The Ordway new era., 1917-08-17


his wifef'
"No, no. siri~ she disclaimed. II
don't want him any MORE"
IT am pleased to hear you say that" I"
replied the president. He turned to
vandervyn. II understand this witness
Is prepared to testify that the sigma
lures to your contract were obtained
second copy Of the minutes Of the
tribal council"
"It's lie!" hoarsely replied the
young man. "Hardy knows nothing
about it. There's only her word
against mlne."
1--WE can send for the Indian wit
nesses, If necessary. Another matter
at the inquest you testified under
oath that certain Indian killed Agent
Nogen, and that you and Redbear then
killed the murderer. When you shot
Redbear, you rode off, certain that he
was dead. He lived long enough to
confess himself the murderer of Agent
Nogen. Why did you perjure yourself
at the inquest?'
"You can't prove It," defiantly chal-
lenged Vandervyn. II stand by my
testimony. This squaw and Hardy
have Matched up the lie between them.
Even If Redbear made such . confess
sion. 1t is only hearsay and not legal
evidence"
"Your friend Redbear seems to have
enjoyed shooting at agents" remarked
the president. "He also confessed to
having made the two attempts on the
life of Captain Hardy. In view of your
perjured testimony ut the Nogen in
quest. one Is led to infer not i'm
probable connection between those at
tempts and your enmity to Captain
Hardy. But the point at present is
whether you still insist upon the val
| idity of your contract. Do you wish
| an official investigation that will take
the evidence Of the Indian witnesses?"
A cold sweat was gathering on Van
dervyn's forehead. He looked at Marie.
She turned from him, afraid that he
might misconstrue the wOmanly soft
ness into which her fierce resentment
had melted. He wheeled about, and left
the room, sullen, unrepentant, defiant.
"a very great pity" commented the
president. young and clever. hand
some. well educated. good social stand
ing-yet all wasted! Courage-nisdi-
| rected; no sense of shame; immoral,
| rather than immoral. He will ride
| hard to still harder falls than this
one, or else to what the world calls
success. But l am too busy man to
moralize. If you will pardon me-
| ladies', there Is to be u cabinet meet
ing"
He bowed to them, and then con.
| fronted Hardy. "Sir, 1 warned you
that If you did not speak In your own
| defense, you would have no other op.
portunity. / shall not reverse my ap-
proval of the findings Of the court
martial"
| Hardy had stood an amazed and
dumfounded spectator to the rejection
and disgrace of his rival. But through
out it all Marie had never once looked
Mt him. If her scornful casting Off OF
Vandervyn had reused any hopes for
himself. they must have been dashed
when she led Oinna away without ia.
voring him with so much as a glance
of recognition. There was a slight
stoop in his shoulders as he saluted
the president.
"If the sentence approved by your
excellency does not make association
with me scandalous." he said, II beg
leave to express my thanks for the
intimation that you will invalidate the
fraudulent contract"
Without replying, the president
abruptly faced about to his desk
Hardy again snluted, and marched
from the room as If on dress parade.