The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-03

I He was still more surprised when.
the following day, he and Marie rode
! down Sioux creek to where it flowed
into Wolf river. The moment the
view down the coulee opened before
them, they perceived several tents
pitched in the bottom, at the foot of the
butte. They found twenty or twenty
| five rOugh-lOOking men encamped along
the spring rill in light dog-tents. a
few were cowboys, but the greater
number had the appearance and outfits
Of prospecting miners They stared at
Marie with the respectful admiration
OF typical Westerners for an honest"
woman, and readily answered Hardy's
| civil questions
| Notice of the prospective opening of
the mineral lands of the reservation
had been published in a few very OBJ
scure weekly papers. One of the men
gave Hardy a blurred sheet of a little
country journal, and pointed out the
| government notice. 1t was printed in
the midst of several uninteresting legal
notices. The old fellow winked know
ingly, and remarked that, as long as
ne was in on the game, he didn't care
how quiet it was played.
what could that man have meant
about being in on quiet game?" Ma
RE asked Hardy. as they rode down
the coulee to take the road back to
the agency.
Il believe 1 understand, and 1 do
not altogether like it, replied Hardy
1.-The fellow probably is right in think
ing that undue influence is being ex-
erted to give as little publicity as pos
sible to the opening of the mineral
lands to entry"
DO you really think so? Of course
it is not right Yet where is the
harm? These men have been enter
prising enough to seize the Opportu-
nifty, and they deserve the chances of
good fortune"
1.-The transaction has rather too
much the appearance of a prearranged
scheme" replied Hardy. His thought
full face darkened with the shadow of
anxiety. eff 1 could be sure that it
would bring only good fortune to youI"
I The profound tenderness and con-
| Germ in his voice seemed to startle
Marie. She leaned forward, and put
her pony into a gallop.
The day before, Immediately upon
receipt of the official statement from
Washington, Hardy had sent q messeR-
ger to notify Ti-Owa-konza. Two DAYS
later the head chief came with all his
large family, including Oinna. Marie
insisted that the girl should come to
| stay with her until the return of Red
| bear, and Immediately fitted out the
| I'll A.,
wardrobe. When Hardy spoke of her
generosity, she smiled and shrugged.
ct is little enough to do for any
one, captain. I was tired of those old
gowns. Anyway, as a quarterbreed, 1
owe it to my own self-respect to keep
halfbreed girl from going around like
a full-blood woman"
"Her brother will be greatly
pleased
ST had no thought of him. He is
rather worthless fellow. 1t is strange
to me how proud Oinna is of him. She
| says nothing, but one can see that
she is in a fever of joyous excitement
over the prospect of his return
Hardy frowned, parted his lips to
speak, and thought better of it.
"You were going to say-?' OBJ
served Marie.
Something that must be left unsaid.
if you will pardon me-" he replied, and
he shifted the conversation to the
question of accommodations for the
commissioners.
The arrival of the commissioners
early in the afternoon of the following
| day would have taken the agency by
| surprise if Hardy had not posted a
lookout on the signal mountain. The
prearranged smOke-sign gave warning
| it was yet many miles away over
| the plains. Even at that, Hardy
and Marie and Dupont were not
quite ready to greet the visitors
when they came into view down the
valley. The explanation of their quick
trip from the railroad at once became
evident. Commissioners, Indian dele
gates and all were slowed in two
large touring cars.
Vandervyn was driving the foremost
car. He brought it up the slope Of the
| agency terrace with rush, and spun
1t around in curve that ended before
the porch of the Dupont house. The
second car rolled straight on across
the terrace to the tepee of TI-owa-
konza.
Hardy. who was about to start
across to the Office, paused in the
porch to welcome the commissioners.
Dupont hurried out OF the rear door
way Of his store. Marie, after slight
bow in acknowledgment of Wander
vyn's respectful salute, quietly drew
back into her parlor.
In the front seat beside Vandervyn
was a big, red-faced man, whose
bleared, eyes Immediately began to
scrutinize Hardy, and as quickly
turned away when they met his clear
gaze. The five men In the tonneau ali
had the look of a certain kind OF poll
ticians and ali met Hardy's cordial
greeting with cold formality that
would have chilled even place-hunter.
Put upon his dignity by this unex-
pected rebuff. the captain drew back
] into the porch Dupont received =