The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1917-02-14

then seemingly had been plgeonnoleu
for several days by some careless clerk
before being remalled to him.
If he had not established more fire.
quent mail service, in place of the GUS
tomary weekly trip to town by one
of the police, the commissioners might
have arrived before he received the
notice.
He was still more surprised when,
the following day, he and Marie rode
down Sioux creek to where 1t flowed
into Wolf river. The moment the
view down the coulee opened before
them, they perceived several tents
pitched in the bottom. at the foot of the
butte. They found twenty or twenty
five rough-looklng men encamped along
the spring rill in light dog-tents. A
few were cowboys, but the greater
number had the appearance and outfits
of prospecting miners. They stared at
Marie with the respectful admiration
of typical Westerners for an honest
woman, and readily answered Hardy's
civil questions.
Notice Of the prospective opening of
the mineral lands of the reservation
had been published in a few very OBJ
scure weekly papers. One of the men
gave Hardy a blurred sheet of u little
country journal, and pointed out the
government notice. 1t was printed In
the midst of several uninteresting legal
notices The old fellow winked know
ingly, and remarked that, as long as
he was in on the game, he didn't care
how quiet it was played.
what could that man have meant
about being in on II quiet gamer" Ma
rie asked Hardy as they rode down
the coulee to take the road back to
the agency.
81 believe 1 understand, and l do
not altogether like It," replied Hardy.
"I'he fellow probably is right in think
ing that undue influence is being ex-
erted to give as little publicity as pos
slble to the opening Of the mineral
lands to entry"
do you really think so? OF course
It is not right Yet where is the
harm? These men have been enter
prising enough to seize the opportu-
nifty, and they deserve the chances of
good fortune"
"The transaction has rather too
much the appearance Of n prearranged
scheme" replied Hardy. His thought
full face darkened with the shadow of
anxiety. IF could be sure that 1t
would bring only good fortune to you !"
The profound tenderness and con
- ia as voice seemed 10 starue
Marie. She leaned forward, and put
her pony into gallop.
The day before, Immediately upon
receipt Of the official statement from
Washington. Hardy had sent a messen-
ger TO notify Ti-owa-konza. Two days
later the head chief came with all his
large family. including Oinna. Marie
insisted that the girl should come to
stay with her until the return of Red
bear, and Immediately fitted out the
girl with good dresses from her own
wardrobe. When Hardy spoke Of her
generosity, she smiled and shrugged
at Is little enough to do for any
one, captain. | was tired of those old
gowns. Anyway. as a quarterbreed, l
owe It to my own self-respect to keep
halfbreed girl from going around like
a full woman"
Her brother will be greatly
pleased"
Il had no thought of him. He Is
rather a worthless fellow. II is strange
to me how proud Oinna is of him. She
says nothing, but one can see that
she is in a fever of joyous excitement
over the prospect Of his return"
Hardy frowned, parted his lips to
speak, and thought better of IL.
You were going to say-T OBJ
served Mark.
Something that must be left unsaid,
II you will pardon me-" he replied and
he shifted the conversation to the
question Of accommodations for the
commissioners
The arrival Of the commissioners
early in the afternoon of the following
day would have taken the agency by
surprise II Hardy had not posted
lookout on the signal mountain. The
prearranged smoke-sign gave warning
or the approach of the party while
1t was yet many miles away over
the plains. Even at that, Hardy
and Marie and Dupont were not
quite ready to greet the visitors
when they came into view down the
valley. The explanation of their quick
trip from the railroad at once became