Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-12-15
CHAPTER VIII.
Rest-Laid Schemes

Hardy had gone to the DupOnts' for
supper when Vandervyn returned to
the agency. He made hasty toilet
and followed Marie met him with
marked coldness. This, however, melt
ed before he had finished his report to
Hardy. All agreed that the old chief
probably would take fancy to Oinna,
and that, as result, there would be
a fair chance of pacifying the tribe.
When Hardy turned to the girl, he
found her and Vandervyn exchanging
glanceS and murmuring remarks. His
habitual gravity softened to smile
of wistful sadness. At the first oppor-
tunity he excused himself. Midnight
had passed before the light in the little
citified parlOr of the Dupont house was
extinguished.
When, at. sunrise, Hardy went for
breakfast, Marie's eyes were very
bright and her look was pensive. She
ate little, and her manner toward Har-
dy was cold and ungracious.
After the officer left, Dupont squint-
ed across the table at her and began
to scratch his head.
"You and Mr.. Van burned lot of
coal oil last night. He didn't git far
enough along to ask you to hitch up
with him, did he?"
A red blush famed In the girls
cheeks. Without looking up, she MUIR
INJURED regretful 'No."
h. f,oyJ
If Hardy is going to bust us up. Like
as not he'll skip back east If Hardy
gifts sore and chokes off our hold on
the mine''
"What do you mean? He'd send
Reggie away. The stiff, solemn old
fogy-I hate him"
EASY, easy, girl 80 soothed Dupont.
'No use plunging when you're hitched
to the snubbing post. Just now he's
got us roped. He'll have us all hog.
tied if we 60 to bucking. We've got
TO make him think we're gentled."
"What if we act toward him as we
feel?"
You don't savvy about that mine.
honest for developing it, as you know.
Well, we let Mr.. Van in on it. Then
Nogen up and gifts killed. That makes
1t half and half between me and Mr..
Van, according to all that's fair and
square. But do you believe Hardy will
hook at it that way? Not by a-con-
siderable. He'll talk about it being the
tribes just because it's on the reser-
yation'
Il sect" The girls eyes flashed, and
her nostrils dilated. "He will rob you
and Reggie of fortune-yet you wish
me to be nice to him!'
''You bet I do! Can't you git the
point? He amt going to be bluffed
into quitting. That means we got to
make friends with him or Lose the
mine."
"Oh! So that is it?''
yep. Worst of it is he's one of
them there fellows what stand SC
straight they lean backwards. We
talked to him about how it would help
the tribe if he joined us in opening the
mine. He was mighty offish. Guess
Wen have to give him Nogen's third to
get him into our camp"
''What a shame! The mine is yours
and Reggie's. He hasn't done thing
toward developing it."
81 know. But he's the agent. He's
got us roped. He can rob us OF our
mine if we don't make friends with
him. Now do you savvy?'
The girls thick black eyebrows met
an a frown Of vexation. IF he is a
man whose friendship must be bought
do not wish to be pleasant to him. ;"
"It's business, Marie. There amt
no two ways about it. Mr.. Vans hang
ing fire, awaiting to see IL we lose
the mine. If we do, he can't afford tg
marry no poor girl off reservation.
Very well. / shall make myself
agreeable to Captain Hardy. But wait
until am free to pay him out for it y