Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-01-26

Redbear Pitched Backwards.
leaped a sheet of flame. Redbear flung
up his arms and pitched backward.
Swiftly Vandervyn recocked his re-
volver and aimed it at Hardy.
"Put up your hands Keep them
away from your coat" he shouted in
fierce menace.
Hardy did not put up his hands. He
bent down to feel the heart Of the
halfbreed. Shrieking with horror,
Oinna fell fainting across the body Of
her brother. Hardy looked up, grim
and quiet.
Il hope you are satisfied" he said.
''You have killed him."
Vandervyn kept his revolver pointed
at Hardy.
81 shot in self-defense," he snarled.
'Don't you make a move. He had his
gun on me"
SIT was empty, called to YOU"
"YOu didn't-nOt till | had fired. I
shot him down to save my life. I'll
0lICOI JCu, tOO, Il you u y W QId
Get out of here" ordered Hardy,
needless of the threat. you've caused
trouble enough. Send the new agent.
You can tell him that | admit you seem
to have been justified"
Vandervyn's menacing attitude re-
Taxed. He half lowered his revolver.
but kept wary watch on Hardy as
he backed away around the corner
of the cabin, and ran to jump on his
pony and gallOp away. Hardy bad
sprung up. But it was only to hasten
into the house for water He came out
with half-filled bucket drew Oinna
over on her back, and dashed water
into her face. She opened her eyes,
saw him, and, reddening with shame,
turned her face aside. 1t happened
to be toward her brother. Suddenly
she drew herself up on her elbow to
bend over the gray face.
"He-is not-dead!" she gasped.
Redbear's lips were moving. Hardy
kneft to lift him up to a half-sitting
position. He knew by grim experience
that with such a wound there was no
hope, but he also knew that it would
ease the agony to raise the injured
man. Oinna dampened her brothers
forehead. He muttered a curse.
Not that, boy" warned Hardy. you
have only few minutes"
Redbear seemingly did not hear him.
He repeated the curse: "The-! I'd
"a got him-way I got Nogen-if you
hadn't unloaded--my gum"
"Y0u shot Nogcn" queritd Hardy
"Spcak out! You say you shot Nc
gem"
He wanted her - Marie - same
way as Ean-same way as--Van said
you--wanted her We-I-tried to gel
Observation-Disclosures he, Van, told NE
YOU wanted Marie-that way. The
liar-the- Ah-r-rh %
From between the lips that had
parted to utter the curse there gusheG
a scarlet stream.
Hardy laid the body on the ground
and drew the distracted girl away by
main force.
"Come into the house." he ordered
you must not look at him.
She offered only passive resistance
When he had put her In a chair, she
sat motionless, as if dazed, her dry
eyes fixed on vacancy.
"This won't do" he said. "YOu
must go to your grandfather. I can.
not take you with me, and besides"
He checked himself, caught up a
blanket, and went outdoors. When
presently he returned, she had not
moved. He fastened her scant ward.
robe and few trinkets in q blanket roll,
and led her out around the house,
carefully keeping himself between her
and the blanket-covered form on the
ground near the door. He had brought
her own and her brothers ponies to
the back of the house He dashed the
bundle on the dead mans saddle,
lifted the girl upon her pony, and
mounted his mare.
Halfway to the agency they met Tt
oWa-konza coming down with several
members Of his family to visit his half
breed grandchildren. Urged by Hardy,
the girl broke her distraught silence to
tell the old chief what had happened.
Before she had finished she was Weep
Ing in the arms Of her grandfather.
Notwithstanding the delay, Hardy
again permitted the mare to choose
her own pace Though she went at
steady trot, messenger in the re-
naming automobile easily could have