Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-12-19

now work together for the tribe.
give you my best wishes that you
may win the mine."
1--WE got fair show to, seeing as
how you amt going to let on about it
in your report. Now, just tell me
what l can do for you"
Merely a few words as interpre-
ter" said Hardy. 81 wish one of the
police at once to ride over to the
railroad with these kilograms and let
tiers. The sooner 1 receive instruc-
tons to send the delegation to Wash
ington, the better"
That's no lie. Mr.. Van says the
money can't be appropriated till con-
gress meets, but the treaty is fixed UP
SOS the amount can be settled on and
the reservation ordered divided up by
the treaty commission"
"Ah!" exclaimed Hardy 1--WE may
get the agricultural lands allotted in
time for the planting of winter wheat.
Come; we will send off these tele-
grams and letters"
hSAhNO liz AOId1A VI lllC PAL ~ 1lOIL
the mountains, not one of the police
but was more than willing to serve
the new agent. Two of the younger
men were soon cantering away down
the valley on their best ponies, proud
of the fact that they had been chosen
to make the night ride to the railroad.
Hardy returned to the Office with
Dupont, and became deeply absorbed
in discussing ways and means for the
development of the Indians as farm
ers. When Dupont noted the hour,
there seemed scarcely time for even
one of the captains quick-change tot
lets. Yet he appeared at the door of
the Dupont house, spick and span and
his beard clean shaven, without hav-
ing required his hostess to wait sup
per half a minute.
AS he entered in response to Du-
points hospitable below, there was a
perceptible hesitancy in his manner.
Marie was seated at the far end of the
room near Vandervyn. She rose, and
came forward to greet Hardy, her chin
proudly uptilted.
There seems to have been a gen.
eral misunderstanding of motives,
captain" she remarked with frank di-
rectness. Il still consider that you
were unduly harsh, but l now under
stand that you meant well and per-
haps had some excuse. Reggie says
that we are all to work together for
the good of the tribe"
at pleases me very much to hear
you say it,
"What interest have you in helping
them?" she Queried, evidently reluc-
tant 10 believe his motives unselfish.
at means a good mark on his of
fetal record" bantered Vandervyn.
Every little thing counts on promo
tion-like merit marks at school,"
"You seel" agreed Hardy. 81 can't
pretend to altruism. l am ambitious
to stand well in my profession. If
make good showing when given a
detail, 1 put merit marks on my rec
ord, as Mr.. Vandervyn has so aptly
expressed it."
Maries challenging gaze softened,
and she looked thoughtfully down at
her white hands.
isn't even self-sacrifice a form of
selfishness?" she murmured.
The appearance of the Indian boy
in the dining room doorway checked
Hardy's reply.
During supper the girl remained
unusually thoughtful and silent. Har-
dy discussed with Dupont plans for
the instruction of the tribe in agricul-
ture. The idea had occurred to him
that the government might permit him
to build an irrigation system for the
farming lands of the tribe, using In
dian laborers, and paying for the
work out of money appropriated for
the sale of the mineral lands. When
Vandervyn chose to listen, it was
with a half-amused smile that did not
always cover the underlying cynical
irony. Most of the time he devoted
himself to an attempt to rally Marie
out of her thoughtfulness. Instead
of responding, she became more pen
sive. Harry attributed the girls half
somber quietnesS to his presence. As
they left the supper table, he asked
Dupont to come to the Office.
Marie and Vandervyn followed them
as far as the parlor, where the young
man dropped into the easiest chair,
with disguised, Lord he makes me
weary-all that benevolent blatter r.
"Of course he is. doing it merely
to help himself in his career" muir
INJURED Marie.
'Or TO get the handling of the tri-
bal funds" suggested Vandervyn.
"There1l be a fat slice of graft for
somebody out of all those millions"
You really think that?"
What else can you expect-govern-
ment on one side and Poor Lo on the
other? It's the usual thing. l ex-
pect to get my share"
your" exclaimed the girl, her eyes
widening with look of establishment
and reproach.
"Wait a bit before you dig up your
tomahawk, Miss Sitting Bull. If |
succeed in getting the tribe fifteen
or twenty millions, instead of the five
that was talked about, it strikes me
they could afford to allow yours truly
a nice little percentage as commits
sion"
'0h. Reggie. pardon met OF course
you should have good pay for proving
yourself such a friend to the tribe"
and to each member of the tribe y
he added, his blue eyes glowing gold
en- with ardor. Il don't. want all my
pay in money. How about an advance
royalty in-something else?"
He had risen, and was coming
toward her. She blushed and retreat
ed around the tea table.
NO. no." she demonstrated. Il told
you we must wait until-unti " are
freeC; from your-cousin.n
"Wait?" he rejoined. You're try
ing to play me against that tinfoii
II = - "A