The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-31
CHAPTER ;,mv-continued.

DE6S1Q0lI, L0dI he IdlISU 10 SEE MAJ &c
until she spoke 70 him. The first sight
Of her bewildered him, and his bow
did not altogether hide the effects Of
the delicious shock given him by her
dazzling beauty But he quickly re-
covered his self-pOssessiOn when he
saw that she was with Vandervyn.
That young man, though more boyish-
Iy handsome than ever, bore himself
with rather a sulIen air. He met Har-
dy's clear gaze with a forced smile.
The smile became still more forced
when the girl transferred her hand
from his arm to Hardy's.
"Only a very few minutes" she
soothed the disappointed lover.
"Whatever you say!" he deferred to
her caprice, and he drew back to speak
to a sharp-eyed man near the presi-
dent.
Hardy was gazing into the wonder
1ul blue-black eyes of his companion.
They were as inscrutable as when he
had last looked into their depths. He
tried to speak calmly, but his voice
shook.
"Do you know that you are by far
the most beautiful woman here?
Her long lashes dropped and rose
again to disclose the same inscrutable
look
$50 1 have Deen told several times
already wished a few moments
with you, that I might thank you for
your generosity. 1t has given me the
great opportunity of my trip abroad
and this visit in Washington"
81 am saving all the reports of your
social triumphs," he said. 'They have
made me very happy"
Again the girls Iashes dropped.
'@'That is good of you 1t is quite nee
essary for me to become the rage-if
] am to force a recognition from Reg
gie's relatives. He says that, fortu-
nately, his fiancee has become interest
ed in another man who is quite as ELI
igible as himself
Hardy's eyes contracted, yet he did
not falter:
"Since it will bring you happiness, I
wish him-good fortune
"You do?" The question was al
most an exclamation. But the girl at
once regained her quiet composure.
az do not understand. If you wish him
good fortune, why then do you seek
to prevent him from receiving his
compensation as attorney for the
'tribe?"
81 said good fortune" replied Har-
dy. "Any money paid him on that
contract would be tainted"
Marie arched her black eyebrows.
as it not true that he will get through
much larger appropriation than 9TH
erwise would have been nader"
1.-THE lands are fully worth the
amount agreed upon" stated Hardy.
1.-THE tribe should receive all the ap-
preparation. Honest lobbying would
carry the bill through at cost of a
few hundred dollars. These supposed
friends of the tribe want Millions
do you wish to deprive me of the
share that 1 would receive through
him?"
"Yes-of every dishonest dollar"
said Hardy, his mouth stern, though
his eyes besought her to forgive his
harshness. You have enough al
ready
Are you certain?" she rejoined.
"You may have heard that mines often
Ipinch out or run into valueless ore
You can guess why Pere and 1 have
told no one, least of all Reggie"
Hardy remained mistaken. eff he
!. Is worthy of you. that will make no
Indifference to him."
'sBut myself? I am already used to
luxury" pleaded the girl.
''Down in your heart you know the
values in life that are real" he said.
'fYou do not wish for wealth gained
through fraud"
81 have not admitted that there is
any fraud in the contract"
perhaps it is as WELL" he remarked.
''You should not doubt your future
husband"
She flashed him an odd, quizzical
look. mo, 1 cannot doubt my future
husband now. Captain Hardy. 1 must
believe in him if I am to be happy,
must 1 not?"
YES" agreed Hardy.
She uttered a gay little trin of
laughter.
''That is so good of you to say it,
Captain! 1t makes me feel that ]
really must do something for you In
return. May 1 not offer you a little
loan of, say, three or four thousand
dollars? 1 understand that, for some
strange reaSOn-Or unreason-you
have refused your pay as captain"
MY resignation has not been with
drawn. and I am engaged in a private
enterprise. I cannot draw pay as an
officer in the service" explained
Hardy.
Sew would be so quixotic," she ar.
gued. "Most would make the excuse
that an attempt to Illustrate what they
considered a wrong to others is not to
be considered private enterprise"
II must beg to differ with you, Miss
Dupont"
'Then let it pass. But the ntti.
loan?''
''Very good Of you to offer. How
ever, I believe 1 have enough left tt
last me through. And in any event.
could not impose on your generosity
The money would be used against hin
which, you see, would hardly do"
''Then you refuse any loan?"
ut was most kind of you to maxi
the offer"