The Lamar register., 1917-03-21


was Indian to you cried the girl,
you have been so eager TO marry a
breed girl-here is one, already your
wife,
Its lle--a black lie denied Van
dervyn. Il never married her!
You took her by tribal custom. and
you told her that you We're taking her
legally according TO the common law
"She cannot prove l lived with her
openly as her husband" rejoined Van
dervyn.
The president looked at the shrink
ing OInna with kindly gravity. do
YOU wish him to acknowledge you ms
his wifeT'
mo, no. sir!" she disclaimed. Il
don't want him any more.
81 am pleased to hear you say That
replied the president. He turned IN
Vandervyn. Il understand this witness
is prepared TO testify that the sigma
lures to your contract We're obtained
on the false representation that II was
II second copy of the minutes nf the
tribal council"
"Its Her hoarsely replied the
young man. Hardy knows nothing
nbout IT. There's only her word
against mine"
We can send for the Indian wit.
nesses. If necessary. Another mattcI
at the inquest you testified under
oath that certain Indian killed Agent
Nogen. and that you and Redbear then
killed the murderer. When you shot
Redbear you rode or, certain that he
was dead He lived long enough to
confess himself the murderer Of Agent
Nogen Why did you perjure yourself
at the inquest"
"You can't prove IT," defiantly chal-
lenged Vandrryyn. Il stand by my
testimony. This squuw and Hardy
have hntched up the lie between them
Even II Rcdl1ear made such II confes.
sion. It is only henrsay and not legal
evidence
"Your friend Redbear seems to have
enjoyed shuoting at agents" remarked
the president lie also confessed tC
having made the two attempts "n the
life Of Cnptnin Hardy. In view Of ynuI
perjured testimony at the Nogcn in
quest. one is led to infer a not i'm
probable connection between those at
tempts and your enmity To Captain
Hardy But the point at present II
whether you still insist upon the val
idlty of your contract. Do you wish
an official Investigation that will take
the evidence Of the Indian Witnesses
A cold sweat was gathering on Van
dervyn's forehead. He looked ut Marie.
IA ~
might misconstrue the womanly soft
ness into which her fierce resentment
had melted. He wheeled about, and left
the room. sullen, unrepentant, defiant.
"A very great pity" commented the
president Young and clever, hand
some, well educated. good social stand
ing-yet all wasted COurage-mlsdi-
rected no sense of shame; immoral
rather than immoral. He will ride
hard to still harder falls than this
one, or else to what the world calls
success. But | am too busy IA man to
morallze II you will pardon me-
ladies', there Is to be cabinet meet
ing"
He bowed to them. and then CON
fronted Hardy. "Sir, I warned you
tnat II you ulu not spthh III svui wv"
defense, you would have no other op-
portunity. | shall not reverse my ap-
proval Of the findings Of the court
martial"
Hardy had stood an amazed and
dumfounded spectator to the rejection
and disgrace OF his rival. But through
out It all Marie had never once looked
at him. II her scOrnful casting on OF
Yanderyyn had reused any hopes for
himself. they must have been dashed
when she led Oinna away without ia
voring him with so much as glance
OF recognition. There was slight
stoop in his shoulders as he saluted
the president
"If the sentence approved by your
eIcellency does not make association
with me scandalous." he said, Il beg
leave to express my thanks for the
lntimation that you will invalidate the
fraudulent contract"
without replying, the president
abruptly faced about to his desk.
Hardy again saluted. and marched
from the room as II on dress parade.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Sentence.
In the anteroom the doorkeeper