The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-12-29
CHAPTER Viii.
Best.laid Schemes.

Hardy had gone to the Duponts' for
supper when Vandervyn returned to
the agency. He made a 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
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 a smile
Of wistful sadness. At the first oppor-
tunity he excused himself. Midnight
had passed before the light in the little
citifled 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 heT"
A red blush famed in the girls
cheeks. Without looking up, she MUIR
INJURED regretful "No."
"Guess he figures he'll wait and see
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 NINE"
"What do you mean? He'd send
Reggie away. The stiff, solemn old
fogy-I'hate himw
Easy, easy, girlw 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
feelr"
"You don't savvy about that NINE
Me and Nogen discovered it and paid
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
look 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."
81 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 bIuffed
into quitting. That means we got to
make friends with him or lose the
NINE"
"Oh! So that is it?'
yep. Worst Of it is he's one of
them there fellows what stand so
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
we'll 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."
II 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
in a frown of vexation. 'If he is q
man whose friendship must be bought,
1 do not wish to be pleasant to him.
'Tt's business, Marie. There amt
no two ways about 1t. Mr.. Vans hang
ing fire, awaiting to see If we lose
the mine. If we do, he can't afford to
marry no poor girl off reservation"
every well. l shall make myself
agreeable to Captain Hardy. But wait
until am free to pay him out for 1t |"
"Nom dun chien!" muttered Dupont
at sight of her Strengthened lips.
'That's the Injun in you. Don't let
him see you look that way till after
we git the mine cinched."