Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-12-01

taQQorVyn SIulleu over HIS CudIu-
payne glass. He did not notice that
Marie was looking at him. But Hardy
was watching her. He saw her proud
face soften and her brilliant eyes melt
with tender passion. His own face
became grave. A moment later she was
rallying him for his seriousness, and
her animation soon compelled him to
forget what he had seen. Vandervyn
had not been mistaken in his assertion
that she could act the lady to perfec-
ton when she chose. Though the cigars
proved to. be Havanas, they were
brought in much sooner than suited
Hardy.
The hostess signed her Indian boy to
take the box into the parlor, together
with the ice bucket, in which was still
left a bottle of champagne. AS he
obeyed, she bowed her dismissal of the
guests from the table.
'sI shall now permit myself to be
fatigued," she said. Good evening,
Mr.. vandervyn.- Good evening, Captain
Hardy"
Vandervyn nodded, and followed Du.
pont with q nonchalant bearing that
drew attention from the slight uncer-
tainty of his step. Hardy fingered for
q word of appreciation: This has
been a 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 oyerestimate. Where
all else is off-color, three-quarters
white seems dazzling
believe me, it is not question of
contrast or comparison" he protested.
mot even In New York or Washing
ton
"You flatter me. And now, as I 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 it
behind the guest at sign from Marie.
Dupont took the drink that he had
poured out for himself and undertook
the periious operation Of opening the
cllampa gne. 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 lurehed and sat down in a
chair near Hardy.
sShelipp'ry-ben in iee." he ex-
planned with solemn emphasis. He
threw back his head and burst into an
uproarious laugh. 'sShelipp'ry - like
that gobe-mouche Redhear. Him trying
to smooth me down--zif that'd give
him q show with Mrie! An me the
squarest trader In the y. s.. Why,
lash time I got goods on es>7it, they
shent me a skeshule TO lisht my
libilties, N jush took my pen In ham
Pm wrote cross tina 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 Vanderygn as he filled
the champagne glasses. aYou told me
they gave you the credit yoH ASKED
for
'I got the goods" said Dupont, pull
ing himself together and SOLDERING his
tongue with an effort. Nothing like
being on the square. That's what
makes me sore at them there chiefs.
Cap. Won't let me help cut the bucks
and squaWs what's aching for work.
good pay In trade goods, and Us tax
Ing all risks on the ore smelling out
n. G. What'll the tribe TO after they
git their last issue next spring2
That's what I'd like to know
"Yes, captain said sYandervyn.
'Next spring will come the last issue
of goods that is provided for in the
government treaty with this tribe.
They will be in bad fix if something
is not done to get them used to white
ways"
How about a new treaty, TO partis
ton the reservation and give land in
seyeralty to each head of a family?"
suggested Hardy.
sThat would take long time to
bring about, and meantime the young
bucks should be taught to work. Why
wouldn't it be good idea for us to
take charge of the mine-pay all who
want to work at fair wages, and take
the risk of getting our money back
out of the ore snipments?'
As Vanderyyn made the suggestion,
he smiled ingenuously, and his hand
some flushed face shone with philan-
thropic enthusiasm Hardy's face light
ed with responsive glow. He smiled
into the boyish blue eyes.
"The proposal does you credit" he
responded You may count on me to
contribute my share
aYou will, will you, Cap?'' exclaimed
Dupont. He reached out his thick-tin-
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, like No.
gen done, and We'll round up fifty
thousand apiece before snow flies"
whats that?' demanded Hardy, in
stantly stiffening to stern rigidity.
He fai1nd RI cotch thn FtYr;,,1,e, ,r1a,oo