Meade County news., 1917-03-01
nRaRRRRRARRRnRRRRR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
S THE QUARTERBREED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BY
Robert Ames Bennet


It's bad enough. AS soon as he finds
out about the mine, he will kick the
whole bunch of us Off the reservation.
That's the kind of fool he is"
"He can't put me off. I'm a member
of the tribe"
"Yes, and Jake is member by mar
riage. Lots of good that will do you
both-ln the guardhouse."
Redbear cringed at the word. 'But
my sister He won't put me In"
"Wait and see when he finds out
how things have been going>here. Let
him find out anything against you, and
it's Charlie in the jug, with his job
gone glimmering"
The halfbreed looked up, his eyes
desperate, his face set in the grin of a
cOrnered rat. He muttered q curse.
"That's 1t, boyp encouraged Van
dervyn. "Don't lay down. We're with
you. But remember, we've got to make
a bluff. It's up to us to bluff him off,
or throw down."
II don't understand you, Mr.. Van"
"Here 1t is, then. He doesn't know a
word of Lakotah. The tribe doesn't
know English. You are the interpreter.
Get that?"
Redbear shook his head. "No,
don't"
"Yes, you do, Charlie. We've already
told Hardy that there is lot of bad
blood stirred up. 1t will be easy to
translate the talk of the chiefs that
way. You can start in by telling them
how he pacified the Moros. He killed
nearly as many of them as there are
members of this tribe. The chiefs he
put in jail. All the rest he moved to
another island-you can say, to an
other reservation"
"But If that Is lie"
'It isn't. It's exactly what hap
pened. The Moro head chief was kept
in Jail until he was hung. Be sure to
tell that to old Thunderbolt. If it fails
to warm him"
"Hoganny-hunk" gasped Redbear.
'They once put him in Jail for week.
If tell him, 1t will make him fighting
mad"
"That's what we want. I'll post you
to interpret what he says, in way
that will get Hardy's goat. No man
has nerve to stand up to a whole tribe.
He will have to quit. Then the job
comes to me. You know what that
means"
"You promised me a full share"
"Yes, and that means a third of the
net proceeds, now that Nogen is out of
the way. Only, remember, you get
nothing-none of us gets cent more
out of it-if Hardy stays. It's up to
you now, Charlie. You turn the trick
and get your share; or you fall down,
lose share and job, and go to the guard
house-on your way to the federal
penitentiary. Which is it to be?"
Redbear's ratlike grin had changed
to the grlmace Of rabid coyote.
Course himw he snarled. "I'1 make
him run clean to town."
"Good boy!" praised Vandervyn.
"Had your breakfast? Yes? Then
trot up to the agency and pass the
time Of day to the chiefs as they come
in. 1t will help things along to post
them beforehand. Don't forget that
Hardy Is q cold-hearted army martinez
who despises Indians. He is planning
to stop all issue goods, and intends to
punish the chiefs for the killing of No
gen. But If he leaves the reservation,
I become the agent. I will make no
trouble over Nogen, and will see that
the government keeps giving issue
goods to the tribe for a long time.
That's the talk. Now trot along and
get them screwed up"
"Oinna?" said Redbear.
"Don't waste time going back" re-
piled Vandervyn. 'T'll stop and tell
your sister not to expect you home un-
til after the council. Get busy-Wait
We can work in the police. Tell them
they are ordered to wait at the guard
house until the council is under way
They are then to march around and
post themselves behind Hardy, fully
armed. If the chiefs get angry, they
are to close up around Hardy. Are you
onp
Redbear responded with an eager
nod, and started Off at jog trot. Van.
dervyn smiled, turned his pony about
and rode back to the cabin. Without
dlsmounting he reached down and
knocked, the door opened a scant inch
and Oinna peeped out at the visitor.
"'Lo," he said in an Indifferent tone
II brought word to your brother that
he was wanted at once. Told him
would let you know. He will not be
home until after the council"
"Thank you, sir" murmured the girl
mo trouble at ALL" replied Wander
vyn. "You don't happen to have 6
drink of good water handy, do your"
Instructive hospitality overcame the
girls shyness. Her tall young figure
and handsome face appeared as the
door swung open.
81 boil the water. Do you like tear
. she asked in a flutelike voice.
"All right"
When she returned to the door, HI
was tightening his saddle girth. HI
liant hor vuoitino cavarol fnomantc ha