The Ordway new era., 1917-07-06
.uum r" g;rruntsd Dupout.

.Uumf" gruntsd Dupont
Mine and ALI" repeated vandss.
vyn. "rve told you why. I'll nx Il
SO well get the mine and maybe some
thing else-and I'll fx Hardyl"
didn't know you was still 80 down
ON him. Wasn't 1t all smoothed overt
You been acting that way"
"Wait and see me rub his fur the
other way! I'll put over game on
him that" vandervyn checked the
disclosure. and began asking ques-
tions about the traits Of the five
chiefs chosen as tribal delegates.
Half an hour after sunrise Dupont
came jogging back home. his heavy
face set in a satisfied grin. The COM
plncency Of his look lessened when he
entered, and saw the Indian boy re-
moving the evidences of someone's
solitary meal. He knocked at his
daughters door. After quite a delay
she called to him that he might enter.
bed. with little leather-bound book
In her lup. Though her eyelids were
swollen, she met him with her usual
look Of quiet self-possession.
"You let Cap eat alone," he re-
marked. Don't call that being hos
pit'le, do your"
IF he had been more considerate,
Reggie could have remained until the
delegation leaves" coldly replied the
girl.
swell, we got to keep in with him
till Mr.. Van gifts things fixed. You see,
If he gifts mad and reports on US to
Washington, we'll git kicked of the
reservation and barred from any
chance Of the mine."
did Reggie say thatT
"Yep. It's why, he says, he leave'
gagement. If you let on about 1t to
Hardy. he's likely to git Jealous and
put Senator Clemmer next. That
would queer the whole deal at this
stage Of the game"
II do not believe that Captain Hardy
would do such a thing" declared the
girl.
"All right. Mr.. Van leaves 1t to
you to tell him, If you want to. ]
ain't saying Cap mayn't be straight
laced In everything else. But when
1t comes to being dead gone on a girl
like you. and ut his age, too-needn't
tell me he won't do his level best to
put Mr.. Van out of the running any
way he can"
The girl sprang up. her eyes afirt
with flare of unreasoning anger.
HE shall not!" she cried. Reggie
Is coming back!'
"He won't have no chance to If II
leaks out about you and him going to
git married."
Married! The angry scarlet OF
the girls cheeks deepened to a rose.
Notes Of Indignation and Joy mingled
oddly in her half-murmured predic-
ton: "He will come back! That med
dler shall not PREVENT
"You won't go and git Cap down on
us, will your demonstrated Dupont
"Wait and see," she replied.
When. at the usual supper hour.
Hardy presented himself at the Du.
pont door, his bearing was reserved
and somewhat difiident. Dupont, who
was alone In the parlor, genially bade
him enter. But Hardy fingered In the
doorway until Marie appeared.
pardon me. Miss Dupont" he said,
as he met her look of surprise. Il
came to say that If you do not con-
slider 1t worth while to board me, ]
can make shift for myself"
Indeed, but you shall not" ex-
claimed the girl with graciousness
that brought glow into his grave
face. "What should we do without
your company at tableT"
"You are very kind to say it,
She smiled. "Where have you been
keeping yourself all day7"
Il rode up Wolf river to the falls.
A canal to irrigate a large area could
be led down from there. and later on