BED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
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A TpHe of Adventures on
An indian Reservation
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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
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15
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W,HlMlMMMrMM)r -m
WUMA - -.-
