The Lamar register., 1917-02-07

Hardy smiled. shook his head, and
looked around for an interpreter. Du-
pont still sat sulking on the mine
dump, but Marie and Vandervyn
were coming back up the mountain
side. They appeared only few
yards away, as Hardy glanced about.
His lips drew tense when he per
celved the girls happy bushes and
the look with which Vandervyn was
regarding her half-averted face.
At sight of Hardy she Strengthened
with proud disdain, and would have
Immediately gone around into the
cabin had he not spoken.
Pardon me, Miss Dupont. These
men wish to report to me. May | ask
you to interpret for themf'
The girl turned coldly to the ser
geant, who ut once poured out an i'm
FASHIONED defamation, emphasized
with swift-formed signs. He was still
! talking, when Dupont sullenly sham
bled over from the mine-dump. His
discontinued face darkened still more
when he came within hearing Of the
speakers.
At last the sergeant finished his i'm
promptu Grafton. Without looking at
Hardy, Marie gave the substance of
the speech with contemptuous curt
ness:
He says they think you were very
brave to follow the shooter into the
broken mountain. They are very
sorry that they could not again find
the trail of the bad Indian after los
ing it on the bare rocks from which
he must have shot Charlie"
Tell them that is all right. The
fellow thought / was the enemy of
his tribe. He will soon learn bet
ter. Neither he nor any other will
again attack me-"
"Yes, you have talked Thunderbolt
into believing you the tribes dear
est friend" ironically replied Marie.
These silly fellows trailed you TO
the chiefs camp, and have swallowed
whole the account of the wonderful
good things you are going TO do for
the tribe. All this gush and fuss was
over that and your big heart"
Regardless of the mockery in the
girls eyes, Hardy turned to smile and
nod at the policemen in acknowledge
ment of their kindly feeling.
Dupont muttered a curse, and ven
tured an ill-humored remark loud
enough to reach Hardy's ears: ''The
whole bunch'd sing a different tune
If 1 told them how he turned down
the chance to give the tribe half
what's in our mine"
Chuck it, Jake!" interposed Van
dervyn, with a good-humored smile
that surprised Hardy no less than the
trader. Its up to US to take our
medicine. We know 1t will not be to
the best interests Of the tribe. The
responsibility, however, is his"
you amt going to throw down, are
your" exclaimed Dupont
What else can we do?" mildly
asked Vandervyn. The game is up"
What if the government don't
make 1t no rush. but has the entry
men draw lOts?" objected Dupont. II
been fool enough to show Cap through
the digging and tell him what we
got blocked out If he amt square
enough to keep his head shut, we
won't stand no chance at all of buying
out the entryman what draws first
choice in the lottery.
"You see, captain" said Vandervyn.
AS we discovered and developed the
lode, do you not think the honorable
thing would be to make no mention
of the mine in your report?"
The tribe should receive a large
payment for their mineral lands. re
piled Hardy.
quite true" agreed Vandervyn, his
voice ringing clear and strong with
sincerity. There was talk of pay
ing them fifteen millions. 1 think II
should be fifteen or twenty. We have
found indications of other lodes. l
am sure you will see that It would be
perfectly honorable to report that
fact, but leave out all mention of our
mine. That would protect us, and do
no harm to the tribe. II you see 1t
that way, l will pull all the wires l
can to convince the government that
this part of the reservation Is rich in
minerals. My uncle is chairman of
the treaty commission. If his report
favors a payment of fifteen or twenty
millions to the tribe, congress will ap-
propriate that amount"
IF there are indications of other
lOdes as rich as this one, fifteen mill