Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-06-14
you wish him to acknowledge you q
his Wife?"

you wish him to acknowledge you As
his wife?"
mo. no. sir" she disclaimed. II
don't want him any more"
II am pleased to hear you say that, "
replied the president. He turned to
Vandervyn. II understand this witness
is prepared to testify that the sigma
lures to your contract were obtained
on the false representation that 1t was
a second copy Of the minutes Of the
tribal council"
"1t's a liel" hoarsely replied the
young man. "Hardy knows nothing
about 1t. There's only her word
against mine."
I'VE can send for the Indian wit
nesses, If necessary. Another matter
at the inquest you testified under
oath that certain Indian killed Agent
Nogen, and that you and Redbear then
killed the murderer. When you shot
Redbear, you rode of, certain that he
was dead. He lived long enough to
confess himself the murderer of Agent
Nogen. Why did you perjure yourself
at the inquest?"
"You can't prove It," defantly chal'
lenged vandervyn. "Is stand by my
testimony. This squaw and Hardy
have Matched up the lie between them
Even If Redbear made such a confes.
sion, it Is only hearsay and not legal
evidence"
"Your friend Redbear seems to have
enjoyed shooting at agents." remarked
the president. "He also confessed tc
having made the two attempts on the
life Of Captain Hardy. In view Of your
perjured testimony at the Nogen in
quest, one is led to infer a not i'm
probable connection between those at
tempts and your enmity to Captain
Hardy. But the point at present is
whether you still insist upon the val
idity Of your contract. Do you wish
an official investigation that will take
the evidence of the Indian witnesses?'
A cold sweat was gathering on Van
dervyn's forehead. He looked at Marie
She turned from him, afraid that hi
might misconstrue the womanly soft
ness into which her fierce resentment
mad melted. He wheeled about, and lief
the room, sullen, unrepentant, defiant
"A very great pity" commented tn
president. "Young and clever, hand
some, well educated, good social stand
ing-yet all wasted! Courage-misdi
rected; no sense of shame; immoral
rather than immoral. He will rid
hard to still harder falls than Thu
one, or else to what the world call
success. But am too busy man t.
moralize. II you will pardon me
ladies, there is to be a cabinet meet
ing"
He bowed to them, and then con
fronted Hardy. "Sir, I warned yo1
that If you did not speak in your Owl
defense, you would have no other op
portunity. I shall not reverse my ap
prevail of the findings of the court
martial"
Hardy had stood an amazed AM
dumfounded spectator to the rejection
and disgrace of his rival. But through
out it all Marie had never once looke'
at him. If her scornful casting off o
vandervyn had reused any hopes 70
himself, they must have been dashe'
when she led Oinna away without ia
voring him with SO much as a glanc
of recognition. There was a Sigh
stoop in his shoulders as he salute
the president.
"If the sentence approved by you
excellency does not make association
with me scandalous," he said, II be-
leave to express my thanks for tn
intimation that you will invalidate tn
fraudulent contract"
Without replying, the presiden
abruptly faced about to his desl
Hardy again saluted, and MARCHES
from the room as II on dress parade.