The Lamar register., 1917-03-07


of that steady approach to his rifle
muzzle compelled him to pause. 1t
disconnected him; it struck II chill
into the heat of his frenzy.
Still Hardy advanced, swift and
steady, his gaze never so much as
Pickering. Now his eyes and forehead,
close beyond the foresight of the rifle,
appeared enormously enlarged TO Van
dervyns distorted vision. Steadily
Hardy put up his hand took hold of
the rifle barrel. and turned the muzzle
aside.
"Ah-h-h I" gasped Marie.
Hardy drew the rifle out of Wander
vyn's relaxing grasp.
stand aside, sir - he quietly com
nanded, II wish to speak alone with
Miss Dupont"
Nandervyn had parted with his rifle
as if dazed. At the sound of Hardy'~
voice fresh wave of crimson flooded
his face. lie stepped back, and jerkcd
out his revolver. Hardy leaped upon
hun like panther and struck III,
weapon aside. y The heavy bullet
Nyhizzed past Hardy's head. A moment
later. Nandervyn, though the yOungrI
and perhaps the stronger Of the two.
recled away, clutching his laceruteJ
trigger finger. Hardy stood with ia,
revolver in his hand. He turned IT,.
Marie.
May l ask for few words ulon,
with your"
No" Vandervyn hoarsely forbade
the girl. You shall not speak will
him. Jake, you're her father-tell her
she shall not"
You know she don't never mind
Whit say" mumbled Dupont. ANY
way. II sort of looks like Cap is run
ming this here shindy."
Hardy had not glanced away from
Marie. Throughout that supreme test
of the will power and courage Of her
silent, as II spellbOund. She now
looked from one to the other her face
inscrutably calm, her black eyes faith
Omless.
Il will hear what Captain Hardy has
to say" she said.
Hardy motioned her father and Van
dervyn toward the mine dump. They
obeyed.
I'VE are alone" said Marie.
Hardy smiled. 81 won the race"
Was 1t fair. cutting across coun-
tryy"
"Fair2 Then you did not know of
his scheme"
what scheue7 I do not under
stand"
ut does not now matter. / won the
race and-the mine"
do you expect me to rejoice with
your" asked the girl. at has cost
my father his half Of the mine"
How sof He is not an entryman."
Reggie gave him a deed to a half
interest"
~ see." said Hardy. "Quite In keep
ing. The deed is absolutely void, and
would have been no less so even had
the grantor been first to reach here"
'You doubt his good faith !" The
girl glanced past him toward the sui
len figure of vandervyn on the mine
dump with her father. $50 you thought
1t better to take it all yourself than
to let him take II allf"
YES" agreed Hardy.
The girls red lips curved In an IRON
lcal smile.
'T do not go with the mine-neces-
sarily."
mo. But the mine necessarily goes
with you-now," replied Hardy.
BE so kind as to explain. under
stand that you were ordered to Alas
ka."
Were you not told of my return as
far as the butter
Then your orders to leave were
countermanded," Marie evaded the
question.
His eyes darkened, and his face con-
tracted as II from a twinge of pain.
But he replied with quiet steadness:
THAT is of no consequence. May 1
ask If you consider my word goodT'
Yes" The answer was given with
out an instant's hesitation.
He smiled gravely. "You cannot
think 1 came back to win the mine for
myself. You have my word that 1
will assign It to you as soon as have
the legal right"
ITO met But why2" The dIlating eyes
Of the girl showed her utter surprise
and establishment. ''why2 There. that
last night at the agency, you showed
that you despised me-"