1 RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF ff a W fr (. 9' nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnDnnnnnc 77ie Quarterbreed nnnnnnnnnannnnnnnnnnnnnnannnnnnnn i4n Indian Reservation Tale by ROBERT AMES SENNET innnnnnDnnnnnnnnnnnnnt The three preceding Installments .described the rescue of a quarterbreed girl and two men from an Indian attack at the edge of Lakotah Indian reservation by Capt. Floyd Hardy, U. 8. 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 Nogen, the last agent, and of his having been promised the agency. Hardy calls a council of head tribesmen. Redbear, the halfbreed interpreter, brings his pretty sister, Oinna, to the valley. The new agent learns that the Indians have been cheated and has reason to suspect Dupont and Vandervyn of crookedness. He plans to square matters with the tribesmen. How Captain Hardy Is thwarted in his purpose, how his llfo is endangered, how Vandervyn shows his true character, Is told In very absorbing style In this installment. CHAPTER VI Continued. Unseen by his superior, Vandervyn riodded encouragingly to Redbear nnd smiled nt the Indians. Hardy had not turned his steady gaze from TI-owu-konzn. "The. chief Is not angry," ho Raid. "We shall soon bo friends. Tell him that I como In peace, with a good heart toward nil tho tribe. I do not blamo the killing of Mr. Nogen on tho tribe. If white men linvo dono any wrong to tho tribe, I shall stop the wrongdoing. If there nro any members of the tribe who arc doing wrong, tho chiefs should help mo raako all do right." This time ltcdbenr did not hesitate. He faced the assembly and rolled nut a flood of Lakotah with desperate ra pidity. Almost Immediately Tl-own-konzn roso to reply, his face nblnzo with indignation, his voice Impassioned. When bo had spoken, ho remulncd standing. "lie says ho la angry," began Red bear. "No,"brusquely contradicted Hardy. "Look at his face. Tho others nro an gered, no In not. Thero Is soino mis understanding. Bo careful that you Interpret correctly." "He says ho is angry," Insisted Red bear, his sidelong glanco looking past Hardy te Vandervyn, who wns nodding reassuringly. "Ho says ho Is trying to keep It inside, but tho ethers can't hold It Inside, lio says you have cot to go away or thero will bo fighting." Hardy straightened on his chair, nnd his look becume severe. Ho spoke sharply: "Tell the chief it Is useless to ask me to go away. I do not wish to send for tho Longknlvcs. But they will cone and fight tho trlbo if there Is any uprising." Redbear's interpretation was fol lowed by a hush more threatening than gestures or outcries. Vandervyn has tily beckoned to tho policemen. They tamo along under tho overhang of the warehouse until they wcro behind tho white men. Hardy heard the soft ucufllo of their moccaslned feet In tho dust Ho looked around nnd frowned. "How Is this?" ho demanded. "I particularly wished no demonstration f force," said nardy. "Well, since tho police nro here, fcadn't you better let them stay? It will be closo enough work If matters tomo to u scrap, and there's Mario out to sco tho fun." Hardy turned around to look at tho larlng glil. Sho stood on a slight knoll nldway between tho assembled Indians ind her father's cubln. "Take her back to tho house," ho or lercd. "But would It bo wise for mo to lenvo rou and Charlie just now? Tho polico nay not stuy loyal If" "Gol" Tho command was peremptory. Von lervyn started off, yet contrived to ex- TI-owa.Konza Rose to Reply, His Face ! Ablaze With Indignation. chango glances with Redbear. nardy studied the scmlclrclo of waiting In dians with a resoluto gaze, and, as fcefore, fixed his attention upon Tl-owu- . konza. , "Wo must lenrn what Is tho causo of this 111 feeling," ho remarked to tho halfbreed. "Ask them why they uro opposed to belr young men trading ore for Dujnt's goods." Redbear spoke Blowly to tho Indians, fcls mannor not unllko that of a man jo appt jnclics a barrel of gunpowder th a lrghted torch. Thero was no explosion, but tho old hcud chief 11 n red with unmistakable anger, no replied with n fiery declamation that won grunts of approval from his fellows. Tho half breed's voice was unsteady I as ho Interpreted: "He he says thero shall bo no more barter of ore. lio says nil over ugalu that this Is tho land of his tribe, and whlto men have no right here, and ho hates all Long knives." "Tell him that ho Is mistaken. Tho soldiers have always been tho best friends of tho Indians. I find that, after next spring, no moro food nnd goods uro to be Issued to tho tribe. Sooner or later, whlto men will como and tako the oro If tho Indians do not dig It themselves. Another thing, I believe tho trlbo should ngrco to the dividing up of their land, so that each head of n family can have his own farm and work It after tho manner of the whlto men. Other tribes have dono this, and they arc no longer poor." Redbear hesltntcd, stepped moro aside from Hardy, and began to pour out u torrent of Lakotah. Ho hud spo ken only a few sentences whenn wuvo of agitation passed over tho scmlclrclo of Indians. Blankets slipped down from copper-red shoulders; flerco eyes glnrcd menacingly nt Hardy. Several of tho moro excitable bucks leaped up with bow nnd rlllo In hand. Hardy thrust out from among tho polico and raised his hands to Tl-own-konza in the peaco sign. Tho head chief culled to his fellows and turned his back upon tho agent with deliber ate contempt. All tho others faced about nnd followed him to the waiting ponies. Tho bund mounted and rodo oft up tho valley In morose silence. CHAPTER VII. The Common Law. There was-still moro than n trace of red In Hardy's sallow checks when Ma rie, Vnndervyn and Dupont camo In upon him at tho ofllce. Dupont held out u congratulatory hand. "By gar, Cap," ho said, "you sure had'a mighty closo squeak of it that time. Guess old Tl got nll-flred hot. Where's Charllo?" "Redbear? I sent him to reassuro his sister and tho families of tho po lice." "That was very thoughtful of you, cnptnln," said Murle. "But It would bo far moro consider ate If you would leave tho reserva tion," added Vnndervyn. "How so?" queried Hardy. "Of course, you'll fancy I am think ing of my promotion. But it's not that nt all. Ask Jake." "I got it from tho p'leece," said Du pont. "Tho whole bunch wns crazy to shoot you ; they'd dono it, too, only Charlie sings out to 'em that Mr. Vim was going to bo agent, und you'd go uway." "Ho said that?" "Oh, captain, don't be nngry at Char He," Interceded Marie. "Ho had to do It to save a light." "But why? I could not have been moro friendly. Yet everything I said seemed to anger them." "I told you they're n ornery bunch," replied Dupont. "It wns for becaiiso you being on officer. Tho chiefs hato all soldiers llko plzen. Most of tho old ones was In the ghost-dance craze, nnd got jailed by tho soldiers." "They may cool down and bo willing to listen to reason," argued Hardy. "Cool down? They'll go buck and sit and stew and stew till hell bolls over. Next thing happens, they'll stir lip tho young bucks. Norn d'un chlanl Just when I was glttlng enough ahead In my business to tako care of my old ago mid give Mario a chance to bo a lady to stand to loso everything and her and my scalp to boot I" "You uro frco to leave hero with her whenever you wish." "No, I uln't. I can't leavo my store all my property." "Thero would bo no danger if It; wero not for you," said Marie, her eyes flashing with indignation. "If only you had not como here I If thero Is nn outbreuk, it will bo all your fuultl" "Mine?" "Oh, I know you mean well. But If they'vo taken this violent dlaliko to you Why over did you como? You saw how they llko Mr. Vun. Had they thought "you would Insist on stuylng, nothing could havo kept them from nttucklng you. But tho promise that Air. van is to bo tnelr ugent, that paci fied them. Hod you never como here, all this would not havo happened. Tho chiefs would have como to talk with Mr. Van, nnd would huvo gono back satisfied." Hardy swung around In his chair to scrutlnlzo tho guileless faco of Van dervyn. "What do you soy to that, sir?" ho Interrogated. "What cun I say?" replied "V under vyn, twisting tho tip of his blond mus tache. "It Is for you , to decide to leavo for tho good of tho tribe, or to stay and tuko the chance of an up rising." "Tho way you put It " considered Hardy. "Perhaps it might bo better for all concerned if I should leave." "You bet it would, Cap," eagerly broke in Dupont "'Taln't no Joke. Them ornery cusses '11 git you llko they dono with Nogen, Just as sure jib shooting." Vandervyn shot n furious glanco nt tho blunderer. Marie was looking nt Hardy. But sho did not need to sco tho tightening of his lips to realize what her father had done. "Oh, Pcrol" sho reproached. "Why did you sny it? You should have known Captain nardy could not leave after that." "Quito right, Miss Dupont," said nardy. "You mean, you won't leavo?" asked Dupont "How enn he?" Vandervyn smoothly cut In. "You've put it up to him that It would bo deserting his post under fire. He's an nrmy officer ho wouldn't leavo now even if ho knew his staying hero meant certain massacro for us all, followed by certain massacre of tho trlbo by tho troops." "I will remain until I havo made nt lenst ono more effort to pacify the tribe," replied Hardy. "You nro at liberty to resign whenever you please. Mr. Dupont has amplo tlmo to rcmovo his goods and his daughter from the reservation." "Not m6," declared Morlo; "I don't euro what Pcre and Rcgglo say; I kuow thero Is not one of the trlbo who would harm me, even in an outbreak." "Well, mebbe not," admitted her fa ther. "I gather that I am the only person who seems to bo endangered," re marked Hardy. "This being so, I will wait a few days for tho excitement to subside, and will then call another council." "They won't como ng'in to meet you," predicted Dupont. "Then I shall go to them." "Into tho mountains, captain?" ex clalmcd Marie, her splendid eyes wid ening with concern. "Surely you will not venture among tho camps." "The trlbo must learn that I mean friendship." Dupont paused to scratch tho side of his head. But Vandervyn spoke without nn Instant's hesltnncy: "You havo no right to throw your llfo away uselessly, captain. Suppose Charllo and I nmko n trip to tho camps, to seo If wo cannot quiet tho tribe and talk tho chiefs into giving you another hearing? If you havo no objection, we could toll them that you cannot leavo Just now, but that you will do so as soon as you have tried to benefit them." "And that Mr. Van'll bo next agent," added Dupont. "Will you tell them that I am hero to help them nnd to bo their friend?" queried Hardy. "Trust mo to put It to them strong, captain," assured Vandervyn. "I know you'll play fair by resigning In my fa vor as soon as you huvo the tribe in hand." "After I have dono what.I can do to Improve conditions among them," qual ified Hardy. "I do so hope Mr. Van can persuade them to bo friendly with you," said Marie. "I know ho ami Charllo will bo perfectly safe. But It will bo hard to talk them out of their strango dis like to you. When will you start, Reg gie?" "Early tomorrow morning, if the cap tain has no objections." "Tho sooner tho better," agreed Hardy. "I'll go nnd remove my council cos tume," said Vnndorvfn, smiling at his Irreproachable frock coat. Mario and her father roso with him. Hardy bowed out tho girl and returned to his desk. Ho was deep In tho midst of n report on tho trlbo when, half nn hour Inter, Vandervyn returned to the olllco in his riding togs. "Charllo may not como back this afternoon," ho remurked. "I thought I might rldo down and tell him about tho trip. I could fetch your maro for you." "Very well. I shall bo obliged," re plied Hardy, and ho returned to his study of the report. Vandervyn rodo llown along tho far sldo of tho stream, keeping tho thick ets as much as possible between him self und tho Dupont house. Ho did not rccross tho creek until he was op posite Redbear's home. lio found the cabin door closed. But at a slight movement of the window curtains tits haDd went up 10 oeckon with a lordly gesture. There wns n short pause. Then the door opened a scant Inch. "Hello v hu said. "Where's your brother?" "Ho has has gone to tell the po lice families." "On tho agent's mare," guessed Van dervyn. "Please he didn't mean any harm please don't tell on him." "That depends," replied Vundervyn. "Do you think I euro to favor him when you act as if you hate me?" "Hato? No, no I" Tho door opened several inches and as suddenly closed to a narrow cruck. But Vandervyn had caught a glimpse of tho girl's blushing face. His voice dropped to n curesslng tone: "You're not afraid of mo, nro you, Just becauso I wanted a kiss? Come out hero and talk. I won't blto you." "You promise not to to kiss me?" "Not unless you wish mo to." "But but I do I" camo buck tho nalvo confession. Impulsively he started to swing off his pony. Tho cabin door shut with n bang, no straightened in tho saddle, waited a long moment, frowned heav ily, nnd started to rldo away.. From tho window enmo a plaintive cry: "Oh, please, please 1" Ho deliberately dismounted, flung tho reins over his horse's head, and wulkcii to tho opened window. Tho enger, frightened face within blushed scarlet nnd shrank back. Ho stopped short "See here," ho admonished, "If you're going to be silly, I shall go nwuy for VTr "lt Will Be Hard to Talk Them Out of Their Strange Dislike for You." good. You've got tho door barred, and you know I shall not try to crawl in at a hole like this." "I I won't be," she faltered. "That's better," he said, and ho reached In to slip his arm around her trembling shoulders. Shrinking yet yielding, with eyes timidly downcast and olive checks burning with blissful shame, the young girl nllowcd him to draw her closer. Her lips quivered, yet sho raised them to meet his kiss. "There 1" ho rallied. "Was It so dreadful?" Sho did not nnswer; sho could not. ner head drooped forward with tho instlnctlvo modesty of an innocent young girl. Ho put the forefinger of his frco hand under her chin nnd raised her heud to tukc u second kiss. "Ono good turn deserves another, sweetheart," ho buld. "You should not not cull me that," she whispered. "You nro a gentleman whlto man; I am only a halfbreed I'm yellow as a Chinaman." "No golden. You nre my golden girl. Your cheeks are wild roses unci honey gold. Your eyes nro like a fawn's; your lips sweet as honey Another kiss There, that's more llko It. You're learning how. Now look at me." Sho raised her drooping lids with the sudden, desperate cournge of ono who Is very shy, nnd gazed up nt him, her tender eyes starllko with the soft glow of her lovo and adoration. "You you really llko me?" she whispered. "No, I hato you like poor Lo hates llrewater. Give him n tuste, and ho wants It nil. I want you." "Charlie ho suld I must mnrry a white man. I am Joyed In my heart You say you want me I But I am only a Halfbreed girl, and you "You'ro my honey-sweet girlie. Go and open tho door." She looked up nt him again full nnd direct, and his guzo sank before tho trust In her clear eyes. "You want mo to bo your engaged girl!" sho murmured. "When people are engaged, they aro going to bo mar lied. Charllo said I must marry a whltH man, u good whlto man. You are kind to me. It Is wonderful. I havo read that even army officers havo married halfbreed girls. But you ore grander than any officer, und you nro very good to think of marrying me." Vandervyn forced a Bmllo, und re plied to her adulation without meeting her enruptured guze: "What else did yon think I meant when I kissed you? Of course wo shall bo married. As wo aro hero on tho reservation, It will bo according to tho custom of tho tribe." "Married? Oh, my heart sings!" cried tho girl. "I will bo your wife yours! I can't bellcvo it Thero comes Charlie. I must run and tell him." Vnndervyn hastily released her, nnd drew his arm out of tho window as ho looked around, "Walt I" ho commanded. "He's com ing fust enough. Leave the door burred." - l "Wj. . Tho halfb eed was racing Hardy's ato llttlo, and her manner toward Hur maro up the creek bank at a furious dy was cold and ungracious gallop, ne flung himself out of tho J paddlo and advanced upon Vandervyn, his face dark with suspicion. "What you saying to my sister?" he demanded. Tho white man met his threatening look with a half-contemptuous, half amused smile. "I've been showing the girl what I think of her," rcpBW. Redbear came to n Budden halt The muscles of his face began to twitch. "Oh, Churlle! reproached OInnn. "What mokes you look ot him that way? Why don't you thank him?" She unbarred the door und stepped outside. "For what?" questioned her brother In u harsh, strained voice. "Because he is going to be my man going to tako mo for his wife." "Marry you? OInnn you?" Tho hnlfbrced could not bellcvo his enrs. Through his daze shot n Hash of angry suspicion. "But you you won't marry her I" Vandervyn smiled in his careless manner. "Oh, I guess yes." "You'll marry her? to town nnd marry You'll take her her llko white people?" "I'll marry her ns some whlto people marry. I'll not take her to town. Olnila and I have agreed to be murrled according to tribal custom." Again Redbear's weak face dark ened with suspicion nnd nnger. "1 won't have It You'ro white, and OInnn is hulf white. White people don't mnrry Indian fnBhlon." "You know n lot about it, Charlie. Haven't you ever heard of common-law marriages? Lots of whlto people get married that way." "What way?" "You must know about it Instead of going to n lot of fuss nnd bother over ministers nnd licenses, many people just tako each other for hus band and wife nnd go to housekeep ing." "Is Is .that a real whlto people's marriage?" asked Oluna. Vandervyn frowned. "You don't tninu rra lying, do you? Why, you often see In tho newspapers about com mon-law wives getting their share of their dead husbnnds' estutes, just the same us if they hud gone through nil the fuss of weddings. Ask Hnrdy if that does not often happen." "Well, if it's a real marriage" muttered Rcdbcur. "Of course It Is, Charlie, if he says sol" cried Olnna rapturously. Her brother's faco glowed with Bud den unconcealed exultance. He stam mered almost incoherently: "Then you Marie you don't marry don't mnrry Murle." "No," replied Vandervyn, nnd his voice rang clear. "I have no Intention of marrying her." "Maybe Marle'll like me now, when I tell her you aro going to be my brother," sighed Redbear. Vandervyn laid a brotherly hand on his shoulder. "Hold on, boy 1" he said. "You let me manage things. You know that Marie thinks she likes me. But now Hardy is here, and he wants her. If sho hears that I have thrown her over, she will run off with him." "She don't like him." "What If she doesn't 1 He's an nrmy officer. ,Hc has money, und when ho goes from hero he will wear his uni form, nil gilt and spangles. You know how the girls llko that! No I tell you there's not the ghost of n show for you until ho Is out of the way. Our little bluff didn't work. He snys he Is going to stuy. So for n while you and Olnna must keep still nbout tho mnr riage. Tomorrow morning you nnd I aro going Into the mountains to talk with the chiefs. Olnna will go with me. But It must bo understood nt tho agency that you hnve sent her to Who could you send her to?" "Tl-own-konza is our mother's fa ther. Not even Mr. Dupont knows thut," said Redbear. "Before ho came here, she ran off with u bad whlto man. They went to tho Bluckfeet After u time ho got an arrow through his back. My mother camo home. Tl-owa-konza would not seo her face. She lmd to work for the agent till they made us go uway to school. Then she died." "Old Thunderbolt your grandfather?" remarked Vandervyn, seizing upon that ono fact in tho squalid tragedy. "Does he know It?" "I "told him so toduy. Ho said my lace nut maybo ho will come to like me. Ho said to bring OInnn for him to look ut her." "That's great ! We'll tell It to every body. But remember, not n word about the marriage until after wo get rid of Hardy and I nm agent Then things will go all right for all of us7 You savvy that, Charlie? While you rub down the maro I'll go In and say good by until tomorrow morning." CHAPTER VIII. Bcst-Lald Schemes, nardy had gono to tho Duponts' for supper when Vundervyn returned to tho agency, no mode n hasty toilet ond followed. Morlo mot him with marked coldness. This, however, melt ed beforo ho hod finished his report to nardy. AH agreed that tho old chief probably would tako a fancy to Olnna, and that, as a result, thero would bo a fair chanco of pacifying tho trlbo. When Hnrdy turned to the girl, ho found her and Vandervyn exchanging glances nnd murmuring remarks. His habitual gravity softened to a smile of wistful sadness. At tho first oppor tunity ho excused himself. Midnight had passed beforo tho light in tho little citified parlor of tho Dupont house was extinguished. When, nt sunrise, Hardy went for brcakfust, Marie's eyes wero very bright and her look was pensive. Sho After the officer left, Dupont qntnt ed across the tablo at her and began to Scratch his head. "You ond Mr. Van burned n lot at coal oil last night, ne didn't git far enough along to ask you to hitch uj with him, did he?" A red blush flumed In the girl's cheeks. Without looking up, sho mur mured n regretful "No." "Guess he figures he'll wnlt nnd sco If Hardy Is going to bust us up. Like ns not he'll skip back cast If Hnrdy gits soro and chokes oft our hold on the mine." "What do you mean? Ho'd send Rcgglo away. Tho stiff, solemn old fogy I hate him I" "Easy, easy, girl!" soothed Dupont. "No use plunging when you're hitched to the snubbing post. Just now ho's got us roped. He'll have us oil hog tied if we go to bucking. We've got to make him think we're gentled." "What If we uct toward him ns we feel?" "You don't snwy nbout that mine. Me and Nogen discovered it and paid honest for developing It, ns you know. Well, we let Mr. Van in on It Then Nogen up and gits killed. That makes It half and half between me nnd Mr. Van, nccordlng to nil that's fair nnd square. But do you believe Hardy will. look at It that way? Not by a con siderable. He'll talk nbout it being the tribe's, just because it's, on tho reser vation." "I see 1" Tho girl's eyes flashed, nnd her nostrils dilated. "Ho will rob you and Reggie of n fortune yet you wlsb mo to be nice to him 1"' "You bet I dot Can't you git the point? He uln't going to be bluffed Into quitting. That means we 'got to mnko friends with him or mine." lose , the "Oh ! So that Is it?" "Yep. Worst of it Is ho'.s one of them there; fellows what stand so straight they lean backwards. We talked to him about how it would help the tribe If he joined us in opening tho mine. He was mighty offish. Gness we'll hove to give him Nogen's third to get him Into our camp." "What n shame ! The mlno Is yours and Reggie's. Ho hasn't done a thing toward developing It." "I know. But he's the ngent He's got us roped. He can rob ns of our mine If we don't make friends with him. Now do you savvy?" The girl's thick black eyebrows wet In a frown of vexation. "If ho Is a man whose friendship must bo bought I do not wish to bo pleasant to him.'" "It's business, Marie. Thero ain't no two ways about It. Mr. Van's hang ing fire, n-wnitlng to see if wo loso the mine. If we do, he enn't afford to mnrry no poor girl off a reservation." "Very well. I shall make myself ngreeable to Captain Hnrdy. But wait until I am free to pay him out for It 1" "Nom d'un chlen 1" muttered Dupont nt sight of her straightened lips. "That's the Injun in you. Don't let him see you look that way till after we git the mine cinched." "I nm not a fool, mon pere." Dupont shook his grizzled head du biously. But nt midday, when Hardy cam over for the noon dinner, Marie r celved his courteous greeting with graclousness that soon lightened t pensive severity of his look. Befof the end of tho meal they wero chattln In u manner that brought a twinkle1 Into Dupout's cunning eyes. The girl proposed a ride up tho val ley. Hardy was greatly pleased. He hod already grasped the simple details of the agency business, nnd now, pend ing the absence of Vandervyn nnd Red bear, had nothing to do except iustruct the police in his Ideas of cleanliness und discipline. Mario never looked more charming than when on a horse. She took her eJPn new friend for u long rldo nround ono' -' of the mountains. Every cliff and rock and plney slope was familiar to vi. "Is -Is That a Real White People's "Marriage?" Asked Olnna. her. Sho pointed out nil tho grandest ond most beautiful views, and showed herself even better versed In tho lore of tho wild than sho had seemed to bo posted on the culturo and graces of polite society. After that there was no break In her friendly manner toward tho cnptaln for several days. Fre quently they took other rides, over or around tho nearest hills and .moun tains. Do you believe that Vander. vyn's deceltfulness with little Olnna will be punished by the, Indians or do you think she will J eBCjpe harm at his hands? V A otttta.r (TO BE CONTINUED.) i h r t Jf All- ' te- Pv bk1 i K $? . v ;4wA4W" t.M,W1.H...i.l...i . x 5-'--' m?iirf-i,.iiLilfti,i .-, "