Ho can't put mo off. I'm a member of tho tribe." "Yes, nnd Jake Is a member by mnr rlngo. Lots of good thnt will do you both In the guardhouse." Redbenr cringed at tho word. "But my sister Ho won't put mo in." "Walt nnd see when ho finds out how- things hnvo been going here. Let him find out anything against you, nnd It's Charllo In tho Jug, with his Job gone glimmering." Tho halfbrecd looked up, his eyes desperate, his face set in the grin of u cornered rat. Ho muttered a curse. "That's It, boyl" encouraged Van dervyn. "Don't lay down. AVe'ro with you. But remember, wo'vo got to mako u bluff. It's up to us to bluff him off, or throw down." "I don't understand you, Mr. Van." "Hero It Is, then, no doesn't know ri word of Lakotah. Tho trlbo doesn't Know English. You are the Interpreter. Get thnt?" Itcdbenr shook his head. "No, I don't." "Yes, you do, Charlie. We've already told Hardy thnt thcro is a lot of bad blood stirred up. It will bo easy to translato tho talk of tho chiefs that way. You con start in by telling them how he pacified tho Moros. Ho killed nearly as many of them as there nro members of this tribe. Tho chiefs ho put In jail. All tho rest ho moved to another Island you can say, to an other reservation." "But If that Is a He" "It Isn't It's exactly what hap pened. Tho Moro head chief was kept in jail until ho was hung. Be sure tp tell that to old Thunderbolt If It falls to warm him " "Hoganny-hunk 1" gasped Rcdbear. "They once put him In jail for a week. If I tell him, It will mako him fighting mad." "Thnt's what wo want. I'll post you to Interpret what he says, in a way that will get Hardy's goat. No mnn has nervo to stand up to a whole tribe. Ho will have to quit Then tho Job comes to me. You know what that means." "You promised mo a full share." "Yes, nnd that menns n third of tho net proceeds, now that Nogen Is out of tho way. Only, remember, you get nothing nono of us gets a cent moro out of It if Hnrdy stays. It's up to you now, Charlie. You turn tho trick nnd get your share; or you fall clown, lose share and Job, and go to the guard house on your way to tho federal penitentiary. Which Is It to bo?" Redbear's rntllko grin had changed to the grimace of n rabid coyote. "Curse liltn I" ho snarled. "Ill mako him run clean to town." "Good boyl" praised Vandervyn. "nnd your breakfast? Yes? Then trot up to tho agency and pass tho time of dny to the chiefs as they como In. It will help things along to post them beforehand. Don't forget that Ilnrdy Is a cold-hearted army mnrtlnot who despises Indians, ne Is planning to Rtop nil Issue goods, nnd Intends to punish the chiefs for tho killing of No gen. But If ho leaves the reservation, I become tho ngent I will make no troublo over Nogen, and will sco that tho government keeps giving Issue goods to tho trlbo for a long time. That's the talk. Now trot along nnd get them screwed up." "Olnnn?" said Rcdbear. "Don't waste tlmo going back," re plied Vandervyn. "I'll stop nnd tell your sister not to expect you homo un til nfter tho council. Get busy Walt. Wo can work In tho police. Tell them they are ordered to wnlt nt; tho guard house until tho council Is under way. They are then to march around nnd post themselves behind Ilnrdy, fully armed. If tho chiefs get angry, they are to close up around nardy. Are you on?" Rcdbear responded with an eager nod, and stnrted off at a Jog trot Van dervyn smiled, turned his pony about, and rode back to tho cabin. Without dismounting, ho reached down nnd KnocKPd, tno uoor opened n scant Inch and Olnnn peeped out nt tho visitor. '"Lo," ho snld In an Indifferent tone. "I brought word to your brother thnt ho was wanted at once. Told him I would let you know, no will not bo home until nfter tho council." "Thank you, sir," murmured tho girl. "No trouble at nil," replied Vander vyn. "You don't happen to havo a drink of good water handy, do you?" Instinctive hospitality overenmo tho girl's shyness. Her tall young flguro and handsome, fnco appeared as tho door swung open. "I boll tho water. Do you llko tea?" sho asked In n llutcllko voice. "A1U right" When Bho returned to tho door, ho was tightening his saddlo girth. He kept her waiting several moments be foro he turned to tnko tho cup of tea. Tho hand that held tho cup was rough from hard work, but tho girl's cheap calico dress was neat and clean and It covered n form an sunnln nnd proof nn a reed. Unlike her brother, sho had In hcrlted only tho good features of her en Bennet parents. The blend of types apparent In her fnco was far from unpleaslng. She kept her soft brown eyes shyly downcast. Yet sho must hnve patched lilin covertly through her long lashes. Tho teu was hot. Ho sipped It slowly and gloated on the girl's confusion. Un able longer to endure the strain, Oinnu at last faltered In timid desperation: "You you nre BIr. Vim. Charlie he safd you and he nro partners." "Partners?" repented Vandervyn with n quick frown. "He said that?" The girl shrank bnck. "Please, sir, he didn't mean anything wrong." ' "What more did he say?" "Nothing only that Please, It's only his way of talking." "That's nil right Don't be nfrnld," Vondcrvyn reassured her with n quick change to smiling friendliness. "I am Charlie's best friend." "Oh, thank you, thank you I He Is my only brother. Wo havo nobody else; only ourselves." In her grntltudo tho girl forgot her self-consciousness. Sho raised her soft eyes nnd looked full at Vander vyn. He smiled nnd bent nearer. Though sho blushed scarlet, she was unable to turn her gazo away from his ardent blue eyes. "O-ee-nnh," ho drew out her nnmo in tho caressing tone that ho would have used In fondling a pet.dog. She smiled even ns she trembled. Ho camo closer. Her gazo wavered and sank beforo tho look In his glowing eyes, and she shrank back. Ho sought to put his arm nbout her, but she sprang clear with tho agility of a star tled doe. "Oh, como now I" ho urged. "Just n kiss. What's tho harm of a kiss?" The girl had retreated Into the cabin. Ho blocked the door. There was no way for her to elude him if ho wished to press his vantage. ' "No, no, please I" sho begge'd. "At school they told mo only bad girls let men kiss them." "Bah I" he scoffed. "What do thoso o'ld fossils know about It?" His voice deepened to an alluring richness. "Come. I will not hurt you, Oinna. Give me a kiss." "Let me let me out 1" she panted. "Not unless you pay toll." She looked around for somo way of escape. Thcro was none. She stared wildly out through the window and then looked at him over her shoulder. The sudden stillness of her pose checked nnd disquieted him. Was It possible that she had seen her brother returning? He sprang outside and around to tho corner of tho cabin. A short distance nwny ho saw Mario Dupont riding ncross from tlio road at n smart can ter. He waved his hat to her nnd faced about just as Oinna was gliding from tlio door. "Stop!" he called In a tono that forced tho girl to obey. "Don't bo silly, Olnnn. You hnvo my word for It I meant no hnrm. If you run now, Miss Dupont will think we have been doing something wrong." "Oh, I don't want her to. She was good to me. Don't let her think bad of me," Implored the girl. "Then go In nnd get her a cup of ten. Quick hero she comes." The girl disappeared as Mario's pony swung around tho corner of tho cabin. Vandervyn stooped to fiddle with his stirrup leather. He straightened, and looked over his pony's back. Mario' had pulled up a few feet away, and was staring past him toward the door of tho cabin, her cheeks ablaze and her eyes flashing with anger. "Hello I" he exclaimed, glancing over his shoulder with well-feigned surprise. "Whut's tho matter?" "Ton ask that?" she cried. "I met Charlie half way to tho agency. He said you were riding out of tho val ley." "Yes. Stopped hero to get a drink from his sister. They havo only creek water. I'vo had to wait while sho boiled somo for tea. But It was a lucky deluy you're here. You'll rldo with mo?" "I wish to speak to that girl," re plied Marie. ' "Going to hire her for n kitchen maid?" he asked, and ho called over his shoulder In n rough tono: "Hurry up in there. You'ro keeping Miss Du pont wnltlng." "You should not speak that way to Oinna. Sho Is not a dog," reproved Mario. "See; you have frightened her It's all right, Oinna. Mr. Van didn't mean to bo cross." The girl hnd stopped In tho door way, her eyes timidly downcust With out looking up, sho came around to Ma rie and offered her the cup of luke warm tea that sho had brought In obedience to Vnndervyn's command. Murlo took u sip and paused to peer down Into tho dark brew. "Mercll" sho cried. "It is half sugar." "You wero good to me," naively ex plained Oinna. Mario laughed and handed back the offering. "You child I Drink it yourself. X can guess bow few sweets you've had ut Bchool. Come on, Reggie." Vandervyn mounted, and theh po nies started off on a lope. The y g man kept his eyes to the front. But Mario soon glnnccd nbout "Look!" sho said. Ho turned nnd saw Oinna with the big grnnlte-wnre cup to her uptllted lips, draining the moist sugar from tho bottom. Tho action was laughably childish, but the girl's attitude was the perfection of grace. Mario caught the look thnt flitted across Vandcrvyn's face, and her eyes flashed. "So 'I was right I" sho exclaimed. "You wero flirting with her." "I flirting with her?" ho wonder Ingly queried, nnd ho turned sideways In his saddle, to stare wide-eyed ut his companion, from the tip of her dainty riding boot up to the feather felt hat on her coal-black hair. Under that prolonged scrutiny the scarlet of tho plrl's anger changed to rose, and her eyes Bank as coyly us hnd OInnu's. He smiled. The girl was good to look upon. Mid-morning was past when they walked their ponies up the slope of the terrace. .The bare level, back of the warehouse, wnw dotted with groups of stolid, half-nuked Indians. "Look I" exclaimed the girl. "What is It?" ho asked. "Don't you see? There Is not n woman or child among them. Let us go and find out what Pero thinks of It." CHAPTER VI. Thunderbolt But Dupont was not nt home. When thiV fnllcwl to (lnil liltn i.l tli or In tlu store or the living rooms, Mario stemied to tho door for another look at tho Indians, and then calmly went In to prepare u noon dinner. Vnndcrvyn sauntered over to tho of fice. On the way back he observed Red- near, out back of the warehouse, drift ing linolltrnslvilv frnm nnn rrriim nt Indians to another. Hurdy was nt his desk In tho office, Intent on the gov ernment trcnty with the tribe. At noon, ns the head chief of the tribe had not yet arrived. Hnrdv nnd Vandervyn stnrted to go for their mid day meal. As they rounded Hardy,' cabin, they were overtnken by Dupont, who came from tho direction of the stable. Ills face was us stolid as the faces of tho chiefs und headmen among whom he had passed. "Well, Juke, what's the good word?" Inquired Vandervyn. Tho trader cloomllv shook his bend. "Ain't none, Mr. Van. No women, no children, no old men Just bucks. No trading I been over to the p'leece camp. Ponies all In: fences down. They're glttlng ready to slip down creeK." "Do you mean thov emeet troublo?" asked Hardy. "Well, it kind of looks that way," an swered Dupont "Explain," ordered Hnrdy. "You remember I told you there was a lot of bad blood stirred up. It all turns on whether Thunderbolt feels tho same That's old Tl-owa-konza, the head chief. If he's feeling bad. we'd better look out." "I am confident thero will be no trouble," said Hardy. "We have only to find out tho cause of tho 111 feeling nnd remove It" "If it can be removed," qualified Vandervyn. "Better figure on letting the ware house go nnd piling Into my plnco, Cap, If they start to kl-yl," suggested Du pont "I'll show you how I got It all loopholcd. Wuter lnsldo nnd a lot of grub nnd uramunltlon we can hold It ag'ln tho whole tribe, if tho p'leece don't go back on us." 'They will not, nor will thero be any outbreak," insisted Hnrdy. "Do not needlessly alarm your.duughter." "Can't senro her," grunted Dupont. They wero now almost nt tho house porch. Marie appeared In the door way, aglow with animation. "Good dny, Captain Hardy. I fear wo hud breakfast too early for you. Pere, you look sober ns an nwl. You can't be afraid of an outbreak. What If they do turn loose? I have every thing ready all tho loopholes opened nnd the meat brought In from the Ice house. It will keep In the cellar." Hnrdy followed the others Into the parlor, and looked nt the slots cut through tho wallpaper to expose the loopholes, from which tho chinks had been removed. "Miss Dupont," ho said, "you are a very brave young lady." "Yes, It took courajre to cut mv wnll- paper," sho replied. "And nil for nothing, I feel sure," ho declared. "Well, It's best to bo ready. In ensn " muttered Dupont. The girl's eyes sparkled. "I wouldn't mind a dny or two of fighting. What fun It must have been In the old days I" "Fun?" exclaimed Vandervyn. "I have no doubt we could defend the house," remarked Hardy. "We cogld hold out until tho arrival of troops. But thero will bo no uprising, no trouble." "Oh, captain I" protested Marie. They passed on into tho dining room, where tho silent Indian boy at once served dinner. It was n plain family meal. But the chlnn and plated ware wero artistic, tho table linen was clean, nnd tho food very well cooked. Dupont wns still gormandizing when Redbcar camo with tho news thnt Tl-owa-konza had at last reached tho agency. Tho halfbrced looked so wor ried ' that Vandervyn roso from the table as quickly as Hardy. Dupont paused with a slice of pumpkin pie upraised in his hand. What's tho rumpus, Charlie?" ho asked. "Old Thunderbolt nln't gone on tho warpath, has he?" "No, ho looks quiet now. But one of tho headmen told me ho said he would wipe out tho agency If the new agent didn't do what ho wanted." Dupont muttered oai of the two oaths ever ready on Ms tongue: "Hbi d'un chlcn I Cap, you sure ain't getag to risk nil our scalps by bucking his game?" "I shall see what he wnnts, nnd then do what I consider right," replied Hardy. "Miss Dupont, I nsk you to stay close Indoors. Mny I ask you to have your Indian boy take my mam down to Redbeai'a sister, 'with orders for her to escape if she hears any fir ing? Mr. Vandervyn, you may remain hero or join myself nnd Rcdbcnr, as you prefer." "I'll go nlong with you, captain. Yon may have to flghj: your way back here." Hardy nodded In approbation of tho spirited reply, bowed to Mnrlc, nnd started for the agency buildings with a step that was brisk yet dignified. Tlio Indians had assembled for the council In n semicircle, three rows deep, fac ing the rear of tho warehouse. Hnrdy went first to his cabin, where ho "broke" his rifle 'and put n piece of the mechanism into his pocket. , "Thero shall be no display of weap ons on our part," ho ordered. "Yon will not toko your rifles. At close quar ters your revolvers will be "more ef fective. Carry them concealed." "Wo will put on coats," said Vander vyn. "Come to my cabin." "Meet me at tho ofilce," directed Hardy, and he walked on ahead, cool and resolute. Tho others soon rejoined him, Rcd bear In an old shooting jacket, und Vandervyn In n frock coat and tile', to Hnrdy reminiscent of smart society, hut to the Indians emblematic of pale face dignity. When the little pnrty enmc uround the end of tho warehouse to take up their position beforo tho silently nwnltlng nssembly, the cwert glances of the many bendllko eyen first turned upon the chief clerk. Soon, however, they shifted to tho erect mili tary figure of the new ugent, nnd re mained fixed. The Indian police, fully armed, stnrt ed to file out of tho guardhouse. Hardy waved them back, nnd seated himself on the chair thnt Redbcar had brought yh-'- The Bare Level Was Dotted With Stolid, Half-Naked Indians. from the ofilce. With n calm, direct gaze, Hnrdy studied the appearance of the triple row of Indians. To nn In experienced eye they could not havo appeared more peaceably disposed. But Hdrdy's keen eyes noted that tfie blankets of some of the men In the rear were hunched out over well-filled quivers of arrows. Here nnd there on the ground beside tho subchlefs who . formed the front row a muzzle of a rifle thrust from under tho outspread ' blanket ends. , Hnrdy at last fixed his gnzo on Thun derbolt, who sat In the center of the row of subchlefs, and nfter n delibera tive silence that accorded with the In dian Idea of etiquette, spoke to Red bear.' 'iTell them thnt I am pleiw.. to meet in council with the heud chief . ' and subchlefs nnd headmen of the tribe. I nm here to find out what has troubled the tribe and to see whatever Is wrong shnll be made right" Redbeur glanced nt Vandervyn, who stood behind Hurdy. The eyes of the chief clerk narrowed, and his small, red mouth straightened. Redbear drew ly, in n quick breath, faced about, and ad- V T dressed the nssembly. What ho said ' took several moments to deliver. The hush that followed seemed to quiver with suppressed hostility, though the faces 6t the Indians re mained stolid. At laBt old Ti-owa-konza ventured a response. His tono and beurlng wero mild. He first spoke, soothingly to his fellow councilors, nnd then addressed Hardy In dignified re monstrance. When ho Bat down again, Redbcar stood slient, uneasy and vacil lating. "Interpret," ordered Hardy. "I I It isn't ensy. You mightn't like it," mumbled the halfbreed. "Never ndnd thnt Proceed." , "Well, It's not easy to get It just the same," hesitated Redbear. He glanced nt Vandervyn, licked his lips, and be gan: "Ho says all this land belongs to the trlbo ; that the white man hns no busi ness here. He says that he to not sorry Mr. Nogen was killed, but he Is sorry that you have come here. He says his people do not like the Long knives, who used to kill them, and they do not want you for agent, be cause you are a chief of the Long knives. Ho says they like Mr. Van, und they want him to be their agent" pmiiiunintiw How long do you think It will take Hardy to find out that he Is being double-crossed by Van dervyn and Redbear? Will Marie help him or do you think ah Is crooked too? mmmMvm (TO BK CONTDiUXOJ i i) 15 a & j. . Vtffr W,HlMlMMMrMM)r -m WUMA - -.-
