Williams news., 1917-05-03
replied Hardy with utmost coo;ness..

SOIlsilly lO ldhc Ol lllc nation that you pledged yourself to keep secret"
 Hardy dismounted without replying, and placed himself at the end of the line of registering entrymen. The sun was far down in the sky when he came before the secreidry's table, at the end of the line. Vandervyn rose from his easy seat to take position behind him. The secretary hesitated and looked inquiringly at Vandervyn. He met with a nod to proceed.
 "You wish to register?" came the curt question of the chairman.
 "Yes," replied Hardy with equal curthess.
 "Is an army officer entitled to enter the contest?" questioned the smallest commissioner.
 You need not debate the matter" said Hardy. 'I have resigned my con- mission.'
 Again Vandervyn nodded, and there were no further objections raised. Hardy and he signed the register, and made their thumb prints. and were duly described in writing by the sec
 
 retary.
 Hardy at once mounted his mare, and rode away up the coulee. He did not return until Vandervyn and the commissioners had left for the agency.
 That evening he drew up the legal notices required in the posting of a mining claim, and paid three or four of the older prospectors to check them for errors. To all who inquired, he gone into the mountains, and frankly stated that he knew of none other that led to the nearest of the four prominent peaks which had been named as the corners of the mineral land boundary.
 The rest of the evening and most of the following day he spent in groom ing his mare. He gave her TO grass and little water, but a good allowance of oats. Both morning and afternoon he took her out for short rides up the coulee, and each time repeatedly climbed and descended the bank. He did not cross over to the reservation side, much less go to the agency.
 The day set for the opening dawned still and clear, with the promise of burning heat by noon.
 After breakfast the more uneasy spirits began wandering about the camp or fidgeting with their packs. Nearly all the older and more experi- enced men gave their ponies a feed of 1 cats, and stretched out to lounge in the shade of their tents. Two hours before the time set for the start Vandervyn appeared, and crossed over to the camp. He was riding his pinto and leading a pack pony. When the old prospectors saw Lis heavy pick and shovel and large poorly dashed pack of food and bed ding, they cracked many dry jokes on the grand chances of the tenderfoot Their own picks and shovels were as light as such tools could be made with out impairing their efficiency, and their packs were as lean as Wander vyn's pack was swollen.
 Hardy alone divined the deceptive mockery of his rivals cumbersome dis play. But he was bound by his word and could say nothing. It was he, an6 not Vandervyn, who was looked upoI with suspicion by the crowd. Soor there was a. gathering of mobilize group, that rumbled awhile, and ended by presenting itself before Hardy as a committed {of inquiry.
 ''You been agent at this here reser vation," explained their spokesman | HNo fn Ennxr C frame-up to have some feller meet yor with your pack animals over in tht mountains"
 'No," replied Hardy. There art four days rations in my saddlebags A poncho is all one needs in sleepin: before a fire this time of year."
 You ain't got no tools," criticized . man who had been drinking.
 ''The same is true of several anon, you," Hardy rejoined.
 One of the cowboys who was includ ed in this remark called back resonant ly: You've been into the mountains l bet you a blue chip you've got goot prospect spotted, ready for branding.
 T am not making any bets," sait Hardy. You have heard all I knov about the traiL Mir. Vandervyn ha made the trip several times. He wa with me during the one trip I made I have no objection to your questonini him about it."
 There was some muttering over this But Hardy's manner was so cool ant quiet that the incipient mob left him and struggled over to where Wander vyn had hired an expert to throw tn diamond hitch on his ridiculous pack Hardy turned his back on them, an, set to grooming the satiny coat of hi mare. His unconcern was well found ed. Whatever means Vandervyu used they were sufficient to satisfy tn crowd. The muttering soon ceased and the men dispersed. CHAPTER XXI.