The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-20
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
S THE OUARTERBREED

By
Robert Ames Bennett

school they told me only bad girls let
men kiss Them"
'BahI' he scoffed. "What do those
old fossils know about it," His voice
deepened to an aIluring richness.
Come. I will not hurt you, Ofnna.
Give me a kiss
Let me-let me out ~ she painted
mot unless you pay toll"
She looked around for some way of
escape. There was none. She stared
wildly out through the window and
then looked at him over her shoulder.
The sudden stiffness of her pose
checked and disquieted him. Was it
possible that she had seen her brother
returning?
He sprang outside and around to the
corner of the cabin A short distance
away he saw Marie Dupont riding
across from the road at smart can
ter. He waved his hat to her and faced
about just as Oinna was gliding from
the door.
"StOp!" he called in a tone that
forced the girl to obey. Don't be silly,
Oinna. You have my word for it 1
meant no harm. If you run now. Miss
Dupont will think we have been doing
something wrong"
ooh, don't want her to- She was
good to me. Don't let her think bad
of me- implOred the girl
''Then go in and get her a cup of
tea. Quick-here she comes"
The girl disappeared as Marie's pony
swung around the corner of the cabin
stirrup leather. He Strengthened, and
looked over his pOny's back. Marie
had pulled up a few feet away, and
was staring past him toward the door
of the cabin, her cheeks ablaze and
her eyes flashing with anger.
''HelIo 2" he exclaimed, gIancing over
his shoulder with well-feigned surprise
whats the matter?"
you ask that?" she cried. ST met
Charlie half way to the agency. He
said you were riding out of the val
ley"
eyes. Stopped here to get a drink
from his sister. They have only creek
water. I've had to wait while she
boiled some for tea. But it was a
lucky delay-you're here. You'll ride
with me?"
81 wish to speak to that GIRL re-
piled Marie.
"GOing to hire her for a kitchen
maid?'' ne asked, and he called over
his shoulder in a rough tone: Hurry
up in there. You're keeping Miss Du-
pont waiting
"You should not speak that way to
Oinna- She is not a dog" reproved
Marie. tSee; you have frightened
her It's all right, Oinna. Mr.. Van
didn't mean to be cross"
The girl had stopped in the door
way, her eyes tinidly downcast. With
out looking up, she came around to Ma
RE and offered her the cup of luke
warm tea that she had brought in
obedience to Vandervyn's command.
Marie took a sip and paused to peer
down into the dark brew.
''MerciI' she cried. cit is half
sugar."
''You were good to me-" naively ex-
planned Oinna.
Marie laughed and handed back the
offering.
''You child! Drink it yourself. I
at school. Come on, Reggie"
Vandervyn mounted, and their po-
MES started off on a lope. The young
man kept his eyes to the front. But
Marie soon glanced about.
Look" she said.
He turned and saw Oinna with the
/ big granite-ware cup to her uptilted
lips, draining the moist sugar from the
bottom. The action was laughably
childish, but the girls attitude was the
perfection of grace. Marie caught the
look that fitted across Vandervyn's
face, and her eyes flashed.
$50 I was right" she exclaimed.
''You were flirting with her"
flirting with herr" he wonder
ingly queried, and he turned sideways
in his saddle. to stare wide-eyed at his
companion, from the tip of her dainty
riding boot up TO the feather felt hat
on her coal-black hair
Under that prolonged scrutiny the
scarlet of the girls anger changed to
rose, and her eyes sank as coyIy as
had Oinna's. He smiled. The girl was
good to look upon.
Mid-mOrning was past when they
walked their ponies up the slope of
the terrace. The bare level. back of the
warehouse, was dotted with groups of
stolid, half-naked Indians.
Look ~ exclaimed the girl.
'fWhat is it?" he asked
Don't you see? There is not a
woman or child among them. Let us
go and find out what Pere thinks of 1T. %