Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1917 — The Quarterbreed [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Quarterbreed

An Indian Reservation Tale

by ROBERT AMES BENNET

CHAPTER Vl—Continued. Unseen by his superior, Vandervyn nodded encouragingly to Redbear and Smiled at the Indians. Hardy had not turned his steady gate from Ti-owa- : konza. .. J ~ i—“The chief is not angry,” he said. “We shall soon be friends. Tell him that I come in peace, with a good heart toward all the tribe, Ido not blame the killing of Mr. Nogen on the tribe. If white men have done any wrong to the tribe, I shall stop the wrongdoing. If there are any members of the tribe who are doing wrong, the chiefs should help me make all do right,” This time Redbear did not hesitate. He faced the assembly and rolled out * a flood of Lakotah with desperate rapidity. Almost immediately Ti-owa-konza rose to reply, his face ablaze with indignation, his voice impassioned. When he had spoken, he remaine<|, •tending. “He says he is angry,” began Redbear. “No,” brusquely contradicted Hardy. “Look.atshis face. The others are angered.” He Is not. There is some misunderstanding. Be careful that you interpret correctly.” “He says he is angry,” insisted Redbear, his sidelong glance looking past Hardy to Vandervyn, who was nodding reassuringly. ‘He says he is trying to keep it inside, but the others can’t hold it inside. He says you have got to go away or there will be fighting.” Hardy straightened on his chair, and his look became sev.ere. He spoke sharply: “Tell the chief it is useless to ask me to go away. Ido not wish to send for the Longknives. But they will come and fight the tribe if there Is any uprising.” Redbear’s interpretation was followed by a hush more threatening than gestures or outcries. Vandervyn hastily beckoned to the policemen. They came along under the overhang of the warehouse until they were behind the. : white men. Hardy heard the soft scuffle of their moccasined feet in the dust. He looked around and frowned. “How is this?” he demanded. ‘‘l particularly wished no demonstration of force,” said Hardy. “Well, since the police are here, hadn’t you better let them stay? It will be close enough work if matters come to a scrap, and there’s Marie-out to .see the fun.” Hardy turned around to look at the daring girl. She stood on a slight knoll midway between the assembled Indians and her father’s cabin. _—, ' “Take her back to the house,” he ordered. • .v. v;• ~ s —32 “But would it be wise for me to leaver you and Charlie just now?;The police may not stay loyal if—ffifcgL “Go!” ■* The command was peremptory. Vandervyn started off, yet contrived to ex-

as he interpreted: “He—he says there shall be no more barter of ore. He says all over again that this is the land of his tribe, and yehite men have no right here, and he hates all Longknives.” 835® him that he is mistaken. The soldiers have always been the best friends of the Indians. I find that; after next spring, no more food and goods are to be issued to the tribe. Sooner or later, white men will come and take the ore if the Indians do not dig it themselves. Another • thing, I believe the tribe should agree to the dividing up of their land, so that each head of a family can have his own farm and work It after the manner of the white men. Other tribes have done this, and they are no longer poor.” Redbear hesitated, stepped more aside from Hardy, and began to pour out a torrent Qf Lakotah. He had spoiken only a few sentences when a wave of agitation passed over the semicircle of Indians. Blankets slipped down from copper-red shoulders; fierce eyes glared menacingly at Hardy. Several of the more excitable bucks leaped up with bow and rifle in hand. Hardy thrust out from among the police and raised his hands to Ti-owa-konza in the peace sign. The head chief called to his fellows and turned his back upon the agent with deliberate contempt. All the others faced about and followed him to the waiting ponies. The band mounted and rode off up the valley in morose silence. CHAPTER VII. The Common Law. There was still more than a trace of red in Hardy’s sallow cheeks when Marie, Vandervyn and Dupont came in upon him at the office. Dupont held out a congratulatory hand. “By gar, Cap,” he said, “you sure had a mighty close squeak of it that time. Guess old Ti got all-fired hot. Where’s Charlie?” : J J “Redbear?_ I sent him to reassfure his sister and the families of the police.” “That was very thoughtful of you, captain,” said Marie. “But it would be far more considerate if you would leave the reservation,” added Vandervyn. “How so?” queried Hardy. “Of course, you’ll flincy I am thinking of my promotion. But it’s not that at all. Ask Jake.” “I got it from the p’leece,” said Dupont. “The whole bunch was crazy to shoot you | they’d done it, too, only Charlie sings out to ’em that Mr. Van was going to be agent, and you’d go away.” “He said that?»“Oh, captain, don’t be angry at Charlie," interceded Marie. “He had to do it to save a fight” •, “But why? I could not have been more friendly. Yet everything Lsaid seemed to anger them.” j*“l told you they’re a ornery bunch,” replied Dupont - “It was for because BSti being an officer. The chiefs hate Hp/joldlers-llke pizen., Most of the Wa Ones was in the ghost-dance craze, jailed by the soldiers.” “They may cool down and be willing to listento reason,” arguectMardy. “Cool down? They’ll go back and sit and stew and stew till hell bolls over. Next thing happens, they’ll stir up the young bucks. Nom d’un chien! Just when I was gittlng enough’■ahead in my business to take care of myold age and give Marie a chance to be a lady—to stand to lose everything and her and my scalp to boot 1” “You are free to leave here with her whenever you wish.” “No, I ain’t. I can't leave my store —all my property.” “There would be no danger if it were not for you,” said Marie, her eyes flashing wttb indignation. “If only you had not come her® I if there is an outbreak, it will be all your fault!” “Miner “Oh, I know you mean welL But If they’ve taken this violent dislike to you— Why ever did you come? You saw how they like Mr. Van. Had they thought you would insist on staying, nothing could have kept them from attacking you. But the promise that Mr. Van is to be their agent, that pacified them. Had you never come here, all this would not have happened. The chiefs, would have come to talk with Mr. Van, and would have gone back satisfied.” Hardy swung around in his chair to scrutinize the guileless face of Vandervyn. “What do you say to that, sir?” he interrogated. ~ “What can I aay?” replied Vandar*

change glances with Red bear. Hardy studied the semicircle of -waiting Indians with a resolute gaze, and, as before, fixed his attention upon Ti-owa-skonza. .y. i "We must learn what is the cause -of this ill feeling,” be remarked to the hatfbreed. “Ask them why they are opposed to their young men trading ore for Dupont’s goods.” Redbear spoke slowly to the Indians, tils menwer not unlike that of a man who approaches a barrel of gunpowder with a lighted torch. There was no explosion, but the old head chief flared wftfc unmistakable anger. He repUed with a fiery declamation that won grants of approval from his fellows. ~P The halfbreed's yolce was unsteady

vyn, twisting the tip of his blond mustache. “It is for you to decide to leave for the good of the tribe, or to stay and take the chanee of an uprising.” “The way you put it—” considered Hardy. “Perhaps It might be better for all concerned if I should leave.” "You bet it would, Cap,” eagerly broke in Dupont. “’Tain’t no joke. Them ornery cusses ’ll git you like they done with Nogen, just as sure as shooting.” Vandervyn shot a furious glance at the blunderer. Marie was looking at Hardy. But she did not need to see the tightening of his lips to realize what her father had done. “Oh, Pere!” she reproached. “Why did you say It? , You should have known Captain Hardy could not leave after that.” •. • “Quite right, MisS Dupont,” said Hardy. “You mean, you won’t leave?” asked Dupont. “How can he?” Vandervyn smoothly cut in. “You’ve put it up to him that it would be deserting his post under fire. He’s an army officer —he wouldn’t leave now even if he knew his staying here meant certain massacre for us all, followed by certain massacre of the tribe by the troops.” “I will remain until I have made at least one more effort to pacify the tribe,” replied Hardy. “Youareat liberty to resign whenever you please. Mr. Dupont has ample time to remove his goods and his daughter from the reservation.” “Not me,” declared Marie; “I don’t care what Pere and Reggie say; I know there is not one of the tribe who would harm me, even in an outbreak.” “Well, mebbe not,” admitted her father. “I gather that I am the only person who seems to be endangered,” remarked Hardy. “This being so, I will wait a few days for the excitement to subside, and will then call another council.” “They won’t come a£in to meet you,” predicted Dupont. “Then I shall go to them.” “Into the mountains, captain?” exclaimed Marie, her splendid eyes widening with concern. “Surely you will not venture among the camps.” “The tribe must learn that I mean friendship.” ' ' • Dupont paused to scratch the side of his head. But Vandervyn spoke without an instant’s hesitancy: “You have no right to throw your life away uselessly, captain. Suppose Charlie and I make a trip to the camps, to see if we cannot quiet the tribe and talk the chiefs into giving you another hearing? If you have no objection, we could tell them that you cannot leave just now, but that you will do so as soon as you have tried to benefit them,” “And that Mr. Van’ll be next agent,” added Dupont. “Will you tell them that I am here to help them and to be their friend?” queried Hardy. “Trust me to put it to them strong, captain,” assured Vandervyn. “I know you’ll play fair by resigning in my favor as soon as you have the tribe in hand.” “After I have done what I can do to Improve conditions among them,” qualified Hardy. “I do so hope Mr. Van can persuade them to be friendly with you,” sdid Marie. “I know he and Charlie will be perfectly safe; But it wiil ; be hard to talk them out *of their strange dislike to you. When jvill you start, Regigie?” ' “Early tomorrow morning, if the captain has no objections.” “The sooner the better,” agreed Hardy. ‘ “I’ll g$ Bttd remove my council costume,” said Vandervyn, smiling at his Irreproachable frock coat. • Marie and her father rose with him. Hardy bowed out the girl and returned to his desk. He was deep in the midst oYa-report on the tribe when, half an •hour later, Vandervyn returned to the office ini hTs ridlng togs. “Charlie may not come back this afternoon,” he remarked. “I thought I might ride down and tell him about the trip. I could fetch your mare for you.” “Very well. I shall be obliged,” replied Hardy, and he returned to his study of the report Vandervyn rode down along the far side of the stream, keeping the thickets as much as possible between himself and the Dupont house. He did not recross the creek until he was opposlte Redbear’s home. He found the cabin door closed. Rut at a slight movement of the Window curtains his hand went up to beckon with a lordly

gesture. There was a short pause. Then the door opened a scant inch, t “Hello I”! he said. “Where’s your brother?" “He qas—has gone to tell the police families.” _ : “On the agent’s mare,” guessed Vandervyn. ‘ ' . > "Please—he didn’t mean any harm—please tell on him.” /‘That depends,” replied Vandervyn. "Do you think I care te favor him when you act as if you hate me?” “Hate? No, no!” The door opened several inches and as suddenly to a narrow crack. Put Vandervyn had caught a glimpse of the girl’s blushing face. His voice dropped to a caressing tone: “You’re not afraid of me," are you, just because I wanted a kiss? Come out here and talk. I won’t bite you.” “You promise not to —to kiss me?” “Not unless you wish me to.” - * “But—but I do!” came back the naive confession. Impulsively he started to swing off his pony. The cabin door shut with a bang. He straightened in the saddle,. waited a long moment, frowned Ily, and started to ride aw&y. From the window came €T plaintive cry: “Oh, please, please!”* He deliberately dismounted, flung the reins over his horse’s head, and walked to the opened window. Tlje eager, frightened face within blushed scarlet and shrank back. He stopped short “See here,” he admonished, “if you’re going to be silly, I shall go away for

good. You’ve got the door barred, and you know I shall not try to crawl in at a hole like thin” “I —I won’t be,” she faltered. “That’s better,” he said, and he reached in to slip his arm around her trembling shoulders. Shrinking yet yielding, with eyes timidly and olive cheeks burning with blissful shame, the young girl allowed him to draw her closer. Her lips quivered, yet she raised them to meet his kiss. “There!” he rallied. "Was it so dreadful?” f ' She didnotansrwer; she could not. Her head drooped forward with the instinctive modesty of an innocent young girl. .He put the forefinger of his free hand under her chin and raised her head to take a second kiss. ' “One good turn deserves another, sweetheart,”' he said. “You should not—not call me that,” she whispered. “You are a gentleman white man; I am only a halfbreed — -Fm yellow as aOlilnamam 1 *- - “No —golden. You are my golden girl. Your cheeks are wild roses anil honey gold. Your eyes are like a fawn’s; your lips- sweet as honey— Another kiss — There, that’s more like it. You’re learning how. Now look at me.” She raised her droopipg lids with the sudden, desperate courage of one who is very shy, and gazed up at him, her tender eyes starlike with the soft glow of her love and adoration. “You—you really like me?” she whispered. “No, I hate you like poor Lo hates firewater. Give him a taste, and he wants it all. I want you/* ">. • -j “Charlie —he said I must marry a whiteman. lam joyed in njy heart— You say you want me! But lam only a halfbreed girl, and you—- “ You’re my honey-sweet gitfle. Go and open the door.” ===== : She looked up at him again full and direct, and his gaze sank before the trust In her clear eyes. “You want me to be your engaged girl!” she murmured. “When people are engaged, they are going to be married. Charlie said I must marry a white man, a good white man. "You" are kind to me. It is wonderful. I have read that even army officers have married halfbreed girls. But you are grander than any officer, and you are very good to think of marrying me.” Vandprvyn forced a smile, and replied to her adulation without meeting her enraptured gaze: “What else did you think I meant when I kissed you? Of course we shall be - married* . As weare here on the reservation, it will be according to the custom of the tribe.” 's< “Married? Oh, my heart sings 1" cried the girl. “I will be your wife — yours 1 I can’t beU£y§ ( it— There comes Charlie. I must run and tell him.” Vandervyn hastily" released her, and drew his arm out of the window as he looked around. “Wait I” he commanded. “He’s coming fast enough. Leave the door barred.” The halfbreed wak racing Hardy’s mare up the creek bank at a furious

gallop. He flung himself out es the | saddle and advanced upon Vandervyn, hi 4 face dark with suspicion. “What you saying to my sister?” he demanded. The white man met his threatening look with a half-contemptuous, halfamused smile. ‘T’ve been showing the girl what I think of her,” he replied. Redbear came to a sudden halt. The muscles of his iface began to twitch. “Oh, Charlie 1” reproached Olnna. “Wbat makes you look at him that way? Why don’t ybu thank him?” She unbarred the door and stepped outside, “For what?” questioned her brother in a harsh, j_traln«sd voice. be is going to be my ipan—going to take me for his wife.” “Marry you? Olnna —you?” The halfbreed could not believe bis ears. Throqgh his daze shot a flash of angry suspicion. “But you—you won’t marry her!”

Vandervyn smiled in his careless manner. ' * v ' “Oh. 1 anew* ve*-” - “You’ll marry her? You’ll take her to town and marry her like white people?” “I’ll marry her as some white people marry. I’ll not take her to town. Oinna and I have agreed to be married according to tribal custom.” Again Redbear’s weak face darkened with suspicion and anger. “1 won’t have it. You’re white, and Oinna is half white. White people don’t marry Indian fashion,” “You know a lot about it, Charlie. Haven’t you ever heard of common-law marriages? Lots of white people get married that way.” “What way?” “You must know about it. Instead of going to a lot of fuss and bother over ministers and licenses, many people just take each other for husband and wife and go to housekeeping.” . 7. “Is—is-jthat a real white people’s marriage?’ asked Oinna. Vandervyn frowned. “You don’t think I’m lying, do you? Why, you often see in the newspapers about com-mon-law wives getting their share of their dead husbands’ estates, just the same as if they had gone through all the fuss of weddings. Ask Hardy If that does not often happen.” “Well, if it’s a real marriage—” muttered Redbear.

"Of course it Is, Charlie, if he says so!” cried Oinna rapturously. - Her brother’s face glowed with sudden unconcealed exultance. He stammered almost incoherently: “Then you—Marie—you don’t marry—don’t marry Marie.” “No,” replied Vandervyn, and his. voice rang clear. “I have no intention of marrying her.” “Maybe Marle’ll like me now, when I tell her you are going to be my brother,” sighed Redbear. Vandervym laid a brotherly hand on his shoulder. “Hold on, boy 1” he said. “You let me manage things. You' know that Marie thinks she likes me. But now Hardy is here, and he wants her. If she hears that I have thrown her over, she will run off with him.” “She don’t like him.” “ What if she doesn’t ! He’s an army officer. He has money, and when he goes from here he will wear his uniform, all gilt and spangles. You kmjjv how the girls like that No—l tell you there’s not the ghost of a show for you until he Is out of the way. Our little bluff didn’t work. He says he Is going to stay. So for a while you and Oinna must keep still about the marriage. Tomorrow morning you and I are golng lnto the-nuwntatnsto-talk with the chiefs. Oinna will go with me. But it must be understood at the agency that you have sent her to — Who could you send her to?’ “Ti-owa-konza is our mother’s father. Not even Mr. Dupont knows that,” said Redbear. “Before he came here. she ran off with a bad white man. They went to the Blackfeet. After a time he got an arrow through his back. My mother came home. Ti-owa-konza would not see her face. She had to work for the agent tiH they made us go away to school. Then she died.” “Old Thunderbolt your grandfather?” remarked Vandervyn, seizing upon that one fact in the squalid tragedy. “Does he know it?” “I told him so today. He said my sac But maybe he will come to like ftie. He said to bring Oinua for him to look at her.” “That’s great I We’ll tell it to everybody. But remember, not a word about the marriage until after we get rid of Hardy and I am agent. Then things will go all right for all of us. You savvy that, Charlie? While you rub down the mare I’ll go in and say goodby • until tomorrow morning.” CHAPTER VIII. - 7 Best-Laid Bchemes. 7. Hardy had gone to the Duponts’ for supper when Vandervyn returned to the agency. He made a hasty toilet and followed. Marie met him with marked coldness. This, however, melted before he bad finished his report to Hardy.- All agreed that the old chief probably would take a fancy to Oinna, and that, as a result, there'would be a fair chance of pacifying the tribe. When Hardy turned to tbe girl, he found her and Vandervyn exchanging glances and murmuring remarks. His habitual gravity, softened to a smile of wistful sadness. At the first opportunity be excused himself, had passed before the light In the little citified parlor of the Dupont house was extinguished. 7 „ When, at sunrise, Hardy went for breakfast Marie’s eyes were very bright and her look was pensive. She ate little, and her manner toward Hardy was cold and ungracious*

| After the officer left, Dupont squhS* ed across the table at her and. begat to scratch his head. , “You and Mr. Vun burned a lot *f coal oil last night. He didn’t git fir enough along to ask you to hitch jp with him, did he?” ' A red blush flamed in the gil ■ cheeks. Without looking up, she ifiuv inured a regretful “No.” ‘Guess he figures he’ll wait and see 1/ Hardy is going to bust us up. like as not he’ll skip back east if Hirdy gits sore and chokes off our hol| on the mine.” > I . "What do you mean? He’d Jena Reggie away. The stiff, solemt old fogy—l hUte hftn!” “Easy, easy, girl I” soothed DgJont* “No use plunging when you’re htched to the snubbing post. Just noi he’s got us roped. He’ll have us aJ hogtied if we go to buckings We”e got to make him think we’re gentle*.” “What If we act toward himjas we fdel?” j „ “You don’t savvy about that mine. Me and Nogen discovered it aid paid honest for developing it, as yoj know. Well, we let Mr. Van in on it Then Nogen up and gits killed. Tbs makes it half and half between me *nd Mr. Van, according to all that’s lair and square. But do you believe Hirdy will look at it that way? Not by a—considerable. He’ll talk about it leing the tribe’s, just because it’s on fie reservation.” 77S I “I see!” The girl’s eyes flibed, and her nostrils dilated. “He wfl rob yon and Reggie of a fortune —yej you wish me to be nice to him!” j “You bet I do! Can’t you git the point? He ain’t going to je bluffed into quitting. That means jve got to .jnake friends with him ot lose the mine.” “Ob! So that is it?’ "Yep. Worst of it is lie’s one of -them —there —fellows- what stand - so straight they lean backwards. We talked to him about how it would help the tribe if he joined us In opening the mine. He was mighty offish. Guess we’ll have to give him No4en’s|K[yd to get him into our camp.” “What a shame! The mine Is yours and Reggie’s. He hasn’t done a thing toward developing it.” t r “I know. But he’s the agent. He’s got us roped. He can rob us of our mine if we don’t make! friends with him. Now do you savvy?” The girl’s thick black eyebrqws met in- a frown of vexation. “If he is a man whose friendship, must be bought. I do not wish to be pleasant to him.’” “It’s business, Marie. There ain’t no two ways about It. Mr. Van’s hanging fire, a-waitlng to see if we lose the mine. If we do, hs can’t afford to marry nn poor girl off a “Very well. W shall make myself agreeable to Cainnln Hardy. But wait until I am free to pay him out for it!” “Nom d’un chien!” muttered Dupont at sight of her itraightened lips. “That’s the Injun la you. Don’t let him see you-look tlat way till after we git the mine cinthed.” “I am not a fool, non pere." Dupont shook his grizzled head dubiously. „ But at midday, when" Hardy came over for the noon dinner, Marie received his courteous greeting with a graciousness that soon lightened the pensive severity of his look. Before the end of the meal they were chatting in a manner that brought a twinkle into Dupont’s cunning eyes. The girl proposed a ride up the valley. Hardy was greatly pleased. He had already grasped the simple details of the agency business, and now, pending the absence of Vandervyn and Red--bearrliad nothlng to-ffir the police in his ideas of cleanliness and discipline. ' Marie never looked more charming than when on a horse. She took her new friend for a long ride around one of the mountains. Every cliff and rock and piney slope was familiar to

her. She pointed out all the grandest and most beautiful views, and showed heraelfevea betterversed tn the lore of the wild than she had seemed to he posted on the culture and graces of polite Bodety. After that there was no break in her friendly manner toward the captain for several days. Frequently they took other rides, over or around the nearest hills and.mountains.

The three preceding Installment* described the rescue of a quarterbreed girl and two men from an Indian attack at the edge of Lakotah Indian reservation by Capt. Floyd Hardy, U. 8. A., the new Indian agent. The rescued ones are Reginald Vandervyn nephew of United Stites Senator Clemmer and agency clerk, Jacques Dupont, post trader, and his daughter. Marie. Vandervyn tells Hardy of disaffection among tKe Indians, of the murder of Nogen, the last agent, and of his having been promised the agency. Hardy calls a council of head tribesmen. Redbear, the halfbreed Interpreter, brings his pretty sister, Oiima, to the valley. The new agent learns that the Indians have been cheated and has reason to suspect Dupont and Vandervyn of crookedness. He plans to square matters with the tribesmen. How Captain Hardy is thwarted In his purpose, how his life Is endangered, how Vandervyn shows his true character, Is told In very absorbing style In this Installment.

Do you believe that Vandervyn’e deceitful nets with little Oinna will be punished by xfcre Indian*—-or do you think she Will escape harm at hie hands? , • —• . . * IXO SB CONTINUED^

Ti-owa-Konza Rose to Reply, His Face Ablaze With Indignation.

“It Will Be Hard to Talk Them Out of Their Strange Dislike for You.”

"I s-Is That a Real White People's "Marriage?" Acked Oinna.