Meade County news., 1917-04-12

Washington except two notes from
Vandervyn to Dupont, reporting favor
able progress and inclosing sealed let
ters to Marie. She told nothing of
what these contained, even to her fa-
ther.
Hardy's first-and last-message in
regard to the new treaty was an Off
cial notification that it had been duly
approved and signed, after fifteen mil
lion dollars had been decided upon as
the compensation to the tribe for the
mineral lands. Special commissioners
had been named to proceed to the res
ervatlon and arrange for the immedl-
ate opening Of the mineral lands to en-
try, and the allotment o. the remaining
lands to the members Of the tribe.
Hardy was surprised when he saw
that the time set for the departure Of
the commissioners had already passed.
The document had been misdirected,
had been returned to Washington, and
then seemingly had been pigeonholed
for several days by some careless clerk
before being remailed to him.
If he had not established more fire.
quent mail service, in place Of the GUS
tOmary weekly trip to town by one
of the police, the commissioners might
have arrived before he received the
notice.
He was still more surprised when,
the following day, he and Marie rode
down Sioux creek to where it flowed
into Wolf river. The moment the
view down the coulee opened before
them, they perceived several tents
pitched In the bottom, at the foot of the
butte. They found twenty or twenty
five rOugh-looking men encamped along
the spring rill in light dog-tents. A
few were cowboys, but the greater
number had the appearance and outfits
Of prospecting miners. They stared at
Marie with the respectful admiration
of typical Westerners for an "honest"
woman, and readily answered Hardy's
civil questions.
Notice of the prospective opening Of
the mineral lands of the reservation
had been published in a few very OBJ
scure weekly papers. One Of the men
gave Hardy blurred sheet Of little
country journal, and pointed out the
government notice. 1t was printed in
the midst of several uninteresting legal
notices. The old fellow winked know
ingly, and remarked that, as long as
he was in on the game, he didn't care
how quiet it was played.
"What could that man have meant
about being in on quiet gamer" Ma
rie asked Hardy, as they rode down
the coulee to take the road back to
the agency.
IT believe I understand, and do
not altogether like it," replied Hardy.
"The fellow probably is right in think
ing that undue influence is being eX-
erted to give as little publicity as pos
sible to the opening of the mineral
lands to entry"
do you really think so? OF course
1t is not right Yet where is the
harm? These men have been enter
prising enough to seize the oppOrtu-
nifty, and they deserve the chances of
good fortune"
"The transaction has rather too
much the appearance of prearranged
scheme" replied Hardy. His thought
full face darkened with the shadow of
anxiety. eff 1 could be sure that 1t
would bring only good fortune to you y
I The profound tenderness and con-
Germ in his voice seemed to startle
Marie. She leaned forward, and put
her pony into a gallop.
The day before, Immediately upon
receipt of the official statement from
Washington, Hardy had sent messen-
ger to notify Ti-owa-konza. Two days
later the head chief came with all his
large family, including Oinna. Marie
insisted that the girl should come to
stay with her until the return of Red
bear, and Immediately fitted out the
girl with good dresses from her own
wardrobe. When Hardy spoke of her
, generosity, she smiled and shrugged
, ut is little enough to do for any
one, captain. was tired of those old
gowns. Anyway, as n quarterbreed,
owe it to my own self-respect to KEEP
/ a halfbreed girl from going around like
, a full-blood woman"
"Her brother will be greatly
pleased"
II had no thought Of him. He is
rather a worthless fellow. 1t is strange
to me how proud Oinna is of him. She
says nothing, but one can see that
: she is in a fever of Joyous excitement
} over the prospect of his return"
J Hardy frowned, parted his lips tc
: speak, and thought better of 1t.
J "You were going to say-T OBJ
, served Marie.
Something that must be left unsaid
If you will pardon me-" he replied. and
! he shifted the conversation to the