Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-12-15
CHAPTER TX.
The Coquette.

l
| Unable to endure the lar of trot or
gallop, Hardy urged the mare TO her
fastest walk. They Lad gone less than
| mile WHEN q horselnap came Looping
up the slope from Sioux creek.
| ut is Mr. Vandervyn,' said Hardy in
an even tone"
Eyes" she replied. She handed back
the glasses, but did not look at him
until Vandervyn rode up.
| The young mans face was flushed,
| as if he had been drinking. When he
pulled up before them, he was seeming
ly so struck with Hardy's appearance
/! that he scarcely needed Marie's joyful
| greeting.
| "What's the matter, captain?' he ex-
| claimed. you're as white as ghost
and your head tied up! You must
| have come a nasty crOpper."
| "Bit of an accident. Not serious"
replied Hardy.
ut could not we'll have been closer"
said Marie. Captain Hardy has been
| shot,
| "Shot?" cried Vandervyn.
'arhe bullet grazed the bone above
| the temple. Had it been half an inch
lower or farther back, it must have
| killed him."
"Half an inch," repeated Vandervyn.
| His face crimsoned, and the veins OF
his forehead began to swell. where
is the fellow? Did he get away? How
long ago, was it? Loan me the mare,
Hardy. I'll run him down."
every good of you to Offer" said
Hardy. "But the rascal might ambush
you. Well order out squad of po-
lice. Besides, I wish your report on
your trip. I presume Redbear is at
the agency"
mo" Vandervyn turned scowling
| face towards the buste, as if angrily
| eager to be off in pursuit Of the would
| be assassin. Charlie went back to
Thunderbolt's camp to see if his sis
ter was getting along all right with
! the old chief. I told him that if he was
welcomed, he had better stay a few
days. If he and the girl make thenl=
selves agreeable, we shall have a bet
ter chance to quiet the tribe
"You found conditions still unfavOr-
able?"
eyes. All the chiefs took violent
| dislike to you; and they had stirred up
the whole tribe. Charlie and I talked
and talked. You know white man
can talk Indians into anything, if he
| keeps at ii"
"What result?" snapped Hardy.
| Vanderyyn shrugged. i know we
made some impression, especially on
old Thunderbolt. The chiefs no doubt
would be willing to let you visit the
camps on safe conduct, so to speak;
but doubt If they could keep the Wild
est of the young bucks in hand. This
| shooting proves it. 1 tell you, captain,
none of us here would think any the
| less of you if you cut the whole BUSH
ness"
81 shall start for the mountains to-
morrow
Tomorrow" demonstrated Marie.
/ "Your wound-you must wait at least
until it has begun to heal. And in the
meantime Redbear and Oinna will be
| talking Ti=owa-konza and his camp into
q milder mood,'
ssThat last is a most excellent argu-
ment," said Hardy, and his firmly
/ compressed lips curved in smile at
the girl. Il shall take your advice,
Miss Dupont"
Yanderyyn had frowned over the
| concern in Marie's voice. Hardy's re-
Spouse started the veins of his fore
| head swelling. He looked off away
from the two, and remarkedain a cas-
ual voice; sI'll ride in ahead and or
| der out q squad Of policemen to track
down the scoundrel. Jake can inter-
pref, if I'm unable to make them I'M
derstand."
"GOod!' said Hardy.
| Vandervyn shot at Marie a glance of
| jealous anger, and put spurs to his
| pinto. But when they reached the
/ valley and saw through the glasses the
! squad of police only just leaving the
agency, Marie conjectured that the
/ jaded pinto had slowed to a walk
while going up the valley.
! At last Marie and Hardy reached the
| agency. With the assistance of Van
| dervyn, who came out of the Dupont
| house to meet them, he was helped
i down from his mare to q cot in the
| shady porch. Here in the open air
i Marie washed the wound and took sew
eral stitches to draw the edges to-
! gether.
During the operation, which Hardy
/ endured without groan, Vandervyn
stood by, watching Marie's face with
i sullen jealousy. The moment she had
rebandaged the wound, he suggested
/ that it would be well TO leave Hardy
/ quiet. In reply she asked him to 60
! for ice. When he returned he found