Meade County news., 1917-03-15
CHAPTER x.
At the Broken Mountain.

At the Broken Mountain.
When, at dusk, Dupont rode up to
his house, Hardy was still on the cot
on the porch. Vandervyn stood at the
far end, putting hard at cigar as he
watched Dupont approach.
The sound of the traders bluff voice
wakened Hardy from his doze and
brought Marie to the door.
mo, not track; not one single sign
nowhere" Dupont was saying to Van
dervyn. Thought I'd ride in and send
out more of the p'leece with food"
"Very good" said Hardy. "We must
track down the man, else others may
follow his example"
The next day the search for the
would-be assassin was continued, with
no better results than the first. 1t was
the same on the two succeeding days.
At last Dupont declared that there was
no hope of finding the mysterious lost
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 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-
prefer 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, 1
suppose you will want me to stay here
and look after Marie"
Marie objected: II am member of
the tribe. If Pere is going into the
mountains, am going with him."
"No!" cried Vandervyn.
81 cannot permit that" declared
Hardy.
"Oh, yes, you can and will," conf
IDENTIFY replied the girl. Il shall be In
no danger. If anyone is attacked, it
will be you only"
Unobservant of Vandervyn's look,
Dupont paused with knifeful of food
halfway to his mouth to agree with his
daughter: "Ain't none of 'em what
wants to lift her scalp. Shed be safer
n me and you, Mr.. Van-which Is
good as saying dead safe"
"Yet if 1 should be attacked?" said
Hardy.
"If you are, it won't be no general
outbreak, Cap. 1t will be 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. If
Reggie and go, as well as Pere, there
will be that much less chance of u
small party firing at you."
"Very WE'LL" acquiesced Hardy. II
rely on your fathers judgment. If
there is the slightest chance of danger
to you, he should know it. But as yor
are to be with the party, | shall take
along. a squad Of police. Mr.. Wander
vyn, you may remain in charge Of the
agency, if you prefer"
mo- thanks" snapped Vandervyn.
"If you intend to let Marie run the
risk of getting into massacre, most
certainly shall go along"
The girl was unusually gracious to
Hardy at supper. At breakfast she dl-
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 poa
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.
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