Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-01-12
Continued from last week.
CHAPTER XIV.
A Lovers Promise.

VI OlOuA CREEK lutO the dSeuCy Ndlicy,
vandervyn was still as gay and good
humored as at the start of the jour-
ney. He even volunteered to inter-
vene for Hardy with Marie.
ut is very kind of you to make the
Offer" replied Hardy in rather stiff
tone. eff Dupont is at home, may
ask you to send him to the Officer"
Certainly" replied Vandervyn, and
all the way down to the agency he
chatted genially. When they came to
the level behind the warehouse, he
waved his hand in friendly parting.
"Slong See you later. Be sure to
chop off your whiskers in time for
supper. You'll need to look your
best
Dupont soon dumped into the
agency office, fairly oozing with jOvial
friendliness.
"Howdy! Howdy, Cap" he greet
ed. marie, she says she'll look to
see you at supper Mr.. Van says you
wanted to see me. Anything | can
do, Cap, just call on me. I'm ready
to call quits now, if you are"
Hardy accepted the proffered hand,
and exchanged a cordial grip.
"This pleases me very much, Du.
pont," he responded. eve will all
now work together for the tribe. ,
give you my best wishes that you
may win the mine"
1--WE got a fair show to, seeing as
how you amt going to let on about ii
in your report. Now, just tell me
what I can do for you"
Merely a few words as interpre.
ter" said Hardy. II wish one of the
police at once to ride over to the
railroad with these kilograms and let
tiers. The sooner I receive instruc-
lions to send the delegation to Wash
ington. the better"
That's no lie. Mr. Van says the
money can't be appropriated till con.
gress meets, but the treaty is fixed UP
SOS the amount can be settled on and
the reservation ordered divided up by
the treaty commission"
"Ah!' exclaimed Hardy. "We may
get the agricultural lands allotted in
time for the planting of winter wheat.
Come; we will send off these tele.
grams and letters"
Since the return of the party from
the mountains, not one of the police
but was more than willing to serve
the new agent. Two of the younger
men were soon gathering away down
the valley on their best ponies, prOut
Of the fact that they had been chosen
to make the night ride to the railroad.
Hardy returned to the office with
Dupont, and became deeply absorbed
In discussing ways and means for the
development of the Indians as farm.
ers. When Dupont noted the hour,
there seemed scarcely time for even
one of the captains quick-change tot.
lets. Yet he appeared at the door of
the Dupont house, spick and span and
his beard clean shaven, without hay
ing required his hostess to wait sup.
per half q minute
AS he entered in response to Du-
points hospitable below, there was a
perceptible hesitancy in his manner.
Marie was seated at the far end of the
room near Vandervyn. She rose, and
came forward to greet Hardy, her chin
proudly uptilted.
''There seems to have been q gen.
eral misunderstanding of motives,
captain" she remarked with frank di-
rectness. Il still consider that you
were unduly harsh, but / now under
stand that you meant well and per-
hapS had some excuse. Reggie says
that we are all to work together for
the good of the tribe
at pleases me very much to hear
you say it,
what interest have you in helping
them?" she Queried, evidently reluc-
tant to believe his motives unselfish.
1T means good mark on his Of
fetal record" bantered Vandervyn.
Every little thing counts on promo
tion-like merit marks at school,
you sect" agreed Hardy. 81 can't
pretend to altruism. / am ambitious
W Folciho "CiA III ny piOlCoSlOH Ii L
make q good showing when given
detail, put merit marks on my rec
ord, as Mr.. Vandervyn has so aptly
expressed it."
Marie's challenging gaze softened,
and she looked thoughtfully down at
her white hands.
isn't even self-sacrifice a form of
SelfishneSSw she murmured.
The appearance of the Indian boy
in the dining room doorway checked
Hardy's reply.
During supper the girl remained
unusually thoughtful and silent. Har-
dy discussed with Dupont plans for
the instruction of the tribe in agricul-
ture. The idea had occurred to him
that the government might permit him
10 build an irrigation system Tor tiia
farming lands Of the tribe, using In
dian iaborers, and paying for the
work out of money appropriated for
the sale of the mineral lands. When