The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-13

twitched, but he did not look away
from Hardy. Il got letter from my
sister Ofnna. She says she can't stay
ut school. She says she will die if they
make her stay at school. I want her
RED
How old is she?"
More than seventeen. She is sick TO
come. She says she will die"
very well. But you must take good
care of her until she is married"
Eyes, sir. I've got lot of money"
replied the halfbreed, with the prone
ness of Il weak nature to boast. I've
got almost
Almost enough TO buy you two
squaws," cut in Vandervyn.
Redbear started to speak, caught the
others eye, and refined in his pony.
Hardy did not notice this. They had
rounded the toe of the spur ridge, and
he was gazing up the green valley that
lay outstretched in a circle of hills
larger and far more picturesque than
the Catskills. Sioux creek swirIed out
of a canyon at the far end, to meander
down a winding channel fringed with
trees.
On natural terrace, or "bench," two
miles up, the glasses showed the log
buildings at the agency. Midway down
to Redbear's cabin but across the creek
was large post-and-rail corral. Van
dervyn had resumed with zeSt his talk
about the social gaieties of which he
had been deprived for half a year.
Hardy said little, but his eye was busy
taking in the natural features of the
beautiful valley.
When they came to the slope of the
bench, or terrace, Vandervyn noticed
the intent look of his companion, and
inquired: "Well, what do you think
of it? Talk about Siberian exfleI That
is the Dupont place over here"
Hardy glanced at the large double
cabin hundred yards off to the right
of the road. The broad front porch
gave it a homelike appearance. The
two cabins before him were very small.
Beyond them stood the big agency
warehouse. It's overhanging upper
story showed that it had been built for
use as a blockhouse, but the many
windows had rendered it less defens-
IDLE than one of the cabins. The only
persons in sight were the two Indian
police who had been left in charge by
Redbear.
''Wen?" repeated Vandervyn.
''Not an easy place to Defend" said
Hardy. 'Where is the Office and the
guardhouse?''
1.-The Office is in the near front cor
ner of the warehouse. The police quar-
tiers are in the other end. You see the
white tepees over there across the
creek? Most of the relations of the
police camp near the agency. This
first cabin is Nogen's-yours, should
say. The second is mine."
"Your quarters? May I ask you for
bite of lunch as soon as I have
rubbed down my mare?"
81 board with the Duponts, but can
scare up a cold lunch" said Vandervyn.
AS they dismounted, Redbear came
up and successfully curried favor with
the new agent by offering to curry his
mare. He led her away to the low
brush stable beyond the warehouse.
After lunch, though still weary from
his long ride, Hardy put in the rest of
the day inspecting the agency property
and examining the accounts of the two
clerks. With the exception of two or
three small items on Redbear'S books,
everything checked accurately.
Vandervyn brought bacon, coffee,
crackers and canned food, and the new
agent cooked supper with the skill of
an old campaigner. After they had
eaten, the chief clerk produced cigars
IN ioin Of fo1 l.Tf
Hardy was so drowsy that he asked to
be excused. The moment he was alone,
he laid his rifle and automatic pistol
in the bunk, blew out the candle, and
tumbled in on his blankets, without
troubling to close either the door or
the one small window.
The next morning Hardy and Van
dervyn were seated in the agency Of
fee when Redbear came in and started
to shuttle around to his desk, on the
other side of the Office partition.
.'Wait :" said Hardy 81 wish the
chiefs and headmen of she tribe sum-
moned to meet me in council as soon
as possible
cit is a days ride to the camps
farthest back in the mountains" re
marked Vandervyn.
Hardy considered. and looked up at
Redbear.
Does not this tribe use smoke sig
nals?"
mot for long time, not since I was
a boy, sir. never learned how to do
it."
.That old sergeant of police will
know" predicted Hardy. Gomez
Vandervyn fingered behind the 9TH
ers, and followed them only to the
rear corner of the warehouse. When
he had seen them ride of across Sioux
creek towards the highest OF the noun
tains that encircled the valley, he went
back into the Office, opened the safe,
and carefully sorted over its con-
tents All letters addressed to the late
agent and to himself he took out and
locked in his desk.
Meantime Hardy and Redbear with
the police sergeant passed through the
camp of the families OF the police.
where they added two old bucks to
their party. A pony trail led up through