Williams news., 1917-04-12

'Married!'' The angry scarlet of the girls cheeks deepened to a rose. Notes of indignation and joy mingled oddly in her half-murmured predic- tion: "He will come back! That med dler shall not preventr'
 'You won't go and git Cap down on us, will you?" remonstrated 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 diffident. 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. q came to say that if you do not con- sider it worth while to board me, I can make shift for myself"
 Indeed, but you shall not !" ex- claimed the girl with a graciousness that brought glow into his grave face. "What should we do without your company at table?"
 "YOu are very kind to say it.''
 She smiled. "Where have you been keeping yourself all day?"
 q rode up Wolf river to the falls. A canal to irrigate large area could be led down from there, and later on I believe a dam could be constructed above the falls at a comparatively small cost. 1t would convert the val ley above into large storage reser- voir, to hold the winter foods"
 "You must show me your plans at the falls themselves" :" declared Marie with an enthusiasm more gratifying to him than would have been a per sonal compliment.
 They went in to supper, earnestly discussing his plans for the betterment of the tribe.
 So began the second period of his 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 senL on the tribal delegation, in the charge of Redbear. So swift an un- reeling of government red tape proved that powerful influences were favor ing the consummation of the new treaty. Hardy ungrudgingly gave Vandervyn the credit of being very successful benevolent lobbyist.
 runner was dispatched 70 bring in Redbear and the delegates. They came without delay. Redbear's arm was so nearly healed that he had full use of it. 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 con- 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 a careful set of instructions to help them in the conduct of their mis- sion.
 My only wish is that I might go with them," he remarked, as the 'fron horse" whirled 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 ain't got no license to worry nohow. MT. Van is there to boost 'em along"
 Besides, you have your work here, " added Marie with a glance that con- pletely diverted his thoughts.
 They spent the night in the rough shack misnamed a 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 a Sa- vory supper, and then entertained Hardy for an hour or more in her ar tistic little parlor.
 The next day, fresh as ever, Marie was ready to ride up to the falls and help him run a line of levels with the instruments that he had hired in