The Tomahawk., 1916-12-28

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saddle and advanced upon Vandervyn,
his face dark with suspicion.
"What you saying to my sister?' he
demanded.
The white man met his threatening
look with misconceptions, half
amused smile.
1--WE been showing the girl what I
think of her." he replied.
Redbear came to sudden halt. The
muscles of his face began to twitch.
"Oh, Charlie!" reproached Oinna.
''What makes you look at him that
way? Why don't you thank him2"
She unbarred the door and stepped
outside.
"For what?" questioned her brother
in harsh, strained voice.
because he is going to be my man
going to take me for his wife"
MARRY you? Oinna-you2" The
halfbreed could not believe his ears.
Through his daze shot a fash of angry
suspicion. But you-you won't marry
her!
Vandervyn smiled in his careless
manner.
"Oh, guess yes"
"You'll marry herr You'll take her
to town and marry her like white
people?"
"I'n marry her as some white
people marry. I'll not take her to
town. Oinna and have agreed to be
married according to tribal custom"
Again Redbear's weak face dark
ened with suspicion and anger. Il
won't have it. You're white, and Oinna
is half white. White people don't
marry Indian fashion"
"You know a lot about it, Charlie.
Haven't you ever heard Of common-law
marriages? Lots Of white people get
married that way"
"What way?"
"You must know about it. Instead
of going to lot Of fuss and bother
over ministers and licenses, many
people just take each other for hus-
band and wife and 60 to housekeep-
ing"
"Is-is that a real white peoples
marriage?" asked Oinna.
Vandervyn frowned. "You don't
think I'm lying, do you? Why, you
often see in the newspapers about COM
mon-law wives getting their share Of
their dead husbands estates, just the
same as If they had gone through all
the fuss of weddings. Ask Hardy If
that does not often happen"
"Well, If it's q real marriage"
muttered Redbear.
"Of course it is, Charlie, If he says
sol" cried Oinna rapturously.
Her brothers face glowed with sud-
den unconcealed exultance. He STAN
mered almost incoherently: 'Then
you-Marie-you don't marry-don't
marry Marie"
NO." replied Vandervyn, and his
voice rang clear. II have no intention
Of marrying her."
maybe MARKELL like me now, when
tell her you are going to be my
brother" sighed Redbear.
Vandervyn laid a brotherly hand on
his shoulder. "Hold on, boy!" he said.
"You let me manage things. You
know that Marie thinks she likes me.
But now Hardy is here, and he wants
her. If she hears that have thrown
her over, she will run off with him."
"She don't like him."
"What if she doesn't! He's an army
officer. He has money, and when he
goes from here he will wear his uni
form, all gilt and spangles. You know
hN1ry TIM orir1c, 1i1yn fhof MI foil
you there's not the ghost Of n show
for you until he is out Of the way. Our
little bluff didn't work. He says he is
going to stay. So for while you and
Oinna must keep still about the mar
riage. Tomorrow morning you and I
are going into the mountains to talk
with the chiefs. Oinna will go with
me. But it must be understood at the
agency that you have sent her to
Who could you send her TOT"
"Ti-owa-kopLa is our mothers IA
ther. Not even Mr.. Dupont knows
that" said Redbear. Before he came
here, she ran off with bad white man.
They went to the Blackfeet. After
time he got an arrow through his back.
My mother came home. Ti-owa-konza
would not see her face. She had to
work for the agent till they made us
go away to school. Then she died."
"Old Thunderbolt your grandfather?"
remarked Vandervyn selling upon that
one fact in the squalid tragedy. "Does
he know it2'
II told him so today. He said my
face But maybe he will come to
like me. He said to bring Oinna for
him to look at her."
"That's great! Well tell it to every
body. But remember, not word about
the marriage until after we get rid of
Hardy and I am agent. Then things
will go all right for all Of us. You
savvy that, Charlie2 While you rub
down the mare I'll 90 in and say good
by until tomorrow morning"
CHAPTER Viii.