Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-03-29
CHAPTER III.
Condolences.


Condolences.
The eescuers from the agency had
refined In their sweating ponies to a
lope when they first caught sight of the
party on the butte side of the coulee.
They struggled down the gulley at q
walk, eight short-haired Indian police
men In blue uniform, and u tall, loose
Tipped young halfbreed In ordinary
frontier clothes. AS they stopped In
the stream to water their ponies. each
fuytively studied the rider who was up
proaching on the big, rangy mare.
you're too late, Charlie" called
Nandervyn. Captain Hardy climbed
the butte, and the whole bunch hit
out"
"Soldiers7" queried the halfbreed.
mo, he's alone-Our new agent" ex-
pIalned Vandervyn as his pony brought
him alongside Hardy ut the edge Of the
Stream. Captain, this is Charlie Red
bear, our issue clerk and interpreter"
interpreter" repeated Hardy. "Red-
bear do any of the police understand
English?"
mo. sir. only few words" mumbled
the halfbreed.
Tell them I am captain of the
aorse soldlers-the Longknives. have
been sent here to be the agent"
Redbear interpreted in musical La
kotah, accompanying his words with
swift signs. The swarthy policemen
grunted approvingly, and their leader
rolled out a sonorous reply. The half
breed interpreted mechanically: "He
says your eye is straight. He says
they are ready to trail and fight the In
dinns whose hearts are bad"
"They are not to pursue the party,"
ordered Hardy, II shall call coun-
ell of the chiefs, and ascertain the
cause of the tribal unrest. Tell them"
Redbear hcsitated, and looked uncer-
tainly at Vandervyn. The chief clerk
spoke to him in sharp reproof: do as
you're told, Charlie. Captain Hardy Is
uow in command CT the reservation"
The halfbreed stared in astonish-
ment. but fastened to interpret. At
once the faces of the policemen be-
came stolid. They cast covert glances
at Vandervyn. Without seeming to no.
tice their sudden change of manner,
Hardy selected four to act as escort to
the Indian trader and his daughter.
The rest Of the party followed him
back up the gulley.
From the first the mare walked out
In the lead. She would soon have left
behind even vandervyn's guick-step-
ping pinto had not her rider happened
to glance about and catch the troubled
expression on the younger mans face.
Hardy waited for him to come along
side, and gravely remarked: II wish
to express my regret, Mr.. Vandervyn,
that my detail here has deprived you
Of your expected promotion"
Vandervyn's small mouth curved
with a cynical smile, but softened to a
more agreeable expression as he met
the others gaze. "You admit it?" he
muttered.
Having accepted the detail, cannot
now ask to be relieved" said Hardy.
but the extra pay was not one Of the
inducements. Permit me to suggest
that arrangements can be made to d.
vert to your salary the amount in ex-
cess of my regular compensation as an
officer"
The offer was as unexpected as 1t
was generous. Vandervyn flushed, bit
hia lip, and replied half inaudibly (:
"You needn't think just because No,
that's not quite You may mean well,
but that's no excuse"
MY fault, sir. Pardon me-" apollo.
gized Hardy.
Vandervyn looked ahead at the
mountains, considered, and turned to
his companion with what seemed a
cordial smile. II am not used to be-
Ing patronized, captain; but as you did
not mean it that way"
mot at all"
Vandervyn nodded. "You now un-
derstand that I'm not one of the COM
mon run of Indian service employees.
/ was slated for attache to our en-
bassy at tile Court of Saint James
celebrated the coming event with some
friends, and wound up by heaving a
brick through window of the White
House. Uncle shipped me out here I'M
til the storm should blow over"
Hardy may have recalled the hazings
In which he had shared at West Point.
His only comment was: "You were
fortunate to get any appointment"
"Oh, ] don't know" carelessly replied
vandervyn. II didn't wake the presi.
Dent and had some Of my wad left
The Waterman sent me home In tan
Nast the snfsepal 9raftee must have