The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-09-20

troubling to close either the door or
the n small window.
The next morning Hardy and Van
dervyn were seated In the agency Of
flee when Redbenr came Il and started
to shuttle around to his desk, on the
other side Of the office partition.
waltz" said Hardy. II wish the
chiefs and headmen OF The tribe sum-
moned to meet me In council as soon
as possible"
at Is a days ride to the camps
farthest back In the mountains" re-
marked Vandervyn.
Hardy considered. and looked up at
Redbcar.
Does not this tribe use smoke Sig
nals?"
mot for n long time, not since ! was
n boy, sir. I never learned how to do
IT,"
THAT old sergeant OF police will
know" predicted Hardy. Gomez"
Vandervyn fingered behind the 9th.
"rs, and followed them only to the
rear corner OF the warehouse. When
he had seen them ride OF across Sioux
creek towards the highest Of the noun
tains that cnclrcled the valley. he went
back into the office. opened the safe,
and carefully sorted over Its con-
tents. All letters addressed to the late
ngent and to himself he took out and
locked In his desk.
Meantime Hardy and Rcdbear with
the police sergeant passed through the
camp of the families OF the police,
where they added two old bucks to
their party. A pony trail led UP through
the pines on the mountainSide to The
bare granite crag of the summit. Mid
afternoon found the Indians standing
around n greenwood fire, alternately
covering II with a blanket and permit
ting quits of the dense smoke To rise
In the still air.
In less than half an hour Hardy's
glasses showed him an answering
smoke on n peak fifteen or twenty
miles distant. When he called attention
to 1t, the police sergeant pointed out
still another smoke signal Off to the
left of the first and several miles far
Their away. The old bucks turned from
the fire and started down to where the
mare and ponies had been left.
THE chiefs will come tomorrow"
Redbear interpreted their answer to
Hardy's inquiry.
The jaded blackboard ponies were
ftIUutn0 THAR Load a.. tl. pIA,. ~ A.
terrace when Hardy came down the
line of agency buildings at n gallop.
Marie Dupont was driving: but on the
seat beside her was a brown-eyed,
olive-skinned girl. who averted her
handsome face with childish shyness
as Hardy wheeled his mare and refined
up alongside.
Marie flushed under the officers d.
rect gaze, though. unlike her compan-
Ion, she did not seek 4 avoid It. He
raised his hat with punctilious polite
ness. She bowed, and, gazing back at
him with n level glance, quietly re-
marked: GOOD afternoon, Captain
Hardy. have brought your luggage"
"That was very kind Of you" said
Hardy as he glanced ut the other girl.
Marie smiled In instant appreciation
OF the fact that he had spoken To her
as to an equal. She patted her COM
panion's work-rcddcned hand with hsr
glovcd fingers. This Is Charlie Red
bears sister Oinna. They did not treat
her well ut school. 81 she ran away to
coine home. | want her Ia live with
me; but she says she must be with her
brother. You will not send her back 2"
The young girl looked ut the new
agent with II smile of timld appeal, and
rs quickly dropped her head in bashful
embarrassment. Hardy's gaze soft
enod, and lie answered reassuringly:
"Hcdbear spoke of his sister. 1t will
be all right"
"You are most kind 10 Say IT," mp
proved Marie with the condesccnSion
Of a gracious young queen. Captain
Hardy, we shall f"pcct you to dine
with us this evening. shall send over
your luggage in II few minutes. You
need not dress for dinner"