The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-01-26
CHAPTER XIV.
A Lovers Promise.

ulan ponce emerged from the canyon
of Sioux creek into the agency valley,
| Vandervyn was still as gay and good.
humored as at the start of the jour-
ney. He even volunteered to inter
vene for Hardy with Marie.
1T Is very kind of you to make the
Offer" replied Hardy in rather stiff
tone. eff Dupont is at home, may
ask you to send him to the officer
Certainly" replied Vandervyn, and
all the way down to the agency he
chatted genially. When they came to
the level behind the warehouse, he
waved his hand in friendly parting.
"S'long. See you later. Be sure to
chop off your whiskers In time for
supper. You'll need to look your
best"
Dupont soon dumped into the
agency Office, fairly oozing with jovial
friendliness.
"Howdy! Howdy, Capw he greet
ed. "Marie, she says she'll look to
see you at supper. Mr.. Van says you
wanted to see me. Anything I can
do, Cap, just call on me. I'm ready
to call quits now, If you are"
Hardy accepted the proffered hand,
and exchanged cordial grip.
"This pleases me very much, Du-
pont," he responded. "We will all
now work together for the tribe.
give you my best wishes that you
may win the mine."
"We got a fair show to, seeing as
how you amt going to let on about it
in your report. Now, just tell me
what can do for YOU"
Merely few words as interpre-
ter" said Hardy. Il wish one of the
police at once to ride over to the
railroad with these kilograms and let
ters. The sooner 1 receive instruc-
tons to send the delegation to Wash
ington, the better"
That's no lie. Mr.. Van says the
money can't be appropriated till con-
gress meets, but the treaty is fixed up
SOS the amount can be settled on and
the reservation ordered divided up by
the treaty commission"
"Ah!" exclaimed Hardy. "We may
get the agricultural lands allotted in
time for the planting of winter wheat.
Come; we will send off these tele-
grams and letters"
Since the return of the party from
the mountains, not one of the police
but was more than willing to serve
hn Txun Of hn
men were soon cantering away down
the valley on their best ponies, proud
of the fact that they had been chosen
to make the night ride to the railroad.
Hardy returned to the office with
Dupont, and became deeply absorbed
in discussing ways and means for the
development of the Indians as farm
ers. When Dupont noted the hour,
there seemed scarcely time for even
one of the captains quick-change tot
lets. Yet he appeared at the door of
the Dupont house, Spick and span and
his beard clean shaven, without hay
ing required his hostess to wait sup
per half minute.
AS he entered in response to Du-
points hospitable below, there was a
percephble hesitancy in his manner.
Marie was seated at the far end of the
room near Vandervyn. She rose, and
came forward to greet Hardy, her chin
proudly uptilted.
"There seems to have been gen.
eral misunderstanding of motives,
captain" she remarked with frank di-
rectness. 81 still consider that you
were unduly harsh, but l now under
stand that you meant well and per-
haps had some excuse. Reggie says
that we are all to work together for
the good of the tribe"
at pleases me very much to hear
you say it."
"What interest have you in helping
them?" she queried, evidently reluc-
tant to believe his motives unselfish.
sit means a good mark on his Of
fetal record" bantered Vandervyn.
Every little thing counts on promo
tion-like merit marks at school"
"You see!" agreed Hardy. 81 can't
pretend to altruism. / am ambitious
to stand well in my profession. If l
make good showing when given a
detail, 1 put merit marks on my rec
ord. as Mr.. Vandervyn has so APPLY
expressed it"
Maries challenging gaze softened,
and she looked thOughtfully down at
her white hands.
isn't even self-sacrifice form of
selfishness:' she murmured.
The appearance of the Indian boy
in the dining room doorway checked
Hardy's reply.
During supper the girl remained
unusually thoughtful and silent. Har-
dy discussed with Dupont plans for
the instruction of the tribe in agricul-
ture. The idea had occurred to him
that the government might permit him
to build an irrigation system for the
farming lands of the tribe, using In
dian laborers, and paying for the
work out of money appropriated for
the sale of the mineral lands. When
Vandervyn chose to listen. it was
with a half-amused smile that did not
always cover the underlying cynical
irony. Most of the time he devoted
himself to an attempt to rally Marie
out of her thoughtfulness. Instead
of responding, she became more pen
sive. Harry attributed the girls half
somber quietness to his presence. AS
they left the supper table, he asked
Dupont to come to the Office.
Marie and Vandervyn followed them
as far as the parlor, where the young
man dropped into the easiest chair,
with Disguised, Lord he makes me
weary-all that benevolent blatter ~