The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-06
CHAPTER II.
The ACTING AGENT.

Within q few minutes the party had
neared the top of the ridge. The
thoroughbred mare came trotting up
from the hollow on the other side. AT
sight of them her rider brought her to
stand. The older man spurred his
pony up the round of the summit. ''By
Gar, that wasn't no bad play you made,
partner he called Taking the butte
gave you the drop on EN-"
The man whose strategy had routed
the Indians did not reply. The girl
looked up at him with confident ex-
pectancy in her sparkling eyes. He did
not move. The expression of his harsh
features was severe, but there was a
flush under the tropical tan on his
cheeks.
She hesitated, her rich color deepen
ing. Then her pique gave way to
more generous impulse. She drew the
gauntlet glove from her right hand.
Under his cold gaze her eyes again
hardened with offended pride, and
frank appreciation.
"Can you forgive me?" she asked.
He bowed formally. eff you think
there is anything to be forgiven"
"You know there is. wish to apollo
gize.''
She stood up in the blackboard and
held out, her hand to him. 1t was very
white and shapely. He bowed over il
with grave courtesy, as he took it in
his nervous clasp.
"You have no need to apologize,
Miss -''
"Dupont-Marie Dupont
''None whatever, Miss Dupont" he
went on. 81 should have explained my
Intentions
"Why didn't you make for the butte
first thing, instead of crossing the cou-
lee?'' broke in the blond young man.
81 did not wish to shoot until un-
der&ood the cause of the trouble. There
was also the chance that they would
cease firing when / rode towards them"
'aThat was nervy of you" remarked
the girls father-"that and making
the second run when they'd come SO
near Citing you the first time"
@You are Jacques Dupont, the Indian
trader?''
"That's me-onIy they make it Jake
this side of Ottawa. Marie guessed
you're an army officer"
Captain Floyd Hardy, United States
cavalry" stated the newcomer as he
raised his glasses.
The blond young man Strengthened
out of his insolently careless pose, and
spoke in the tone of a gentleman
PLEASED to meet you. Captain Hardy.
You were in command OF the Philip
L
pressed the recent Instruction in the
| Sulu islands You received favorable
| mention from congress. 1 am Reginald
VanderEyn of the Vandervyns of Stat
1 en- Island. Senator Clemmer is my
uncle"
The captain responded to the intro
ductioa with curt bow.
See anything of the p'leece, CapT'
asked Dupont.
sYes. They should be here in few
minutes
ST see Them" said the girl. They're
coming down the slope this side Of the
Sioux Greek divide"
They're slow" grOwled Fandervyn
| I'll ride back and head them cross
country. They have good horses. They
shall run out every buck In the bunch"
He spun his pony about to sprint
down the road into the coulee. Hardy
| uttered a stern order: Haiti"
/ Angered at the command and still
more at the impulse that compelled
him to obey it, Yandervyn twisted
about In his saddle to face the officer
with challenging stare
Keep that talk for your interiors.
he said. 81 am acting agent Of this
reservation. What say gees I'll havs
these bucks trafled till every one OF
them is in the guardhouse 81 feeding
the Cows