The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-12-29
CHAPTER VII.
The Common Law.

Inere was St1ll more imam d trace OF
red in Hardy's sallow cheeks when Ma
RE, Vandervyn and Dupont came in
upon him at the Office. Dupont held
out a congratulatory hand.
"By gar, Cap" he said, "you sure
had mighty close squeak of 1t that
time. Guess old III got ALFRED hot.
Where's Charlie?"
'Redbear? I sent him to reassure
his sister and the families Of the po-
lice."
''That was very thoughtful Of you,
captain" said Marie.
"But 1t would be far more consider
ate If you would leave the reserva-
tion," added Vandervyn.
"How sol" queried Hardy.
"Of course, you'll fancy am think
ing Of my promotion. But it's not
that at all. Ask jake"
II got 1t from the Piece" said Du-
pont. 'The whole bunch was crazy
to shoot you; they'd done it, too. only
Charlie sings out to 'em that Mr.. Van
was going to be agent, and you'd go
away"
'He said that2" --s. ~
"Oh, captain, don't be angry at Char
lie," interceded Marie. "He had to do
it to save fight"
"But why? I could not have been
more friendly. Yet everything said
seemed to anger them"
II told you they're a ornery bunch"
replied Dupont. "It was for because
you being On officer. The chiefs hate
all soldiers like pizen. Most of the
old ones was In the ghost-dance craze,
and got Jailed by the soldiers"
"They may cool down and be willing
to listen to reason" argued Hardy.
Cool down? They'll 60 back and
sit and stew and stew till hell boils
over. Next thing happens, they'll stir
up the young bucks. Nom dun CHEN
Just when was Citing enough ahead
in my business to take care Of my
old age and give Marie chance to be
a lady-to stand to lose everything
and her and my scalp to bootr'
"You are free to leave here with her
whenever you WISH"
''No, amt. can't leave my store
all my property"
"There would be no danger If II
were not for you" said Marie, her
eyes flashing with indignation. IF
only you had not come herel If there
Is an outbreak, 1t will be all your
faultw
'Mine?"
"Oh, know you mean well. But
If they've taken this violent dislike to
you Why ever did you conner You
saw how they like Mr.. Van. Had they
thought you would insist on staying,
nothing could have kept them from
attacking you. But the promise that
Mr.. Van is to be their agent, that paci.
fed them. Had you never come here,
all this would not have happened. The
chiefs would have come to talk with
Mr.. Van, and would have gone back
satisfied"
Hardy swung around in his chair to
scrutinize the guileless face Of Van.
dervyn.
"What do you say to that, sirY he
Intercepted.
"What can 1 say?" replied Wander.
vyn, twisting the tip Of his blond mus
tache. "It Is for you to decide to
leave for the good of the tribe, OF
to stay and take the chance of an I'D.
rising"
"The way you put it" considered
Hardy. Perhaps 1t might be better
for all concerned if should leave"
"You bet it would, Cap" eagerly
broke in Dupont. "'Tain't no joke
Them ornery cusses II git you like
they done with Nogen, just as sure
as shooting"
Vandervyn shot furious glance al
the blunderer. Marie was looking al
Hardy. But she did not need to see
the tightening of his lips to realize
what her father had done.
"Oh, PEREZ" she reproached. "why
did you say it? You should have
known Captain Hardy could not leave
after that"
"Quite right, Miss Dupont" said
Hardy.
"You mean, you won't leave" asked
Dupont.
"How can he" Vandervyn smoothly
cut in. you've put 1t up to him that
1t would be deserving his post under
fire. He's an army officer-he wouldn't
leave now even if he knew his staying
here meant certain massacre for n