Williams news., 1917-04-12


 may win the mine.''
 | "We got a fair show to, seeing as how you ain't going to let on about it in your report. Now, just tell me what I can do for you"
 Merely a few words as interpre- ter," said Hardy. q wish one of the | police at once to ride over to the railroad with thess telegrams and let ters. The sooner I receive instruc- ington. the better"
 That's no lie. KIT. Van says the money can't be appropriated till con- gress meets but the treaty is fixed up sos the amount can be settled on and the reservation ordered divided up by the treaty commission" "Ahi" exclaimed Hardy. "We may get the agricultural lands allotted in time for the planting of winter wheat. Come; we will send off these tele- grams and letters"
 Since the return of the party from | the mountains, not one of the police but was more than willing to serve | the new agent. Two of the younger nlan were soon cantering away down the valley on their best ponies, proud of the fact that they had been chosen to make the night ride to the railroad. Hardy returned to the office with Dupont, and became deeply absorbed in discussing ways and means for the development of the Indians as farm CTS. When Dupont noted the hour, | fhnr ,n1 irr1n fnr~ AVA one of the captains quick-change toi- lets. Yet he appeared at the door of the Dupont house, spick and span and his beard clean shaven, without hay ing required his hostess to wait SUD- i per half a minute.
 AS he entered in response to Du- pont's hospitabls below, there was perceptible hesitancy in his manner. Marie was seated at the far end of the room near Vanderyyn. She rose, and came forward to greet Hardy, her chin proudly uptllted.
 '"There seems to have been a gen. eral misunderstanding of motives, captain," she remarked with frank di- rectness. q still consider that you were unduly harsh, but I now under stand that you meant we'll and per haps had some excuse. Reggie says that we are all to work together for the good of the tribe."
 ''It pleases me very much to hear you say it."
 "What interest have you in helping them?" she queried, evidently reluc- tant to believe his motives unselfsh.
 
 f1cial record" bantered Vandervyn. Every little thing counts on promo tion-like merit marks at school"
 "You sce!" agreed Hardy. 'I can't pretend to altruism. 1 am ambitious to stand well in my profession. If l make a good showing when given a detail, put merit marks on my rec ord, as MT. Vandervyn has so aptly expressed it.''
 Marie'S challenging gaze SOftened, and she looked thoughtfully down at her white hands.
 Isn't even self-sacrifice a form o1 selfishness?" she murmured.
 The appearance of the Indian boy in the dining room doorway checked Hardy's reply.
 During supper the girl remained unusually thoughtful and silent Har- dy discussed with Dupont plans for the instruction of the tribe in agricul- ture. The idea had occurred to him that the government might permit nim to build an irrigation system for the farming lands of the tribe, using Ip dian laborers, and paying for the work out of money appropriated for the sale of the mineral lands. When Vandervyn chose to listen, it was with s half-amused smile that did not always cover the underlying cynical irony. Most of the time he devoted himself to an attempt to rally Marie out of her thoGghtfulness. Instead of responding, she became more pen sive. Hardy attributed the girls half somber quietness to his presence. As they left the supper table, he asked Dupont to come to the office.
 Marie and Vandervyn followed them as far as the parlOr, where the young man dropped into the easiest chair, with a disgusted, Lord he makes me weary-all that benevolent platter !' "Of course he is doing it merely to help himself in his career" mur- mured Marie.
 "Or to get the handling of the tri- bal funds," suggested Vandervyn. "There'n be fat slice of graft for ) somebody out of all those millions" 9 You really think that?" :. What else can you expect-govern- ment on one side and Poor Lo on the r other? It's the usual thing. I ex- r pect to get my share.'
 "You" exclaimed the girl, her eyes g widening with look of astonishment and reproach.
 Vandervyn laughed amusedly. : ''Wait a bit before you dig up your ) tomahawk, Miss Sitting Bull. If I