The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-11-15
indian Reservation

the girl nverted her shame-reddened
face. and dropped still lower over her
prny'S withers. Rcdbear lcered inso-
lcntly ut the intruder mad burst into n
drunken laugh. Though his body was
Keeling, he had almost perfect control
of his tongue
Look at him, Weena; the" Here
followed II number of obscene cpl
thets. THAT man Of yours lost no
time. The tin soldier Is on the run.
Told you we had fixed him."
you drunken dog" said Hardy.
Keep quiet and go home"
"Who's going to make met" chal-
lenged the halfbreed, his bloodshot
eyes flaring with vicious anger. IL
don't take any more orders from you.
You'd try to put the killing Of Nogen
on me-try to make out 1t was me shot
him, and tried TO shoot you those two
times! But Van fixed you. He prom
Used to keep you from putting me In
Jail. That's why l let him have Weena
when we went into the mountains"
You curl" cried Hardy. 80 you
permitted him?"
Oinna threw up her head with the
courage of outraged innocence.
"Why should he stop him from TAX
Ing me?" she shrllled II am only n
breed girl, but my "A loves me, me
only! l had n right to be his wife If
l wanted to-"
Ellis wife?" incredulously exclaimed
Hardy. "A man of his stamp never
could have married you"
"He did! he did" insisted Olnna.
81 thOGght you too kind to think l
would be n bad girl. lie married me
by tribal custom and the common.law
way of white people"
Hardy's sharp gaze softened with
pity. you poor young innocent
Tribal custom Is not binding on Il white
man."
But common-law marriage" trl-
umphantly rejoincd the girl In the
faith of her unquestioning love. "IIe
that way"
Hardy burst out between pity and
Indignation: "The scoundrcl You
poor child! Common.law marriage is
only half-marriage at best. To make
II even that much of a tie, II Is neccs-
snry that a mar and woman should
live togther as husband and wife
openly. He kept this matter secret I;
he persuaded you and your brother to
tell no one--the scoundrel !"
Stricken with grief and shame, DIN
ma uttered n moan and crouched down
over her pony's withcrs, with her face
in her hands. But the drink-crazed
brain of Redbear comprehended only
that Hardy vas berating his sisters
husband. He made an effort to
straighten In the saddle, and his right
hand fumblcd eagerly for the hilt Of
his revolver. Hardy swerved his mare
alongside and reached out. Redbear
slumped from his saddle like a sack of
grain.
Oinna slipped down to run to her
brother. But Hardy was quicker. lie
threw himself on the half-dazed drunk.
ard. A skillful wrench loosened the
stubborn clutch of the others fingers
on the gun. Disarined and perhaps
partly sobered by the shock, Redbear
stretched nj on the dusty sod.
"Oh. he Is hurt !" gasped Oinna.
Hardy rolled the drunkard away
from her and spoke sternly: "He Is
not hurt. Redbear, stand up"
Redbcar gathered himself together
and, aided by Oinna. staggered to his
feet. The ponies had cantered away.
Hardy led his mare around beside
Redbear, and he and Oinna, between
them. managed to lift the almost help
less nan into the saddle. While they
were going the half-milc 10 the cabin,
Hardy led the mare. and O!nna walked
beside her brother TO stcady him In
his seat. Neither saw the rider who
rode up out OF the creek bed beyond
the cabin and wheeled from view be-
hind the end wall.
When they reached the house. Hardy
helped Redbear disEount before the
door and handed him his unloaded re
volver. He then lifted his hat to DIN
M with utmost respectfulness.
Miss Rcdbear," lie said. you have
been wronged in a most desp!cabl,
manner. lie has lied to you. Yor
must keep away from him. Go bach
into the mountains with your grand
father. l believe the rascal will soor
leave the reservation, and then yor
will be free from him."
SThanks for the prophecy, captain
came IA jeer from the end OF the cabin
They stared about. and saw Wander
vyn standing at the corner. his face
set In a cynical smile.
$50 you've quit soldering and takeI
to preaching" he sneered.
"O-o-0h!" sighed Oinna, and an,
crept toward the mocker. her hand,
imploringly outstretched, her sof
eyes brirlming over with tears of pitt
full entreaty. "Tell him-tell him l
isn't truei Tell him our marriage Il
real marriage !"
"what q fuss Q q little thing lik'
that !" he rallied.
The girl cringed back. and saul