The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-27
CHAPTER VII.
The Common Law.

| sun lllOAS I1I6lII q lIdNS VI
red in Hardy's sallOw cheeks when Ma
RE, Vandervyn and Dupont came in
upon him at the Office. Dupont held
out a cOngratuIatOry hand.
by gar, Cap" he said, ''you sure
had a mighty close squeak of it that
time. Guess old I'll got alfred hot.
Where's Charlie?"
"Redbear? 1 sent him to reassure
his sister and the families of the po-
| lice
THAT was very thoughtful of you,
captain" said Marie
But it would be far more consider
tion," added Vandervyn.
How 500" queried Hardy.
"Of course. you'll fancy am think
ing of my promotion. But it's not
that at ALL Ask Jake"
II got it from the piece" said Du-
pont. ''The whole bunch was crazy
to shoot you; they'd done it, too, only
Charlie sings out to 'em that Mr.. Van
was going to be agent, and you'd go
away"
HE said that?"
''Oh, captain, don't be angry at Char
lie" interceded Marie. He had to do
it to save a fight
But why? I could not have been
more friendly. Yet everything 1 said
seemed to anger them"
81 told you they're a ornery bunch"
replied Dupont. sit was for because
you being an officer. The chiefs hate
all soldiers like pizen. Most of the
old ones was in the ghost-dance craze,
and got jailed by the soldiers"
"They may cool down and be willing
to listen to reason" argued Hardy.
''Cool down? They'll go back and
sit and stew and stew till hell boils
over. Next thing happens, they'll stir
up the young bucks. Nom dun CHEN !!
Just when 1 was Citing enough ahead
in my business TO take care of my
old age and give Marie chance to be
a lady-to stand to lose everything
and her and my scalp to boot"
you are free to leave here with her
whenever you wish"
mo, amt. 1 can't leave my store
all my property"
There would be no danger If 1t
were not for you," said Marie, her
eyes flashing with indignation. eff
only you had not come hereI If there
is an outbreak, it will be all your
fau1t!'
"Mine?"
"Oh, I know you mean we'll. But
if they've taken this violent dislike to
you Why ever did you come? You
saw how they like Mr.. Van. Had they
thought you would insist on staying,
nothing could have kept them from
attacking you. But the promise that
Mr.. Van is to be their agent, that paci-
fed them. Had you never come here
all this would not have happened. The
chiefs would have come to talk with
Mr.. Van, and would have gone back
satisfied"
Hardy swung around in his chair to
scrutinize the guileless face of Van
dervyn.
what do you say to that, sir?" he
Intercepted.
What can I say?" replied Wander.
vyn, twisting the tip of his blond mus
tache. sit is for you to decide to
leave for the good OF the tribe. or
to stay and take the chance of an up-
rising"
1.-The way you put it" considered
Hardy. Perhaps 1t might be better
for all concerned if should leave"
You bet it would, Cap" eagerly
broke in Dupont. "'Tain't no Joke
Them ornery cusses IL git you like
they done with Nogen, just as sure
as shooting"
Vandervyn shot a furious glance at
the blunderer. Marie was looking at
Hardy. But she did not need to see
the Tightening of his lips to realize
what her father had done
'4Oh, PEREZ" she reproached. ssWhv
did you say it? You should have
known Captain Hardy could not leave
after that"
/ "Quite right, Miss Dupont" said
Hardy.
"You mean. you won't leave?" asked
Dupont.
"How can he?' vandervyn smoothly
cut in. you've put it up to him that
it would be deserving his post under
fire. He's an army oficer-he wouldn't
leave now even if he knew his staying
! here meant certain massacre for Us