Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-11-21
CHAPTER VII.
The Common Law.

RE, Vandervyn and Dupont came IN
upon him at the Office. Dupont held
out cOngratulatory hand.
by gar. Cap" he said, ''you sure
had a mighty close squeak of it that
time. Guess old III got alfred hot
Where's Charlie?"
"Redbear? l sent him to reassure
his sister and the families of the po-
lice"
"That was very thoughtful of you
captain" said Marie.
But it would be far more consider.
ate if you would leave the reserva.
/ ton" added Vandervyn.
How sO?" queried Hardy.
"Of course, you'll fancy am think
ing of my promotion. But it's not
that mt all Ask Jake"
Il got it from the p'leece," said Du-
pont 1.-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 that?"
'Oh, captain, don't be angry at Char
lie." interceded Marie. HE had to do
it to save fight"
But why? 1 could not have been
more friendly. Yet everything 1 said
seemed to anger them.''
Il told>you they're ornery bunch, =
replied Dupont. at was for because
you being an 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 go 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 l 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 boOt!"
you are free to Leave here with her
whenever you wish"
mo, amt. can't leave my store
ali my property"
There would b. no danger if 1t
were not for you," said Marie, her
eyes flashing with Indignation. IF
only you had not come here! If there
is an outbreak, it will be all your
fault !"
"Mine?"
"Oh, l know you mean well. But
if they've taken this violent dislike to
YOU Why ever did you come? 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 nct 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 sir?T he
Intercepted.
what can l say?" replied Wander.
vyn, twisting the tip of his blond mus
tache. TT is for you to decide to
leave for the good of the tribe, or
to stay and take the chance of an up
rising"
'The way you put it," considered
Hardy. Perhaps it 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 III git you like
they done with Nogen, just as sure
as shooting"
Vandervyn shot a 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.
"0h, Perel" she reproached. "Why
did you say it? You should have
known Captain Hardy could pot leave
after that"
"Quite right. Miss Dupontr said
Hardy.
"You mean. you won't leave?" asked
Dupont.
How can hep Vandervyn smoothly
cut in. you've put it up to him that
it 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 us
all. followed by certain massacre OF
the tribe by the troops"
Il win remain until / have made al
least one more effort TO pacify the
tribe" replied Hardy. "You are al
liberty to resign whenever you please
Mr.. Dupont has ample time to remove
his goods and his daughter from the
reservation
Not me" declared Marie Il don't
care what Pere and Reggie say:
know there is not one of the tribe who
would harm me, even in an outbreak.
We'll, mebbe not. adruitted her ia
ther.
Il gather that l am the only person
who seems TO be endangered. re
marked Hardy. This being so. viii
wait a few days for the excitement to
subside, and viii then call another
council"
They won't come agin 70 meet you.
predicted Dupont.
Then shall go TO them.-
into the mountains, captains@ ex.
claimed Marie, her splendid eyes Wild
ening with concern. surely you viii
not venture among the camps"
The tribe must learn that 1 mean
friendship
Dupont paused 10 scratch the side
of his head. But vandervyn spoke
without an instant's hesitancy: You
have no right to throw your life away