Show i THE The Story of an Army Officer on an I Indian Reservation Reservation 8 By ROBERT AMES BENNET v Ir f. 4 C t CHAPTER Continued 1 10 T Hardy gardy at once addressed V e Be so kind as to open the safe and la lay t j. j before these commissioners c every 1 pub- pub lIe c decline to paper in the om office They show me IDe their authority for an nn inspection tion of or my accounts Therefore I have haved d Declined d to make nn an official presenta- presenta them of affairs There n agency I 7 2 r At kis to to conceal from an any Inre In- In re You may hand liand ever every document t to these persons persons persons-in in my presence nonchalantly shrugged went Vent over to open the safe One of the commissioners remarked in an officious ou tone Pone Where is s the issue clerk He IIa ought to b be present to ex- ex V accounts Charlie Red bear gentler gentle gentle- the man r man the Interpreter explained Dupont Dut Du- Du 1 pont t Pont ont He lit out with his sister down f the creek to his house when we was was was' Bating Want me to send for him 0 You'll need him to make your official r talk to the chiefs W t You will do as ns well for that Jake s Interposed Besides I believe be be- I be-I 4 lieve the commissioners will wm wish to s. s put off the powwowing until tomorrow tomor- tomor row row Its' Its a n tiresome trip across from ter the railroad No doubt they will wm f tC glance through the agency papers t and then go over to your house to 3 plan the opening of the mineral lands Th big eyed blear-eyed man who had bad c ridden in the front seat of the car nodded nodded nodded nod nod- ded a and d replied in an oily tone If If IfS S you s-you you rou assure us the accounts are correct correct cor cor- Mr n I think it Is needless needless need need- r less trouble at this time to make further further fur fur- ther Cher investigation Still oughtn't we to to- to toOne One of t the le commissioners began a n querulous ob ob- I section But his fellows were vere were rising I IJ J to leave the office and he bent to the C will of the majority I Hardy bowed them out with punctilious punctilious I courtesy He was still working 8 when Maries Marie's Indian boy brought word r r that she wished him to come to dinner din din- ner tier without fail He hesitated b but t at last sent back t the e reply that he would be pr present sent Having in mind the thc cold and almost Insulting manner of the visitors he be cut his arrival as close as possible This i pro proved ed to be a n tactful move Though Thought I t f to the new newcomers comers were all mellow with whisky a n chilling silence followed the I entrance of or the acting agent E Even Eien en Dupont turned his thick shoulder and anda poured a poured himself another drink without a Ii word of greeting I Only raised his empty glass to the last guest and called Ironically Just in time captain f Heres Here's to your quick progress along the course of ot your our career Hardy did not reply He was bowIng bow- bow lag Ing to Marie who had that moment appeared appeared ap up- ap- ap In the dining room doorway Dinner Is served gentlemen she said and she bowed In her most grande 4 dame manner Captain Hardy you OU may may take me rae In yn r sprang up angry Marie did not seem to perceive him Slie She stepped in besl beside e Hardy and waited waitr wait wait- r while the theother theother 1 ed with perfect composure other guests guc passed out after her fa fa- there flier ns face fuce was far from froni pleasant as he lie followed the others The rhe girl did not look at him Hardy escorted escorted escorted escort escort- ed her to the head of the table and she gave him the seat of honor The chairman 1 n of the commission was graciously graciously gra assigned to the seat scat on her r left OJ Hardy was deeply gratified but he failed tailed to realize the full meaning of I bis bs preferment as the most distin- distin Vander Vander- p gentleman present rya alone was fully aware of the motives moves mo mo- iJ tives ves that had bad prompted Marie to honDr honor hon hon- or Dr his bis rival rh He bent over his plate plute Ws Ip between between his teeth For a u time timet t be neither eat nor talk Then I- I he be rallied and for a n while sat staring Into to the bubbling amber of his champagne champagne cham- cham his lips curved in an odd smile quip from Marie Murle stir stir- I At t last a j merry r It f re red t to action He rose and bowed f- f to her bel Lady und Jady and gentlemen he smiling- smiling a. a It ly Iy remarked I have two very pleasant pleasant pleas- pleas little announcements to make It rr ant sat Is IB is my f fond nd expectation that you will relish them quite as much as ns you oU have I relished this delicious little dinner A He Be looked at nt Marie smiled and continued continued con- con MY Sly first firs announcement relates to our out I martial guest fellow the gull gallant ant Floyd Liard Liar Ilar- distinguished Captain nd d ill dr j The privilege and pleasure are areto to inform the distinguished om pine nine that tiit the war department has been c per teased d to relieve him of ot this I p detail it to grunt grant n 1 him permission imme- imme to join his regiment which IK I barracks Washington r Vancouver s orders to sail for tor Alaska r ader der All t turned upon Hardy Some f d with malice oth others rs were cold ft t ties tie's i le's les s 's alone llone were sympathetic Hardy f glanced 1 lan a d around the table able with an un ira ira- c look and bowed to Vander- Vander Fray Vander yD Pray Accept my acknowledgment t f the q with which you yen Cl make made announcement he said and he the he t turned cd to smile gravely Into Maries Marie's tur face III 1 I could have asked i tt to carry out our Irrl Irrigation time rima r or Rut But th the bureau will find some one more competent than myself Will you not remonstrate against this tills unjust order she exclaimed You forget that I am mn a soldier he ho replied Army Arm life Is a life lite of ice You will now understand why most army women are army girls before before before be be- fore they are arc army wives Ah Ah but but If a woman lo loves s I murmured murmured murmured mur mur- Marie l and her gaze sank with the drooping of her silken lids Alaska Alaska Alas ka must be bc a n magnificent land laud to visit visIt vis- vis It It was bending to seat scat him him- self elf He straightened as ns if struck The suddenness of the movement drew all e eyes cs back to him Ills His wine flushed face had gone white He met the wondering wondering won won- dering look of the man opposite and forced a smile I have hae still still another announcement to make he said one that you will wUl all admit to be still more pleasant than the delightful news of our gallant friends friend's summons to wider fields of service Gentlemen a Gentlemen and and d lady per lady per permit mit me to remind you yon that all nIl the world loves a lover This being true trul It follows that all the world must dou- dou 11 j jo o C Cy y ii r f fI I ii Im the New Agent bly love a pair of lovers It Is my privilege and delight to be able to announce an- an Bounce that as I am not at present free to engage myself the other member member memer mem- mem ber er of the pair our ur charming charming- hostess charming hostess has las graciously given her promise to wait for me lIe He caught up his ch champagne glass which the Indian boy hall had Just refilled Gentlemen heres here's to the time loveliest girl in the world the lady who has given me her true promise I IThe IThe iThe The commissioners rose rose rose-Dupont Dupont lo rose o e. e Hardy sat as If stunned his e eyes ees es fixed upon Maries Marie's face In a strained half incredulous stare She was very pale She seem seemed d to shrink Yet she made nade no attempt to deny statements Har Hardy y stood up with th the theother theother other men an and for the first time that evening he lie emptied his leis champagne glass Youth t to youth 1 he murmured Meeting exultant smile lie hp 10 drew in iu a n deep breath and his vole voice rang clear and steady You are to tobe tobe tobe be congratulated sir I wish you the great good fortune that you ou may In all things prove worthy of the ladys lady's trust i flushed face crimsoned but lut whether with shame or anger could not be told Marie ha had risen and her r tactfulness diverted attention from the The coffee and cigars will wUl be served In the parlor she announced n somewhat hastily led the way to the other room nard Hardy being the farthest awn away followed behind the others When he came cume to the door he coolly closed and bolted It Captain breathlessly exclaimed Marie What will the they think Most of them are be beyond ond thinking and they have ha the whisky bottle he replied He lie faced about and came back to her She shrunk shrank before belore the look in his hise e eyes es You You you have no right 1 she mur mur- I will go goNot goNot go- go Not until you have heard me There may be no other opportunity for tor me to see you alone before I go 1 away wa he said fuld I do not wish to reproach you ou Yet you ou must realize that your our failure to tell me of your prom promise Iso to him led me mine to believe I had a u flouting fighting chance You You do do not not ask ask inn ma mo to explain she faltered What is there to explain he rejoined re re- joined You knew that I trusted your our sincerity utterly and you were willing to a ruse amuse yourself with m me while he was away I you I you have no right she sought I to defend herself I never led you I to believe believe- You told me mo nothing of that promise promise promise prom prom- ise to him I thought you you what what you knew I thought t you and all these weeks every day day day- How can a woman look so beautiful seem beautiful seem so true and loving In every word and act act and and toy with the deepest feelings of a n man mun as you ou have haye amused yourself with mine No do not attempt to den deny the facts please It will wUl only add to the bitter bItter- ness I am nun tr trying to l keep from sayIng saying saying say- say Ing harsher things I cannot hide the fact that you ou have struck me a 11 severe blow It would be easier ensler if It you had hadnot hadnot hadnot not Insisted upon my my coming here tonight tonight tonight to to- night to be made the butt of his mockery mocker mock- mock er cry ery Marie threw up her head her eyes blazing with ith Indignant scorn You can believe that of me I thought you a n gentleman I 1 Her voice har hardened ned You have been served as ns you ou deserve And now I am gla glad glad glad- glad I He turned about and went out through the parlor The The Theother other men were clinking glasses In jolly joll good good good-fel fel- fel Dupont waveringly offered him the whisky bottle He thrust it back and left the house CHAPTER CHAPTER In Self Rather early the next morning the big red-faced red eyed blear-eyed man came alone atone to the office He Be found Hardy y nicking making out a n final report as acting agent Getting ready to turn over oyer he ho asked i iI I am nm prepared to do po so the moment the new agent arrives and has checked the lists of agency property was Hardys Hardy's curt eurt reply All right nil Til O. O K your report Dont Don't need to check the lists of an officer oin- oin eer and gentleman the man purred In his oiliest tone B He handed over oyer a n packet Here are the papers relieving relieving ing you and and my my appointment I Fm rm the thene ne new w agent I held them back to give young oung the chance to spring his pleasant little surprises on you Very considerate said Hardy He opened and read the official document with care pocketed his own and banded banded handed band band- ed the other back to the new agent Very liVery good Now If you will examine the accounts of the chief clerk and the Issue clerk clerIc I have brought them down downto to date together with my report The new agent glanced at the papers papers' and took up a pen Youve certified their correctness That's enough for me Ill I'll give you ou my ms O. O K of the turn turn- over You would oblige me by ch checking the property properly in to the warehouse x Waste of time captain You'll want to be starting for the railroad We ma made e a night of it Commissioners CommIssioners' Commission CommIssion- ers' ers heads are sore this morning They want to get to work and this Is the best place I can loan you ou my touring- touring car cm to take you ou over oyer to the railroad Thank you Ou I prefer to ride my my mare said Hardy I shall ask you how however howe er to send one of the police with my trunk in Duponts Dupont's buckboard Ill send it In the motor Theres There's Theresa a lot more of our own baggage to to be brought out from the railroad Insisted insisted insisted in In- the new agent He lie receipted Hardy's Hardys s papers and went to hunt up the chauffeur of the tile second car Hardy took his private papers papers papers pa pa- pers and the reports that he wished to tomail mall mail and went over to his quarters to pack his baggage Dupont sent a 11 policeman policeman policeman po po- to fetch Hardys Hardy's mare and came came in to offer his big hand Hope you ou aint going off with no hard feelings Cap he said Hardy gravely shook hands with him None this morning he assured A IIA man cannot afford to cherish en en- mity unity I shall shaH ask you ou to go with me to the tepee of the head bead chief Dupont hesitated and ended by complying with the request They found old Ti-owa-konza Ti seated in his tepee w waiting for the white chiefs chles to cull call a council councH When with Duponts Dupont's aid Hardy explained that he lie must go away uway the noble old chiefs chief's stolidity fell from him like a mask and he rose t to cry ery out in h Impassioned speech against the departure of the tribes tribe's true friend Hardy could only express his deep regret and und repeat that he had to obey the orders of ot his own head bead chief When he had e explained the report on irrigation that he was mullIng mallIng mull mull- Ing lug to the Indian bureau he exchanged trifling gifts of friendship with the chief and tore himself away The policeman was waiting with the mare Hardy Hurdy gave him a coin and swung Into the saddle One last word Dupont he said Kindly tell your daughter what I said about not cherishing enmity How about Mr Van questioned Dupont You Yon need say nothing to him from me But But Dut- Hardy bent over In the saddle to bring his stern face race J near near r the traders trader's I advise you to watch that young man Dupont stood for some time staring after the officer When he started for Cor his store before which a n crowd of or Indians Indians In In- were waiting his shrewd eyes were narrow with calculation and his stubby forefinger was rubbing the grizzled grizzled grizzled griz griz- hair under the brim of his hat Hardy permitted the mare marc to choose e her own pact As he neared the foot of ot the valley vaHey I he saw Re bear an and OInna riding up the creek from the road rond crossing Th The girl drooped In ner saddle as if Ill W. A nearer view confirmed his suspicions I n was intoxicated and he was abusing his sister In the foulest of language When Hard Hardy approached the girl averted her shame reddened face and drooped still lower over her pony's withers leered Insolently Insolently insolently Inso Inso- at the Intruder nad burst hurst Into a n drunken en laugh Though his body was reeling he had almost perfect control of his bis tongue tongue- Look at him Weena Veena the the- the Hero Here followed a number of obscene epi epi- epi- epi That man of or yours ours lost no time Th The tin sol soldier ler Is on the run Told you wo we had fixed him You drunken en dog I 1 said Hardy Keep quiet and go home going to make me challenged challenged challenged chal chal- the tile halfbreed his bloodshot eyes flaring with |