Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-11-07
CHAPTER w.
The First Card.

As Hardy was unpacking his scant
wardrobe, an Indian boy came to the
door, thrust in his head and announced
gutturally:
M'ree him say you come six"
Hardy nodded to the boy and signed
him to go. Ten minutes later he
stepped up on the porch of the Dupont
house. Before he could knock, Du-
pont stepped from the rear door of his
trade store, which faced away from the
porch.
Hello, Capw he greeted the guest
with bluff cordiality. "Glad to see you.
Walk right in
Hardy crossed the threshold and
paused. The floor was covered to re-
semble waxed hardwood. The oriental
rugs were real. The walls were pa
pered with quiet tapestry pattern.
The adobe fireplace was set with a
modern CRATE and faced with a tile
mantel. The few pictures were well
chosen. There was no sign of the
guns, skins and Navajo blankets that
Hardy had expected to see.
Vandervyn, lolling in an easy chair
beside the small, well-filled bookcase,
looked up and smiled in boyish enjoy
ment of the new agents surprise.
Dupont grunted alphabetically:
Don't think I'm plumb crazy. It's all
Marie Said she couldn't live here
unless she had things just like in OF
tawa. Cried till had to give in
'Don't you let him con you, captain"
chuckled Vandervyn. 1T was Jake who
wept because Marie sent off the mail
order and he had to foot the bills"
"Well, anyway, there wasn't nobody
she could hire to 10 the work, and I
had to go out on roundup" Dupont
sought to cover his discontinue. "She
set to and done it all her own self.
didn't have to pay cent for that. Sit
down, Cap. Make yourself to home.
Hey, Marie! you there? Here's Cap
Hardy Bring in that bottle me and
Mr.. Van was sampling, will you?"
Hardy picked the stiffest chair in the
room, sat down-and promptly rose to
a position of polite attention. A young
lady had appeared in the doorway at
the side of the room-a young lady in
q semidecollete gown, of lines ire
proachable, the creamy whiteness of
!! her full, round throat displayed. Her
mass of cOal-black hair was dressed in
the very latest mode. Her cheeks were
rs highly colored as if rouged.
Vandervyn gazed at her with the
brand of admiration that passes over
to the prettiest girl in the chorus.
Hardy bowed as he would have saluted
his cOlOners lady or the daughter of a
Moro chief, if either had been his
hostess.
The girls eyes sparkled as she noted
his change of dress, his immaculate
linen, and clean-shaven chin. His
bow won smile that may have been
due either to gratified vanity or to a
commendable self-respect. She greeted
him in tone that caused Vandervyn to
straighten in his chair at is a great
pleasure to have you dine with u.s."
1.-The pleasure is mine, Miss Dupont"
declared Hardy.
you've hit it, Cap" put in Dupont.
"You can just bet your bottom dollar
on it you won't kick yourself for cof-
ing when you git to her, feed-trough."
The girls sable-black eyes dilated
and her perfectly nodded chin rose a
fraction of an inch. She placed the
tray on tea table, bowed composedly,
and left the room. Vandervyn looked
at Hardy with an ironical smile. The
silent mockery was wasted Hardy
was watching Dupont uncock the
whisky bottle.
Zone moment, Mr.. Dupont" he said
"As you are my host, the question is
an awkward one to ask-yet is there
not law or rule of the Indian bu-
reau against bringing liquor upon a
reservation
Dupont stared around at the in
quirer in blank surprise. Before he
could find words to answer. .Vandervyn
replied for him: According to the
strict letter of the law, captain, you
are right You can't fancy that Jake
would be fool enough to sell liquor to
the Indians?"
by GAR you bet 1 don't-not when
it's ten-year-old rye" qualified Dupont
'You can't git no better stuff out of
Canada. Marie made me buy some