The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1917-01-03


six days If 1t hadn't been'fdr marie
Miss Dupont seems to be Il very
spirited young woman" dryly COM
mented Hardy.
Walt till you see her put on dog.
She was three or four years at a con-
vent In Ottawa. They must have
farmed her out rs a parlor-maid In
some select British family. She can
give a perfect imitation Of a real lady
when she chooses"
"Yes?" said Hardy.
You'd take It for the sure-nuff ar
ticle," went on Vandervyn. And that's
not all. She can cook like an angel
Says she took a course in domestic
science. But II must be hereditary. I'll
give odds, one Of her paternnl ances-
tors was French chef French, that's
the word. The way she has with men /!
Even this halfbreed Redbear thinks
he is in the running. Nogen was
mad over her. He even would have
married her. But he was not a man of
family or culture. Fancy Jake Dupont
for father-in-law Only thing. his
squaw died five or six years ago. That
was when he sent the girl TO Ottawa"
Hardy looked at the mountains and
changed the subject: MAY l ask you
to give the particulars Of the killing Of
Mr.. Nogenf
Vandervyn's eyelids dropped low and
opened again in a wide, guileless stare.
There's little 10 tell Nogen and l
and Redbear were riding into the noun
tains. We met the murderer. He and
Nogen quarreled. He shot Nogen-
killed him. Then Redbear and l fired,
and one of us got him-we don't know
which of us II was. That's all. You'll
find 1t in the coroner's report. / kept
a copy in the office at the agency"
"Strange that an Indian should at
tack a white man that way" observed
Hardy "Was the cause ascertainedT
Vandervyn twisted the tip of his
blond mustache. "Well, IL may be all
talk. but / gather that the trouble was
over this ore-buying. NOgen thought II
a good thing TO encourage. The chiefs
felt ugly because the goods were not
paid to them instead of to the laborers
the bucks and squaws who dug the
ore, you know. The chiefs stirred up
lot of bad blood. No doubt they in
stigated the murder. They want to
boss the tribe their own way
Let US trust that we shall have
them in hand before fall"
''FalI7" echoed Vandervyn. You ex-
pect to stay all summer That shuts
me out Of my promotion"
You may receive the appointment Of
attache."
Perhaps don't want 1t just now.
You forget Marie"
The gravity of the officers face hard
ened to sternness. mfr. Vandervyn,
kindly bear in mind that, as agent of
this reservation, l am in charge of the
moral as well as the material welfare
of every member Of the tribe
Vandervyn quivered like thorough
bred flecked with the lash. His voice
shook with passion:
damn your impudence! I'll have
you understand you're not talking Ia
one Of your rough-neck recruits. My
ancestors were gentlemen before yours
were ever heard Of"
81 regret that you do not seem to
have inherited their gentlemanly man.
ners,' came back the cool rejoinder.
vandervyns Redeemed face went
crimson. The veins of his forehead he
gan to swell. But with a strong effort
he repressed his anger and forced n
smile. You went me one better, Hardy.
| throw down."
The officer responded with instant
sympathy:
Il see no reason why we should not
become friends and work together for
the good of the tribe
IT'S go agreed Vandervyn, and as
II cleared Of all III temper by his out
burst, he began lively conversation
on official society in the national capt
tai.
The party topped the rise between
the river and Sioux creek. and rode
down the winding road that skirted its
willow-fringed bank to the crossing Of
the stream. As they rounded the spur
ridge OF the far side. Redbcnr rode up
on Hardy's right, and pointed to a
small cabin among the quuking aSpS
in the mile-wide curve of the stream TO
the left.
See my house, sir" he said.
Looks well built" remarked Hardy.
his faid9iasses At his eyes. Quite