The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-12-15
CHAPTER Ill.
Condolences

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Condolences.
The rescuers from the agency mad
refined In their sweating ponies to
tope when they first caught sight OF the
party on the butte side Of the coulee.
They struggled down the gulley at
walk, eight short-haired Indian police
men In blue uniform, and tall, loose
dipped young halfbreed In ordinary
frontier clothes. AS they stopped In
the stream to water their ponies. each
furtiyely studied the rider who was ap-
preaching on the big. rangy mare.
you're too late, Charlie" called
vandervyn. Captain Hardy climbed
the butte, and the whole bunch hit
out"
"Soldiers?" queried the halfbreed.
mo, he's alone-our new agent" ex-
planned Vandervyn as his pony brought
him alongside Hardy at the edge Of the
stream. Captain, this is Charlie Red
bear, our issue clerk and interpreter"
interpreter? repeated Hardy. "Red-
bea, do any of the police understand
EnghshT
mo, sir, only few words" mumbled
the halfbreed.
'Tell them am a captain Of the
horse soldiers-the Longknives. have
been sent here to be the agent"
Redbear interpreted In musical La
kotah. accompanying his words with
swift signs. The swarthy policemen
grunted approvingly, and their leader
rolled out a sonorous reply. The half
breed interpreted mechanically: HE
says your eye is straight. He says
they are ready to trail and fight the In
dams whose hearts are bad"
"They are not to pursue the party"
ordered Hardy, 81 shall call coun-
Gil of the chiefs, and ascertain the
cause Of the tribal unrest. Tell them"
Redbear hesitated. and looked uncer-
tainly ut vandervyn. The chief clerk
spoke to him in sharp reproof: do as
you're told. Charlie. Captain Hardy is
now In command Of the reservation"
The halfbreed stared In astonish-
ment. but fastened to interpret. AT
once the faces Of the policemen be-
came stolid. They cast covert glances
at Vandervyn. Without seeming to no
tice their sudden change Of manner,
Hardy selected four to act as escort to
the Indian trader and his daughter.
The rest of the party followed him
back up the gulley.
From the first the mare walked out
In the lead. She would soon have left
behind even Vandervyn's quick-step-
ping pinto had not her rider happened
to glance about and catch the troubled
expression on the younger mans face.
Hardy waited for him to come along
side. and gravely remarked: II wish
to express my regret, Mr.. Vandervyn,
that my detail here has deprived you
of your expected promotion"
vandervyn's small mouth curved
with a cynical smile, but softened to
more agreeable expression as he met
the others gaze. "You admit it2" he
muttered.
"Having accepted the detail, I cannot
now ask to be relieved" said Hardy.
"But the extra pay was not one Of the
inducements. Permit me to suggest
that arrangements can be made to d.
vert to your salary the amount In ex-
cess of my regular compensation as an
officer"
The offer was as unexpected as It
was generous. Vandervyn flushed. bit
his lip, and replied half inaudibIy:
"You needn't think just because No,
that's not quite You may mean well,
but that's no excuse"
"My fault, sir. Pardon me-" apollo
gized Hardy.
Vandervyn looked ahead at the
mountains, considered, and turned to
his companion with what seemed
cordial smile. 81 am not used to be-
Ing patronized. captain: but as you did
not mean 1t that way"
"Not at all"
vandervyn nodded. you now I'M
derstand that I'm not one Of the COM
mon run Of Indian service employees.
I was slated for attache to our en-
bassy at the Court of Saint James
celebrated the coming event with some
friends, and wound up by heaving q
brick through a window Of the White
House. Uncle shipped me out here un-
I'll the storm should blow over" I
Hardy may have recalled the hazlngs
In which he had shared at West Point.
His only comment was: "You were
fortunate to get any appointment"
ooh, don't know" carelessly replied
vandervyn. ~ didn't wake the presi-
dent, and I had some of my wad left.
The Waterman sent me home in taxi.
But the Internal CRATER must have
peached. / got this instead Of Lon
dom"
"Best thing for YOU"
''You think sol" said Vandervyn, his
wide-open eyelids dropping. "Tve been
six months il this God-forsaken jump
ing-off place. / wouldn't have stayed
six days If it hadn't been for Marie"
Miss Dupont seems to be a very
spirited young woman" dryly COM
mented Hardy.
"Wait till you see her put on dog.
She was three or four years at con-
vent in Ottawa. They must have
farmed her out as a parlor-maid In
some select British family. She can