Meade County news., 1917-04-12
CHAPTER xVl-contlnued.

-
SO began the second period of Har-
dy's close companionship with the girl,
and the intimacy appeared as sincere
and friendly as the first one, when Van
dervyn was In the mountains with
Redbear. Almost every day they rode
out to examine the Wolf river water
shed, and estimate as best they could
without surveying instruments the
number Of acres that could be put un-
der ditch.
Hardy had at once written for re-
ports on similar undertakings. Be-
fore receiving them he was agreeably
surprised by an official telegram from
Washington instructing him to at once
send on the tribal delegation, in the
charge of Redbear. So swift an un-
reellng of government red tape proved
that powerful influences were favor
ing the consummation Of the new
treaty. Hardy ungrudglngly gave
Vandervyn the credit Of being a very
successful benevolent lobbyist.
A runner was dispatched to bring In
Redbear and the delegates. They
came without delay. Redbear's arm
was so nearly nealed that he had full
use Of 1t. Oinna did not accompany
him. He said their grandfather had
become so fond Of her that he had
insisted upon her remaining in the
mountains until the return of the del
egation from Washington. Marie Of
fered to send for her and give her a
home while her brother was away, but
Redbear hastily declared that the girl
wished to stay with the old chief.
Hardy took charge of the delegation
as far as the railroad, and Marie and
Dupont went along to keep him COM
pany. He provided for the comfort
aboard train Of Redbear and the five
solemn chiefs, and shipped them off
with through tickets to Washington
and careful set of instructions to
help them in the conduct bf their mis-
zion.
'My only wish is that / might go
with them," he remarked, as the
"iron horse" whlrled them away
toward the land of the sunrise. "They
will be like Babes in the Woods"
"You sure have done your level best
for them, Cap" replied Dupont. "You
amt got no license to worry nohow.
MIR. Van is there to boost 'em along"
Besides, you have your work here"
added Marie with a glance that COM
pletely diverted his thoughts.
They spent the night in the rough
shack misnamed hotel, and at dawn
started on their return to the agency.
AS Dupont's pony was continually lag
ging behind. Hardy had the pleasure
Of Maries company virtually alone for
the greater part of the ride. She
seemed to enjoy this quite as much
as he, and remained in gracious good
humor even through the blazing heat
Of midday. Nor did she allow herself
to feel fatigue until, after their arrival
at the agency, she had cooked sa-
worry supper, and then entertained
Hardy for an hour or more in her ar
tlstic little parlor.
The next day, fresh as ever, Marie
was ready to ride up to the falls and
help him run line of levels with the
instruments that he had hired in
town. Never had he known anyone
so aboundlng in life. Mentally as well
as physically, she seemed ever tireless,
buoyant, animated.
Day after day they worked and
planned for the good Of the tribe !;
day after day her graciousness toward
him increased. And day after day his
love for her deepened and strength
ened until 1t could be seen in his every
look and act, and heard In every in
Election Of his voice when he spoke to
her. Though her manner toward him
showed no trace Of overt coquetry, she
made no effort to repulse his silent
devotion or to check the growth of
his passion.
A week after the departure Of the
delegation found him fully looking the
part of gallant lover-ardent, youth
full, almost handsome. He had lost
much Of his former look of pensive
severity. Even the silvery hairs over
his temples seemed to be regaining
their original ruddy brown.
A few days later one of the lines of
levels happened to bring him and the
girl to the edge of the coulee, across
from the butte. He suggested that
they go down and across to the spring
rill for a drink.
AS they turned back, Marie recog-
nized the exact spot where he had
been shot. Womanlike, she shud-
dered and turned pale at the recol-
lection, though at the time of the oc-
currence she had been 80 brave.
Look" she said in a half-whisper.
Here is where you fell. I thought
you were killed."