The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-02-07


Vandervyn laughed. Redbear start
ed staggering toward him, the empty
revolver concealed behind his back
with drunken cunning.
'YOu think it's funny" he muttered,
funny joke! You own up that mar
rage with her wasn't real like you
said it was.'
"What if it wasn't?" bantered Van
dervyn. 1T was good enough for a
halfbreed squaw.' He smiled at
Hardy. eyes, good enough for any
halfbreed or--quarterbreed. I'll have
Marie next
Hardy tensed, yet instantly checked
the wrath that would have impelled
him to hurl himself at the throat of
the mocker. Redbear lacked such iron
self-mastery, and liquor had numbed
his sense of subserviency to Wander
vyn. At Marie's name his fury burst
out.
'You liar! You theft" he yelled.
"She's mine! You promised! I'll
show you, YOU" Cursing wildly, he
fourished his revolver, and brought it
down in wavering attempt to take
aim.
'Stop! Stop!" Hardy cried to Van
dervyn. "It's not loaded! Stop!"
But Vandervyn had already whipped
out his revolver. From the muzzle
leaped sheet of fame Redbear flung
up his arms and pitched backward.
Swiftly Vandervyn recocked his re-
volver and aimed 1t at Hardy.
"Put up your hands! Keep them
away from your coat!'' he shouted in
fierce menace.
Hardy did not put up his hands. He
bent down to feel the heart of the
halfbreed. Shrieking with horror,
Oinna fell fainting across the body of
her brother. Hardy looked up, grim
and quiet.
II hope you are satisfied" he said.
''You have killed him."
Vandervyn kept his revolver pointed
at Hardy.
II shot in self-defense," he snarled.
Don't you make a move. He had his
gun on me-"
1T was empty. I called to you."
"You didn't-not till had fired. I
shot him down to save my life. TIL
shoot you, too. if you try to draw"
"Get out Of here!' ordered Hardy,
needless of the threat. you've caused
trouble enough. Send the new agent.
You can tell him that admit you seem
to have been justified
Vandervyn's menacing attitude re.
Taxed. BE half lowered his revolver.
but kept wary watch on Hardy as
he backed away around the corner
Of the cabin, and ran to Jump on his
pony and gallop away. Hardy had
sprung up. But it was only to hasten
into the house for water. He came out
with half-tilled bucket, drew Oinna
over on her back, and dashed waite,
into her face. She opened her eyes
saw him, and, reddening with shame
turned her face aside. 1t happened
to be toward her brother. Suddenly
she drew herself up on her elbow tt
bend over the gray face.
"He-is not-dead!" she gasped.
Redbear's lips were moving. Hardy
knelt to lift him up to a half-sittinG
position. He knew by grim experience
that with such a wound there was nc
hope, but he also knew that it would
ease the agony to raise the injured
| man. Oinna dampened her brothers
forehead. He muttered curse.
'Not that, boy" warned Hardy. "Yo,
have only few minutes"
Redbear seemingly did not hear him
He repeated the curse: "The-! Tc
"a got him-way got Nogen-if yo1
hadn't unloaded-my gun"
'You shot Nogen?" queried Hardy
Speak out! You say you shot No
gen?"
| wanted her Marie -s same
way as Van-same way as-Van sale
you-wanted her. We-I-tried to ge
observation-disclosures he, Van, told MI
you wanted Marie-that way. Thu
liar-the- Ah-r-rh!''
From between the lips that ha(
parted to utter the curse there gushe6
a scarlet stream.
Hardy laid the body on the ground
and drew the distracted girl away b.
main force.
"Come into the house," he ordered
"You must not look at him."
F! She offered only passive resistance
| When he had put her in chair, sht
sat motionless, as if dazed, her DIR,
eyes fixed on vacancy.
'This won't d." he said. 'Yor
must go to your grandfather. I can
not take you with me, and besides
He checked himself, caught up {
blanket, and went outdoors. Whe1
presently he returned, she had no
moved. He fastened her scant ward
robe and few trinkets in blanket roll
and led her out around the hoase
carefully keeping himself between he
and the blanket-covered form on tn,
ground near the door. He had brough
her own and her brothers ponies tt
the back of the house. He dashed tn
bundle on the dead mans saddle
| ~,