Meade County news., 1917-04-19

ed staggering toward him, the empty
revolver concealed behind his back
with drunken cunning.
"You think it's funny" he muttered,
funny jokel You own up that mar
riage with her wasn't real like you
said it was"
"What if 1t wasn't?" bantered Van
dervyn. ut was good enough for a
halfbreed squaw." He smiled at
Hardy. "Yes, good enough for any
halfbreed or--quarterbreed. I'll have
Marie next"
Hardy tensed, yet instantly checked
the wrath that would have impelled
him to hurl himself at the throat of
the mocker. Redbear lacked such iron
self-mastery, and liquor had numbed
his sense of subserviency to Wander
vyn. At Marie's name his fury burst
out.
"You liar! You thief!" he yelled.
"She's mine You promised I'll
show you, you" Cursing wildly, he
flodrlshed his revolver, and brought 1t
down in a wavering attempt to take
aim.
"Stop! StopW Hardy cried to Van
dervyn. "It's not loaded! Stop"
But Vandervyn had already whipped
out his revolver. From the muzzle
leaped sheet of flame. Redbear flung
up his arms and pitched backward.
Swiftly Vandervyn recocked his re-
volyer 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.
II hope you are satisfied" he said,
"You have killed him."
Vandervyn kept his revolver pointed
at Hardy.
II shot In self-defense," he snarled
Don't you make move. He had his
| gun on me-"
ut was empty. I called to you"
"You didn't-not till l had fired.
shot him down to save my life. III
shoot you, too, If you try to draw"
"Get out of herel" 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-
laxed. He half lowered his revolver.
bat 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 had
sprung up. But 1t 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-deadl" |" she gasped.
Redbear's lips were moving. Hardy
knelt to lift him up to half-sIttlng
position. He knew by grim experience
that with such a wound there was no
hope, but he also knew that 1t would
ease the agony to raise the injured
man. Oinna dampened her brothers
forehead. He muttered curse.
"Not that, boy" warned Hardy. "You
have only few minutes"
Redbear seemingly did not hear him.
He repeated the curse: 1.-THE I'd
"a got him-way ] got Nogen-if you
hadn't unloaded-my gum"
"You shot NogenT queried Hardy.
Speak out! You say you shot No
genT
"He wanted her Marie - same
way as Van-same way as-Van said
yOu-wanted her. We-I-tried to get
you-twice-because he, Van, told me
you wanted Marie-that way. The
liar-the- Ah-r-rhl"
From between the lips that had
parted to utter the curse there gushed
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 chair, she
sat motlonless, 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 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 lashed the
bundle on the dead mans saddle,
lifted the girl upon her pony, and
VtaOnufaH hfc v,norn