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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1917)
ED OLOUD, NEBRASKA, IEF i .1 li K ! Hf I u u THE QUARTERBREED The Story of an Army Officer on an Indian Reservation By ROBERT AMES BENNET bOOOCXXXJOOCKXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 'i-tvt' " i " , i , i;,ii '. ii I. , li ': win: nt. ' ," nnn-n aiiiw;iw-riiMWiiai'. raiireniiiin MM C OMING 16 lake the agency nl Lukolnh Indian reservation follow- In tlio murder of Agent Nogen, Oipt. Floyd Hnrdy, U. S. A., rescues a quartcrbrcod girl and two men from attacking Indians. 'J'hoy arc Jacques Dupont, post trailer, tils (laughter Marie, and llogl nalii Vnndervyn, agency clerk and nephew of .Senator Cleinmer. Hardy learns that Vandervyn had heen promised the agency by his politician uncle, discovers that the Indians are disaffected because they have heen cheated In a tribal mine which Dupont and Vander vyn are working Illegally, Is puzzled when Ids frlen lly speech to tribesmen, Interpreted by Vandervyn's' tool, lingers the Indians, ami he determines to flnd out what's wrong all around and right It. IIu becomes smitten with Marie, whom Vandervyn Is courting, and pro noses to her. Kliij holds him off but nurses lilm tenderly when ho Is Mhot and wounded from ambush. Recovered, Captain Hardy, no- K companled by the Duponts, Vandervyn, an Interpreter and a few In- ? dlaii policemen, starts to the mines In the mountains. What occurs on that trip makes mighty good reading In this Installment. fe :i:iuiiii!; ,;.:::;. ",;;;,i&i heads of the leaping, yelling pack he saw the Indian women and children scurry to the tepees and the bucks spring up with their bows and guns. CHAPTER XI. Light In the Darkness. Soon Hardy had approached into the circle of the firelight. Some of the Indians started to aim their weapons at him. He held up Is right hand, palm forward. A deep voice called out mwmMmswmami CHAPTER X Continued. 6 When Hardy saw the couple ride nliciul, he would have ordered them back had not Dupont again assured lilm that the girl would not he In the Bllghtest diingcr nt any time during the trip. "You were not so certain of the friendliness of the Indians toward her the other day," remarked Hardy. Dupont scratched his head. "Well, no, I wasn't, Cap; that's no He. That there, though, was dliT'rent. I'm going now by what Mr. Van says about the feeling In the camps. Wlsht I felt as sure about you." "Never mind about me. If your daughter Is safe, that Is quite buIU clent. You say this mine is centrally located with relation to tho various camps. Wo will go to it first and en deavor to get the tribe to meet us there In council." "At tho mine?" mumbled Dupont. "We-e-11, you're the boss." The party now entered Sioux Creek canyon anil followed the narrow path alongside the torrent until they came to tlie first small Indian camp. The Indians met Marie and Vandervyn with friendly greetings, but looked at llurdy with a stolid concealment of 111 feeling that, according to Dupont, boded 111 for the new agent's recep tion in the larger camps. Hardy set Ida Jaw, and ordered the party to start on Into the mountains. Noon found the party over twenty miles from the agency by trail, though less than half that distance in an air Hue. They had come upon no more In dian camps and had seen no more In dians Late afternoon found them far In among the mountains, with snowy peaks on every side. Yet they were Btlll n long ten miles by trail from their destination. Upon learning from Dupont that there was no desirable camp-site nearer than the mine, Hardy asked his companion to ride forward ttnd urge all to a faster pace. The rest of the party had rounded a heap of rock that towered up like a ruined castle at the ridgo summit, and Vnndervyn was about to follow them out of sight, when the thoroughbred came to a full stop, thirty yards down tho trail, at the foot of tho steepest part of the climb. Considerate of tho fact that his tall mount was at a dis advantage in such a situation as com pared with tho lower-set ponies, Hardy did not urge tho mare to carry him up the ascent. lie paused a moment, waiting to see If she would make the attempt volun tarily. She stood motionless. Ho pat ted her neck and dropped dowi. out of the saddle. Tho suddenness of the movement alono saved him from the bullet that pinged down the mountain Bide and passed above tho saddlo pre cisely where, an instant before, hud been Ids midbody. Tho report of tho rlllo had yet to reach Hardy's ear when ho peered over tho mare's withers in search of tho 1 ' ' Did Though He Saw No Gmokc, He Not Look In Vain. emoko of the shot. Hut though ho saw no smoke, ho did not look In vain. Above n bowlder, high up In u cleft, bo perceived a devilish painted face, surmounted by a war bonnet, lie glanced sideways up tho ridge slope nt Vandervyn. The young man lu.il hnlted his pony on the ridge crest and wv etui ''i"'k down ut Hardy. ill., Ui:iin,HM;iri'miHnm:Hii!U.iitiiiii.n'i:ii.iifOiinii!i:njia.ii!i:i'iuiiiinni!rj.imn:t!iifLit : mi hum Hardy waved to him imperatively. "do on !" he shouted. "Guard Miss Dupont. May he more of them. Send the police around to Hank " Vandervyn's pinto leaped out of sight. A shot grazed the mare's with ers. In a Hash he Hung up Ids rlllo and tired at the down-peering devilish face. It vanished as ho pressed the trigger. Swift as u puma, lie sprang around the mare's head and dashed up the slope, keeping a largo bowlder In line between himself and his enemy. A bul let came pinging down over the bowl der and passed under his upraised arm. A few seconds more and, safe behind the huge stone, ho slowly edged his hut above the top. Tho ancient ruse drew a shot. Instantly ho scram bled obliquely upward towards another bowlder. It was n desperato move. A bullet grazed his thigh as ho Hung himself behind the bushes beside the second bowlder. llurdy waited. Tho twilight was fast fading. Still Hardy waited, Ids gazo scanning tho cleft and the rocks on either side. It was time for tho police to coma creep ing around on tho Hank of the assas sin. A little more and the dusk would render close shooting dlillcult. Yet tho precious moments slipped by, and no sign of the police. Over on the far side of tho cleft there was a faint glint of metal In the deepening shadow. Without n mo ment's hesitation Hardy alined and tired. The mountainside rang with a .shrill yell. The bullet had found Its mark. Hardy leaped to his feet and dashed up tho mountnlu-sldo, keeping behind shelter where it was available, hut in places boldly rushing up over open spaces. There, on the spot where he had seen the glint, he found a trace of blood. The wounded man had crept away up the cleft. For several yards Hardy followed the trail by the splash es of crimson on the leaves mid rocks. Then the traces ceased. But over in one of the many clefts on the far side of tho gap ho thought ho saw some thing move among the bowlders. Ho sprinted down the slope and across the gap, Ids face Hushed with exertion, but his eyes still cold and hard. Among the heaps of broken rocks in the bottom of the gap Hardy lost .sight of the cleft for which he was heading. When ho started to return along what ho supposed to bo tho passage by which ho had entered, ho soon found himself In a cul-de-sac. Dusk was now deepening Into night. He came out and li.to a steep ascent between overhanging ledges. This certainly was not the way by which he had en tered, but ho kept to It, eager to es cape out of the maze. Night had fallen when at last ho reached the top of tho cleft and clam bered up on a rldgo crest. Hut tho sky was clear, ami the starlight enabled him to see the outlines of the moun tains that cut the skyline. A star lower down than any of tho others caught his eye. Ho peered at it fixedly. The little twinkling point of light was not a star It was n lire, two or three miles away across tho Intervening val ley. Hardy took his bearings by the stars and started down tho mountain side directly toward the lire. Once clear of tho rocks of the shat tered mountain top, ho found the going unexpectedly easy. Almost from the llrst ho hud lost sight of the tiro ,and at no time did ho see any trace of the trail to the mine. Off to tho left ho heard tho diminutive roar of a moun tain rill dashing down a ravine to join tho main stream in tho valley. At last ho came up over the edge ot tho rldgetop, or terrace, on which ttio rill headed. Tho moment his eyes cleared the low underbrush below tho few bcattered pines ho perceived the dicker of tho lire for which ho was looking. "Ho could nuiko out tho ap pearance of tho dark forms around the lire, but their number and tho half dozen white tepees grouped around the lire told him that ho hud not found the camp f his party. He had no more than made this dis covery when a number of yelping, snarling mongrel dogs rushed out at him like n pack of wolves. lie met their attack by swinging his rlllo bar rel around In a circle. The cowardly curs closed about him, but were afraid to leap In within reach of the club. Ho hud not stopped his advance. Nor did ho pause or hesltute when over the He Faced Them as Coolly and Quiet ly as If They Were His Own Party. a guttural order. Tlio tnreatening bucks drew apart to right and left and a nnked boy ran forwnrd with a blazing stick to drive off tho dogs. Hnrdy calmly advanced to tho flro between the grim and stolid bucks. There- was not one among them who wns not Itching to drive a bullet or mi nrrow through Ids body, and he knew it. Yet ho faced them as coolly and quietly us if they were his own pnrty. Tho bucks looked toward the far side of tho fire, as If for the signal to strike down the audacious intruder. Hardy followed their glances and per ceived u blnnkot-wrnpped Indian who sat In the midst of the volcanic hush seemingly as placid and immobile as n Buddhu. ills faco was down-bent, and so mullled In the blanket that Hardy could not make out tlio fea tures. It was, however, easy to di vine that tho man was the chief of the band. Hardy walked around tho fire with his most dlgnltlcd bearing, sat down beside the chief and laid his rlllo on the ground between them. He then lowed nis arms and waited, Ins eyes tlxed on the lire In n calm, unwavering gaze. There followed a silence of a full minute's duration. He knew that It might end at any moment In an at tack. His hand gripped tho hilt of his pistol on his breast under tho edge of his coat. The bucks stealthily .shifted their positions until they had com pletely surrounded the unwelcome vis itor. Hardy sat motionless and gavo no sign that ho observed them. At last, when the suspense had be come almost unendurable, tho chief muttered a word to the nearest back. Tho man glided back toward the larg est tepee. Tho chief pushed tho blan ket from his head. Hardy slowly looked asldo at him and perceived tho powerful profile of Tl-owa-konza. the Thunderbolt. Ire was to deal with tho head chief of the tribe. There followed another silence. It was broken by the tread of Huht feet, and a girl appeared beside the chief. Hardy caught a glimpse of a gingham skirt, and glanced quickly up at the faco of the girl. He was met by the frightened gazo of Olnua lledbear. 'Oh!" she murmured. "It Is hud I You oughtn't to'vo come here, sir. They don't liko you. Mr. Van said he was going to tell you " A grunt of disapproval from TI-owd- konza cut short the hurried stutenonf.. After a dignified sllenco the chluf! spoke to the girl. Sho clasped her hands and interpreted in an aulouri , of the council was disclosed. Again Ointia Interpreted In her flute like tones. Tills time tho chief consid ered before speaking. Claim's gold tinted skin turnc'l a sallow gray. "lie he says lie will light If you do not promise to go away I" she gasped. Hardy smiled. "Have no fear, Oiti mi. He Is too great a chief to kill a guest In his camp. Tell him I came to the reservation to bo u friend to the tribe. Though I uni a chief of .the Longknlves, my heart Is good toward his people. It would be foolish of lilm to kill or drive away tho friend of his people." This time Tl-owa-konza gavo tho in truder an open stare of contempt. The surrounding bucks glared moro fero ciously thun ever. "Ho says you are fork-tongued," Oltinii translated the reply. "He says, If you are n friend, why did you say at the council that you would punish nil the tribe for tho killing of Nogen?" That Is u mistake. I did not suy I would punish the tribe." Olnna interpreted the answer and tho grim old chief's rejoinder: "The Longknlfo's mouth was big at the agency. Here ho Is alone in my camp and his mouth Is small." "I talk as I talked at tho agency. What Tl-owa-konza claims I snld about punishing tho tribe is not the truth. There must have been a mistake In the Interpretation, or tho chiefs did not hear aright. I hod only peace and friendship in my heart. I said that I did not blnmc the killing of Mr. Nogen on the tribe." Tlds statement failed to break Thunderbolt's mask of stolidity, though some of tho other Indians slightly relaxed their menacing nttl tude. Hardy took off Ids lint to show tho red scar above his temple, and spoke again: "I do not blume tlio killing of Mr. Nogen on the tribe; nor do I blame the tribe for tlio wrongdoing of the bud-hearted Indian who shot me in the heud live days ago. The same man, or another man with a bad heart, trlod to shoot me, nfter sundown to day, ns I came up the trnll over on the other side of the broken-topped nioun tuln." Olnna's Interpretation was met by n guttural "Ugh t" of surprise even from tho chief. He tisked shrewdly: "If the Longknlfo does not He, Is ho not afraid to bo In my camp? It Is the nearest to the trnll." Hardy smiled and held out his open pnlm to the chief. "I trust Tl-owa-konza and his people. There Is only one had Indian, ami even he may come to feel good In his heart toward mo when ho learns that I am the Mend of the tribe." Still tho old chief's faco remained Inscrutably Immobile. Ho pondered, and at last made another sharp query: "The Longknlfo claims that ho Is u friend. Why, then, did he say at tho council that ho will do tho way Nogen did and make ir.y people dig stones nnd dirt from the big holes, without giving them any trade goods for tbelr work?" Hardy's clear eyes dimmed for a moment, and then sparkled with com prehension. He answered with an earnest sincerity of tone that com pelled belief: "I now see that at the council Hod bear mistook much of what I told lilm to say, or else, In their anger, Tl-owa-konza and his subchlefs failed to un derstand aright the Interpretation. The place where stones are dug is on In dian ground. It belongs to the tribe. No white man has any right to make your people dig stones. If they are willing to dig, they must bo given trade goods for their work." The response to this statement was unmistakable. The moment that Olnna had interpreted It the last trace of menace disappeared from the beating of the Indians, and even the chief began to relux. Yet ho had still an other query: "Did tho Longknlfo say he would stop tho issue to the tribe of all gov ernment goods ar.d that lie would take away from tho tribe all their lands and give them to tho white men?" At last tho real cause of the failure Kltlier bo done was for the white chiefs ut Washington to agree on tho price to bo paid for the mineral land and for n delegation of tribal chiefs to go to Washington and put their marks on tho treaty paper. A question or two from Hnrdy brought out tho angry complaint that when Nogen began to dig stones ho told the chiefs there would bo no treaty, and that tlio tribe must dig the stones for him, or they would re ceive no more Issue goods. Chief Van and Big-mouth (Dupont) hud tried to get Nogen to give trade goods to the young men nnd women who had dug holes. Hut Nogen would not allow it. Then a had Indian had shot Nogen, and Van had shot the killer. The tribe did not blame Chief Van. Hut they had felt bad toward Nogen and they had felt bad toward the new agent bo cause they thought ho would do us No gen had done. Now they would like the new agent. No Indian would wish to kill him when It became known what ho Intended to do for tho tribe. After the old chief finished this ex planation, Hardy found himself a wel come and honored guest In tho camp. At his suggestion Tl-owii-konzu readily agreed to send out runners In tlio morning to call a council at tho mlno tho day nfter. Hardy, in turn, prom ised to draw up papers to mnko smooth the way of the delegation of chiefs In Washington. At u sign from her grandfather, Oln na now brought food to the guest. While he ate he talked with her about her experience In the camp. She told him Joyously thnt her mother's father and nil his family and band had been very kind to her and had been hosplt able, though not so kind, to her broth er. But when Hardy casually inquired whether lledbear had left the camp at the snme time as Vandervyn, the girl's How of conversation came to an abrupt stop. She blushed and stammered and became so painfully shy and confused that Hardy considerately feigned drowsluess. CHAPTER XII. murmur: "He says I must bo only tho tnugmi between you and him. He says, why did you lie? Why have you not gone away, as you said you would?" Hardy turned and looked direct into tho haughty faco of tho chief. "Tell hint I did not Ho. I did not say X would go away. I wished to stay and prove myself tho friend of tho tribe. Your brother told tho Ho to keep tho chiefs from destroying tho tribe by attacking me." Ohitui's Interpretation brought gut tural exclamations from tho surround ing bucks. Hardy was equally un moved by their ferocious glances and the contemptuous rejoinder of Tl-owu-konza : "Does tho chief of the Longknlves think to destroy n tribe single-handed V" "No, nor do I wish others to destroy Intentionally or through stupid blun dering, lledbear had made the chiefs furious by u twisted interpretation that had given tho exact reverse of what had been Intended. With tho key to tho situation in his hands, Hardy nt once began to make clear what ho had tried to tell at the coun cil. Ho explained why tho Issues of goods would cease the following spring, and what was meant by an al lotting of tribal land In severalty. Ho added that If there was gold on any of tho reservation laud it would l-o well for tho ttibo to sell thnt part of what they owned; otherwise bad whlto men would, sooner or later, como in and steal It. t Moro than half convinced of liar I -ly's sincerity, though with still u lin gering suspicion, Tl-owifkonza ex plained In turn thnt tho tribe was not mihr ivllllrii. in ullnt Uin f nrmliii' limit I "" " '" ... ." o tho tribe." answered llurdy. "I do not of tho reservation and sell the mln wish tho Longknlves to come and make oral land, but u treaty to that effect war on tho tribe. Yet that Is what had boon agreed upon by the tribe, tho they will do If I nm harmed." ( previous year. All that remained to - His Duty. At dawn Hardy was roused by TI-owa-konzu with u greeting ns friendly as It was dignified, though Hardy had to surmlso Its meaning from the chief's expression. Olnna was already out side, helping with breakfast. While she served her grandfather and the guest, Hardy suggested that she go with him to tiio mine, where they prob ably would find Marie and tho rwt of tho party. Iteluctant us was Tl-owa-konza to part with his half-wlilto granddaughter, he ordered her pony brought In and saddled. When sho ex plained to Hardy that the mine was only a mile away across tho mountain, ho declined tho offer of a saddleless mount, took ceremonious leave of the old chief and set out up the mountain side with the girl and u young Indian guide. Hardy noted the bearings and dis tances of all prominent points around him with tho eye of one well trained In the art of topography. A quarter hour brought the little party to the top of the low mountain. Before them the fur side of the mountain pitched down n steep and rocky Incline Into a narrow valley. The silent Indian guldo pointed to a terrace midway down tho descent. From amidst the pines was rising a cloud of hlue-black smoke. Soon Oliina pointed out a cabin among the pines. They were within fifty yards of It when Vandervyn and Dupont came out of a hole in the cliff em! of. n spur-rldgo near the cahlu, and stood staring at the newcomers In un disguised astonishment. Hardy swerved and hastened towurd them, his eyes bright nnd cold. The two men glanced at one nnother nnd ad vanced to meet hlni halfway. Dupont was the first to speuk: "By Gar, Cap, wo suro are mighty glad to see you ug'ln all safe and sound! Thought you'd gone and lost yourself on that cussed mountain. The p'leeco aro back there now, looking for you." "And you two aro here, I see," dry ly rejoined Hardy. "I beg your pardon, Cuptutn nurdy," replied Vandervyn, Ids eyes Hashing with quick anger. "You told mo to go ahead and guard Marie." "I added for you to send tho police around to flank tlio assassin." Vandervyn drew himself up stlflly. "You have my word, sir, that I heard nothing of thnt." "In common decency, you might have returned to see what had become of me," returned Hardy. Dupont hastened to Interpose: "Mr. Van got tho Idea you meant us to rush Mario through hero to tho mine, where sho'd bo safe. So wo lit out fast as we could. Tho p'leeco found your mare, but lost your trail up in the rocks. First thing this morning we sent tho whole bunch buck to trull you." The honest bluffnesa of Dupout's tone and his straightforward statement eo"iPlkl belief. 'Hardy nodded. . well.' I could not expect that "Just tho iamo, wo wotild've, Cap, you can bet your life on It only on ac count of Mario and " Tho trader turned a dubious glnnce on Olnnn, nnd remurked: "I sco you stumbled onto old Thunderbolt's camp." "I did," snld Hardy, and ho smiled. "Thanks to Miss Olnnn, I wns nblo to make myself better understood than when her brother acted as interpre ter. I nave reason to believe that ho wilfully misstated what I said to the chiefs." "By Gar!" swore Dupont. "That old Thunderbolt Is n deep one. Just like htm to try to throw you off tho track by lnylng it nil on Charlie." "I'm not so sure of that, Juke," broko in Vandervyn. "You remember, Char lie was senred Btlff. Ho may have be come muddled." "We-ell, mebbo that had part to do with It. .lust tho same, you cun't tell mo the whole tribe ain't mro. Look nt the way they've twice tried to git Ciiii and potting Charlie last night." "Charlie?" gasped Olnna. "Yon any Oh, Mr. Dupont, he's not not " "No buck up," brusquely replied Vandervyn. "He was only nipped through the arm. He will be all right In u few days." "All right? O-o-oh, thank you!" sighed the girl. In the stress of the moment sho for got that they were not alone. Sho held out her arms to him nnd looked up Into bis face, her soft eyes beaming with love and adoration. He frowned, and his volco grated witli harshness: "Don't bo a fool! lie's In the cabin. Miss Dupont is taking care of him. Go and thank her, not me." Tears gushed Into the girl's eyes. She drooped her head and slunk away as if Vandervyn had struck her. Hardy's face became like Iron. "Mr. Vandervyn," he admonished, "do not let me again hear you speuk to any woman In that tone." Vandervyn shrugged. "The chival rous chevalier! Have It your own way. Now I suppose you'll go in nnd worry her and rag Charlie Into u fever about bulling up his interpretation at the council." "As for that" began Hardy. He stopped short and ruised his hat Marie hud come out of the cnbla, and was hastening forwnrd to greet lilm, her beautiful face radiant. "Captain!" she called. "You're heio really hero, safe and unhurt I" "Thanks to Miss lledbear," replied Hardy. "But how could Olnna surely she did not help you escape the murder er?" "No. It wns easy enough to dislodge the fellow. Tho difficulty wns to truck lilm among those rocks. Soon lost lilm nnd myself also." "And he escaped to shoot Charlie the wolf I Tlio poor boy was tracking a deer over on the rldgo hulf u mllo or so this way." "All's well that ends well," Hnrdy assured her. "I'm here, unhurt, us 1 c'XPM'W 6 -bfw "In Common Decency You Might Have Returned to See What Had Become of Me." you see; lledbear, I understand, has only n slight wound ; nnd tho old chief now knows Unit I am a friend of tha tribe. He will cull u council to meet us 1iero tomorrow." "A council here?" queried Vander vyn. "Why not?" demanded Hardy, fix ing him with his keen glance. "Could thero be a more suitable- plnco for a tribal council than nt the mlno which litis been tho source of ull tho recent troublo on this roservution?" "Nom d'nii chlenl" muttered Du pont. "What's that breed girl gono and blubbed?" "Nothing," rejoined Hardy. "Sho has done no moro than interpret be tween tho head chief and myself. I have learned all about Nogcn.'s dishon esty and Ids harshness to tho tribe. It Is well that you nnd Mr. Vandervyn tried to Induce him to bo moro Just, else I should order you both off tho reservation for lying to me." "Lying? What d'you mean by thnt?" blustered Dupont. "The word is explicit," snld nurdy. "Mr. Vnndervyn, take your hand from your holster. Miss Dupont, I regret tho necessity of making tlds reprimand in your presence." Tho girl's eyes wcro ablazo with In dignant linger. "Ilegrot Is n mild ex cuse for Insulting my futher, sir!" OTiTrjiffliii j Do you believe that Vimder j vyn had anything to do with tho attempt to ambush Captain Hardy on the way to the mint and what about, tho story of ltendhear's wound? clt'-ei ' you would troublo to go bade I Jj3inianilliaaHlIiir,i''n''n,,,Bn,,p,im'"i 'i'inn'f'lminiiniintnniilH,EEaD'a,iIIIliriI'S me. ITO UK CONTINUED.) Nil