Show n nn nn n o B The n n o B p LI D LIAn j An n Indian Aan Reservation Tale by ROBERT AMES BENNET f O B the killing of Agon Agen FOLLOWING among the Indians Capt Flo Floy reservation as acting agent to from ambush and falls In love lo-c w wl s She neither accepts nor refuses hl hi and aud are arc Intimates H tec d because Maries Marie's father Ja and Reginald agency mer have cheated them in an Jib to right the wrong He makes frt fri cou council at the mine What occurs occur s Work against the captain captain Is Is tol tolf tol CHAPTER XIV XIV Continued i 8 Hardy was greeted with a murmur of ot r. r come a and d admiration and the crowd made a path through their midst to the Inner ring ring- of ot the chiefs Followed by and Oinna he walked along the passage between the living walls of silent furtive eyed Indians and seated himself himself himself him him- self on the blanket that had been spread for him beside old owa Tl-owa- konza Shortly b before fore the start down Into the valley had again borrowed his superiors superior's writing pad and fountain pen He now sat down at Hardys Hardy's shoulder with the pad and pen ready After a ceremonious silence the head chiefs chief's crier announced the purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose of ot the council This was followed fol- fol r fol followed l- l lowed by declamations from three orators orators orators or or- whose main purpose seemed to tobe tobe tobe be to give an exhibition of their their- abilIty ability abil abil- ity In painting word pictures When they had finished TI-owa-konza TI arose and rind warmed the hearts of his people with an Impassioned eulogy of ot their new friend the chief of the Long- Long knives k ives who had come to be a father to the tribe Hardy then explained the uie good that had resulted on other reservations from Crom the taking of land In severalty severally and advised that the council name a delegation of chiefs to go at once to Washington and ask for the confirmation confirmation mation oration of at the new treaty More than once once nce during interpretation of ot the acting agents agent's statements Oinna betrayed surprise Ti-owa-konza Ti noU noticed no no- U cd this sooner than Hardy He spoke to his granddaughter The girl cast a timid look at and andI I hesitated Her brother smiled cunningly and J said Its all right Tell him that queried Hardy Nothing Nothing nothing sir quavered 1 the girl Only Charlie Charlie he he added something to what you said sold r I III put In that you and Mr Van VatI Va would try to get them big pay for forthe forthe the mineral lands boldly explained Surely youve you've no objection to that captain remarked Was that all Hardy asked the girl Yes sir He only only only-It Very well well I have no objection to the statement But I now must decidedly decidedly de de- Insist upon an exact Interpretation interpretation inter Inter- of what I say Miss Red- Red bear you will tell me at once if your our brother either fails falls to Interpret what I tell him or makes any additions additions- Ye s sir if It- It faltered Oinna Her covert glance of ot appeal met with a reassuring smile from She ventured to look up at Hardy and und her voice became steadier Yes sir of ot course Only Charlie was Just trying to help and he wont won't do It again Hardy resumed his explanations and advice When he had finished several rn more e orators had to exhibit their elo elo- quence The council then proceeded to i rcpt the acting agents agent's advice and name name a delegation As TI konza owa insisted that he was too old to venture ven yen ture so long a Journey among the white men flee five of f the younger sub- sub chiefs and headmen were chosen to tribe the f represent During the closing ceremonies of the the council leaned forward beside Hardy and showed him an abbreviated abbreviated abbreviated ab ab- but accurate memorandum of Dt the proceedings Its It's as w well ll to have huye these things in jn black and white he suggested We Ve could get the chiefs to sign this before the council breaks up up Very good A record may be valuable valuable able for future reference agreed Hardy Tie lie rapidly read the tho writing Interpolated Interpolated interpolated Inter Inter- a few words added udde a a line and gave It to to interpret When Wilen the council acknowledged the n accuracy curacy of the memorandum Hardy L t signed it and asked the chiefs to add marks with and Oinna n acting tini as witnesses At this Vander Vander- v n volunteered to serve as penman ordered to and officiously bring the chiefs over to a u nearby bowlder bo where they could more conye con con- ye l make their marks on the paper papier I Hardy offered no objection to this The council had finished its work a ant and d there them was nothing suspicious about abou suggestion that th the bowlder would afford an easy place for tor the chiefs to sign He Ho rose am and returned to his mare while the crowd flocked d off orr 10 lo the bowlder after the their chiefs lie He did not see Va 4 lay out two papers on the top tal of th the t NO en ennd and nd threats of an nn outbreak d Hardy U. U S. S A. A goes to Lakotah quell the trouble He Is wounded ith Marie Dupont who nurses him s s proposal of marriage because sheardy she sheard sheard ard ard ardy learns the Indians are arc Dupont a wily post trader lerk and nephew of oC Senator Clem- Clem gal tribal mine deal and purposes ends with the tribesmen and calls caUs n a there there how how desperate conspirators in this installment rock ock nor did he hear the smooth explanation explanation ex- ex that the agent wanted the chiefs to sign two copies of the memo memo- This statement nt was unhesitatingly unhesitatingly Interpreted by and the tie chiefs who knew by experience that hat most agency papers were signed in n duplicate made their crosses and thumb prints as fast as wrote their names on the two papers Oinna ventured to whisper to her brother rother that the papers did not look alike like He hastily repeated the remark to o The girl cringed close to 0 her gra grandfather dather But Dut showed no anger anger He smiled at her herin herin hern in n a manner that brought a blissful glow low Into her soft eyes and explained that hat one paper gave the proceedings of f the council In full while the other consisted of brief brIet notes He then murmured murmured murmured mur mur- to her something that at nt first brought rought a n shadow Into her Joyous face but ut in the end left her radiant with happiness When When the leading men of ot the tribe had ad signed the papers and and nd Oinna had attested as witnesses thrust the documents into his is pocket and went to rejoin Hardy As he lIe handed over oyer the tho paper that Hardy ardy had signed he remarked that If f there was as no objection and nd his sister would remain In the mountains with their grandfather until until un- un til 1 word should be received from the for the tribal delegation to o come on to Washington You ou are ready to return to the agency gency with me asked Hardy We can start at once If you wish assented Very liVery well said Hardy The girl shall hall remain here and you will come with me me Vande yn shrugged smiled good- good and vaulted Into his sad- sad dle le Still doubtful of his companion Hardy Hardy took the ponies of and Oinna In lead and rode over to where the brother and sister stood In the midst of ot their grandfathers grandfather's Immediate immedi- immedi ate te family When the girl confirmed statement that she wished to o remain In the mountains he took ceremonious leave of ot the noble old chief and rode off of to o rejoin hl his pa party ty I During the brief Interval Vander- Vander gay humor had disappeared He Be Hemet Hemet met Hardy with a frown and held out one ne of the letters t that at he had written that hat morning Seeing that it was addressed addressed addressed ad ad- dressed to himself Hardy tore open the he envelope and read the brief note within So he said fixing the younger man with a level glance your res- res to t 16 take effect at once It Is dated yesterday It would have been dated and presented presented presented pre pre- a n week ago If Id I'd had the slightest Idea you were going to Insult y l ir i ib b f d 2 1 i l lI I i iL L I 1 a J JA A Ive Iv Had Enough of Your Bullying me tae as you did yesterday burst out angrily have had Iton It Iton iton on the spot If tr I could have brought my myself myself self to bol borrow ow your pen and paper paper I III see said Hardy He reflected a remarked There seems moment and to be no reason why I should not accept accept accept ac ac- ac- ac your resignation if It you insist upon my acting on it ItI it itI had Ive I do said enough of your bullying Im I'm a free freeman freeman freeman man now not now not your clerk You will change your tone sir 11 It if you wish to ride in my company said sold self control that Hardy with a cool checked the others other's anger OU weren't such a n a. a Gad 1 If only you ri self righteous prig rig I exclaimed the man Youre so so sure yon yoi yone younger t e can cnn show cards and spades to the angels angels an- an gels jels I Im I'm out for tor the good things of life ife and I make no bones over it But that hat doesn't prevent me from being a blooming benefactor as well If It you wish to know the real reason why Im I'm resigning Its It's because I have planned to go on to Washington with the delegation delegation delegation dele dele- gation and pull wires to get the tribe a big slice of graft for their mineral lands ands Hardy saw the frank sincerity In his companions companion's eyes and responded to the he assertion with an Instant apology Mr I beg your pardon for or misjudging you At times your conduct has been ill advised but I Ino Ino Ino no longer doubt your good Intentions It takes an officer and gentleman to eat crow as if It It were quail 1 rallied with seemingly genial sar Do I understand that my resIgnation resignation res- res Ignation is Is accepted i If It you Insist I do Now that Is settled We make the return trip as equals said and as If It freed treed from all rancor by the thought he fell Into a mood of suave gayety CHAPTER XV A Lovers Lover's Promise When of ot the next day the he two white men and the pair of Indian Indian Indian In In- dian police pollee emerged from the canyon of Sioux creek Into the agency valley was still stIn as gay gay and good- good humored as at the start of ot the Jour jour- ney He even volunteered to Intervene Intervene intervene Inter Inter- vene for Hardy with Marie It Is very kind of you to make the offer replied Hardy in rather a stiff tone one If It Dupont is at home may I ask you to send him to the office Certainly replied and andall andall andall all the way down to the agency he chatted genially When they came to the level leyel behind the warehouse he waved his hand In friendly parting See you later Be sure to chop off your whiskers In time for supper You'll need to look your best est Dupont soon clumped into the tho agency office fairly oozing with Jovial friendliness Howdy 1 Howdy Cap 1 he greet greet- ed Marie she says shell she'll look to see you at supper Mr Van says you wanted to see me Anything I can cando cando cando do Cap Just call on me Im I'm ready to call quits now If you are Hardy accepted the proffered hand and exchanged a cordial grip This pleases me very much Dupont Dupont Dupont Du Du- pont he responded We will all now work together for the tribe I give you my best wishes that you may win the mine We got a fair tall show to seeing as ashow ashow ashow how you ou aint going to let on about ItIn It itin In n your report Now Just tell me what I 1 can do for you Merely a few words as ps Interpreter ter said sald Hardy I wish one of the police pollee at once to ride over to the railroad with these telegrams and let let let- terse The sooner I receive Instructions Instructions instructions to send the delegation to Washington Washington Wash Wash- lington ington the better no lie Mr Van says the money cant can't be appropriated till congress congress congress con con- gress meets but the treaty Is fixed up I Iso's sos so's the amount can be settled on and the reservation ordered divided up by bythe bythe bythe the treaty commission Ah I exclaimed Hardy We may get the agricultural lands allotted In time for the planting of winter wheat Come we will send off oft these tel telegrams telegrams tele tele- grams and letters I Since the return of the party from I the mountains not one of the police but was more than willing to serve the new agent Two of the younger men were soon cantering away down the valley on their best ponies proud of at the fact that they had been chosen to make the night ride to the railroad Hardy returned to the office with Dupont and became deeply absorbed In discussing ways and means for the development of the Indians as farm tarm- ers erSt When Dupont noted the hour there seemed scarcely time for even one of the captains captain's quick-change quick toi toi- tol- tol lets Yet he appeared at the door of the Dupont house spick and span and his beard clean shaven without having having having hav hav- ing required his hostess to watt walt supper supper supper sup sup- half a minute per L T As he entered in 10 response 10 to Dugouts Dugout's Du- Du m j-m- pouts gouts hospitable bellow there was a perceptible hesitancy In his manner Marie was seated at the far end of the room near n She rose and came forward to greet Hard Hardy her chin proudly There ere seems to have been a general general general gen gen- eral misunderstanding of or motives captain she remarked with frank di dI- I still consider that you were unduly harsh but I now understand understand understand under under- stand that you OU well and perhaps per per- hups haps had some excuse Reggie Heggie says sars that we are all to work together for forthe forthe forthe the good of the tribe It pleases me very much to hear bear you say it What interest have bave you In helping them she Fhe he queried evidently reluctant reluctant reluctant tant to believe his motives unselfish his official official of of- It means a n good marl mark on bantered record Every little thing counts on nn promotion promo promo- tion like tion-like merit marks at ut s su ool You see sec agreed Hardy I cant can't pretend to altruism I am ambitious to stand well In my profession If It I make a good showing when given a detail I put merit marks on my record record record rec rec- ord as Mr has hus so aptly expressed It Maries Marie's challenging gaze softened and she looked thoughtfully down at ather her lier white hands even ven self sacrifice a form of ot selfishness she sho murmured The appearance appearance of ot the Indian boy In the dining room doorway checked Hardys Hardy's reply During supper the tho girl remained unus unusually thoughtful and silent Hardy Hardy Hardy Har Har- dy discussed with Dupont plans for forthe forthe forthe the Instruction of ot the tribe In ture Tl The e Idea Iden had occurred to him that the government might permit him to build an Irrigation system for the farming lands of the tribe using Indian Indian In In- dian laborers and paying for the work out of ot money appropriated for forthe forthe forthe the sale of ot the mineral lands When chose to listen It was with a half-amused half smile that did not always al cover the underlying cynical Irony Most of ot the time he be devoted himself to an attempt to rally Marie out of her thoughtfulness Instead of responding she became more penNo penNo pen- pen 1 I u J UJ 1 t No We Must Walt Wait Until You Are Freed From Your Your Cousin sive Haray attributed the girls girl's half- half somber quietness to his presence As they left the supper table be he asked Dupont to come to the office Marie and followed them themas as far as vas the parlor where the young man dropped Into the easiest chair with a disgusted Lord 1 r he makes me weary |