Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-02-09
Continued from last week.

tWitched. Along the top of the barrel
he was glaring back at Hardy-glar.
ing into those hazel eyes that met
his fury with the clear, cool gaze Of
absolute courage The sheer nerve
of that steady approach to his rifle
muzzle compelled him to pause. 1t
disconnected him; it struck chill
into the heat of his frenzy.
Still Hardy advanced, swift and
steady, his gaze never so much as
Pickering. Now his eyes and forehead,
close beyond the foresight of the rifle.
appeared enormously enlarged to Van
dervyn's distorted vision. Steadily
Hardy put up his hand, took hold Of
the rifle barrel, and turned the muzzle
aside
'Ah-h-h" gasped Marie.
Hardy drew the rifle out Of Wander
vyn's relaxing grasp.
STAND aside, sir!' he quietly COM
manded Il wish to speak alone with
Miss Dupont"
Vandervyn had parted with his rifle
as if dazed. AT the sound Of Hardy's
voice a fresh wave of crimson flooded
his face. He stepped back, and jerkcd
out his revolver. Hardy leaped upon
him like a panther, and struck the
weapon aside. The heavy bullet
whizzed past Hardy's head A moment
later, Vandervyn, though the younger
and perhaps the stronger of the two,
reeled away, cIutching his lacerated
trigger finger. Hardy stood with the
revolver in his hand. He turned to
Marie.
May ask for few words alone
with your"
NO" Vandervyn hoarsely forbade
the girl. You shall not speak with
him. Jake, you're her father-tell her
she shall not"
you know she don't never mind
what l say" mumbled Dupont. ANY
way, it sort of looks like Cap is run
ming this here shindy.'
Hardy had not glanced away from
Marie Throughout that supreme test
of the will power and courage of her
two lovers, she had stood tense and
silent, as if spel2bound. She now
looked from one to the other, her face
inscrutably calm, her black eyes faith
omless.
81 will hear what Captain Hardy has
to say" she said.
Hardy motiOned her father and Van
dervyn toward the mine dump. They
obeyed
I'VE are alone" said Marie
Hardy smiled. ~ won the race"
was it fair, cutting across coun-
try?"
Fair? Then you did not know of
bis schene."
What scheme? I do not under
stand"
1T does not now matter. I won the
race and-the mine"
do you expect me to rejoice with
yOu?" asked the girl 'It has cost
my father his half of the mine"
How so? He is not an entryman-"
"Roggie gave him a deed to half
interest"
Il see" said Hardy. quite in keep
ing. The deed is absolutely void, and
would have been no less SO even had
the grantor been first to reach here"
"You doubt his good faith!' The
girl glanced past him toward the sui
len figure Of Vandervyn on the mine
dump with her father. $50 you thought
It better to take it all yourself than
to let him take it all?"
Eyes" agreed Hardy.
The girls red lips curved in an iron
lcal smile
4 do not go with the mine-neces-
sariIy."
"Eo. But the mine necessarily goes
eith you-noW," replied Hardy.
he 50 kind as to explain. 7 under
stand that you were ordered to Alas
ka"
Were YOU not told CT my return as
far as the butte?"
Then your orders to leave were
countermanded," Marie evaded the
question.
Ills eyes darkened, and his face con
tractcd as if from Il twinge OF pain.
But he replied with quiet steadinesS:
THAT is Of no consequence. May |
Rsk if you consider my word good?"
Yes" The answer was given with
out an instant's hesitation.
He smiled gravely. you cannot
mink / came back to win the mine for
myself You have my word that I
will assign it to you rs soon as I have
the legal right"
"To me? But why?" The dilating eyes
Of the girl showed her utter surprise
and establishment. "Why? There that
last night at the agency, you showed
that you despiseG me-"
Never that" he disclaimed. st was
bitter-harsh. But the suddenness Of
the discovery that YOU and he Let
us not talk of that. 1t is past.
would not have come back to trouble
you, only" Again he stopped. Il
had to come back and do this thing.
1t was necessary that you should be-
come owner of the mine-sole owner.
1t is to be yours, not his. Promise me