Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-12-21
CHAPTER IV-continued.

The hostess signed her Indian boy to
take the box into the parlor, together
vita the Ice bucket. in which was still
left bottle of champagne. As he
obey1d, she bowed her dismissal of the
guests from the table.
II shall now permit myself to be
fAtigued," she said. "Good evening
Mr.. yandervyn. Good evening, Captain
Hardy"
Vandervyn nodded, and followed Du-
pont with a nonchalant bearing that
drew attention from the slight uncer-
tainty Of his step. Hardy fingered for
a word Of appreciation: 'This has
been most enjoyable evening, Miss
Dupont"
She chose to disregard the sincerity
and warmth behind the formal phrase.
"You are very kind, Captain Hardy.
But pray do not overestimate. Where
all else Is off-color, three-quarters
white seems dazzling"
Believe me, 1t is not question of
contrast or comparison" he protested.
mot even in New York or Washing
ton"
"You fatter me. And now, as l am
tired"
He bowed and left her, concealing
the sting of her polite rebuff under his
grave smile. The Indian boy, who was
standing at the parlor door, closed 1t
behind the guest at q sign from Marie.
Dupont took the drink that he had
poured out for himself and undertook
the perilous operation of opening the
champagne. He fumbled the bottle and
would have dropped it had not Van
dervyn jumped up and taken it from
him. Thrust aside by the younger
man, he lurched and sat down In a
chair near Hardy.
"Shalipp'ry-ben in fce," he ex-
planned with solemn emphasis. He
threw back his head and burst into an
uproarious laugh. "Shelipp'ry - like
that gobe-mouche Redbear. Him trying
to smooth me down-zif that'd give
him q show with M'riel An me the
suuarest trader in the U. 81 Why,
lash time ] got goods on credit, they
shent me q skeshule to lisht my
iibirties, n jush took my pen In han
n wrote cross thai shere lish, I don't
owe no man nushing,'" He again drew
back his head and let out a hoarse
laugh.
"Poor grammar, but rich rhetoric,
Jake" remarked vandervyn as he filled
the champagne glasses. "You told me
they gave you the credit you asked
for.'
81 got the goods" said Dupont. pull
Ing himself together and SOLDERING his
tongue with an effort. Nothing ike
being on the square. That's what
makes me sore at them there chiefs,
Cap. Won't let me help out the bucks
and sauaws what's aching for work
good nay In trade goods, and US TAX
ing all risks on the ore smelling out
N. G. What1l the tribe do after they
cit their last issue next spring.
That's what I'd like to know"
"Yes, captain" said vandervyn.
"Next spring will come the last issue
Of goods that is provided for In the
government treaty with this tribe.
They will be In a bad fix If something
is not done to get them used to white
ways"
"Hov about q new treaty. to parti-
ton the reservation and give LAND Ia
seyeralty to each head Of famiiyT
suggested Hardy.
'That would take long time to
bring about, and meantime the young
bucks should be taught to work. why
wouldn't 1t be q good idea for US 10
take charge of the mine-pay all VINO
want to work at fair wages, and take
the risk Of getting our money BACK
out OF the ore shipmentsT
As vandervyn made the suggestion
he smiled ingenuously, and his hano-
some, flushed face shone with philan-
thropic enthusiasm. Hardy's face light
ed with q responsive glow. He smiled
into the boyish blue eyes.
sThe proposal does you credit" ne
responded. "You may count on me 70
contribute my share"
"You will, will you, CapT" exclaimed
Dupont He reached out his thick-fin-
gered hand. you're in, hey! Put It
there, old pard! Just you make them
damn ki-yi-s savvy they've got to
hustle for what we give 'em. Ike NO
g-.n done. and wen round up nfty
thousand apiece before snow fieS
sWhat's that7' demanded Hardy, In
SANITY stiffening to stern rightly.
He failed to catch the furious glance
from vandervyn that sent their half
fuddled host lurching over to the
whisky bottle. When he did turn. the
chief clerk met his hard glance with .
knowing wink and q churkling com-