The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-27

VIII remain unal nave made al
least one more effort to pacify the
tribe" replied Hardy. you are al
liberty to resign whenever you please
Mr.. Dupont has ample time to remove
his goods and his daughter from the
reservation
Not me-" declared Marie; 81 don't
care what Pere and Reggie say;
know there is not one of the tribe who
would harm me, even in an outbreak u
well, mebbe not" admitted her IA
Their.
Il gather that am the only person
who seems to be endangered" re-
marked Hardy. This being So I will
wait few days for the excitement to
subside, and Will then call another
council"
They won't come ag'in to meet you, y
predicted Dupont.
"Then 1 shall go to them"
into the mountains, captain?" ex-
claimed Marie, her splendid eyes wild
] ening with concern. Surely you will
not venture among the camps
The tribe must learn that l mean
friendship
Dupont paused to scratch the side
OF his head. But Vandervyn spoke
without an instant'S heSitancy: You
'have no right to throw your life away
uselessly, captain. Suppose Charlie
and l make trip to the camps, to see
| if we cannot quiet the tribe and talk
| the chiefs into giving you another
hearing? If you have no objection, we
could tell them that you cannot leave
just now, but that you will do so as
soon as you have tried to benefit them. :"
| And that Mr.. VanlI be next agent. .
added Dupont.
"Wfn you tell them that 1 am here
to help them and to be their friend? %
queried Hardy.
Trust me to put it to them strong,
captain" assured Vandervyn. 81 know
you'll play fair by resigning in my ia
vor as soon as you have the tribe in
| hand"
After 1 have done what 1 can do TO
improve conditions among them," quail
| flied Hardy.
81 do SO hope Mr.. Van can persuade
them to be friendly with you" said
MarieA Il know he and Charlie will
be perfectly safe. But it will be hard
to talk them out of their strange dis
like to you. When will you start, Reg
gie?'
Early tomorrow morning, if the cap
tain has no objections
THE sooner the better" agreed
Hardy.
I'll go and remove my council cos
tune" said Vandervyn, smiling at his
| irreprOachable frock coat
Marie and her father rose with him.
Hardy bowed out the girl and returned
to his desk. He was deep in the midst
of report on the tribe when, half an
hour later, Vandervyn returned to the
office in his riding toys.
Charlie may not come back this
| afternoon" he remarked 81 thought
I might ride down and tell him about
| the trip. 1 could fetch your mare for
you.''
''Very well. I shall be obliged" re-
piled Hardy, and he returned to his
study of the report.
Vandervyn rode down along the far
side of the stream, keeping the thick
cts as much as possible between him
| self and the Dupont house. He did
not recross the creek until he was op-
| pOsite Redbear's home. He found the
cabin door closed. But at a slight
! movement of the window curtains his
| hand went up to beckon with IordIy
| gesture. There was a short pause.
Then the door opened a scant inch.
'Hellol" he said. "Where's your
brother?'
HE has-has gone to tell the po-
lice families"
ION the agents mare,'' guessed Van
dervyn.
"Please-he didn't mean any harm
please don't tell on him.
THAT depends" replied Vandervyn.
do you think 1 care to favor him
when you act as if you hate me?"
Hate? No, nor The door opened
several inches and as suddenly closed
| to a narrow crack.
But Vandervyn had caught a glimpse
of the girls blushing face His voice
dropped to a caressing tone: you're
not afraid of me. are you, just because
wanted a kiss? Come out here and
| talk. 1 won't bite you
you promise not toto kiss me?"
''NOt unless you wish me to-"
! DuG-OUI 10 came Dack the
naive confession.
Impulsively he started to swing off
his pony. The cabin door shut with
bang. He Strengthened in the saddle,
waited a long moment, frowned heav-
| lily, and started to ride away.
From the window came a plaintive
cry: "Oh. please. please 70
He deliberately dismounted, flung
the reins over his horses head, and
walked to the opened window The
eager, frightened face within blushed
scarlet and shrank back. He stopped
short.
"See here he admonished, eff you're
going TO be silly, shall 90 away for
good. You've got the door barred, and
you know / shall not try to crawl
| in at hole like this"
81 won't be-" she faItered.
That's BETTER" he said. and be
reached in to slip mis- arm around her
trembling shoulders.