The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-12-28
CHAPTER u.
The Acting Agent.

Within a few minutes the party had
neared the top OF the ridge. The
thoroughbred mare came trotting up
from the hollow on the other side. At
sight Of them her rider brought her to
stand. The older man spurred his
pony up the round Of the summit. "By
Gar that wasn't no bad play you made,
parmer," he called. "Taklng the butte
gave you the drop on EN-"
The man whose strategy had routed
the Indians did not reply. The girl
looked up at him with confident ex-
pectancy in her sparkling eyes. He did
not move. The expression Of his harsh
features was severe, but there was q
flush under the tropical tan on his
checks.
She hesltated, her rich color deepen
Ing. Then her plQue gave way to a
more generous impulse. She drew the
gauntlet glove from her right hand.
Under his cold gaze her eyes again
hardened with offended pride, and
again they softened and glowed with
frank appreciation.
"Can you forgive meI" she.asked.
He bowed formally, "If you think
there Is anything to be forgiven"
"You know there is. l wish to apollo
glze."
She stood up In the blackboard and
held out her hand to him. 1t was very
white and shapely. He bowed over IL
with grave courtesy, as he took 1t In
his nervous clasp.
"You have no need TO apologize,
Miss -"
"Dupont-Marie Dupont"
"None whatever, Miss Dupont" he
went on. 81 should have explained my
intentions"
"Why didn't you make for the butte
first thing, instead Of crossing the cou-
lee?" broke in the blond young man.
81 did not wish to shoot until / un-
derstood the cause Of the trouble. There
was also the chance that they would
cease firing when rode towards them"
"That was nervy Of you" remarked
the girls father-"that and making
the second run when they'd come so
near Citing you the first time"
"You are Jacques Dupont, the Indian
traderl"
"That's me--only they make II Jake
this side Of Ottawa. Marie guessed
you're an army officer"
Captain Floyd Hardy, United States
cavalry" stated the newcomer as he
raised his glasses.
The blond young man Strengthened
out Of his insolently careless pose, and
spoke In the tone Of q gentleman: I:
"Pleased to meet you, Captain Hardy.
You were in command Of the Philip
pine constabulary force that sup
pressed the recent lnsurrectlon In the
Sulu islands. You received favorable
mention from congress. / am Reginald
Vandervyn Of the Vandervyns Of Stat
en- Island. Senator Clemmer is my
uncle"
The captain responded to the intro
ductlon with n curt bow.
"See anything of the pleeca, Capr
asked Dupont.
"Yes. They should be here in a few
minutes"
81 see them," said the girl. They're
coming down the slope this side Of the
Sioux Creek divide"
They're slow" growled Vandervyn.
"Tll ride back and head them cross
country. They have good horses. They
shall run out every buck In the bunch"
He spun his pony about to sprint
down the road Into the coulee. Hardy
uttered stern order: "BaltW
Angered at the command and still
more at the impulse that compelled
him to obey 1t, Yanderyyn twisted
about In his saddle to face the officer
with challenging stare.
"Keep that talk for your interiors"
he said. II am acting agent of this
reservation. What l say goes. I'll have
those bucks trailed till every one Of
them is in the guardhouse or feeding
the crows"