Williams news., 1917-02-01
"And all for nothing. I feel sure" "

"And all for nothing, I feel sure," he declared.
 "Well, it's best to be ready, in case" muttered Dupont.
 The girls eyes sparkled. q wouldn't mind day or two of fighting. What fun it must have been in the old days !'
 ''Fun?" exclaimed Vandervyn.
 q have no doubt we could defend the house," remarked Hardy. "We could hold out until the arrival of troops. But there will be no uprising, no trouble."
 "Oh, captain!" protested Marie.
 They passed on into the dining room, where the silent Indian boy at once served dinner. It was a plain family meal. But the china and plated ware were artistic, the table linen was clean, and the food very we'll cooked.
 Dupont was still gormandizing when Redbear came with the news that Ti-Owa-konZa had at last reached the agency. The halfbreed looked so wor- ried that Vandervyn rose from the table as quickly as Hardy. Dupont paused with a slice of pumpkin pie l UDra1Sed In his hand.
 What's the rumpus, Charlie?" he asked. "Old Thunderbolt ain't gone on the warpath, has he?"
 "No, he looks quiet now. But one of the headmen told me he said he would wipe out the agency if the new agent didn't do what he wanted"
 Dupont muttered one of the two oaths ever ready on his tongue: "Nom dun chienl Cap, you sure ain't going to risk all our scalps by bucking his game"
 q shall see what he wants, and then do what I consider right" replied Hardy. Miss Dupont, I ask you to stay close indoors. May ask you to have your Indian boy take my mare down to Redbear's sister, with orders for her to escape if she hears any fir ing? MT. Vandervyn, you may remain here or join myself and Redbear, as you prefer"
 "Tll go along with you, captain. You may have to fight your way back here"
 Hardy nodded in appreciation of the spirited reply, bowed to Marie, and started for the agency buildings with a step that was brisk yet dignified. The Indians had assembled for the council in semicircle, three rows deep, fac I ing the rear of the warehouse. Hardy went first to his cabin, where he "broke" his rifle and put a piece of the mechanism into his pocket.
 "There shall be no display of weap- ons on ourepart," he ordered. "You will not take your rifles. At close quar- ters your revolvers will be more ef- fective. Carry them concealed"
 "We will put on coats," said Wander vyn. Come to my cabin"
 Meet me at the office," directed Hardy, and he walked on ahead, cool and resolute.
 The others soon rejoined him, Red bear in an old shooting jacket, and Vandervyn in a frock coat and tile, to Hardy reminiscent of smart society, but to the Indians emblematic of pale face dignity. When the little party came around the end of the warehouse to take up their position before the silently awaiting assembly, the covert glances of the many beadlike eyes first turned upon the chief clerk. Soon, however, they shifted to the erect mili- tary figure of the new agent, and re- mained fixed.
 The Indian police, fully armed, start ed to file out of the guardhouse. Hardy waved them back, and seated himself on the chair that Redbear had brought from the office. With a calm, direct gaze, Hardy studied the appearance of the triple row of Indians. To an in- experienced eye they could not have appeared more peaceably disposed. But Hardy's keen eyes noted that the blankets of some of the men in the rear were hunched out over well-f1lled quivers of arrows. Here and there on the ground beside the subchiefs who formed the front row a muzzle of rifle thrust from under the outspread blanket ends.
 Hardy at last fixed his gaze on Thur derbolt, who sat in the center of the row of subchiefs, and after a delibera- tive silence that accorded with the h. dian idea of etiquette, spoke to Red bear: "Ten them that I am pleased to meet in council with the head chief and subchiefs and headmen of the tribe. I am here to find out what has troubled the tribe and to see whatever Is wrong shall be made right"
 Redbear glanced at Vandervyn, who stood behind Hardy. The eyes of the chief clerk narrowed, and his small, red mouth strengthened. Redbear drew in a quick breath, faced about, and ad- dressed the assembly. What he said | look several moments to deliver,
 The hush that followed seemed to Quiver with suppressed hostility, though the faces of the Indians re mained stolid. At last old Ti-owa- konza ventured a response. His tone and bearing were mild. lie first spoke | soothip1lx, t<> hfs fol1o1,, onciloro ond