The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-09-20

ners," came back the cOOl rejoinder.
vandervyn's REDEEMED face went
crimson. The veins Of his forehead be-
gan to swell. But with n strong effort
he repressed his anger and forced IA
smile. "You went me one better, Hardy.
I throw down."
The officer responded with instant
sympathy:
II see no reason why we should not
become friends and work together for
the good Of the tribe"
TITS u 60" agreed vnndervyn, and as
IL cleared Of nll Ill temper by his out
burst, he began n lively conversation
on official society In the national capt
tai.
The party topped the rise between
the river and Sioux creek. and rode
down the winding road that skirted It's
willow-fringcd bank to the crossing Of
the stream. As they rounded the spur
ridge on the fur side, Redbear rode up
on Hardy's right, and pointed to II
small cabin among the quaking usps
In the milc-wlde curve of the stream 10
the left.
"See my house, sir" he said.
Looks well built" remarked Hardy,
his fieldglasses ut his eyes. "Quite
new, l see. You have still to put dirt
on this rne of the roof"
"And to put "a squaw inside" added
vandervyn.
The halfbreed's jaw muscles
twitched, but he did not look away
from Hardy. II got ii letter from my
sister Oinna. She says she can't stay
at school. She says she will die IL they
make her stay at school. | want her
to come and cook for me till I get mar
rlcd."
GLOW old Is she?"
"More than seventeen. She Is sick to
come. She says she will die"
Every well. But you must take good
care of her until she Is married"
"Yes, sir. I've got n lot of money"
replied the halfbreed, with the prone
hess of n weak nature to boast. "Tve
got almost"
Almost enough to buy you two
squaws." cut In Vandervyn.
Redbear started to speak, caught the
others eye, and refined In his pony.
Hardy did not notice this. They had
rounded the toe of the spur ridge. and
he was gazing up the green valley that
lay outstretched In n circle OF hills
larger and fur more picturesque than
the Catskills. Sioux creek swirled out
Of q canyon at the far end, to meander
down n winding channel fringed with
bushes and aspens and other small
trees.
On a natural terrace, or "bench," two
miles up, the glasses showed the log
buildings at the agency. Midway down
to Redbear's cabin but across the creek
was a large post-and-rall corral. Van
dervyn had resumed with zest his talk
about the social gnieties OF which he
had been deprived for half n year.
Hardy said little, but his eye was busy
taking In the natural features of the
beautiful valley.
When they came to the slope Of the
bench, or terrace, Vandervyn noticed
the intent look of his companion, and
inquired: swell. what do you think
va = sam th'bN t'ip'i u NAAi' i iAAiN
Is the Dupont place vcr here"
Hardy glanced at the large double
cabin n hundred yards off TO the right
Of the road. The broad front porch
gave II n homelise appearance. The
two cabins before him were very small.
Beyond them stood the big agency
warehouse. It's o%verhanging upper
| Star. eha,x.aJ ,hnt 10 lnl I.An hull, r.r
use as n blockhouse, but the many
windows had rendered It less defens-
ible than one of the cabins. The only
persons In sight were the two Indian
police who had been left in charge by
Redbear.
"Welli" repeated Vandervyn.
"Not an easy place to defend" suil
Hardy. "Whcre Is the office and the
g~uardhouse?"
1.-THE office Is In the near front cor
ner of the warehouse. The police quar-
tiers are In the other end. You see the
white tcpccs over there across the
creek? Most of the relations of the
police camp near the agency. This
first cabin Is Nogen's-yours, | should
say. The second Is mine"
"Your quarters? May | ask you for
n bite of lunch as soon as I have
rubbed down my marc?"
81 board with the Duponts, but I "A
scare up II cold lunch" said Vandervyn.
As they ~dlsmounted, Redbear came
up and successfully curried favor with
the new agent by offering to curry his
mare. lie led her away To the low
brush stable beyond the warehouse.
After lunch. though still weary from
his long ride, Hardy put In the rest of
the day inspecting the agency property
and examining the accounts Of the two
clerks. With the exception Of two or
three small items IN Rcdbear's books,
everything checked accurately.
vandervyn brought bacon. coffee,
crackers and canned food. and the new
agent cooked supper with the skill Of
an old campalgner. After they had
eaten, the chief clerk produced cigars