The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-02-09
5 BEN NET

L
the lists of agency property" was
Hardy's curt reply.
"All right. I'll o. X. your report
| Don't need to check the lists of an Off
Ger and gentleman" the man purred
in his Oiliest tone. He handed over q
packet. Here are the papers reliev,
ing you. and my appointment. I'm the
new agent. l held them back to give
| young Vandervyn the chance to spring
| his pleasant little surprises on you"
"Very considerable" said Hardy. He
| opened and read the official document
| with care, pocketed his own, and hand
| ed the other back to the new agent
Every good. Now, if you will examine
the accounts of the chief clerk and the
| issue clerk. have brought them down
to date, together with my report"
The new agent glanced at the papers
their correctness. That's enough for
me. I'll give you my O. X. Of the turn
| over"
f! you would oblige me by checking
the property in the warehouse"
Waste of time, captain. You'll
want to be starting for the railroad
| We made a night of it. Commission.
ers' heads are sore this morning. They
| want to get to work, and this is the
| best place. I can loan you my touring.
car to take you over to the railroad.
"Thank you. 1 prefer to ride my
mare" said Hardy. II shall ask you
however, to send one of the police with
my trunk in Dupont's blackboard"
''Pll send it in the motor. There's
a lot more of our own baggage to be
brought out from the railroad" in
sisted the new agent.
He receipted Hardy's papers, and
went to hunt up the chauffeur of the
second car. Hardy took his private pa
pers and the reports that he wished to
mail, and went over to his quarters to
pack his baggage. Dupont sent a pc.
liceman to fetch Hardy's mare and
came in to offer his big hand.
slope you amt going off with nc
hard feelings, Cap" he said.
| hoAuy 6ioNSiJ Shooh MINUS Will
| him.
"None, this morning." he assured
"a man cannot afford to cherish en-
! nifty. I shall ask you to go with me to
! the tepee of the head chief"
Dupont hesitated, and ended by
complying with the request. They
found old Ti-owa-konza seated in his
tepee, waiting for the white chiefs to
call a council. When, with Dupont's
| aid, Hardy explained that he must 60
| away, the noble old chiefs stolidity
fell from him like q mask, and he
rose to cry out in impassioned speech
| against the departure Of the tribes
true friend. Hardy could only express
| his deep regret, and repeat that he had
to obey the orders of his own head
| chief. When he had explained the
report on irrigation that he was mail.
ing to the Indian bureau, he exchanged
trifling gifts Of friendship with the
chief and tore himself away.
The policeman was waiting with the
mare. Hardy gave him coin and
| swung into the saddle.
Zone last word, Dupont" he said
Kindly tell your daughter what I said
about not cherishing enmity."
"How about Mr.. Van?" questioned
Dupont.
"You need say nothing to him from
me, But" Hardy bent over in the
saodle to bring his stern face near
the trader's-"I advise you to watch
that young man."
Dupont stood for some time staring
after the officer. When he started for
his store, before which a crowd of In
dams were waiting, his shrewd eyes
| were narrow with calculation, and his
stubby forefinger was rubbing the griz-
| zled hair under the brim of his hat.
Hardy permitted the mare to choose
her own pace.
AS he neared the foot of the valley,
he saw Redbear and Oinna riding up
the creek from the road crossing. The
girl dropped in her saddle as if ill. A
| nearer view confirmed his suspicious
| Redbear was intoxicated, and he was
| abusing his sister in the foulest of
language. When Hardy approached
| the girl averted her shame-reddened
face, and dropped still lower over her
| pony's withers. Redbear leered inso-
lenty at the intruder mad burst into a
| drunken laugh. Though his body was
Keeling, he had almost perfect control
of his tongue
Look at him, Weena; the" Here
followed number of obscene cpl
thets. THAT man Of yours lost no
time. The tin soldier is on the run
Told you we had fixed him."
I 'You drunken dog" said Hardy
"Keep quiet and go home"
who's going to make me?" chal.
lenged the halfbreed, his bloodshot
| eyes flaring with vicious anger. 81
| don't take any more orders from you.
| You'd try to put the killing Of Nogen
| on me-try to make out it was me shot
him, and tried to shoot you those two
| times! But Van fixed you. He prom.
| ised to keep you from putting me in
Jail. That's why let him have Weena
| when we went into the mountains"
"YOu cur" cried Hardy. $50 you
permitted him?'
| Oinna threw up her head with the
courage of outraged innocence.
"Why should he stop him from TAX.
ing me? she shrilled. 81 am only q
| breed girl but my man loves me, me
| only! I had a right to be his wife if
I wanted to-"
"His wife?" incredulously exclaimed
Hardy. "a man Of his stamp never
could have married you."
"He did! he did" insisted Oinna
81 thought you too kind to think /
would be bad girl. He married me