The Lamar register., 1917-02-21


chief. When he had explained the
ing to the Indian bureau. he exchanged
trihing gifts of friendship with the
chief and tore himself away.
The policeman was waiting with the
mare. Hardy gave him Il coin and
swung into the saddle.
"One last word, Dupont" he said.
kindly tell your daughter what l said
about not cherishing enmity"
How about Mr.. Vanf" questioned
Dupont.
you need say nothing to him from
me- But" Hardy bent over in the
saddle to bring his stern face near
the traders ~ advise you to watch
that young man."
Dupont stood for some time staring
after the officer. When he started for
his store, before which a crowd of In
dams were waiting, his shrewd eyes
were narrow with calculation, and his
stubby forefinger was rubbing the griz-
zled hair under the brim of his hat.
Hardy permitted the mare to choose
her own pace.
As he neared the foot of the valley,
he saw Redbear and Oinna riding up
the creek from the road crossing. The
girl dropped in her saddle as If i'll. A
nearer view confirmed his suspicious.
Redbear was intoxicated, and he was
abusing his sister in the foulest of
language. When Hardy approached,
the girl averted her shame-reddened
face, and dropped still lower over her
pony's withers. Redbear leered inso-
lently at the intruder mad burst into a
drunken laugh. Though his body was
Keeling, he had almost perfect control
of his tongue
Look at him, Weena; the" Here
followed a 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 dogi" said Hardy,
Keep quiet and go home"
who's going to make mel" chal-
lenged the halfbreed. his bloodshot
eyes fluring with vicious anger. 81
don't take any more orders from you
You'd try to put the killing of Nogen
on me-try to make out il was me shot
him, and tried to shoot you those two
times But Van fixed you. He prom.
ised TO keep you from putting me in
jail. That's why let him have Weena
when we went into the mountains"
You cur" cried Hardy. $50 you
permitted him7"
Oinna threw up her head with the
courage Of outraged innocence.
LII a -,
ing me7" she shrilled. II am only a
breed girl, but my man loves me, me
only had right to be his wife If
l wanted to-"
His wife2" incredulously exclaimed
Hardy. "A man of his stamp never
could have married you"
HE did he did !" insisted Oinna.
Il thought you too kind to think
would be bad girl. He 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 a white
man"
But cOmmOn-law marriage" tri.
umphantly rejoined the girl in the
faith of her unquestioning love. "He
said white people often get married
that way"
Hardy burst out between pity and
indignation: The scoundreI You
poor child Common-law marriage is
only half-marriage at best. To make
1t even that much of tie, 1t is neces.
sary that man and woman should
live together as husband and wife
openly. He kept this matter secret
he persuaded you and your brother to
tell no one-the scoundrelT'
Stricken with grief and shame, o.
ma uttered a moan and crouched down
over her pony's withers, with her facd
in her hands. But the drink-crazed
brain Of Redbear comprehended only
that Hardy was berating his sisters
husband. He made an effort to
straighten in the saddle, and his right
hand fumbled eagerly for the hilt of
his revolver. Hardy swerved his mare
alongside and reached out. Redbear
slumped from his saddle like sack of
grain
Oinna slipped down to run to her
brother. But Hardy was quicker. He
threw himself on the half dazed drunk
ard. A skillful wrench loosened the
stubborn clutch of the others fingers
on the gun. Disarmed and perhaps
a4szN.s. 4 1. -. q