The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-01-26

"Or to get the handling of the tri-
bal funds" suggested Vandervyn.
'aThere1l be a fat slice of graft for
somebody out Of all those millions"
"You really think that?"
"What else can you expect-govern-
ment on one side and Poor Lo on the
other? It's the usual thing. 1 ex-
pect to get my share"
"You?" exclaimed the girl, her eyes
widening with look of establishment
and reproach. 5g.l
Vandervyn laughed amusedly.
"Wait bit before you dig up your
tomahawk, Miss Sitting Bull If
succeed in getting the tribe fifteen
or twenty millions, instead of the five
that was talked about, 1t strikes me
they could afford to allow yours truly
nice little percentage a. commits
sion"
ooh, Reggie, pardon me! OF course
you should havo good pay for proving
yourself such friend to the tribe"
"And to each member of the tribe !"
he added, his blue eyes glowing gold
en- with ardor. 81 don't want all my
pay in money. How about an advance
royalty in--something else?" -
He had risen, and was coming
toward her. She blushed and retreat
ed around the tea table.
mo, no." she reconstructed. II told
you we must wait until--until you are
freed from your-cousin." /,
"Wait?" he rejoined. You're try
ing to play me against that tinfoil
hero. Do you think I'm going to stand
for that? I'll have to go on at once,
and fix things so that the delegation
will not have to hang round the capt.
tOl all winter"
"You will have to leave before the
delegation?" The girl was almost dis
mayed at the unexpectedness of the
announcement.
"Fll have to &C at once" repeated
vandervyn, frowning. Il thought of
course he would have told me before
sending his messages. I could have
so worded them for him that the game
would have started off without
hitch. As it is, he has messed things
up in way that will require the
presence of good lobbyist to pull
off the game In any kind of shape to
suit u.s."
II do not like the way you speak
Of it-a game, lobbying" murmured
Marie.
Vandervyn smiled cOndescendingly.
"My dear girl, q crooked deal can
twist through the devious ways of
congress and the departments without
trouble. An honest, straightforward
matter, such as this treaty, needs
strong pulling to get as far as the
presidents signature"
"But you will use only honest meth
DDS in your lObbying?"
'What &else?" queried Vandervyn,
his eyes wide and guileless. Il wish
to earn my commission all free and
above-board. You need not be sur
prised, however, If big slice of graft
is deducted from the amount apprOpri-
ated to pay the tribe"
"HOw dishOnestw
'It's the only way to get the tribe
just price for their mineral lands.
Don't look so shocked, Miss Canada.
It's the regular way such things are
handled in all representative govern
ments-ours, the Canadian and Eng
lish parliaments, the German. the
French-all the same"
The girls eyes clOuded. 81 do not
like to hear you speak in that cynical
Tone"
''Oh, it's not because l don't be-
lieve in democratic government. In
despotic countries the regular proce-
dure would be for the officials to take
the bulk of the appropriation, and
give the tribe the percentage-or
nothing"
81 cannot believe that even your
government will permit its officials to
rob either the tribe or the people of
the country" declared Marie. "There
cannot be majority of dishonest con-
gressmen."
"NO; the big majority are honest
fools. They are managed by means Of
committees and the plea of party 10y
atty and lOg-rolling. But that's not
my fault, sweetheart. You know L"
II know you've yet to receive per-
mission to call me that!" broke in the
girl.
Vandervyn bit his lip. "You forget
1 am going away"
"Back to Washington-and your
fiancee!"
"Quite true. And I'm going to stay,
unless there is some inducement for
me to return here" he rejoined.
1t was Marie's turn to bite her lip.
"HOw can you say that, when you
know that THAT L"
81 told you how it was, and why
I cannot break off with her until"