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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 1917)
RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF m A Modem Imdiae Resarvatiosa Stoury by Robert: Ames BranmeU ffi The OearteAreed S Capt. Floyd Hardy, U. S. A., coming to take charge of the agency at Lakotah Indian reservation, following the murder of Agent Nogen, res cues a quarterbrecd girl and two men from an Indian attack. They are Reginald Vandervyn, agency clerk and nephew of Senator Clcmmer; Jacques Dupont, post trader, and his daughter Marie. Hardy IcarnB that Vandervyn had been promised the agency position, discovers thnt the Indians are disaffected because they have been cheated In a tribal mine which Vandervyn and Dupont have beeh working, Is puz zled when his friendly speech to tribesmen, Interpreted by Vander vyn's tool, angers the Indians, and determines to make further Inves tigation. New Influences arising at this point make his position difficult. How his life and honor are endangered through dark plot ting U graphically described In this Installment -Continued. CHAPTER VIII 5 Vundcrvyn had arranged to bo gone n week. There was no ctiuso to dis cuss the time of IiIh return, and as Ma rie seldom mentioned liliii, I lardy wuh not often annoyed by the vision of the handsome young fellow Interposing be tween himself and the girl. From day to day It could plainly be eon how thu rides In the pure moun tain nlr nnd the delight of the Kill's companionship were bringing hack strength and vigor to llio ollkcr's tropic-weakened body. Soon a healthy red appeared under the tan of hlH chnekH. Tlio lines of .severity and re pressed grief begun to smooth away. On the morning of thu seventh day, when he rode over to Join Marie for u ride out to the butte on Wolf river, ten years seemed to have dropped from 1dm. Even when he lifted his hat to the Klrl nnd exposed the silvered hair nt his temples, he looked nearer twenty-live than thirty. lie had Bhaved off his bristly mustache! "Positively, captain," she bantered, "you startle me. You are growing so youjiRl First thluR I know, I shall he fcclliiL' myself a grandmother In contrast." "Impossible," he gallantly replied. "You are the Spirit of Youth. Being with you is what makes me seem so much younger than I am. Yet I shall never see thirty-two again." "You're barely of ngo this morning 1" Bhe said, smiling at his shapely clenn- ebnven lip. "In thnt case you must humor my cnllowness by pretending you need my aid to mount." She put one small booted foot In his hand, rose with the lightness of u feather and perched herself sideways' on her man's saddle. Unused to such strange behavior, the pony began to buck. Hardy sprang to seize the beast by the head. Marie waved him aside, and proceeded to give an Impromptu exhibition of her skill as n horsewom an. With one knee'erooked around the horn of her saddle, she kept her dllll cult seat like a circus rider, until the pouy subsided. "You've ridden to hounds," stated Hardy as the girl swung nstrldu and they stnrted off down the valley. She smiled with gratification. "Reg nlo nover notices such things: but you The first time I saw a side saddle I thought it ridiculous." On their way down the valley they met no one, for the families of the police had moved back to their old camp site opposite tho agency. Marie suggested that they climb the butte. With subtle coquetry, she gave Hardy the privilege of assisting her up the ledges, though, had she chosen, she could have outellmbed him. They mounted to the top of the highest crag, where they Bat down on the bare rock to view the plains and mountains through Hardy's glasses. The titter Btlllness and solitude, the Immensity of tho cloudless blue dome above them, i tho great sweep of the landscape all tended to quiet the excitement of their lively ascent. A hush fell upon them. Mario let the hand that held the glasses sink Into her lap. She gazed off up the river, dreamy-eyed. After a prolonged silence Hardy murmured In n half-whisper: "How nlouo we are I The world Is young It Is tho beginning of time. And In all tho new, young world, you and 1 are alone Marie." It was tho first tlmo that he had over used her given namo In speaking to her. Sho started from her day dream, the color deepening In her cheeks. In tho same moment sho be enmo nwnro thnt she had been looking nt a moving object. "Lookl" she said, lifting tho glasses to her eyes. "That must be tho head and shoulders of n man. He is rid ing along on tho far sldo of the ridge an Indian; his head is mulltcd in n blanket." "Marie 1" softly repeated Hardy. The girl sprang to her feet. "Ho tons disappeared but wo nro 119 longer alone in tho world, Captain Hurdy. ILet uh go down." "With Instnnt repression of his dis appointment, nardy took tho glnssos and offered his hand to assist her down tho first ledge. Sho Ignored tho offer. Nor did she permit him to help her at all during tho descent. Her pony leaped uway with the usual jumping start of n bronco. The mare stepped clear of tho low scrub near the rill edge, out upon the sandy level of tho coulee bottom. Sho was In the act of breaking Into a trot when her rider's hat whirled from his head and ho pitched sideways out of the saddle as If struck by lightning. A moment later the report of the shot reached Marie. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Hardy outstretched on thu ground, llaccld and Inert. With u suddenness that almost threw her pony ofT his nimble feet, she wrenched him around. The mare had stopped within two strides, and twist ed her head about to look at her fallen master. The manner In which he had fallen showed that the shot had come from up the coulee. Flinging herself from her pony, she plucked Hardy's rltle out of Its sheath ami leveled It across the saddle. Hut she could see no sign of tho assassin, nnd no sec ond bullet came whirring across the coulee. Without n second look up the coulee, sho bent over to rip the hem from her underskirt. This gave her u bandage. Her own nnd Hardy's hand kerchiefs served for a compress. Swift ly she hound them on the long wound above his temple and stopped the bleeding. When nt Inst he opened his eyes, his head was In her lap. He gazed up Into her down-bent face, his mind still In a daze. A frown of pain creased his forehead. He murmured, In the queru lous tone of n sick child: "Mother mother 1" Instinctively her soft hand began to smooth away the frown with 11 gentle, caressing touch. His eyes closed in restful contentment. Tho girl con tinued to stroke his forehead. Sud denly his eyelids lifted, and he looked up with the clear, bright gaze of full consciousness. lie saw the womanly compassion In her beautiful face. Her eyes voro tender and lustrous with sympathy for Ids suffering. "Marie 1" ho murmured. "It Is you I I I thought my mother " "Hush!" sho said. "You have been shot In tho head. I do not know how serious It Is." "Shot? In tho head?" He lay still, considering this. Her look had not altered tinder his gaze. From her utter lack of self-consciousness he divined that she thought him dangerously If not fatally wounded. After a pnuse, ho began to speak with the calmness that sometimes masks the most profound feeling: "You scarcely know nit but, In tho circumstances, I trust you will pardon me for not waiting. 1 love you. From the tlrst 1 thought you the most beauti ful girl I had over seen. Now I know few months ago. She was all I had. Now I shall always havo tho thought of your goodness In addition to the dear memory of her." The girl turned hnr face still farther away from him. "I ennnot endure You shall not think of me that way I" "I beg your pardon, Miss Dupont," he apologized. "It Is most Inconsiderate and ungenerous of me to He here claim ing your sympathy on false pretenses. I feel my strength coming back. It must be that the bullet merely grazed my head." Before sho could prevent him, he twisted about and raised himself on his elbow. "Oh 1" she remonstrated. "You should not move." He forced a laugh between his clenched teeth. "No, It's whnt I thought only u scratch. All right now, except for a little dizziness. I have been Imposing on your sympathy Did you see where the shot came from? I must go and rout out the rascal." Tho girl grasped his rifle and sprang up away from him. "You shall not go," she declured. "I'm sure he ran away the moment you fell." Hardy strnlghtcned on his knees and rose unsteadily to his feet. His voice was as Unit as his pose was tottery: "lie so kind as to help me to mount." Hardy turned his mnre down the cou lee. Marie, despite Ida protests, rode between him and tho rldgc behind which she had seen the blanketed man. CHAPTER IX. I tr T " IVlTI Wh? r 1 & V irZ7 r-c& &. '? 1 'Marie!" Ho Murmured. "It lo You!" you to be tho most lovely your soul ns beautiful as your face. Do not shako your head. It Is tho truth." Sho averted her slmme-llushed face. "I I cannot permit you to spenk to mo this way." "You are too good and kind to refuso to hear me," he replied In the samn calm voice. "I know about him. I know I havo no chance, dear. Ho Is young and handsome ; while I " Tho pale lips curved In a quizzical smile. Tho girl's bosom heaved. The tears overran her brimming eyes. "You nro are generous! I did not think any man could bo so generous l" Again his lips curved whimsically. "Perhaps I am generous becauso thero Is no other course open. I would ask you would urge you to marry me, If I thought I had oven a fighting chance of winning you." "Marry you I You would nsk me? Yet you know what my father Is like; and you army people are so proud. I, an Indian quarterbrecd, and my father what ho Is 1" "My mother passed away ouly a The Coquette. Unable to endure the Jar of a trot or gallop, Hardy urged tho mnro to her fastest walk. They had gone less than u tulle when n horseman canto loping up the slope from Sioux creek. "It Is Mr. Vandervyn," snld Hardy in nn even tone." "Yes," she replied. She handed back the glasses, but did not look at him until Vandervyn rode up. The young man's fnco was flushed, ns If ho had been drinking. When lie pulled up before them, ho was seeming ly so struck with Hardy's appearance that he scarcely heeded Marie's Joyful greeting. "What's tho matter, captain?" he ex claimed. "You're as whlto ns n ghost nnd your head tied up! You must have come a nasty cropper." "Bit of an accident. Not serious," replied Hardy. "It could not well havo been closer," said Marie. "Captain Hardy has been shot." "Shot?" cried Vandervyn. "Tho bullet grazed the bono abovo the temple. Had It been half an Inch lower or farther back, It must have killed htm." "Half nn Inch," repeated Vandervyn. Ills fnco crimsoned, nnd the veins of his forehead began to swell. "Where is the fellow? Did he get nwny? How long ago was It? Loan me the mure, Hardy. I'll run hint down." "Very good of you to offer," said Hardy. "But the rascal might ambush you. We'll order out u squad of po lice. Besides, I wish your report on your trip. I presume llcdbeur Is at the agency." "No." Vandervyn turned a scowling face towards the butte, as If angrily eager to he off In pursuit of tho would be assassin. "Charlie went back to Thunderbolt's camp to see If his sis ter was getting along till right with the old chief. I told him that If ho was welcomed, ho had better stay u few days. If he and the girl make them selves agreeable, we shall havo u bet ter chance to quiet the tribe." "You found conditions stl" unfavor able?" "Yes. All the chiefs took 11 violent dislike to you; and they had stirred up the whole trlhe. Charlie and I talked nnd talked. You know 11 white man can talk Indians Into anything, If ho keeps at It." "What result?" snapped Hardy. Vandervyn shrugged. "I know wo made some Impression, especially on old Thunderbolt. Tho chiefs no doubt would bo willing to let you visit tho camps on safe conduct, so to speak; but I doubt If they could keep tho wild est of the young bucks In hand. This shooting proves It. I tell you, captain, tiouo of us here would think any tho less of you If you cut tho whole busi ness." "I shall start for tho mountains to morrow." "Tomorrow?" remonstrated Mario. "Your wound you must wait at least until It has begun to heal. And In tho meantime Hedhciir and Olnttii will ho talking Tl-owa-konza and his camp Into 11 milder mood." "Tiuit last Is n most excellent argu ment," snld Hardy, and his firmly compressed lips curved In a smile at the girl. "1 shall take your advice, Miss Dupont." Vandervyn had frowned over tho concern In Marie's voice. Hardy's re sponse started the veins of his fore head swelling. Ho looned off nwny der out a squud of policemen to truck down the scoundrel. Jake can Inter pret, if I'm unable to make them un derstand." "(loot! 1" said Hardy. Vandervyn shot at Mario a glance of Jealous anger, and put spurs to Ills pinto. But when they reached the valley and saw through the glasses the squad of police only Just leaving the agency, Marie conjectured that the Jaded pinto had slowed to u walk while going up tho vnlley. At last Marie and Hardy reached the agency. With tho assistance of Van dervyn, who camo out of tho Dupont house to meet them, ho was helped down from his niaro to a cot In the shady porch, nero In tho open air Marie washed the wound and took sev eral stitches to .draw the edges to gether. During the operation, which Hardy endured without u groan, Vandervyn stood by, watching Marie's face with sullen Jealousy. The moment she had rebiindaged the wound, he suggested that It would be well to leave Hardy quiet. In reply she nsked him to go for Ice. When he returned, ho found her sitting beside the cot, fan In hand. Hardy had fallen asleep. She rose and went Into tho house, nnd Vandor vyn followed her. The young man made no attempt to conceal his nnger. He closed the par lor door nnd turned upon her accus Ingly. "So that's what you've been up to all the time I've been uwuy?" "Up to what, pray?" "Coquetting with that old fossil of a tin soldier." "Am I not a dutiful daughter?" the girl parried. "Mon pero snld I must make myself ngrecablc to the agent" "Ho did?" "Why not go nnd ask him, if you doubt what I say?" "I don't. That's Just it damn It all I" Tho girl's eyes flashed with resent ment, but her voice was sweetly mock ing: "Oh, Mr. Vandervyn, how can you? Captain Hardy never swore once during all our delightful rides." "You've been riding with him every day?" "All except one. I've been soKy ever since thnt I missed that one. He was Invariably courteous. He is u gentlemun." "You infer that I am not I" ex claimed Vandervyn. "So he's courteous und smooth and slick, is he? One might know Unit you've been raised In the backwoods." "You forget I spent four years at tho capital of Canada." "In n convent! No wouder you've let him piny you." The girl met tho Jeer with a tantaliz ing smile. "It has been a most amusing game, ne treats me with ns much respect us If I were n young lady of his own set." "There's no one elso hero for him to flirt with." "That Is nn ndvnntugc, is It not?" The girl dropped Into her English man ner. "I daresay ho will forget mo as soon ns he gets back to civilization unless I decide, to uccept his proposul." Vandervyn stared nt her cynically. "You needn't try to rug me, Mario." Sho smiled. "So you do doubt what I say. Yet it Is true. Cuptttln Hardy did me the honor of declaring that he wished to mnrry me." "Hardy asked yon? he, u captain in tho regular urmy 1" "And I n quarterbrecd, the daughter of my father. Amazing, Is it not?" Vandervyn caught himself up as ho saw tho proud humility of her expres sion. It was u new look to hint. Ho unsophisticated as he persisted in thinking her. "You tukc n good deal for granted. Mr. Vandervyn," she attempted a mocking tone. "I am not yet your sweetheart, nor tun I so sure I shall be." Ho came nearer to her, his eyes the color of violets and sparkling with tiny golden gleams. He held out his arms. His voice was low and enticing: "Sweetheart sweetheart!" She swayed toward him, checked herself In the net of yielding, and eluded his grasp. "No!" she cried. "You're n bit too sure. I've no mother, halfbreed or otherwise, to advise me. my dear Reg gle. I must be my own chaperon. You charge Captain Hardy with trying to play me. Yet when he spoke to tno of his love he also spoke of marriage." Vandervyu's eyes narrowed and as quickly widened lit their most child like stare. "How can you, Marie?" he re proached. "You say that as If you think I have been trilling with you all these months, when you know its well ns I But of course, If you do not trust me, I have no show against him. quivered from the passionate artlor In his voice. To cc ver her emotion sho shrugged as only u woman of French blood can shrug. "That 19 to lie seen, Mr. Vandervyn. And now, if you'll kindly excuse mo, I must give u fair share of my time to my other devoted suitor." She slipped out onto the porch be fore Vandervyn could Interfere. Ho muttered u curse und went Into tho dining room to get one of Dupont's whisky bottles out of the dulnty llttlo sideboard. Mr rto If You've Been Riding With Him Every Day?" He Is free. I nnt, ns you know, tied down by the uncertainty of my posi tion." "That Is quite sad, Is it not?" she mocked. "I am rather more fortu nate. Whether or not there Is any uncertainty about my position, I am not bound to unyone, nor am I bound to hind myself to anyone." "Why nro you so hard to me?" ho pleaded. "You know that if my uncle got even u hint that I am interested In u girl out here It would be till off with me. He doesn't know what you are like, and it would be Impossible In writing to convince him how charming you are." "What a misfortune! Only, as It happens, I have no wish to marry Sen ator Clcmmer. He already lias a wife." "That's Just It n wife and half n dozen daughters. It's till cut and dried that I am to marry Ella, the oldest un married one." "Ah so that is why" faltered Marie, tho rich color ebbing from her cheeks. But she was only momentar ily overcome. Her spirit rallied al most ns soon as It drooped. "It Is most kind of you, Mr. Viindervyn, to tell mo tho delightful secret. Permit me lo congratulate you." His brows peaked In a doleful frown. had often seen her nroud. but never "Yon nro eruel to take it that way. I r " humble. His Jealousy flared: "How did you answer him? You didn't uc cept you refused the old board back I" "Yes and no, that Is, not yet," the girl teased. Vandervyn stepped close and grasped her arm. "Be so kind as to release me, Mr. Vandervyn." "You coquette I You're trying to play me against him." "So that Is what you think of mo?" The girl wrenched herself freo und turned from him hnughtlly. Ho stepped forward, and n"galn grasped her arm. Ills voice shook with Jealous anger: "You bhtill havo nothing to do with him I Ho shall not have you I" "Indeed ! May I usk what right you have to dictate?" "You love me, that Is why," ho Hung back at her. "You love me, Marie. You can't deny It." Ills voice sank to a deep, ardent, golden noto that sent a tremor through her. "You nro mine minol You know it Your nrm quivers that look in your eyes ! You cannot hide your love, Marie sweet heart 1" fe Ho sought to embrnco her. Bat nguln sho wrenched herself freo from him. Sho could no longer feign hau teur. Her face was rosy with blushes ; her bosom henved; her eyes, behind their veiling lashes, glowed with ten der passion. Yet sho kept her head from tho two, and remarked In a cits- j despite the intoxicating ardor of his ual voice: "I'll rldo In ahead und or-1 look- Unllko Olnuu, sho was not so don't love the girl. You ought to know that you do know It! Can't you see the hole I'm Ifl? Even If It wasn't for Ella, they'd all think of you as a tin agency girl. I wouldn't stand a ghost of u show of being appointed agent when Hardy quits." "Does he intend to quit?" "If you turn him down, he'll leave Just as soon us he tlnds the tribe still against him. Then don't you see, sweetheart? I shall get the appoint ment as agent. Your father and I can rip Into the little old mine us fast as wo please. It's a real mine, sweet hetirte In u few months we'll have enough ore shipped to the smelter for mo to cut loose from my uncle and do ns I please. You know what that means," Again ho camo toward her, his eyes softly glowing, his nrnis open to em brace her. And again she eluded him, this time with no hesitancy or waver ing. Her smile showed she was once more In control of her emotions. "Aren't you rather previous, Reg gie?" sho asked, from tho other sldo of tho tea table. "Wo nro not yet en- "You coquetto!" ho cried. "You know I can't formally propose to you until I huve got rid of Ella." "How honorable you nrol" she praised him, und ho could detect no Irony In her volco or look. Vandervyn stifled nn oath. "By I'll havo you yet! You shan't get uway from mo!" "Indeed?" alio mocked, though she CHAPTER X. At the Broken Mountain. When, at dusk, Dupont rodo up to his house, Hardy was still 011 tho cot on the porch. Vandervyn stood at the far end. pulling Hard at a figur us ne watched Dupont appronch. Tito sound of the trader's bluff voice wakened Hardy from his doze and brought Marie to the door. "No, not a track; not one single Blgn nowhere," Dupont was saying to Van dervyn. "Thought I'd ride In nud send out more of the p'leeco with food." "Very good," suld Hardy. "We must track down the, man, else others may follow his example." The next day the srarch for the would-be assassin was continued, with no better results than the flrst It was the same on the two succeeding days. At Inst Dupont declared that there was no hope of flndlng the mysterious lost trail, and Hardy called in U10 track ers. The period of the search had been ns agreeable to Hardy as It had been annoying to Vandervyn. To check Vandervyu's wooing or It may havo been to redouble his ardor through Jealousy she spent as much time ns posslhle in Hardy's company. Sho was so gracious that Hardy began to show openly unit ne tnougtic ne migm have 11 lighting chance to win her. This made Vandervyn furious. Yet he had to restrain himself from nny outburst. Noon of the fourth day Hardy stated at dinner that he was quite himself" again and would start on the trip Into the mountains the next morning. Bed bear had not yet returned to tho agency, and Dupont, in his friendliest manner, offered his services ns Inter preter ui.tll the halfbreed should Join the party. When Hardy accepted this offer, Vandervyn looked at him In his guile less way and remarked In u cusual tone: "With the tribe so uneasy, 1 suppose you will want me to stay her and look after Marie." Marie objected: "I 11m 11 member of the tribe. If Pere Is going Into the mountains, I am going with blui." "No!" cried Vandervyn. "I cannot permit that," declared Hardy. "Oh, yes, you can nnd will," confi dently replied the girl. "I shall bo In no danger. If nnyotie is attacked, it will be you only." Unobservant of Vnndervyn's look, Dupont paused with a knlfcful of food halfway to Ids mouth to agree with his daughter: "Ain't none of 'cm whnt wants to lift her scalp. She'd bo safer 'n me and you, Mr. Vim which Is good as saying deail safe." "Yet If I should be attucked?" said Hardy. "If you are, it won't be no general outbreak, Cap. It will be a few young bloods a-laylng for you, or mebbe Just one, like the buck done down nt the coulee." "You see," argued Marie. "You are the only one in danger of nttnek. If Ueggle and I go, as well as Pere, Uiere will be that much less chance of n small party tiring nt you." "Very well," acquiesced Hardy. "I rely on your father's Judgment If there Is the slightest chance of dnnger to you, he should know It. But ns you are to he with the party, I shall take along a squad of police. Mr. Vander vyn, you may remain In charge of the agency, If you prefer." "No, thanks," snapped Vandervyn. "If you Intend to let Mnrlo run the risk of getting Into n massacre, 1 most certainly shall go nlong." The girl was unusually gracious to Hardy at supper. At breakfast she di vided her smiles between the two with strict impartiality. But when, shortly before sunrise, the party started off up tho valley, Hardy began talking about tribal customs with Dupont and be came so engrossed in the discussion thnt he failed to give his usual court eous attention to Mnrle. Vandervyn was quick to make the most of tho girl's pique. The half-dozen Indian po lice of the escort were strung out in front with tho pack horses. He sug gested that It would bo well to avoid tho dust by getting In tho lend. Do you believe that Mario is deliberately aiding the plotters against Hardy, and do you fear an ambuscade for the new agent on this visit to tho Indians? (TO BE CONTINUED.) ) i-,., X- S ..-v