Williams news., 1917-01-18
the side of the room-a young lady in

semidecollete gown, of lines ire proachable, the creamy whiteness of her full, round throat displayed. Her mass of coal-black hair was dressed in the very latest mode. Her cheeks were as highly colored as if rouged.
 Vandervyn gazed at her with the brand of admiration that passes over the footlights from the first-row seats to the prettiest girl in the chorus. Hardy bowed as he would have saluted his coloners lady or the daughter of Moro chief, if either had been his hostess.
 The girls eyes sparkled as she noted his change of dress, his immaculate linen, and clean-shaven chin. His bow won smile that may have been due either to gratified vanity or to commendable self-respect. She greeted him in tone that caused Vandervyn to straighten in his chair. ''It is great pleasure to have you dine with us."
 'The pleasure is mine, Miss Dupont" declared Hardy.
 ''You've hit it, Cap" put in Dupont. "You can just bet your bottom dollar on it you won't kick yourself for con- ing when you git to her feed-trough."
 The girls sable-black eyes dilated and her perfectly molded chin rose fraction of an inch. She placed the tray on tea table, bowed composedly, and left the room. Vandervyn looked at Hardy with an ironical smile. The silent mockery was wasted. Hardy was watching Dupont uncock the whisky bottle.
 "One moment, MT. Dupont" he said. "As you are my host, the question is an awkward one to ask-yet is there not a law or a rule of the Indian bu- reau against bringing liquor upon a reservation?'
 Dupont stared around at the in- quirer in blank surprise. Before he could find words to answer, Vandervyn eplied for him: According to the .rict letter of the law, captain, you are right. You can't fancy that Jake would be fool enough to sell liquor to the Indians?"
 "By Gar, you bet don't-not when it's ten-year-old rye" qualified Dupont. "You can't git no better stuff out of Canada. Marie made me buy some wine, too, to celebrate your coming. She said it was up to us to loosen up, seeing as you had shooed off them bucks"
 "Ah, since you put it that way" Hardy accepted the explanation. q must ask you, however, not to bring anything more of the kind across the dver."
 "Of course he will not, if you ob- ject," assured Vandervyn. "Nogen didn't read the law as you do; but if you believe in dry weather for our selves as well as for the Indians, you're the boss"
 Sure, and here's one all round to show there ain't no hard feeling,'' said Dupont.
 He poured out three drinks, each measured to the brim of whisky glass. His own and Vandervyn's dis appeared at gulp. Hardy took a sip, and asked for a seltzer. The bottle was handed around another time and found him not yet finished with his first drink. But Dupont had already begun to mellow.
 Here's to your boiled shirt, Cap," he toasted.
 "Stand-up collar and a white shirt. It's sure high-toned celebration. Bet ter wear 'em careful. You'll have to mail 'em hundred miles to the near est Chinaman when they git dirty"
 Cheaper to throw them away, and send mail order to Chicago for new ones," put in Vandervyn. He added, as he adjusted the fashionable tie that was hardly in keeping with his gray flannel shirt: "But you'll soon take to the local styles"
 Marie again appeared in the door way. She bowed to the guests with i'm preSSive formality.
 If you will enter, gentlemen"
 Hardy went in between Vandervyn and Dupont. He avoided the girls proud gaze by looking about at the dining room. It was as citified as the parlor and no less tasteful. The small oval table was spread with a cloth of snowy French damaSk. The silver was real antique ware. The unsmiling hostess bowed Hardy to the seat of honor.
 Continued Next Week.