The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-02-09
n Reservation

faith of her unquestiOning love. HE
said white people often get married
that way"
Hardy burst out between pity and
Indignation: "The ScOundrel You
poor child! Common-law marriage is
only half-marriage at best. To make
it even that much of tie, it is neces-
sary that a man and woman should
| live togther as husband and wife
openly. He kept this matter secret !;
he persuaded you and your brother to
tell no one-the scoundrel!"
Stricken with grief and shame DIN
ma uttered a moan and crouched down
over her pony's withers, with her face
| in her hands. But the drink crazed
brain of Redbear comprehended only
that Hardy was berating his sisters
husband. He made an effort to
| straighten in the saddle, and his right
hand fumbled eagerly for the hilt of
his revolver. Hardy swerved his mare
alongside and reached out. Redbear
slumped from his saddle like sack Of
| grain.
| Oinna slipped down to run to her
brother. But Hardy was quicker. He
threw himself on the half-dazed drunk
ard. A skillful wrench loosened the
stubborn clutch of the others fingers
on the gun. Disarmed and perhaps
partly sobered by the shock, Redbear
stretched out on the dusty sod.
"Oh, he is hurt !" gaSped Oinna.
Hardy rolled the drunkard away
from her and spoke sternly: ''He is
not hurt. Redbear, stand up"
Redbear gathered himself together
and, aided by Oinna, staggered to his
feet. The ponies had cantered away.
Hardy led his mare around beside
Redbear, and he and Oinna, between
them, managed to lift the almost help
less man into the saddle. While they
were going the half-mile to the cabin,
Hardy led the mare, and Oinna walked
beside her brother to steady him In
his seat. Neither saw the rider who
rode up out of the creek bed beyond
| the cabin and wheeled from view be-
hind the end wall.
/
helped Redbear dismount before the
door and handed him his unloaded re-
volver. He then lifted his hat to DIN
ma with utmost respectfulness.
Miss Redbear," he said, "you have
been wrOnged in a most despicable
manner. He has lied to you. You
must keep away from him. Go back
into the mountains with your grand
father. I believe the rascal will soon
leave the reservation, and then you
will be free from nim."
Thanks for the prophecy, captain"
came jeer from the end of the cabin.
They stared about, and saw Wander
vyn standing at the corner, his face
set in a cynical smile.
$50 you've quit soldering and taken
to preaching" he sneered.
| "O-o-oh!" sighed Oinna, and she
crept toward the mocker, her hands
imploringly outstretched, her soft
| eyes brimming over with tears of pitt
| full entreaty. "Tell him-tell him it
isn't true! Tell him our marriage is
a real marriage!"
"What fuss over little thing like
that!" he rallied.
The girl cringed back, and sank
down, in silent anguish to hide her
| face.
"For shame, sir!" cried Hardy.
''Have you no shred Of decencyT
| 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
riage 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. "Yes, good enough for any
halfbreed -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 thief" he yelled.
"She's mine! You promised! I'll
show you, you" Cursing wildly, he
flourished his revolver, and brought 1t
down in a wavering attempt to take
| aim.
"Stop! Stop!" Hardy cried to Van
dervyn. cts not loaded! Stopw
But vandervyn had already whipped
out his revolver. From the muzzle
leaped sheet of flame. Redbear flung
up his arms and pitched backward.
Swiftly Vandervyn recocked his re-
wolver and aimed it 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.
81 shot in self-defense," he snarled.
'Don't you make move. He had his
| gun on me-"
"It was empty. l called to YOU"
| "You didn't-not till l had fired. !
shot him down to save my life. I'll
shoot you, too. If. you try to draw"
"Get out of here!'' ordered Hardy,
needless of the threat. you've caused