RED CLOUD, .NEBRASKA, CHIEF
THE
A Tale of Adventures on
An Indian Reservation
CHAPTER XX Continued.
11
Mumbling an apology, Dupont bus
illy unfolded the deed, skimmed
through It, and grasped the fact that
It purported to convey to him a full
half-Interest In tho mine. lie hud
started to read It over more carefully
when on oath from Vundervyn caused
htm to look up.
The younger tnnn pointed along tho
coulee hank to where the rond topped
the spur rldgo of the butte.
The devil 1" ho exclaimed "What
Brings him buck here?"
Cnp I It mire Is Cupl" muttered
Dupont "Norn d'un chlen 1 You don't
think he'ii got on to the game, do you?"
"Wouldn't do him nny good If ho
fcad." .
"Then why d'you think ho's "
"To enter the contest 1" divined
Vundervyn. "Thero's tlmo enough to
wire Washington and have him put tin
ier arrest for disobeying orders."
"Hold onl" cautioned Dupont. "What
If ho docs try his luck? In the moun
tuliiH thero nln't no horse nor mare
neither can break up your pinto com
bine." Vnndervyn's face cleared. "You
ught to know. 111 chance It If "
"Ain't no chanco to It," put In Du
pont. "It's n dend cinch."
"He'll think lie's going to do me," ex
ulted Vundervyn. "Let him register.
He's coino back for tho mine first;
then Marie. I don't want her to see
him or to lenow ho bus como buck.
You have your deed. Supposo you
tart at once."
"If sho's willing. I'll see," qualified
Dupont. "Look out you don't slip up.
I'll tend to my end. So long good
luck!"
He rode off down the butte side of
the coulee.
Vnndervyn cantered straight across,
and met Hardy a few yards below the
tent of the commissioners.
"Good day, captain," ho spoke In
tlvtl greeting. "I am surprised to see
fou buck here. Have your orders been
countermanded?"
"No," replied Hardy with equal cl
rlllty. "i have resigned."
Vnndervyn could not conceal his
Monk nstonlshment "Not not re
tilgned from the army?"
"Yes. I telegraphed tho wnr depart
ment, received an answer, and mailed
my resignation and application for
leave of nbsenco to my commanding
nicer at Vancouver barracks. As an
Dicer It was not proper for mo to en
er the contest"
"Ah I" Vnndervyn's smllo gavo place
to a look of pained surprise. "So you
'slxd-to enter tho contest. But do
fon"rUilnk"ft.,,t quite honorable, cap
tain, In tho clrcumstu7,'jes(l"
"I do not euro to discuss questions
f honor with you, Mr. Vnndervyn,"
replied Hardy with utmost coolness.
"That I can well understnnd," coun
tered Vnndervyn. "Knowing that wo
can make no protest, you Intend per
sonally to take advantage of the Infor
mation that you pledged yourself to
keep secret."
Hardy dismounted without replying,
nd placed himself at tho end of tho
line of registering cntrymen. The sun
The Devil I What Brinas Him Back
Here?"
was far down In the sky when ho came
before the secretary's table, at tho
end of tho lino. Vandervyn rose from
his easy seat to tako a position behind
him. Tho secretary hesitated and
looked Inquiringly at Vandervyn. Ho
met with a nod to proceed.
"''You wish to register?" came tho
curt qucstlos of the chairman.
"Yes," replied Hardy with equal
curtness.
"la an army officer entitled to enter
tie contest?" questioned the smallest
commissioner.
You need not debate the matter,"
MM Hardy. "I bare resigned my com
wlssloa." Again Yanderrya nodded, and there
were no further objections raised.
Hardy and be signed the register, and
ssado their thumb prints, and were
duly described In writing by the sec
retary. Hardy at once mounted bis mare,
vode away up the coulee. He did
I rr v.3si I
HMtMMMtnM'
QUARTERBREED
not return until Vnndervyn and tho
commissioners had left for the agency.
That evening he drew up the legal
notices required in (he posting of a
mining claim, and paid three or four
of the older prospectors to check them
for errors. To nil who Inquired, ho
described tho trail by which ho had
gone into tho mountains, and frankly
stilted that he knew of none other
that led to tho nearest ot tho four
prominent peaks which had been
numed as tho corners of the mineral
land boundary.
Tho rest of the evening and most of
the following duy ho spent In groom
ing his mure. Ho gave her no grnss
and little water, but a good nllownnce
of oats. Doth morning und afternoon
he took her out for short rides up the
coulee, und cuch tlmo repeatedly
climbed und descended the bunk. He
did not cross over to tho reservation
side, much less go to the agency.
Tho dny set for tho opening dawned
still and clear, with tho promlso ot
burning heut by noon.
After breakfast the moro uneasy
spirits began wandering about tho
camp or fidgeting with their packs.
Nearly all the older und moro experi
enced men gavo their ponies a feed of
oats, and stretched out to loungo in
tho shade of their tents.
Two hours beforo tho tlmo set for
the start Vnndervyn uppearcd, and
crossed over to tho cump. Ho wus
riding his pinto and lending a pnek
pony. When the old prospectors saw
his heavy pick and shovel and large,
poorly lashed pack of food and bed
ding, they cracked many dry Jokes on
tho grand chances of tho tenderfoot.
Their own picks and shovels were as
light as such tools could be made with
out Impairing their efllclency, and
their packs wero ns lean as Vander
vyn's puck wus swollen.
Hurdy alone divined the deceptive
mockery of his rival's cumbersome dis
play. Hut ho was bound by his word
und could say nothing. It was he, and
not Vundervyn, who was looked upon
with suspicion by the crowd. Soon
there was a gathering of a moblike
group, that rumbled awhile, and ended
by presenting Itself beforo Hardy as
a committee of inquiry.
"You been agent at this hero reser
vation," explained their spokesman.
"Wo want to know If you'vo got n
frame-up to have some feller meet you
with your pack unlmals over In tho
mountains."
"No," replied Hardy. "Tbrrc aro
four days' rations in my aaddlebngs.
A poncho Is all oue needs in sleeping
before u flro 'lua time of year."
"YJu urn't got no tools,'-crltlcIzed a
man who had been drinking.
"Tho same Is true of several among
you," Hurdy rejoined.
One of the cowboys who wns Includ
ed In this remark called buck resonant
ly: "You've been Into the mountains.
I bet you u blue chip you've got n good
prospect spotted, reudy for branding."
"I am not making any bets," suld
Hardy. "You huvo heard all I know
nbout the trail. Mr. Vnndervyn has
made the trip several times. Ho was
with me during the ono trip I made.
I huvo no objection to your questonlng
him nbout It."
There was some muttering over this.
But Hardy's manner wns so cool and
quiet that the Incipient mob left him,
and straggled over to where Vunder
vyn hud hired an expert to throw the
diamond hitch on his ridiculous pnek.
Hurdy turned his back on them, and
set to grooming tho sutlny coat of his
marc. His unconcern was well found
ed. Whatever means Vundervyn used,
they were sufficient to satisfy the
crowd. The muttering soon ceased,
and the men dispersed.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Race.
Tho commissioners came down
from tho ageucy barely In tlmo to
make their Identification of tho
contestants. Last of all Hardy
und Vnndervyn Identified them
selves and hurried over to the end of
tho waiting line. Thero wns a scant
five minutes remaining. Vundervyn
wus a-qulvcr with eager excitement,
and mado no attempt to conceal tho
fact. Ho smiled and waved his hand
to tho commissioners, and looked nbout
with sparkling eyes. Thero wns no
anxiety or envy or mallco In his look.
Never had he appeared handsomer or
moro boyish.
Tho other commissioners had
climbed Into the touring car. Ono of
them held up his watch. Another com
missioner arose, thrust a small pistol
abovo his head with a melodramatic
flourish, and fired.
At tho signal tho lino of contestants
wavered and plunged forward Into the
shallow stream. Thero were, however,
quite enough hasty ones to raise a
wild splashing and turmoil, as, whoop
ing and yelling, they spurred their po
nies through the water and whirled
away at a gallop. Some wheeled up
the coulee; a few rode straight across
at the steep bank. Vandervyn,, wild
est and noisiest of all, headed down
stream for the road, spurring his
pinto. Ho was followed by a large
bunch.
PlMPlPlFfeplPlPlfPlP
By
Robert Ames
Hardy started nftcr these lust, hold
ing his mure to her usual steady trot.
When he came up the road to tho head
of tho gulley, those who hud gono be
fore him wero nil quite a dlstunce
abend, with Vandervyn still In tho
lead. Mldwuy between the mouth of
the valley and the agency, the long
striding niaro begun to pass ponies
whose riders had thought better of
their whirlwind start. Others wero
still loping In swift pursuit of Vander
vyn. Hardy walked tho maro up tho slopo
of the agency terrace. Ho saw noth
ing of Dupont or Marie, and tho In
dians had moved away with their te
pees. Hut in the rear of tho ware
house ho caught n glimpse of two In
dian policemen removing the load from
Vnndervyn's pnek pony. His face
clouded. Ho put the mnre Into a gal
lop. All tho way to the head of the val
ley Hurdy held to a steady gallop. Ono
after another, ho passed the remaining
leaders. Tho best of tho ponies were
no match In speed with tho big thor
oughbred. At last only Vnndervyn was ahead.
As Hardy overhauled and forged past
Vundervyn, the young fellow turned
und met his gazo with a look of mock
ing hate. Ilnn'v glanced back sev
eral times, prepurcd to fling himself
.flat nlongslue the pommel of his sad
dle. His uneasiness did not lessen
when a fow minutes later Vandervyn
halted, and scrambled down from tho
trull to get a drink out of tho creek.
Tho crease In Hardy's forehead deep
ened. Ahead, tho walls of" the cunyon were
sloping back Into the widened volley
where had been the first Indian camp.
Dogs, Indians and tepees, all were
gone. Only a brush-wulled danco
lodgo remained to mark the camp Bite.
As tho mare pounded past, she curved
her outstretched neck toward tho
lodgo and whinnied. Hardy heard no
answer to the call, but his frown sud
denly deepened.
Ho reached forward and stroked
tho mare's sleek neck. Hot as had
been tho race from the agency, she
hnd not turned a hair. His frown re
laxed. Yet his tight lips showed that
he was still uneasy. Ho balanced him;
self in his stirrups, and began to rl.de
ns lightly as possible. . -
Asccndlae thq mountainside, ho was
coir;.J.ied to content himself with tho
mare's nervous, long-strlded walk.
But whenever tho trail was not too
steep or rough, ho put her Into a trot,
and varied tho paco with an occasional
short gallop.
An hour passed. Ho was already
well Into tho mountains. Ho came to
n succession of steep climbs and de
scents that held the mare down to a
walk. Presently ho thought ho heard
hoofbeats behind him. Ho listened.
He had not been mistaken. An un
shod horso was coming up with him at
a steady Jog trot.
It seemed Impossible that Vander-
vyn's pinto could have so recuperated
from that whirlwind heading of tho
rush ns to bo ablo to tako this steep
trail at a trot. Hardy gazed back, ex
pecting to see one of the cowboys. As
he went down over a ridge crest, tho
rider came up tho ridge back across
the Intervening gulch. The man
snatched off his broad-brimmed hat to
wave a salute. Tho sun glinted with a
golden sheen on tho unmistakable
blond head of Vandervyn.
At tho first small break In tho de
scent Hurdy dismounted, unsaddled,
and sponged out the mare's mouth and
nostrils with water from his canteen.
Ho then shook out and refolded his
Navajo saddle blanket, and started to
resuddle. But before ho buckled the
clnch-strap he shifted tho pistol from
his breast to a front pocket in his rid
ing breeches.
He was vigorously grooming the
maro when Vandervyn came Jogging
down through tho thickets of tall brush
that grew close on each sldo of tho
trail. Ho did not pauso In his rub
bing until the nimble-footed unshod
pony ambled Into view, less than a
dozen yards up tho trail. Then he
glnneed about, straightened, and stood
staring. Tho pony was n pinto.
Vandervyn, smiling with Insolent ex
ultancc, rodo down to him, his right
hund Jauntily poised on his hip, over
the hilt of his revolver. Ills eyes
challenged his rival with an audacious,
provoking stare. But Hardy looked
only at the pinto. Thero was no sign
of sweat lather on his rough coat, no
weariness in his gait He was fresh
"Lots of come-back to a bronco,
captain," purred Vandervyn. "Sorry
to see that you'vo stovo up your mare.
Sho's too highbred for a rocky road
llko this. But you might take off her
shoes and travel light, tho way I'vo
done."
The pony was now ambling down
tho slope past tho mare. Hardy looked
at the unshod hoofs. They wero cov
ered with a coating of clay mlro from
the bottom of tho last gulch, and the
beast's shuffling pace did not expose
the under surface of the hoofs. Wheth
er the pony had or had not been re
cently unshod could not be seen.
"Great horse, my, little old pinto,
feE.
P
Bennet
eh?" mocked Vnndervyn. "By-byl
tell Mnrlo you'll be nlong Inter."
Hardy perceived In n flush why ho
hnd seen neither tho girl nor her fa
ther at the agency. Swiftly he wheeled
about to mount. Startled by the quick
action, Vnndervyn spurred his pony,
und went down the steep descent ut n
gult fur from easy on even n mountain-bred
horse's knees. Hardy fol
lowed at u walk. The opposite rlso
wus gradual. Ho let the marc take it
at a slow trot. At tho top wns n fair
ly level stretch of trail. Vundervyn
was fur ahead. Hardy put the mnre
Into a fast gallop. A few minutes
brought her up so close behind tho lop
ing pinto that Vnndervyn spurred his
benst to sprinting speed. Hardy fol
lowed at an easier yet swift paco that
ugulu brought htm near, as tho pinto
uluckened to a lope.
A steep ridge made a break In tho
game. Tho pinto crossed It at a Jog
trot. The maro had to walk. Beyond
was a long stretch of broken country
that favored the pinto. Ho could Jog
over ground that held the mnre to a
walk, and canter where she could no
moro than trot. On such a troll he
was fully equal to traveling nt these
paces for twelve hours at n stretch, nil
tho time In the lead of the mnre. Of
this Hurdy was as well aware as was
Vundervyn.
Though he steadily lost ground, ho
kept on In pursuit, coolly studying the
landmarks ahead and "lifting" his
mnre along over the heartbreaking
trail. To have given way to the
lmpntlenco that betrayed Itself In his
flashing eyes would Inevitably have
lost him the race by overstraining the
mare. He held himself grimly In hand,
and eased the going for his eager
mount with consummate horseman
ship.
When they reached better ground,
Vandervyn was again far ahead. But
Hardy had his roward for his restraint
In the resilient stride of the marc as
sho swung Into a full gallop. Up and
down tho long, easy slopes, around a
curving mountainside, nnd along the
level bench of a stream bank, sho held
to the cross-country racing pace that
rapidly rolled up mile after mile of
the trail.
In less than half an hour sho
brought her rider around a sharp
bend only a few hundred yards behind
the pinto. Vandervyn, over-confident,
was Jogging along the level when tho
sound of the approaching hoofbeats
threw him Into a half-panic. Thero
was still a long stretch of easy trail
ahead. Ho put his pony into n gallop.
Tho long-legged thoroughbred, still
running as smoothly as clockwork,
continued to gain. Vandervyn began
to swing his spurs.
Tho pinto started to pull ahead.
Hardy held tho maro to tho same
speed as before. It was a speed that
he know sho could maintain for miles.
He could see that the pinto was being
forced to a killing pace a paco that
must strain if not break him before
they came to the next rough ground.
On up tho valley rushed the pursued,
now barely holding his own. Tho cruel
spurring nnd whlp-slashlng could not
sting the falling beast to greater ex
ertions, He was blowing hard; his
rough coat was lathered with sweat
He began to lose.
At last the trail made a sharp turn,
and started to zigzag up the mountain
side. The pinto was staggering when
he reached tin "oot of the ascent. Tho
quicker and lunger stride of the maro
soon brought them up nt Vnndervyn's
heels. Tho pitch of the mountain was
too precipitous for Hardy to risk
passing on tho lower sldo of tho nar
row trail with the mare, nnd Van
dervyn kept the pinto closo to tho
upper side.
"You have no right to block the
trail," said Hardy. "Allow me to
pass."
Vandervyn looked over his Bhoulder
with an Insolent sneer. "Go on nnd
pass, If you'ro In a hurry. You'vo
got all outdoors to do It In. If there's
not room enough, shoot mo In tho back
and tako the trail. I'll not get out
of It for you."
Hardy did not reply nor did ho at
tempt to force a passage. At last,
twelvo miles from the goat of tho
heartbreaking race, caroo the opportu
nity for which he had been waiting.
Tho trail smoothed out In another
easy stretch. For this ho had been
holding tho maro In hand. Ho started
at a canter, and gradually let her
strike into her long, swift gallop. Van
dervyn saw them coming, and at onco
put spurs to his luckless pony. As
before, Hardy held the mare down to
her best long-distance speed. Tho
maro came up alongside tho pinto and
forged ahead.
Hardy eyed Vandervyn with utmost
wariness. And, as before, at tho head
of the canyon of Sioux creek, Vander
vyn turned in the saddle, and looked
full at him with a hateful, mocking
smile. He pulled In his staggering
pony to a walk the moment Hardy
swung Into the trail ahead.
At once Hardy eased down the mare
to a trot Though he saw no third
pinto waiting In the thickets, bis eyes
grew hard and cold with grim deter
mlnatlon. He was examining bis rifle
I'll
when u turn of tho trail suddenly gnve
him his first vlow of the broken-topped i
mountain nnd the rldgo-slde whero
Iledbenr had made tho second attempt
to nssasslnuto him. As he looked nt
the shuttered summit, his hazel eyes
flushed. Ho thrust tho rlflo bnck into
Its shenth, nnd drew tho mnro down
to n walk.
Behind him lie henrd n muffled drum
ming of unshod hoofs. Vnndervyn wns
coming up nt a gallop.
When tho mocking trickster enmo
up behind Hurdy, he reined In to a
Jog trot, nnd, as before, rodo pnst him
with his hund on his hip.
There were marked differences be
tween the third pinto und the two first.
Ho wus tnllcr und leuuer, und one of
his feet wns white. But Hurdy up
poured to bo too dejected to heed the
fact. As tho pinto nmblcd away In
the lend, Vnndervyn smiled, nnd
looked back nt his rlvnl with nil tho
hate gono from his face. "By-by again,
old mnn," ho bantered. "Sorry I cun't
stuy to keep you company. Tho lady
Is waiting and tho mine. It muy ulso
plenso you to hour thnt I have a duly
signed und witnessed contract with
the tribe, giving mo a fee of "0 per
cent on nil moneys appropriated In
payment to the tribe for their min
eral lands. Let's hear you congratu
late me. Show you'ro gnmel"
But Hardy did not raise his eyes.
As soon ns Vnndervyn was out of
sight around the castellated rocks nt
the top of the ridge, Hurdy stopped
the maro and dropped from tho saddle.
His shapely mouth was curved In n
resolute smile, and his hand wus rap-
Idly transferring from the saddlebags
to his pockets a pocket ax, a handful
of pistol cnrtrldges nnd the legal no
tices for posting a mining claim.
Ho glnneed up the slope, nnd, seeing
no sign of Vundervyn, stripped off the
marc's bridle, sponged out her nostrils
nnd mouth with the Inst wuter In his
ennteen.
Hardy took the steep slopo nt nn un
hurried pace. Ho reached the place
where ho hnd found tho bloody trull
of Iledbenr. Up the cleft the climbing
wns not stiff. He came out on the
valley slope, extremely hot and dry
but not out of brcnth. Drawing an
airline across to tho opposite moun
tainside, whero he hnd seen the light
of Tl-own-konzn's campflre through tho
darkness, he started down luto tho
valley nt a Jog as brisk us that of tho
third pinto. Ho wns nlmost spent ns
ho tottered through the pines up the
last slope. Tho cump was gone, but
he knew the nearest way to the spring.
He rested two or three minutes, re
peatedly cooling his head In tho spring
nnd rinsing out his mouth, but drink
ing only a very few sips. Again re
freshed, he half filled his canteen, nnd
started on up the easy mountain slope
nt a steady Jog.
' len minutes brought him over tho
summit to tho sharp pitch above the
mine. Ho stared down at the terrace
several moments, however, beforo ho
made out tho figures of n man and
woman waiting ut the first turn of
the trail. There could be no doubt
that the two were Marie and her. fa
ther. It was no less certain thnt Vander
vyn had not yet arrived. Even had ho
suspected his opponent's stratagem, ho
scarcely could have covered the seven
miles of trail in as short a tlmo as
Hardy had taken to mako tho three
miles across country.
The two watchers never thought to
look about and up the mountain. They
had not yet looked about when he
came down upon the crest of tho spur.
rA large, newly cut stake gave him a
hint whero ono of the upper corners
of the claim should be located. Ho
cut his own stake, drove It, and tacked
on ono of his legal notices. Another
stuko Indicated the other upper' corner,
nnd he swiftly repented the making
of his own stuko and posting of the
notice.
At the curb of tho mlno shaft he
posted nnothcr notice. Ho, was now In
plain view from the cabin, but out of
sight of tho wntchers down on the
trail. On the terrace, as he was work
ing tho third stake Into n bed of loose
rocks, ho heard an nngry exclamation
over near tho cabin. Dupont nnd Ma
rio hnd como around tho end of tho
building, and were staring at him. In
a frenzy of disappointed avarice, the
trader reached for his revolver. Still
more swiftly Marie flung herself upon
him.
"No I not you shall not!" sho cried.
"Leave It to him ho Is so near I Let
them play out the game 1"
Hardy ran across to cut his last
stake. Between tho ax-blows could bo
heard tho hoofbeats of a galloping
horse. Ho tacked the notice on,
chopped a small hole with his ax In
tho hard soil, nnd set It up. Tho mlno
was his own.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Owner of the Mine.
At that moment Vandervyn loped up
over tho edge of tho terrace, waving
his hat to Marie. Then ho caught sight
of Hardy, over beyond tho girl, and
the exultant yell died on his lips. Ho
put tho curb on his pony, and sprang
off beside Dupont and tho girl, bis face
frightful with ruge.
His volco was high-pitched and light,
almost airy: "So ho cut across afoot I
He thought to do me I"
"Has, you meant" snarled Dupont
"Got his notices posted. That's his
last stake."
Vandervyn whirled and snatched bis
rlflo from its saddle sheath. Marie
caught her father's arm to drag him
aside; but he was already backing
away, his eyes fixed apprehensively
on Hardy. It was time for bullets to
come streaming from the automatic
pistol. Hardy could have drawn and
opened fire while Vandervyn was free
ing his rifle.
To the iidtonlshment or an taroe,
Hurdy made no nttempt to "got the
drop" on his opponent. Instead, b
started to advauco upoa Vnndervyn
nt n quick, deliberate puce, his hnuds
hanging empty nt his sides, his face
culm und stern.
"Put down that gun!" he command
ed. Vnndervyn wns leveling tho rifle. Ilo
took nlm straight between Hardy's
eyes. His finger kissed tho trigger.
Tho slightest twitch would hnvo sent
the bullet crushing through Hardy's
brain, nnd the slightest sign of fear
or hesitancy on Hurdy's part would
hnvo caused that twitch. Ho wns
looking death In tho face. Vnndervyn
was lu u murderous fury.
Yet Hardy came on quick, Btendy,
absolutely culm. Ills gnzo passed
nhove the deadly muzzle, along the
foreshortened barrel, to the narrow
lidded, bloodshot eyes of Vandervyn,
Ills voice rang out again, cleur und
sharp with authority:
"Put down that rifle put It down,
sir!"
Tho muscles of Vnndervyn's neck
twitched. Along the top of the barrel
lie was glaring bock at Hardy glur
Ing Into those hazel eyes that met
his fury with the clenr, cool gnze of
The Trader Reached for His Revolver.
absolute courage. The sheer nerve
of thnt steady approach to his rifle
muzzle compelled" him to pause. It
disconcerted him; It struck a chllt
Into the heat of his frenzy.
Still Hardy advnnccd, swift and
steady, his gaze never so much as
flickering. Now his eyes and forehead,
close beyond the foresight of the rifle,
appeared enormously enlarged to Vnn
dervyn's distorted vision. Steadily
Hardy put up his hand, took hold of
the rlflo barrel, and turned the muzzle
aside.
"Ah-h-hl" gasped Marie.
Hardy drew the rlflo out of Vnnder
vyn's relaxing grasp.
"Stand nslde, sir!" he quietly cone
mnnded. "I wish to speak nlono wltb
Miss Dupont."
Vandervyn had parted with his rlflo
as If dazed. At the sound of Hardy's
voice a fresh wave of crimson flooded
his face. He stepped back, and Jerked
out his revolver. Hardy lenped upon
111 in like a panther, nnd struck the
weapon aside. The heavy bullet
whizzed past Hardy's head. A moment
later, Vnndervyn, though the younger
nnd perhaps tho stronger of tho two,
reeled away, clutching his lacerated
trigger finger. Hardy stood with the
rpvolver in his hand. He turned to
Marie.
"May I ask for a few words alone
with you?"
"Not" Vnndervyn hoarsely forbade
tho girl. "You shall not speak with
him. Jake, you're her father tell her
she shall not."
"You know she don't never mind
what I say," mumbled Dupont "Any
way, It sort of looks llko Cap Is run
ning this hero shindy."
Hardy had not glanced away from
Marie. Throughout that supremo test
of tho will power and courage of her
two lovers, she hnd stood tense and
silent, as If spellbound. Sho now
looked from one to the other, her face
Inscrutably calm, her black eyes fath
omless. "I will hear what Captain Hardy has
to say," sho sold.
Qardy motioned her father and Van
dervyn toward tho mine dump. They
obeyed.
"We aro alone," said Marie.
Hardy smiled. "I won tho race."
"Was It fair, cutting across coun
try?" "Fair? Then you did not know of
his scheme."
"What scheme? I do not under
stand." "It does not now matter. I won tho
race and the mine."
"Do you expect me to rejoice with
you?" asked tho girl. "It has cost
my father his hnlf of tho mlno."
"How so? ne Is not an entryman."
"Reggie gavo him a deed to a half
Interest" "I see," said Hardy. "Quite In keep
ing. The deed is absolutely void, and
would have been no less bo even had
the grantor been first to reach here."
"You doubt his good faith!" The
girl glanced past him toward the sul
len figure of Vandervyn on the mine
dump with her father. "So yon thought
It better to take it all yourself than
to let him take It all?"
"Yes," agreed Hardy.
Tho girl's red lips curved In an Iron
ical smile,
"I do not go with the mine neces
sarily." "No. But the mine necessarily
with you now," replied Hardy.
(TO BB CONTUiUBDj
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