The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1917-01-03

on this corner OF the roof
"And to put squaw inside" added
Yandervyn.
The halfbreed's jaw muscles
twitched, but he did not look away
from Hardy. Il got letter from my
sister Oinna. She says she cant stay
ut school. She says she will die If they
make her stay at school l want her
to come and cook for me till 1 get mar
ried."
How old is shef"
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 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 swirled out
OF canyon at the far end, to meander
down a winding channel fringed with
bushes and aspens and other small
trees.
On a 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-und-rall 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 exile That
Is the Dupont place over here"
Hardy glanced at the large double
cabin hundred yards of TO the right
Of the road. The broad front porch
gave It homelike appearance. The
two cabins before him were very small.
Beyond them stood the big agency
warehouse. Its overhanging upper
story showed that II had been built for
use as a blockhouse, but the many
windows had rendered 1t less defens-
lille 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
suardhouseT'
The office is In the near front cor.
ncr 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
suy. The second is mine"
Your quarters? May I ask you for
bite OF lunch as soon as 1 have
rubbed down my mare?"
Il board with the Duponts, but can
scare mp 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
-irrks With the exception of two or
three small items on Redbear's books,
everything checked accurately.
Nandervyn brought bacon, coffee.
crackers and canned food, and the new
agent cooked supper with the skin of
an old campaigner. After they had
eaten, the chief clerk produced cigars
In anticipation of a social evening. But
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.
Waltz" said Hardy. 81 wish the
chiefs and headmen Of the tribe sum-
moned to meet me in council as soon