The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-01-04

least one more effort to pacify the
tribe" replied Hardy. you are at
liberty to resign whenever you please.
Mr.. Dupont has ample time to remove
his goods and his daughter from the
reservation"
"NOt me-" declared Marie; 81 don't
care what Pere and Reggie say; l
know there is not one of the tribe who
would harm me, even In an outbreak"
We'll, mebbe not" admitted her ia
thcr.
81 gather that l am the only person
who seems to be endangered" re-
marked Hardy. "1'hiS being 40, will
wait few days for the excitement to
subside, and will then call another
| council"
"They won't come ag'in to meet you"
predicted Dupont.
"Then l shall go to them"
Into the mountains, captain?" ex-
claimed Marie, her splendid eyes wild
| ening with concern. Surely you will
not venture among the camps"
"The tribe must learn that l mean
friendship"
Dupont paused to scratch the side
of his head. But Vandervyn spoke
without an instant's hesitancy: "YOu
nave no right to throw your life away
uselessly, captain. Suppose Charlie
and | make a trip to the camps, to see
if we cannot quiet the tribe and talk
the chiefs into giving you another
hearing? If you have no objection, we
could tell them that you cannot leave
just now, but that you will do so as
soon as you have tried to benefit them"
| "And that Mr.. Van'll be next agent"
| added Dupont.
"Will you tell them that l am here
to help them and to be their friend?"
Queried Hardy.
Trust me to put it to them strong,
captain" assured Vandervyn. Il know
you'll play fair by resigning in my ia
vor as soon as you have the tribe in
hand"
"After l have done what / can do to
improve conditions among them" quail
fied Hardy.
II do so hope Mr.. Van can persuade
them to be friendly with you" said
Marie. II know he and Charlie will
be perfectly safe. But it will be hard
to talk them out of their strange dis
like to you. When will you start, Reg
gfe?"
early tomorrow morning, if the cap
tain has no objections"
The sooner the better" agreed
Hardy.
"Pll go and remove my council cos
tune" said Vandervyn, smiling at his
irreprOachable frOck coat.
Marie and her father rose with him.
Hardy bowed out the girl and returned
to his desk. He was deep in the midst
of report on the tribe when, half an
hour later, Vandervyn returned to the
Office in his riding tOgs.
Charlie may not come back this
afternoon" he remarked. II thought
| might ride down and tell him about
the trip. l could fetch your mare for
you"
Very well. shall be obliged" re-
| piled Hardy, and he returned to his
study of the report.
Vandervyn rode down along the far
side of the stream, keeping the thick
cts as much as possible between him
self and the Dupont house. He did
not recrOsS the creek until he was Op-
| poSite Redbear's home. He found the
cabin door closed But at slight
movement of the window curtains his
hand went up to beckOn with a lOrdly
gesture. There was short pause
Then the door opened n scant inch.
"HeIlow he said. "Where's your
brotherY
HE has-has gone to tell the po
lice families"
"On the agents mare" guessed Van
IcrTya
"Please--ha 'iic4- .'5A,-. ;.;sT s.arm-
please don't tell on him."
That depends" replied Vandervyn
"Do you think care to favor hin
when you act as if you hate me?"
Hate? No. no." The door opened
several inches and as suddenly CLOSED
to Il narrow crack.
But Vandervyn had caught a glimpse
of the girls blushing face. His voice
dropped to caressing tone: "Your'
not afraid of me, are you, just becaus'
| wanted kiss? Come out here ant
talk. | won't bite you"
;'You promise not TOTO kiss me?"
mot unless you wish me to-"
"But-but l dol" came back tn
naive confession.
Impulsively he started to swing of
his pony. The cabin door shut witt
bang. He Strengthened in the saddle
waited long moment, frowned heav
lily, and started to ride away.
, From the window came a plaintiv
, cry: "Oh please, please!"
He deliberately dismOunted, fun
, the reins over his horses head, an
, walked to the opened window TIL
> eager, frightened face within blushe
scarlet apd shrank back.t He stOppe
short.
"See here" he admOnished, "ff your
] going to be silly, ] shall go away TO
good. You've got the door barred, an
Y you know l shall not try to craW
t in at q hole like this"
r 81 won't be-" she faltered.
t That's better" he said, and h
{, reached in to. slip his arm around he
s trembling shoulders