Mayes County Republican (Pryor, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 5, 1917 Page: 4 of 10
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I
-7
MAYES COUNTY REPUBLICAN
torterbreed
A Modem Indian Reservation
Story by Robert Ames Bennet
|j» you discovered that au able man of unscrupulous character and political power enough to wreck your
■ career was trying to do harm to the girl you loved by stealing her affections and turning them to evil pur-
fi ]|| poses, would you shoot him before he spoiled the girl or wait until he did It and then kill him? Con-
elder Captain Hardy's predicament, as described In this Installment. The army officer, you will recall,
went to Lakotnh reservation as acting agent following the murder of Agent Nogen and a threatened
uprising of the Indians. Wounded by an ambush shot, he falls in love with Marie Dupont, a quarterbreed,
who nurses him, but gives no definite answer to his proposal of marriage because she is enamored of Reg-
inald Vandervyn, agency clerk and scapegrace nephew of Senator Clemmer. Hardy learns the Indians are
disaffected because old Jacques Dupont, a wily post trader, and Vandervyn have cheated them In an Illegal
tribal mlue deal. At first the red men, deceived by Vandervyn, misunderstand the officer’s motives, but finally
accept him as their friend, and a commission, led by Vanderwyn, prepares to go to Washington to secure a division
of tribal lands and the sale of mines owned by Indians. Vandervyn plans to get profit for himself.
- CHAPTER XVI—Continued.
So began the second period of Har-
dy's close companionship with the girl,
and the Intimacy appeared as sincere
and friendly as the first one, when Van-
dervyn was In the mountains with
Redbear. Almost every day they rode
out to examine the Wolf river water-
shed, and estimate as best they could
without surveying Instruments the
number of acres that could be put un-
der ditch.
Hardy had at once written for re-
ports on similar undertakings. Be-
fore receiving them he was agreeably
surprised by an official telegram from
Washington instructing him to at once
send on the tribal delegation, In the
charge of Redbear. So swift an un-
reeling of government red tape proved
that powerful influences were favor-
ing the consummation of the new
treaty. Hardy ungrudgingly gave
Vandervyn the credit of being a very
successful benevolent lobbyist.
A runner was dispatched to bring in
Redbear and the delegates. They
came without delay. • Redbear's arm
was so nearly nealed that he had full
use of it Olnna did not accompany
him. He said their grandfather had
become so fond of her that he had
Insisted upon her remaining In the
mountains until the return of the del-
egation from Washington. Marie of-
fered to send for her and give her a
home while her brother was away, but
Redbear hastily declared that the girl
wished to stay with the old chief.
Hardy took charge of the delegation
as far as the railroad, and Marie and
Dupont went along to keep him com-
pany. He provided for the comfort
aboard train of Redbear and the five
solemn chiefs, and shipped them off
with through tickets to Washington
and a careful set of Instructions to
help them in the conduct of their mis-
sion.
‘‘My only wish is that I might go
with them," he remarked, as the
"iron horse", whirled them away
toward the land of the sunrise. "They
will be like Bnbes in the Woods."
“You sure have done your level best
for them, Cap," replied Dupont. “You
ain’t got no license to worry nohow.
Mr. Van is there to boost 'em along."
“Besides, you have your work here,”
added Marie with a glance that com-
pletely diverted his thoughts.
They spent the night In the rough
shack misnamed a hotel, and at dawn
started on their return to the agency.
As Dupont's pony was continually lag-
ging behind, Hardy had the pleasure
of Marie's company virtually alone for
the greater part of the ride. She
Seemed to enjoy thi? quite as much
as he, and remained In gracious good-
humor even through the blazing heat
of midday. Nor did she allow herself
to feel fatigue until, after their arrival
at the agency, she had cooked a sa-
901 y supper, and then entertained
Hardy for an hour or more in her ar-
tistic little parlor.
The next day, fresh as ever, Marie
was ready to ride up to the falls and
help him run a line of levels with the
instruments that he had hired in
town. Never had he known anyone
so abounding In life. Mentally as well
as physically, she seemed ever tireless,
buoyant, animated.
Day after day they worked and
planned for the good of the tribe;
day after day her gradousness toward
him Increased. And day after day his
love for her deepened and strength-
ened until it could be seen-In his every
look and uct, and heard tn every In-
flection of his voice when be spoke to
her. Though her manner toward him
showed no trace of overt coquetry, she
mude no effort to repulse his silent
devotion or to check the growth of
his {Mission.
A week after the departure of the
delegatiou found him fully looking the
part of a gallant lover—ardent, youth-
ful, almost handsome. He had lost
mu ‘h of his former look of pensive
severity. Even the silvery hairs over
his temples seemed to be regaining
their original raddy brown.
A few days later one of the lines of
levels happened to bring him and the
girl to the edge of the coulee, across
from the butte. He suggested that
they go down and across to the spring
rill for a drink.
As they turned back, Marie recog-
nized the exact spot where he had
been shot. Womanlike, she shud-
dered and turned pale at the recol-
lociiun, though at the time of the oc-
currence she had been so brave.
“Look!” she said In a balf-whlsper.
“Here Is where you fell. I thought
you were killed!"
“The experience was well worth
while," he replied. His voice shook
with the irresistible passion of his
love. “Dearest I—let me call you that
here, this once I It was here I first
looked Into the depths of your heart,
and learned bow good and kind you
are."
The girl turned to bide her face
from the reverent adoration of his
gaze.
“No, no,” she murmured. "Don’t,
please 1”
“I must speak, dear," he replied. "I
ask nothing of you. It Is only that I
wish to tell you how you made me
realize again that life Is worth living.
When I came from the Coast, I had
lost one dearer to me than anyone else
In all the world—my mother. She
was a little woman, very frail—her
blue eyes were diin and faded, her
hair white; but even when she—was
at the very end—her dear eyes sought
to ease my grief with the same look
you gave me as you bent over me
here and thought me fatally Injured."
"Please!” begged the girl, choking
back a sob. "I do not deserve—
Your mother!—but I am not kind nor
good!"
Hardy went on In the same voice
of profound passion: "You lifted me
out of the shadow of the Valley. You
came to me in my blank darkness, a
glorious light of divine goodness that
compelled me to see that all was not
wrong with the universe—that even
so great a loss as mine might be for
the best.”
“I am not what you think me—I
am not!” she reiterated.
“You restored my faith and hope,”
he Insisted. “It would be selfish of
me to
now—"
Washington except two notes from
Vandervyn to Dupont, reporting favor-
able progress and Inclosing sealed let-
ters to Marie. She told nothing of
what these contained, even to ber fa-
ther.
Hardy's first—and last—message in
regard to the new treaty was an offi-
cial notification that it had been duly
approved and signed, after fifteen mil-
lion dollars had been decided upon as
the compensation to the tribe for the
mineral lands. Special commissioner*
had been named to proceed to the res-
ervation and arrange for the immedi-
ate opening of the mineral lauds to en-
try, and the allotment of the remaining
lands to the members of the tribe.
Hardy was surprised when he saw
that the time set for the departure of
the commissioners had already passed.
The document had been misdirected,
had been returned to Washington, and
then seemingly had been pigeonholed
for several days by some careless clerk
before being remalled to him.
If he had not established a more fre-
quent mall service, In place of the cus-
tomary weekly trip to town by one
of the police, the commissioners might
have arrived before he received the
notice.
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
ask anything more of you , number had the appearance and outfits
of prospecting miners. They stared at
“It would be useless—useless!" she Marie with the respectful admiration
cried- of typical Westerners for an "honest"
He was too little versed In feminine woman, and readily answered Hardy's
nature to realize that her vehemence J civil questions,
might indicate an effort to suppress I Notice of the prospective opening of
an Inner doubt of the assertion. Had the mineral lands of the reservation
he been a few years younger, youth- had been published In a few very ol>-
ful impetuosity might have won him j scure weekly papers. One of the men
that which his reverent respect shrank
from urging. He had taken her
gloved hand. He pressed It to his Ups,
and freed her.
“I shall not annoy you, dear,” he
said. "Yet I cannot take that as final.
I shall wait until he returns. Then I
shall take my fighting chance.”
“You will?” she whispered.
“I shall not give up until yon have
pledged yourself to him. If I can, I
will prevent that. - He cannot pos-
sibly love you as I love you. If It Is
possible to win you for my wife, I
will do it"
Marie quivered, and shrank from
him as If startled. "You say, when
vi
St
gave Hardy a blurred sheet of a little
country journal, and pointed out the
government notice. It was printed in
the midst of several nninterestlng legal
notices. The old fellow winked know-
ingly, and remarked that, as long as
he was In on the game, he didn’t care
how quiet it was played.
“What could that man have meant
about being In on a quiet game?" Ma-
rie asked Hardy, as they rode down
the coulee to take the road back to
the agency.
“I believe I understand, and I do
not altogether like It,” replied Hardy.
“The fellow probnbly is right In think-
ing that nndue 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
>t Is not right— Yet where Is the
harm? These men have been enter-
prising enough to seize the opportu-
nity, and they deserve the chances of
“My Friend, Jake Dcpont, Gentlemen."
lie comes back— But until then
you—you will not—”
“Until then we shall continue to be
the same good comrades that we have
been."
The girl drew In a deep breath.
"Tbcn—let us go back to work."
good fortune."
“The transaction has rather too
much the appearance of a prearranged
scheme,” replied Hardy. His thought-
ful face darkened with the shadow of
anxiety. "If I could be sure that It
would bring only good fortune to you!”
The profound tenderness and con-
cern 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 oflidal statement from
Washington, Hardy had sent a messen-
ger to notify Tl-owa-konza. Two days
later the head chief came with all his
large family, Including Olnna. Marie
Insisted that the girl should come to
stay with her until the return of Red-
bear, and Immediately fitted out the
girl with good dresses from her own
wardrobe. When Hardy spoke of her!
generosity, she smiled and shrugged. I
“It Is little enongh to do for any- (
one, captain. I was tired of those old '
gowns. Anyway, as a quarterbreed, I
owe It to my own self-respect to keep
Ilnrdy accepted the suggestion with a hulfbreed girl from goiny around like
a self-control that Was as remarkable a full-blood woman."
us it was misplaced. “Her brother will be greatly
- I pleased.”
CHAPTER XVII. “I had do thought of him. He <s
— rather e worthless fellow. It Is strange
The Only Woman. to me how proud Olnna is of him. She
Dnring the pleasant, busy duys that says nothing, but one can see that
followed, to all appearances Marie eu- she Is in a fever of joyous excitement
joyed the work and planning and the over the prospect of his return."
long hours of companionship fully as ilnrdy frowned, parted his lips to
much as Hardy. Dupont, now ever speak, and thought better of it
bluff and genial, kept close to his “You were going, to say —T' ob-
store. But during the long evening! served Marie.
discussions his eyes often twinkled “Something that must be left unsaid,
cunningly under their gray thatch.! if you will pardon me,” he replied, and
No word bad been received from i>« 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
of the approach of the party while
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 stowed in two
large touring cars.
Vandervyn was driving the foremost
car. He brought It up the slope of the
agency terrace with a rush, and spun
It around In a 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-
konxa.
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 a slight
bow In acknowledgment of Vander-
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 all
had the look of a certain kind of poli-
tician, and all met Hardy's cordial
greeting with a cold formality that
would have chilled even a place-hunter.
Put upon his dignity by this unex-
pected rebuff, the captain drew back
Into the porch. Dupont received a
more pleasant response to his bluff
welcome. He jerked open the door of
the tonneau, and offered his hand to
each of the commissioners in turn as
they stepped stiffly out into the porch.
“My friend Jake Dupont, gentle-
men," said Vandervyn.
Every member of the party at once
smiled upon the trader, and shook
hands with him. Most cordial of all
was the big man who had sat In the
front seat.
Marie now stepped out to greet the
visitors, and was formally Introduced
by Vandervyn. With a gracious com-
posure that would have done credit
to the most exclusive of drawing
rooms, she welcomed the visitors, and
Invited them to luncheon.
The most portly member of the com-
mission promptly accepted the Invita-
tion on behalf of himself and his com-
panions, and the party followed their
hostess Into her parlor. Vandervyn
lingered a moment to favor Hardy with
a smile of Ironical condolence.
"Chesty lot, these laine ducks!" he
said. “But they stand In with the big
fellows. They had the cars shipped
out from Chicago to accommodate
them. Better snuggle up on their
warm side— What, not going, surely?
You must come In to lunch and show
us how tactful a tactician can be."
"Thanks, no," replied Hardy. “HI
ask you kindly to excuse me to Miss
Dupont. The commissioners may find
me at the office at any time that suits
them.”
Vandervyn shrugged and went In-
doors, his smile a trifle forced. He at
once joined his party In their eager
acceptance of Dupont’s most cordial
expression of hospitality, his eight-
year-old whisky. Marie had excused
herself to the guests. By the time she
reappeared every member of the party
was nglow with good feeling. The girl
at once became the target for a shower
of compliments, all In doubtful taste,
und some decidedly too free and easy.
She looked to Vandervyn, and met
only with au unpusy smile. Seeing
one of the commissioners brusquely
proposed that Hardy be summoned to
attend upon them. Vandervyn Inter-
posed with the suave suggestion that
the acting agent might leave in the
safe some of the papers necessary to
a full understanding of the affairs of
the agency.
At this the party lingered only for
a parting nip at Dupont's liquid hos-
pitality. Assuring Marie that they
would return in time for dinner, they
left under the escort of their host.
With the excuse that he had mislaid
his hat, Vandervyn returned to the
dining room. When he came out, he
shut the door. Marie was alone in the
partor. All the suppressed fire of his
passion flamed in his face, as he
turned and came swiftly back to the
waiting girl. There could be no doubt
that he expected ber to meet him half-
way.
She stood beside a chair, somewhat
pale, but outwardly very calm. She
did not advance a single step. Yet,
out aftef the first few hundred thou-
sands. I'm In on another deal that
stands to net a cool million. When I
get that In bank, I can have any girl
I choose to go after."
“If I had ten times a million, and
could buy you a character like his, I
would gladly pay it all—all 1"
The slash of a whip in his face would
have stung him far less. He stared at
ber • long moment, while the full
meaning of the words cut through the
armor of bis self-esteem. Mortification,
anger, furious chagrin flamed In his
face. He raised his hand as If to
strike her, and instead, whirled about
nnd rushed out through the porch.
The girl sank on her knees, und
pressed ber bands to her lips to stifle
the cry that would have called him
back. When she looked up, her face
was white and drawn with anguish.
But she had conquered.
“He shall not—shall not know my
weakness!” she whispered with fierce
determination. “If only It has offend-
ed him beyond forgiveness 1 If only
he may go away—forever! I might
be able to forget him—in time I”
"You've Been Letting Marie Get Thick
With Him."
blinded by his own ardor, he came on
without heeding the look In her face
until within nrin’s-rench of her. Then
at last he perceived her lack of re-
sponse, and stopped.
"I say I” he exelulmed. “What’s the
matter? Is this the way to welcome
me back, sweetheart?"
The term of endearment brought a
quick blush into the girl’s cheeks. But
she replied In cold, even tones: “Are
you now at liberty to address me as
your fiancee?”
His eyes shifted before her level
gaze. “Don’t be foolish, Marie. You
know you’re the only woman. You
know that engagement must stand un-
til we are sure of the mine. There is
something else, as well—"
“This is quite enough for the pres-
ent," she broke in. “I promised to
wait for you until you should come
back—free from your cousin. You have
returned, but yhu tire not free from
her. Is It honorable for you to speak
to me now?"
“How can I help It?” he urged, seek-
ing to melt her with his ardent gaze.
“You are the only woman—the only
one In all the world to me. There Is
not another half as beautiful, a tenth
ns charming 1”
She quivered In response to the deep,
golden notes of his voice, yet held her-
self firm with all the strength of her
resolute will.
“You speak of love,” she rejoined. |
"You say nothing of marriage.”
“How enn I?" he asked In an ag-
grieved tone. “You know that until
we get the mine— But that won’t be
long now. These commissioners are
JumplDg-Jacks In the hands of my Un-
cle. They will bustle matters through
for us—short order. Ouce I—we—get
,, . . ,, ,, . .. „ , the mine, I’ll be a free man, and then,
tbnt he would say Dotting, she replied ! sweetheart_*’
to the offenders with a wit and dig-
nity that sqon altered their bearing
toward her. They were puzzled to find
a garden rose In this rough wilderness,
hut she soon brought them to the reali-
zation thut they were not at liberty
to splash mud on her petnls. The
luncheon completed her conquest.
Vandervyn came to the table with
all the uneasiness gone from his
smile. He took his seat, nnd proceed-
ed to extol Marie’s skill ns a chef.
Olnnn, bearing u tray, came In, and
began to serve luncheon. Though ex-
But the girl drew back from his
pleading arms.
"No," she said. "If I must wait, so
must you. If you menn what you say,
you should be satisfied that I still feel
I may have to wait."
"You mean—what?” he stammered.
She clenched her hnnds convulsively.
"Why did you come first? Why could
I not hnve known him first?"
“I see," he muttered. “It’s that—
thut tin soldier."
“Yes, It Is—that gentleman!” she
tremely shy, she started with a deft-! back. Again the slender finger
ness that showed careful training. na"8 ^ *nt0 ^er palms.
Several moments passed before Van-
dervyn looked up and perceived her.
The surprise was too sharp even for
his assurance. He stopped* short In
his tnlk, and stared at her, discon-
certed.
At sight of his frown the girl
d'opped her tray, now fortunately
empty, nnd with a little, gasping cry
fled from the room. She did not re-
npixtnr. Marie passed off the awk-
ward Incident with n smile and n tact-
ful explanation of Olnna’s excessive
shyness. The Indian boy finished the
servfng.
Vandervyn had delivered Hardy's
messages. They had been received
“Nice fatherly old fogy!" sneered
Vandervyn. "You're far too much alive,
too much of a real woman, to mistake
your feeling toward him for love.
I/ive! that's the word, sweethenrt—
I youth and love and hupplDess! You
and I, sweetheart I"
She blushed nnd trembled. But site
bad spent all the dnys of his absence
In that intimate comradeship with
Hardy. At the moment when Vander-
, vyn thought to tnke her Into his nrms,
' nor will rallied, her eyes hardened
with resolution.
“I have said that I will wait. That
Is enongh. You also shall wait"
Ills eyes narrowed. "Has It never
CHAPTER XVIII.
Pleasant Little 8urprltee.
Too furious to heed what he was
about. Vandervyn struck off up a rug-
ged gulley behind the Dupont house.
An hour passed before he came back
down the mountuin-slde. He was
changing his clothes when Dupont
brought him an Impatient summons
from the office: "Hurry up, Mr. Van.
They want you. Where you been all
this timer
"Went for a stroll," drawled Vander-
vyn, “They can wait." His voice be-
came harsh and Incisive. "I want t*
speak to you about something. You’ve
been letting Marie get in thick with
him."
“Who? You mean Cnpr sparred
Dupont. “You didn’t say you wanted
me to keep ’em from running togeth-
er."
“You should have seen the danger
I take It, she has been alone with him
most of the time.”
“Well, what of lt7" muttered Du-
pont
"What of It?" echoed Vandervyn.
“Don’t you know enough about army
officers to realize that he would never
marry—a quarterbreed?”
Dupont's crafty eyes narrowed. “I'm-
not so all-fired sure of that There's
lots of 'em has married even half-
breeds. I’ve seen ’em."
“Years ago, when the frontier wr»
months away from civilization.”
“Mebbe, and mebbe them breed girls
wasn’t a tenth ns good lookers aw
Marie. She's a lady."
Vandervyn's Up curled. “If you must
have the gaff, Jake—how about your-
self? Do you think an officer son-in-
law would care to have you visiting
him at an army post?"
Dupont scowled. "Well, there ain’t
been no harm done, and you're back
now."
“Quite true. But his attentions have-
put Marie on ber high horse. I wish
you to take a stand against him and
back me up with her."
“You sure can count me In on that,
Mr. Van,” eagerly assented Dupont
“AU right I’ve got him fixed. But
I wanted to mnke sure of your backing.
If he comes to dinner tonight I'll have
a gay little surprise or two up my
sleeve for him."
"I been waiting to ask you about the
mine. Uow're we going to work the
deal?"
"We’ve got to make a show of a
real contest It's to be run on the old-
style rush plan.”
"Suppose one of them there men al
the butte has the best horse?"
Vandervyn thrust out his jaw.
"Don't fnsh yourself. I'm going to
have that mine. This Is my Idea of
the way we'll fix it." He leaned over
and murmured In Dupont's enr.
The trader shook his head. "Um-m!
Tin not saying that mightn't work.
Just the same, though. It'd make you
the only one what could do the enter-
ing. I’d be 0 sooner."
“The mlue would be entered by me,
hut of course we would hnve the un-
derstanding that you were to get your
half,” replied Vandervyn. He stepped
briskly to the door. "Come, I guess
the bunch has had time enough .to cool
their heels."
Still frowning dubiously, Dupont fol-
lowed him over to the office, where
Hardy and the commissioners sat wnlt-
lng for them, stiff and constrained.
alike by Marie and hy the commission- occurred to you that you may be n bit
era without commeuL After luncheon 1 too sure of Ale? The mine may pinch
What sort of conspiracy do
you think that Vandervyn and
theae crooked commissioner*
have formed' against Captain
Hardy? When the Indians find
they have been tricked will they
shed white blood?
'.TO EE CONTINUED.)
Safe Bet
A woman In Pottsvllle, Pn„ laughed
herself to death, but we are willing
to wager that It wasn't over one of
her husband's Jokes.—Detroit Times.
V
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Harding, L. D. Mayes County Republican (Pryor, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 5, 1917, newspaper, July 5, 1917; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc956930/m1/4/: accessed April 16, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.