Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-01-04
CHATTER x.
Al the Brcksn Mountaln.

CHAPTER Il.
Al the Broken Mcuntnln.
When, at dusk. Dupont rode m u
his house, Hardy was still On tho col
on the porch. vandervyn stood at I'M
far end, pulling hard AZ 4 cigar u he
watched Dupont approach.
The sound of the traders blum solcs
Weakened Hnrdy from his doxe ana
brought Marie 10 the door.
"No. not a track; not one single slgn
nowhere" Dupont was saying % yAn-
dervyn. Thought I'd ride hi ma sena
ont more Of the p'le3<e with food.
syery good" said Hardy. eve ma1l
track down the man, elss Others may
follow his example"
The next day the search tor tn
w0nld-be assassin wa1 continued, with
no better results than tho frst. II ~
the same on the two succeeding day4
AT last Dupont declared that there was
no hope II finding the mystsriOus loala
trail. and Hardy called II The txaclb
err. 81 II
Tho period Of the search ma tsen
az agreeable To Hardy e II had b4en
annoying to vandervyn. ~ cha<lE
Vandervyn's wooing--or 4 may lay1
been 10 redouble his ardor through
jeaiousy--she spent AZ much tilne m
possible In Hardy's COMPANY. IN
was 50 gracious TINT Hardy BEGAN n
show openly TINT he thought he might
have a lighting chance 70 win M
This made vandcrvyn furious Yot
no had to restrain himself from a,
outburst.
Noon Of the fourth day Hardy elate1
at dinner that he was quite hiinDoI1
again and would start on the trlp Int
the mountains the next morning. Red
bear had not yet returned 10 the
agency, and Dupont. In his frisndliesi
manner, offered his services 90 Inter
prefer until the halfbreed should join
the party.
When Hardy accepted this ofEer.
vandervyn looked at him In his guile
less way and remarked Ii ! casual
tone: with the tribe 70 uneasy, I
suppose you win want me 70 stay here
and look after Marie"
Marie objected: II am member d
the tribe. II Pere Ii going Into the
mountains. ! am going with him."
mol" cried yandervyn.
II cannot permit that" declared
Hardy.
"oh, yes, you can and WILL" conf
IDENTIFY replied the girl. II shall BE- d
no danger. II anyone Ii attacked, II
will be you only"
Unobservnnt OF vandervyn's look
Dupont paused with knifeful OF food
halfway to his mouth to agree with hii
daughter: "Ain't none Of ,em what
wants to lift her scalp. Shed b safea
n me and you, Mr.. van--wAich Il
good as saying dead safe"
yet II should BIO attackedT' sail
Hardy.
'Ie you are, II won't be no general
outbreak, Cap. II will be q few youns
Hoods a.iaying TOR You, or mebbe
just one, like the buck done down 4
the coulee."
"You see." argued Marie. "You are
the only one In danger Of attack. II
Reggie and 20. as well an Pcre, there
will be that much less chance OF
small party firing at you"
Every WELL" acquiesced Hardy. Il
rely on your fathers Judgment. II
there Is the slightest chance Of danger
to you, he should know II. But an you
are to be with the party, ! shall take
along squad Of police. Mr. Wander
vyn, you may remain In charge OF thu
agency, II you prefer
mo, thanks" snapped vandervyn
III you intend to let Marie rum the
risk OF getting into massacre, I most
certainly shall 60 along"
The girl was unusually gracious d
Hardy at supper. At breakfast she ii.
vided her smiles between the two with
strict impartiality. But when, shortly
before sunrise, the party started on ur
the valley, Hardy began talking about
tribal customs with Dupont ana ~
came 80 engrossed In the discussion
that he failed to give his usual court.
eous attention to Marie. vanderyyn
was quick to make the most Of tn
girls pique. The half-doxen Indian 10
lice OF the escort were strung ont n
front with the pack horses. He sue.
gested that 1t w0uId be well 10 avolo
%y,n S1s1uk Sn&tt,~ 80 =