Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-17
''DoC!''
BY
BY HAROLD TITUS.
Author Of ITO the Victor"
Copyright
The Frank A. Munxey Company

She had swept him to her, uncon-
sciOusly claimed him as hers hers
alone, to do her bidding. to make her
happy. TO serve her. to be served by
her, to be happy, to be miserable, but
always hers
Looking backward he knew that
from the morning in his Office when
she had tainted in his arms, when the
first words had passed between them.
her stamp had been on him, the bond
growing Justify with every passing day
until he desired her with that ardor
which can only be aroused by well,
strong-abOve all--clean.minded man
for the woman who was destined by
all creation to be his mate!
But this unreal delight was not un-
alleged; once he knew dark jealousy.
1t was when he saw Ruth riding be.
side Kennedy on his big. gray horse,
and she had no more for him than
nod and quick smile between ami
mated sentences for her escort.
Hardy stood and looked after her.
blind with that heinous emotion which
must always mutter along beside the
current of love, and wondered If it
were possible for such woman as she
to Willingly deceive. She had told him
that Kennedy was not man of her
liking, and yet
TN fba rovt iuctnut he loo oil Il; ~,
self for such questionings.
OF q totally different sort was
the otter CO Sc for RENE nbcriag the
dag OF his first rice with Mis-, Mi.
Chell.
Walking slowly along the street to-
ward his Office one sunny afternoon of
the same week he passed a group of
loungers before the pool hall -- that
center for the INDECENT OF the reserva-
ton. His mind was occupied with a
case that had cone to him that day,
and he did not notice that the group
was strangely silent.
Came the sound of voice raised in
an Indian word then badly concealed
chuckles.
Hardy turned quickly. attracted by
the laughter. Half the loafers had
turned their heads; the others looked
at him with grins in which eering and
embarrassment mingled. And in the
center OF the crowd stood the Indian
boy, Little Foot, Sinking hastily; be-
yond a doubt it had been his voice
that lifted in the shout which was un.
understandable to Hardy, yet which
seemed to create such mirth among
the others who heard.
At his turning the laughter incraas-
ed and two or three young fellows
moved quickly into the pool hall. from
where he heard their unrestrained
shouts of merriment.
Surely, on that evidence, the word
that had been passed was intended for
him: surely 1t had come from Little
Foot; judging by the tones of the
laughter, he was as certain that it had
been meant for an Insult
An instructive impulse to resent
scOffing with belligerence which turks
in the heart of every man prompted
him to turn back and demand an ex-
PLANTATION: but his better Judgment
told him to ignore. And he did, walk.
ing on ahead slowly. wondering.
The incident might have been for.
gotten or put aside as meaningless
but for the fact that similar one fol.
lowed shortly.
"Why?" he asked himself. Why
should those louis call after him.
What had he done to be singled out
as 4 butt for their vulgarities
Thinking back for a reason he halt.
ed abruptly, remembering the look of
dislike which Kennedy had thrown at
him when he rode into town beside
Ruth Mitchell that January afternoon
remembering, too, that Little Foot
had been there and that Kennedy had
called the Indians attention TO the
riders.
And Ruth had said that Little Foot
was under kennedy's thumb, had
signed away his rights. as far as 1t
was possible. to Kennedy!
Perhaps. then--and 1t would be in
accord with the nature which Hardy
had attributed to the man - Kennedy
had set the Indian bow to devil the
physician just to satisfy the meanness
of his own spirit
But more - that Indian youth had
the confidence Of Sears and his gang!
Added to that. his relationship with
Kennedy. Ellis Hardy. too WAS on.