Show ON ROBE T AMES BENNET I 1 1 sy ft 13 brawne 4 6 CO 1 CHAPTER 13 he tn in turn was so intent upon maneuvering neu vering to have himself spoken to by that most genial of hosts the president that he tailed failed to see marie until she spoke to him the first sight of her bewildered him and ills his bow did not cot altogether hide bide the effects of he delicious shock given him by her jazzmin beauty but lie ile quickly recovered coverer his self possession when he that she was with Vand vanderlyn Vandor ervyn that young man though more boyishly handsome hand han donle tome than ever bore himself with rather a sullen air ne ile met hardys clear gaze with a forced smile the irlie smile sivile became still more forced dihe i n the girl transferred her hand band from his bis arm to hardys only a very few minutes she soothed the disappointed lover whatever you say he deterred deferred to her caprice and he drew back to speak to tn a 3 sharp oyed eyed man near the president hardy was gazing into the wonderful blue black eyes of ills his companion they were as inscrutable as when he had bad last looked into their depths ile he tried to speak calmly but his voice shook do you know that you are by tac far the e most beautiful woman here her long lashes drooped and rose again to ta disclose the same inscrutable look so I 1 have deen told several times already I 1 wished a few moments with you that I 1 might thank you for your generosity it has given me the great opportunity of my trip abroad and this visit in washington 1 I am saying saving all the reports of your social triumphs he said they have made me very happy again the girls lashes drooped that is good of you it Is quite necessary tor for roe me to become the rage if i I 1 am to force a recognition from reg gies relatives ile he says that fortunately his fiancee has become interested in another man who Is quite as eligible as himself hardys eyes contracted yet he did not falter e since it will brin bring you happiness I 1 wish him good fortune you ton do the question was almost an exclamation but the girl at s once ilice regained her quiet composure 1 I do not understand if you wish him good fortune why then do you seek to prevent him from receiving his compensation as attorney tor for the tribe 1 I said good fortune replied hardy any money paid him on that contract would be tainted marie arched her black eye eyebrows brows Is it not true that he will get through a much larger appropriation than otherwise would have been made the lands are fully worth the amount agreed upon st stated anted hardy the tribe should receive all the ap honest lobbying would carry the bill through at a cost of a few hundred dollars these supposed friends odthe of the tribe want millions do you wish to deprive me of the share that 1 I would receive through him yes ot of every dishonest dollar said hardy his mouth stern though this his eyes besought her to forgive his harshness you have enough al ccady 11 e are you certain she rejoined you may have heard that mines often pinch out or run into valueless ore you can guess why pere and I 1 have told no one least of all reggie 11 hardy remained unshaken it if he Is worthy of you that will make mak difference to him but myself 2 1 I am already used to luxury pleaded the girl down in your heart you know the values in life that are real he said you do not wish tor for wealth gained through fraud 1 1 I I have ao not admitted that there la is any fraud in the contract perhaps it Is as well he be remarked you should not doubt your future husband she flashed him an odd quizzical look no I 1 cannot doubt my future husband now captain hardy I 1 must believe in him if I 1 am to tb be happy must I 1 not yes agreed hardy she uttered a gay little trill of that ls Is so good of you to say tt it captain it makes me feel that I 1 really must do something tor for you in ia return may I 1 not offer you a little loan of say three or four thousand thou simil dollars I 1 understand that tor for some strange reason or unreason you have refused your pay as captain my resignation has not been withdrawn und and I 1 am engaged in a private enterprise I 1 cannot draw pay as an officer la in the service explained hardy few would be so quixotic she argued most would make the excuse that an attempt to frustrate what they considered a wrong to others Is not to be considered a private enterprise 1 I must beg to differ with you miss akl t dupont rhen ea let tt it pass but the little toan toane very good of you to otter offer hony however I 1 believe I 1 have enough left to last me through and in any event could not impose on your generosity the money would be used against him which you soe see would hardly do then you refuse any loan it was most kind of you to make the offer don quixote de la ia mancha she murmured tilting at machine windmills he replied though there was no trace of bitterness or satire in his wit her chin lifted to the angle of offended ded pride that Is sufficient captain hardy may I 1 ask you to take me back to him Vand vanderlyn ervyn was waiting for her near the president As they approached him she gave hardy a look of half you must understand captain that that I 1 i oust must do as my heart dictates though I 1 confess that lobbying Is far from agreeable to me I 1 have already met his excellency and he has been so kind as to promise me a hearing shearing 1 I cannot wish you success he replied slie she gave him a quizzical glance and turned away with vanderlyn Vand ervyn standing in the eager jostling crowd that waited for a word or even a nod from the president he fully appreciated prec precia ted the ease with which in the midst of so groat great a crush she managed to obtain several moments conversation apart with the nations chief magistrate she was still beside the president when the sharp eyed man to whom vanderlyn Vand Vander ervyn vya had bad spoken came around reside beside hardy and murmured a few words in his ear hardy looked him in the I 1 eye bowed and quietly started to move away the man followed him until he had left the white house CHAPTER condemned the court martial began its session at nine in the morning and the trial of hardy was over before three in the afternoon vanderlyn Vand ervyn testified to the suppression by the accused of the existence of the developed mine and of Red bears misconduct hardys statements in explanation of his actions were as brief as they wore were cold and dry acting as a civil officer he had considered the question of withholding withholding any mention of the mine as a matter within his discretion when interrogated whether he had not taken advantage of this suppression to enter the contest and win the mine for himself his bald admission of the fact unaccompanied by any esplana i i tion of his motives was received by his officer judges with marked gravity the other charges were far more serious and he opposed them with vigor ile he dented denied emphatically any intention to td desert or to remain permanently absent from hi his s proper duties without leave and showed the 01 1 N L I 1 11 I 1 1 could not impose on your gene rosity gram from a high official in the war department that led him to believe ills bis resignation and application for leave of absence would be at once favorably acted upon by his commanding officer at vancouver barracks this lr in some circumstances might have been con coa sufficient excuse tor for his cou luct duct but his refusal to explain his reason tor for taking advantage of his secret knowledge of if the mine percept perceptibly ibI Y influenced the members embers in of the cou court rt to doubt the statement of his purpose in coming to washington though the court martial adjourned without rendering its findings finding gs ho he left the courtroom ten years older in appearance pe arance than when ho he entered the regretful glance of the tha most frA friendly endly of hla his judges seemed plainly to indicate what would be tho the findings the thought of voluntarily resigning from the service had been hard to be cashiered cashi ered was almost unendurable yet he walked out with walh his back bach straight and hla his head well up ile ho went directly to the white house and sent in ila a written application tor for an interview with the president it was waa refused he went to his lodgings and spent the remainder of the day and half tho the night dr drafting efting and re drafting a concise statement of his argument against contract this he addressed to the president and stamped for mailing lie ile wrote nothing with regard to his bis own case when near morning ho he at last fell asleep he was so near exhaustion that he did not waken until late the hour set for or the reconvening of the he court martial had already come ke he sprang into ills his uniform with a celerity that might light have reminded a fellow officer of reveille tn in cadet barracks at west point the worn wom soles of his highly polished shoes beat a tattoo on the detless old stairs by which he descended to the street chedid he ald not hot turn to go in tor for a belated breakfast at the nip meager ager table of his landlady ile he hastened along the few feet of narrow hall to the street door As he drew it open another man in uniform stepped into the doorway and confronted him the other of officer fleer saluted hardy responded mechanic mechanically illy for all his cool look he was astonished the man before him was the prest presidents dents e military aide captain floyd hardy at your service you should now be in attendance nt upon the court martial stated the alde aide with cold severity 1 I shall explain to the court replied hardy IS if not delayed I 1 shall be only a few you will cozewith come with me interrupted the aide still more severely your conduct ha has s been brought to the attention of the president it Is to be seen sir whether you will continue to refuse to answer the inquiries of your superiors hardy went white but his jaw set firm with grim resolution he stepped out beside the aide and crossed the sidewalk to the waiting motor As they were whirled away over the sleety asphalt the aide st with more than military stiffness his head and body half averted from his companion as if to avoid contamination hardy sat as stiffly at the other extreme of the seat the ride was short the scar car made a sudden turn and curved around to the executive offices of the president hardy looked at his companion perplexed the face of the aide showed only the stern watchfulness of one who has a reputedly danger dangerous ous prisoner under arrest at the entrance he stepped behind as it if apprehensive that hardy might attempt to escape A A doorkeeper conducted them along a corridor into A a small waiting room he passed into the room beyond but reappeared in ia a few moments and signed to Hardy to enter hardy stepped into the room and the door was closed behind him the aide and the doorkeeper had remained outside hardy looked around with a frown of perplexity across the room a man sat writing at a businesslike desk there was no ono one else present the man turned in his swivel chair and abruptly made a beckoning gesture hardys hand went up in salute as he stepped forward he was in the presence of the commander in chief of the army and navy the president looked him up and down with a severe glance you are captain floyd hardy yes sir the same who suppressed the late insurrection in the sulus 1 Thap I happened ened to be in command at the time sir after that you obtained a detail your conduct in discharge of which has resulted in your trial by court martial on serious charges I 1 have before me tp the e findings odthe court the circumstances are exceptional because of your record and of certain statements that have been presented to me I 1 have been persuaded to give you an opportunity to explain your conduct hardy haidy saluted permit me sir to first present for your i consIder consideration atIo n a matter relating to the interests of the tribe which 2 ordered the president others are arc walting waiting for interviews I 1 can give you only ten minutes it if you expend them on this other matter you will have no further opportunity to state your own case r the the court mar bial co covered vered the facts sir if those facts sustain th the charges against me me i lien I 1 am guilty and desire no clemency that Is all alli I 1 have to say on my own case sir with with regard to the matter which I 1 desire to present sito Sit down ordered the president you have nine minutes be brief hardy seated himself and proceeded to present his argame argument a t agal against n st th the e Vandor oon contract tract he spoke dellb deliberately eia era tely but with a conciseness that covered what he had to say fully and cle clearly arly in words as forceful as they wore were few the president listened attentively tent ively but with no change la ia his expression ek at the end of eight hardy stopped the president showed a trace of surprise la that all you have to say there Is still a minute 11 that is all sir replied hardy rising the president touched a call button but raised his finger one moment what if I 1 should co confront you with witnesses 1 As I 1 have stated sir my only request Is that all the witnesses la ia the case be exa examined there aro are some already nt at hand you shall see what they have to say about your charges charge VI the alde aide appeared and immediately went out again at a sign from the president ile he returned with vander ryn at sight ot of hardy hardi the young man stopped short but meeting the prel presidents dents cordial smile came forward with easy assurance marie maric did not look at hardy as shor sho followed the president addres addressed qed vanderlyn Vand ervyn kaptain dap tain hardy has declined beeline d to ask for clemency I 1 have decided to sustain the findings of bf the court martial jn in the face of all this he has had the temerity to make a charge of fraud against your indian contract vanderlyn Vand ervyn nodded captain hardy Is too skilled a strategist not to realize that the best way to shield himself is to raise the cry of stop thief t against others does he allege that the signatures to my co contract are forged the signatures are genuine they were obtained by fraud bluntly charged nardy hardy sly my word Is as good or perhaps somewhat better than that of a cash fared officer rejoined vanderlyn Vand ervyn you tou deny the charge the president stated rather than than inquired I 1 most em emphatically pleasantly agreed vanderlyn Vand ervyn ne he looked significantly can ti y from hardy to marle marie As a sol my words aj as good or better than a cashiered Cashi ered officers Officer ls adler until recently the gallant captain probably believes in the saying that all Is ii fair in war and love marie lowered her eyes the president looked thoughtful of course sir mr vanderlyn Vand ervyn there can be no question when it Is a matter of your word against his yet were there an any other witnesses than yourselves and the indians your tour excellency evidently has not seen the contract said vanderlyn Vand ervyn it Is duly witnessed by charlie I 1 the official interpreter and by his sister ah the interpreter you say this matter may be rumored in the house and even in the senate it will be wellbor well for you to send for the man Vand ervyn shrugged cant do I 1 it tl even to oblige you mr president the fellow has gone to the place where cold storage Is unknown my uncle told you about the affair the fellow was drunk he aimed his gun at me I 1 supposed it loaded and shot him la in self defense hardy was present he cant deny what I 1 say without for swearing himself hardy met the presidents look of inquiry and bowed in confirmation of the statement the president again look looked ed thoughtful that leaves th the mans sister as the only witness to the contract it would be well if she could |