Show J A Modem 1 l n Th e. e 0 t eJr b D c Story py Robert Am Capt Floyd Hardy U. U S. S A. A coming to take charge of the agency at ati i Lakotah Indian Indian re following the murder of of Agent rescues rescues res res- cues a girl and two men from an Indian attack They are arc r Reginald agency clerk and nephew of Senator Clemmer J Jacques Dupont post trader and his daughter Marie Hardy learns that had been promised the agency position discovers that the Indians are disaffected because they have been cheated In a tribal mine which and Dupont have been boen working Is puzzled puzzled tied when his friendly speech to tribesmen Interpreted by Vander Vander- tool angers the Indians and determines to make further New Influences arising at this point make his position L difficult How his life and honor are arc endangered through dark plotting plot plot- ting Is Iff graphically described In this installment r L Lg k kv i CHAPTER VIII VIII Continued t 5 had arranged to be gone goney y ft ti week There was no cause to discuss dis- dis cuss Cass the Um time of his return and Mar Ma- Ma a 1 r tie seldom mentioned him Hardy was not often otten annoyed by the vision islon of the bet bej between be- be handsome fellow interposing t j tween himself and the girl From day to fo day It could plainly be seen how the rides In the pure moun- moun f e tale tain air and the delight of the girls girl's t companionship were bringing back strength and vigor to the officers officer's rl weakened tropic-weakened body Soon a n healthy d' d dred red appeared under the tan of his cheeks The lines of severity and repressed repressed ret re- re t pressed grief began to smooth away On the morning of the seventh day v when he rode over to Join Marie for tor a n ride out to the butte on Wolf river r V. V ten years seemed to have dropped from j him Even when he lifted his Ills hat to the girl and exposed the silvered hair hall hairat at his temples he looked nearer t J twenty five than thirty He had hadi i shaved off ofT his bristly mustache I If f Positively captain she bantered you startle me You are growing so sor r young I First thing I know I shall 1 be feeling myself a grandmother in contrast replied t Impossible he gallantly f You are the Spirit of Youth Being Ing f with you is what makes maltes me seem so 1 1 much younger than I am Yet I shall shallI I L never see two thirty-two again t. t Youre barely of age this morning I It t- t she ehe said smiling at nt his shapely clean clean- r f shaven Up lip j i. i In cn that case you must humor my callowness by pretending you need m. m my aid to mount Y t. t I She put one small booted foot in his hist I t hand rose with the lightness of a feather and perched herself sideways f. f p. p on her mans man's saddle Unused to such IP k strange behavior the pony began to f. f buck Hardy sprang to seize the beast i A by the Ithe head Marie waved him aside r and proceeded to give an Impromptu P exhibition of her skill as a an nn With one knee crooked around the thet Shorn t horn of her saddle she kept her difficult dUn dUn- t- t cult seat like a circus rider until the pony subsided 1 t Youve ridden to hounds stated Hardy nardy as ns the girl swung astride and they started of off down the valley She smiled with gratification Reggie Reg 5 t gie gle never notices such things but butr r you you you- The first time I saw a sider sidesaddle side side- r saddle I thought It ridiculous On their way down the valley they r met no one for the families of the police had moved back to their old camp site opposite the agency Marie MarieT T su suggested that they climb the butte I With subtle coquetry she gave Hardy i the privilege of assisting her up the ledges though had she chosen she site sher r could have luwe him They mounted to the top of the highest crag where they sat down on the bare rock 4 1 t to view the plains and mountains through Hardys Hardy's glasses The utter stillness and solitude the immensity of Y k the cloudless blue dome above them the great sweep of the landscape landscape all all allf f tended to quiet the excitement of their lively ascent A hush fell upon them f f M Marie fie let the hand that held the g ses sink into her lap She gazed off up the river dreamy After a prolonged silence Hardy murmured In a whisper half-whisper How alone we are i The world Is young young young-It It Itis is the beginning of time Ume And in all nil r the new young world you and I 1 are alone alone l Marie If It was the first time that he had ever used her given name in Iu speaking f I to her She started from her daydream dayi dayt day- day i dream the color deepening In fn her herI t I checks cheeks In the same moment she became became be- be c came aware that she had been looking at a n moving object i i Look cLook 1 I she said lifting the glasses I r to her eyes That must be the head l- l K land and shoulders of ot a n man He Is riding riding rid rid- ing Ing along on the far side of the ridge ridge ridge- ridge r. r i an- an an Indian his head is muffled in to a blanket V Marie I l softly repeated Hardy The girl sprang to her feet He uHe HeI I has bps tillS disappeared disappeared but but we are no longer n r alone OJ in the world Captain Hardy yet Let et us go down with instant repression of his dis- dis anD Appointment ointment Hardy took the glas glasses es esad Bad and ad offered his hand band to assist her down downto the to first ledge She IJ Ignored nored Ufo UJo offer Nor did she permit him to help helI her at atell ell d the descent Her pony leaped away with the usual jumping start sturt of a bronco The mare stepped cl clear ar of the low scrub near neur T. the he rill edge out upon the tho sandy level levelt t ct cf the coulee bottom She was In th the t. t of breaking Into a u trot when her hei herr r v r riders rider's hat whirled from his head hea and he pitched sideways out of the saddle as if struck by lightning A moment later the report of the tho shot reached Marie She glanced over her shoulder and saw Hardy outstretched on the ground flaccid and inert With a suddenness that almost threw her pony off oft his nimble feet she wrenched him around The mare had bad stopped within two strides and twisted twist twist- ed her head about to look at nt 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 Hardys Hardy's rifle out of Its sheath and leveled it across the saddle But she could see no sign of the assassin and no second second second sec sec- ond bullet came whirring across the coulee Without a second look up the coulee she bent over over to rip the hem from her underskirt This gave her a n bandage Her own and Hardys Hardy's handkerchiefs handkerchiefs handkerchiefs hand hand- kerchiefs served for a compress Swiftly Swift Swift- ly she bound them on the long wound above his temple and stopped the bleeding When at last he opened his eyes his head was In her lap He gazed up Into her clown bent face tace his mind still in ina ina ina a daze A frown of pain creased his forehead He murmured in the querulous querulous querulous lous tone of a sick child Mother mother I Instinctively her soft hand began to smooth away the frown with a gentle caressing touch His HIi eyes eres closed in restful contentment The girl continued continued continued con con- to stroke his forehead Suddenly Suddenly Suddenly Sud Sud- denly his eyelids lifted and he looked up with the clear bright gaze of full consciousness He Ho saw the womanly compassion in her beautiful face Her HerVes Hert t t. t Ves es were tender and lustrous with sympathy for his suffering Marie I he murmured It is you I II I I I-I I thought my mother mother- Hush I she said You have been shot in the head I 1 do not know how serious it is Shot In the head He lay still considering this Her look had not altered under his gaze From her utter lack of self-consciousness self he divined that she thought him dangerously if not fatally wounded After a n pause lIe ho began to speak with the calmness that sometimes masks the most profound feeling You scarcely know me but me-but but in the circumstances I trust you will pardon me for not for not waiting I love you From the first I 1 thought you the most beautiful ful girl I had ever seen Now I know Marie He Murmured It Is You Youl you OU to be the most lovely your lovely your soul as beautiful as your face Do not shake your head bead It is the truth She averted her shame flushed face I I 1 I cannot permit you to speak to me methis methis methis this way You are too good and kind to refuse to hear me he replied in the same I calm voice I know about him I know I have no chance dear He Is young and handsome while I I- I IThe The pale lips curved In a n quizzical smile The girls girl's bosom heaved The tears overran her brimming eyes ees You are are aro generous I I 1 did not think any man could be so generous I 1 Again his lips curved whimsically Perhaps I am generous because there Is no other course open I would ask you would you would urge you you you-to to marry me me ItI If It I thought I had even a fighting chance I of winning you Marry you You would ask me Yet you ou know what my father tather Is like and you army people are so proud I an on Indian and my father what he Is I IMy IMy IMy My mother passed mother passed away only away only a few months ago ngo Sho was all I had hod Now I shall always have the thought of your goodness In addition to tho the dear memory of her The girl turned her face taco still farther away awny from him I cannot endure endure- You shall not think of ot me that way I II I uI beg your pardon Miss Dupont he apologized It Is most inconsiderate and ungenerous of me to lie here claiming claimIng claiming claim claim- ing your sympathy on false pretenses I feel my strength coming back It must bo be that tho the bullet merely grazed m my head Before she could prevent him he twisted about and raised himself on his elbow Oh I she sho remonstrated You should not move He forced a laugh between his clenched teeth No its it's what I I thought thought only only a n scratch All right now except for n a little dizziness I have been imposing on your our sympathy sympathy- Did you see where the shot came from I must go and rout out the rascal The ho girl grasped his rifle rUle and sprang up away awa from him You shall not go sho she declared Im sure he ran away awny the moment you fell Hardy straightened on his knees and androse androse androse rose unsteadily to his feet teet His voice was as ns firm as ns his pose was tottery Be so kind as to help me to mount Hardy turned his mare down the cou cou- lee Marie despite his protests rode between him and the ridge behind which she had seen the blanketed man CHAPTER IX The Coquette Unable to endure the Jar of a trot or gallop Hardy urged the mare to her fastest walk They had bad gone less than thana a mile wh when n a horseman came loping loving up the slope from Sioux creek It uIt is Mr said Hardy In Inan inan inan an even tone Yes she replied She handed back the glasses but did not look at him until rode up I Tho The young mans man's face tace was flushed I as ns If he ho had been drinking When he heI I pulled up before them he was seemingly seeming seeming- I ly Iy so struck with Hardys Hardy's appearance that he scarcely heeded Maries Marie's Joyful greeting the matter captain 7 he ex ex- ex- ex claimed Youre as ns white as a ghost and and your our head tied up I You must musti i have come a nasty cropper Bit of an accident Not serious replied Hardy It could not well have havo been closer said Marie Captain Hardy has been shot Shot cried The uThe bullet grazed the bone above the temple Had it been half an nn inch lower or farther back it must have killed him Half an inch repeated His face crimsoned and the veins of his forehead began to swell Where is the fellow Did he get away How Howlong Howlong Howlong long ago ngo was it Loan me the mare Hardy Ill I'll run him down Very good of you to offer said Hardy But the rascal might ambush you Well We'll order out a squad of po po- lice Ilce Besides I wish your report on your trip I 1 presume is at nt atthe atthe the agency agency turned scowling No uNo a face towards the butte as if angrily eager to be off In pursuit of the would- would be assassin Charlie went back to Thunderbolts Thunderbolt's camp to see if his sister sister sister sis sis- sis sis- ter was getting along all right with the old chief I told him that if he was welcomed he had better stay a n few days If It he and the girl make themselves themselves themselves them them- selves agreeable we shall have a n better better better bet bet- ter chance to quiet the tribe You found conditions still sUll unfavorable unfavorable unfavorable able Yes All the chiefs took a n violent dislike to you and they had stirred up the whole tribe Charlie and I 1 talked and talked You know a white man mani i can talk Indians Into anything if he keeps at it it What result snapped Hardy shrugged I know we made some impression especially on old Thunderbolt The chiefs no doubt would bo be willing to let you visit the camps on safe conduct so to speak but I 1 doubt if they could keep the wildest wild wild- wildest est of the young bucks In hand This shooting proves it I 1 tell you captain none of us here would think any the thel l less Ss of you if you cut the whole busi busi- ness I shall start sturt for tor the mountains to- to morrow Tomorrow remonstrated Marie Your Tour wound you wound you must wait at least until it lt has begun to heal And in the meantime and Oinna will be talking Ti-owa Ti owa konza konza and his camp Into a milder mood That last Is a most excellent argument argument argument ment said Hardy and his firmly compressed lips curved in a smile at nt atthe atthe the girl I ul shall take tako your advice Miss Dupont had bad frowned over oyer the concern In Maries Marie's voice Hardys Hardy's response response response re re- re- re started the veins of his forehead forehead forehead fore fore- head swelling He looked off oil away from tho the two and remarked In a casual cas cas- casual ual voice Ill ride In ahead and or or- der out a squad of policemen to track do don do n the scoundrel Jake can Interpret interpret inter Inter- pret If Im I'm unable to make them un un- tie Good I 1 said ald Hardy shot at nt Marie Marle a glance of Jealous anger and put spurs to his bis pinto But when they reached the val valley ey and saw through the glasses the sq squad ad of police only Just leaving the agency Marie conjectured that the Jaded pinto had slowed to a walk while going up the valley At last Marie and Hardy reached the theng ng agency nc With the assistance of ot Van Van- who came come out of tho Dupont ho house se to meet them he was helped dO down VU from l his ls mare marc to a n cot In the shady porch Here In the open air nir Marie washed tho the wound and took several sev sev- eral stitches to draw the edges to to- During the operation which Hardy endured without a n groan stood by Watching Maries Marie's face with sullen Jealousy The moment she had hadr r bandaged the wound he suggested that it would be well to leave Hardy quiet In reply she asked him to go gotor for tor Ice When he returned he found her sitting beside tho the cot fan tan in hand Hardy had fallen asleep She rose roseand roseand roseand and went Into the house and Vander Vander- followed her Tho The young man made no attempt to conceal his anger He closed the parlor par par- parlor lor door and turned upon her So that's what youve you've been up to all nIl the time Ive I've been away Up to what pray Coquetting with that old fossil of a atin atin atin tin soldier Am I not a dutiful daughter the girl parried Mon pere said I must make myself agreeable to the agent He did Why not go and ask him if you doubt what I say soy I UI dont That's Just It damn It-damn damn it all alii 1 l |