Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-04-12

Vyu, twisting the UP OF MS 0lOnQ mus.
tache. ut 10 for you to decide to
leave for the good Of the tribe, or
to stay and take the chance Of an up.
rising" ID
1.-THE way you put it" considered
Hardy. "Perhaps it might be better
tor all concerned If should leave"
"You bet it wouid, Cap" eagerly
broke in Dupont. "'Tain't no joke.
Them ornery cusses II git you like
they done with Nogen, Just as sure
as shooting"
Vandervyn shot 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.
ooh, PEREZ" she reproached. "Why
did you say it7 You should have
known Captain Hardy could not leave
after that"
"cuite right, Miss Dupont" said
Hardy.
"You mean, you won't leave7' asked
Dupont.
"How cnn hep vandervyn smoothly
cut in. you've put it up to him that
1t would be deserving his post under
fire. He's an army officer-he wouldn't
leave now even If he knew his staying
here meant certain massacre for us
all, followed BY certain massacre Of
the tribe by the troops"
II will remain until I have made at
least one more effort to pacify the
tribe" replied Hardy. "You are at
liberty to resign whenever you please.
Mr.. Dupont has ample time to remove
his goods and his daughter from the
reservation"
"Not me-" declared Marie; II don't
care what Pere and Reggie say; /
know there is not one Of the tribe who
would harm me, even in an outbreak"
swell, mebbe not" admitted her IA
Their.
II gather that I am the only person
who seems to be endangered" re-
marked Hardy. 'This being SO, will
wait few days for the excitement to
subslde, and will then call another
council"
''They won't come ag'in to meet you,"
predicted Dupont.
'"Then shall 60 to them"
"1nto the mountains, captain7" ex-
claimed Murie, her splendid eyes Wild
ening with concern. Surely you will
not venture among the camps"
"The tribe must learn that mean
friendship"
Dupont paused to scratch the side
Of his head. But vandervyn spoke
without an instant's hesitancy: "You
have no right to throw your life away
>-selessly, captain. Suppose Charlie
and make trip to the camps, to see
II we cannot quiet the tribe and talk
the chiefs into giving you another
hearing? If you have no objection, we
could tell them that you cannot leave
just now, but that you will do so an
soon as you have tried to benefit them."
"And that Mr.. vanll be next agent"
added Dupont.
"Wil you tell them that am here
to help them and to be their friend?"
queried Hardy.
"Trust me to put 1t to them strong,
captain" assured Vandervyn. II know
you'll play fair by resigning in my ea-
v0r as soon as you have the tribe, in
hand"
"After I have done what Fcan Go to
Improve conditions among Them" quail
tiled Hardy.
II do SO hope Mr.. Van can pcrs.ade
them to be friendly with yoY." said
Marie. II know he and Charlie will
be perfectly safe. But it will be hard
to talk them out Of their strange dis
like to you. When will you start, Reg
gie?"
early tomorrow morning, II the cap
tain has no objections"
1.-THE sooner the better" agreed
Hardy.
"I'n-go and remove my cornell cos
tune" said Vandervyn, smiling at his
irreproachable frock coat.
Marie and her father rose with him.
Hardy bowed out the girl AMI returned
to his desk. He was deep in the midst
Of report on the tribe when, half an
hour later, Vandervyn returned to the
Office In his riding toys.
"Charlie may not come back this
afternoon" he remarked. II thought
might ride down and tell him about
the trip. could fetch your mare for
you"
every well. I shall be obliged" re-
piled Hardy, and he returned to his
study Of the report.
Vandervyn rode down along the far
side Of the stream, keeping the thick
cts as much as possible between him.
self and the Dupont house. He did
rot rec-oss the creek unti: he was CD.
poMte Redbear's home. BE found the
cabin door closed. But at slight
movement Of the window curtains his
hand went up to hsckon Win Q lordlu