Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-12-14


troubling to close either tho door or
the one small window.
The next morning Hardy and Van
dervyn were seated In the agency Of
fee when Redbear came in and started
to shuttle around to his desk, on the
other side Of the Office partition.
wait" said Hardy. II wish the
chiefs and headmen OF The tribe sum-
moned to meet me In council as soon
as possible"
ut is a days ride to the camps
farthest back In the mountains" re-
marked Vandervyn.
Hardy considered, and looked up ut
Redhear.
'Does not this tribe use smoke sig
nals?"
"Not for long time, not since I ives
boy, sir. ! never learned how to do
it." ..
'That old sergeant OF police will
know" predicted Hardy. Gomez
vandervyn fingered behind the 9TH
ers, and followed them only to the
rear corner of the warehouse. When
| he had seen them ride off across Sioux
creek towards the highest cf the noun
tains that encircled the valley. he went
back into the office, opened the safe,
and carefully sorted over Its con-
tents. All letters addressed to the late
agent and to himself he took out and
locked In his desk.
Meantime Hardy and Redbenr with
the police sergeant passed through the
camp of the families Of the police,
where they added two old bucks to
their party. A pony trail led up through
the pines on the mountainside to the
bare granite crag of the summit. Mid
afternoon found the Indians standing
around greenwood fire, alternately
covering 1t with blanket and permit
ting puffs of the dense smoke to rise
In the still air.
In less than half an hour Hardy's
glasses showed him IN answering
smoke on peak fifteen or twenty
miles distant. When he called attention
to 1t, the police sergeant pointed out
still another smoke signal Off to the
left Of the first and several miles far
Their away. The old bucks turned from
the fire and started down to where the
mare and ponies had been left.
"The chiefs will come tomorrow"
Redbear interpreted their answer to
Hardy's inquiry.
The jaded blackboard ponies were
Juggling their load up the slope Of the
terrace when Hardy came down the
line of agency buildings at gallop
Marie Dupont was driving; but on the
seat beside her was brown-eyed
ollve-skinned girl. who averted her
handsome face with childish shyness
as Hardy wheeled his mare and refined
up alongside.
Marie flushed under the officers d.
rect gaze, though, unlike her compan
ion, she did not seek to avoid 1t. He
raised his hat with punctilious polite
ness. She bowed, and, gazing back al
him with a level glance, quietly re
marked: "Good afternoon, Captain
Hardy. have brought your luggage"
''That was very kind OF you," sait
Hardy as he glanced at the other girl.
Marie smiled In instant appreciation
Of the fact that he had spoken to hel
as to an equal. She patted her com
panion's work-reddened hand with hel
gloved fingers. This is Charlie Red
bears sister Oinna. They did not trea
her well at school, SO she ran away II
come home. / want her to live will
me but she says she must be with he
brother. You will not send her back z
The young girl looked at the new
agent with smile Of timid appeal, ant
as quickly dropped her head In bashfu
embarrassment. Hardy's gaze soft
|, ened, and he answered reassuringly:
"Redbear spoke Of his sister. 1t vii
be all right"
"You are most kind to Say It," mp
, proved Marie with the condescensiol
of gracious young queen. "CaptaiI
. Hardy. we shall expect you to din
with us this evening. I shall send owe
, your luggage In a few minutes. Yo,
, need not dress for dinner"