Williams news., 1917-03-22

trail, and Hardy called in the track .erS.
 The period of the search had been as agreeable to Hardy as it had been annoying to Vandervyn. To check Vandervyn'S wOoing-or it may have been to redouble his ardor through jealousy-she spent as much time as possible in Hardy's company. She was so gracious that Hardy began to show openly that he thought he might have a fighting chance to win her. | This made Vandervyn furious. Yet he had to restrain himself from any OutburSt.
 Noon of the fourth day Hardy stated at dinner that he was quite himself again and would start on the trip into the mountains the next morning. Red bear had not yet returned to the agency, and Dupont, in his friendliest manner, offered his services as inter- preter until the halfbreed should join the party.
 When Hardy accepted this offer, Vandervyn looked at him in his guile less way and remarked in a casual tone: with the tribe so uneasy, I suppose you wi,> want me to stay here and look after Marie."
 Marie objected: q am a member of the tribe. If Pere is going into the mountains, I am going with him.
 ''No!" cried Vandervyn.
 q cannot permit that" declared Hardy.
 "Oh, yes, you can and will," confi- dently replied the girl. q shall be in no danger. If anyone is attacked, it will be you only."
 Unobservant of Vandervyn's look, Dupont paused with a knifeful of food halfway to his mouth to agree with his daughter: "Ain't none of 'em what wants to lift her scalp. She'd be safer n me and you, MT. Van-which is good as saying dead safe."
 "Yet if I should be attacked?" said Hardy.
 "1f you are, it won't be no general outbreak, Cap. It will be a few young bloods a-laying for you, or mebbe just one, like the buck done down at the coulee."
 'You see," argued Marie. "You are the only one in danger of attack. Ii Reggie and l go, as we'll as Pere, there will be that much less chance Of small party firing at you.''
 Every well,"- acquiesced Hardy. CT rely on your fathers judgment. If there is the slightest chance of danger tn you, he should know 1t. But as you are to be with the party, l shall take along a squad of police. MT. Wander vyn, you may remain in charge of the agency, if you prefer"
 "No, thanks" snapped Vandervyn. Eff you intend to let Marie run the risk of getting into a massacre, most certainly shall go along."
 The girl was unusually gracious to Hardy at supper. At breakfast she di- vided her smiles between the two with strict impartiality. But when, shortly before sunrise, the party started off up the valley, Hardy began talking about tribal customs with Dupont and be- came so engrossed in the discussion that he failed to give his usual court eous attention to Marie. Vandervyn was quick to make the most of the girls pique. The half-dOzen Indian po- lice of the escort were strung out in front with the pack horses. He sug- gested that it would be well to avoid the dust by getting in the lead.
 When Hardy saw the couple ride ahead, he would have ordered them back had not Dupont again assured him that the girl would not be in the ,1., the trip.
 "YOu Were not so certain of the friendliness of the Indians toward her the other day." remarked Hardy.
 Dupont scratched his head. "Well, no, wasn't, Cap; that's no lie. That there, though, was diff'rent. I'm going now by what MT. Van says about the feeling in the camps. Wisht I felt as sure about you.'
 "Never mind about me. If your daughter is safe, that is quite sufti- cient. You say this mine is centrally located with relation to the various camps. We will go to it first and en- deavor to get the tribe to meet us there in council"
 "At the miner" mumbled Dupont. "We-e-ll, you're the boss"
 The party now entered Sioux Creek canyon and followed the narrow path alongside the torrent until they came to the first small Indian camp. The Indians met Marie and Vandervyn with friendly greetings, but looked at Hardy with a stolid concealment of i'll feeling that, according to Dupont, bOded ill for the new agents recep- tion in the larger camps. Hardy set his jaw, and ordered the party to start on into the mountains.
 Noon found the party over twenty miles from the agency by trail, though less than half that distance in an air line. They had come upon no more h. dian camps and had seen no more h. dianS. Late afternoon found them far