Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1917 — The Quacterbceed [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Quacterbceed

By ROBERT AMES BENNET

COFVHIOHT '« BT BROWNE 6 HOWELL CO. (J

CHAPTER XXIV—- ., ■ y _■■■ 7T — He, in turn, was sb Inteht upon maneuvering to have himself spoken to by that most genial of hosts, the president, that he failed to see Marie until she spoke to him. The first sight of her bewildered Idm, and his bow did not altogether hide the effects of the delicious shock given him by her dazzling beauty. But he quickly recovered his e self-possession when he saw that she was with Vandervyn. That young man, though more boyishly handsome than ever, bore himself with rather a sullen air. He met Hardy’s clear gaze with a forced smile. The smile bqcame still more forced when t|ie girl transferred her ’ hand ’ “Only a very few minutes,” she soothed the disappointed lover.

“Whatever you say!” he deferred to her caprice, and he drew back to speak to a sharp-eyed man hear the president. Hardy* was gazing int® the wonderful blue-black eyes of his companion. They'were as inscrutable, as when he had last Jpoked into their depths. He tried to speak calffily, but his voice shook. • “Do you know that you are by far the most beautiful woman here?” Her long lashes drooped and rose again to disclose the same inscrutable look. “So I have Been told several times already—-I wished a few moments with you, that I might thank you for your generosity. It has given me the great opportunity of my trip abroad and this visit in Washingtoff.” “I am saving all the reports of your social triumphs,” he said. “They have Tnade me very happy.” Again the girl’s lashes drooped. “That is good of yoff— It is quite necessary for me to become the rage—if I am to force a recognition from Reggie’s relatives. He says that, fortunately, his fiancee has become interested in another man who is quite as eligible as himself." Hardy’s eyes contracted? yet he did not falter: “Since it will bring you happiness, I —wish him —good fortune.” “You do?” The question was almost an exclamation. But the girl at once, regained* her quiet composure. “I do not understand. If you wish him good fortune, why then do yoT seek to prevent him from receiving his compensation as attorney for the tribe?” “I said good fortune,” replied Hardy. “Any money paid him on that contract would be tainted.” , "" , Marie arched her black eyebrows. “Is it not true that he will get through a much larger appropriation than otherwise would iu\ve been made?" “The lands are fully worth the amount agreed upon,” stated Hardy. “The tribe should receive all the appropriation. Honest lobbying would carry the bill through at a cost of a few hundred dollars. These supposed friends of the tribe want millions." “Do you wish to deprive me of the share that I would receive through him?” \ “Yes—of every dishonest dollar,” said Hardy, his mouth stern, though his eyes besought her to forgive his harshness. “You have enough already.” “Are you certain?” she rejoined. “You may have heard that mines often pinch out or run into valueless ore — You can guess why Pere and I have

told no one, least of all Reggie.” Hardy remained unishaken. “If he is, worthy of you, that will make no difference to him.” “But myself? lam already used to luxury,” pleaded the girl. “Down in your heart you know thfe values in life that are real,” he said. “You do not wish for wealth gained through fraud.” “I have not admitted that there Is any fraud in the contract.” •‘Perhaps.it is as well,” he remarked. “You should not doubt your future husband.” She flashed him .an odd, quizzical, look. “No, I cannot doubt my future husband now, Captain Hardy. I must believe in him if I am to be happy, must I not?” “Yes,” agreed Hardy. She tittered a gay little trill of laughter. “That is so good of you to say It. Captain It makes me feel that I really must do something for you in return. May -I not offer you a little loan of, say, three or four thousand dollars? I understand that, for some Strange reason —or unreason— you have refused your pay as captain.” “My resignation, has not been withdrawn, and I am engaged in a private enterprise. I cannot draw pay as an officer in the service,” explained Hardy. “Few would be so quixotic,” she argued. “Most would make the excuse that an attempt to frustrate what they considered a k’rong to others is not to be considered a private enterprise.” ”1 must beg to differ with you, Miss Dupont.”. “Then let It pass. But the little loan?” ,

r _ “Very good of you to offer. However, I believe I have enough left to last me .through. And in any event, I could not impose on your generosity. The money would be used against him —which, you see, would hardly do.” “Then you refuse any loan?” “It was most kind-of you to make the offer.” x “Dori Quixote de la Mancha I” she murmured. “tilting at machine windmills 1" he replied. Though there,was no trace bfffiitterness or satire in hiS wit, her chin lifted to the, angle of offended pride. "That is sufficient, Captain Hardy. May I ask you to take me back to him?” Vandervyn was waiting forhernear the president. As they approached him, She gave Hardy a look of halfrelentment. “You must understand, Captain, that I must do as my heart dictates, though I confess that lobbying is far from agreeable to me. I have already met his excellency, and he has been so kind as to promise me a hearing.”

“I cannot wish you success,” he re* plied. She gave him a quizzical glance and turned away with Vandervyn. Standing in** the eager, jostling crowd that waited for a word or even a nod from the president, he fully appreciated the ease with which, in the midst of so great a crush, she managed to obtain several moments’ conversation apart with the nation’s chief magistrate. She was still beside the president when the sharp-eyed man to whom Vandervyn had spoken came around beside Hardy and murmured a few words in his ear. Hardy looked him in the eye, bowed, and quietly started to move away. The man followed him until he had left the White House.

CHAPTERXXV. Condemned. The court-martial began its session at nine in the morning, and the trial of Hardy was over before threein the afternoon. Vandervyn testified to the suppression by the accused of the existence of the developed mine and of Redbear’s misconduct. Hardy’s 'statements in explanation of his actions , were as brief as were cold and dry. Acting as a civil officer, he I\ad considered the question of withholding any mention of the mine as a matter within his discretion. When interrogated whether he had not taken advantage pf this suppression to enter the contest and win the mine for himself, his bald admission of the fact, unaccompanied by any explanation of his motives, was received by his officer judges with marked gravity. The other charges were far more serious, and, he opposed them with vigor. He denied emphatically any intention to desert or to remain permanently absent from his proper duties without leave, and showed the tele-

gram from a high official in the war department that led him to believe his resignation and application for leave of absence would be at once favorably acted upon by his commanding officer at Vancouver barracks. This, in some circumstances, might have been considered sufficient excuse for his conduct. But his refusal to explain his reason for taking advantage of his secret -knowledge of the mine perceptibly influenced the members of the court to the statement of his purpose in coming to Washington. fc Though the court-martial adjourned without rendering its findings, he left the courtroom ten years older in appearance than when he entered. The regretful, commiserating, glance of the most friendly of ids judges seemed -plainly to indicate what would be the findings. The thought of voliffitarily resigning from the service had been hard. To be cashiered was almost unendurable. • Yet he walked out with his back straight and bls head well up. He went directly to the White House and sent in a written application for an

Interview with the president. It was refused. He went to his lodgings and spent the remainder of the day and half the nlghi drafting and redrafting a -concise statement of his argument against Vandervyn’s contract. This he addressed to the president and for mailing. Hte wrote nothing with regard to his oio case. When, near morning, he at last fell asleep, he was so near exhaustion, that he did not waken until late. The hour set for the reconvening of the courtmartial had already come. He. sprang into his uniform with a celerity that might have Reminded a fellow officer of reveille in cadet barracks at West

The worn soles of his highly polished shoes beat a tattoo on the carpetless old stairs by which he descended to the street. He did not turn to go in for a belated breakfast at the meager table of his landlady. He hastened along the few feet of narrow hall to the street door. As he drew it open, anomer man in uniform stepped into the doorway and confronted him. The other officer saluted. Hardy responded mechanically. For all his cool look, he was astonished. The man before him was the president’s military aide. “Captain Floyd Hardy?” “At your service.” upon this court-martial,” stated the aide with cold severity. “I shall explain to the court,” replied Hardy. “If not delayed, I shall be only a few—” “You will come with me,” interrupted the aide, still more severely. “Your conduct has been brought to the attention of the president. It is to be seen, sir, whether you will continue to refuse to answer the inquiries of your superiors.” Hardy went white, but his jaw set firm with grim resolution. He stepped out beside the aide, and crossed the sidewalk to the waiting motor. As they were whirled away over the sleety •asphalt, the aide sat with more than military stiffness, his head and body half averted from his companion as if to avoid contamination. Hardy sat as stiffly at the other extreme, of the seat'

The ride was short. The car made a gudden turn, and curved around to the executive offices of the president. Hardy looked at his companion, ‘pterplexed. The face of the aide showed only the stern watchfulness of one who has a reputedly dangerous prisoner under arrest. At the entrance he stepped behind, as if apprehensive that Hardy might attempt to escape. A doorkeeper conducted them along a corridor into a small waiting room. He passed into the room beyond, but reappeared in a few. moments and signed to Jlardy to enter. Hardy stepped into the room, and the door was closed behind him. The aide and the doorkeeper had remained outside. Hardy looked around with a frown of perplexity. Across the room a man sat writing at a businesslike desk. There was no one else present. The man turned in his swivel chair and* abruptly made a beckonirffe gesture. Hardy’s band went up in salute as he stepped forward. He was in the presence of the commander in chief of the army and navy. The president looked him up and down with a severe glance. “You are Captain Floyd Hardy?”

“Yes, sir.” * “The satnq who suppressed the late insurrection fix the Sulus?” “I happened to be in command at the time, sir." ■ “’After that ypu obtained a detail, your .conduct in" discharge of which has resulted in your trial by courtmartial on serious charges. I have before me the findings of the court. The circumstances are exceptional. Because of your record and of 'certain statements that have been presented to me, I have been persuaded to give you an opportunity to explain your conduct.” Hardy saluted. “Permit me, sir, to first present for your consideration a matter relating to the interests of the tribe which —”

“Stop I” ordered the president. “Others are waiting for interviews. I can give you only ten. minutes. If you expend them on this other matter, you will have no further opportunity to State your own case.” = “The evidence before the court-mar-tial covered the facts, sir. If those facts sustain the charges against me, then I am guilty, and desire no clemency. That is all I have to say on my own case, sir. With regard to the matter which I desire to present—” “Sit down!” ordered the president. “You have nine minutes. Be brief." Hafayseatednhfmself and proceeded to present bls argument against the Vandervyn contract. He spoke deliberately, but with a conciseness that covered'what .he had to say fully and clearly, in words as forceful as they were few. The president listened attentively, but with no change in his expression. At the end of eight mlnuten Hardy stopped. f The president showed a trace of surprise. “Is that all you have to say? There Is still a minute.” “That Is all, sir,” replied Hardy, rising, 1 7 ? 77-7^" 77 . -77777 ' 7 The. president touched a call button, but raised his finger. “One moment. What if I should confront you with witnesses?" . ./ “As I havestated, sir, my only request is that all the witnesses in* the case be examined.” “There are some already at hand. You shall see what they have to say about your charges." The aide appeared and Immediately' went out again at a sign from the president. He returned with Vander-

.* .. ■' ,• ■ ," 4 ■ r ■ -i vyn and Marie. At sight of Hardy the young man stopped short, but, meeting the president’s cordial smile,, came forward with easy assurance. Marie did not look at Hardy, as she followed. j • ’ ■ | | The president addressed Vandervyn: “Captain Hardy has declined to ask for clemency. I have decided to sustain the findings of the court-martial. In the face of all this, he has’halfihe temerity to make a charge of fraud against your Indian contract.” Vandervyn nodded: “Captain Hardy is too skilled a strategist not to realize that the best way to shield himself is to raise the cry of ‘stop thief!’ against others.. Does he allege that the signatures to my contract are forged?” “The signatures are genuine. They were obtained by fraud," bluntly Charged Hardy. „ “My word is as good or perhaps somewhat better than that of a cashiered officer,” rejoined Vandervyn. “You deny the charge,” the president stated rather than inquired. “Most emphatically,” pleasantly agreed Vandervyn. He looked significantly from Hardy to Marie. "As a sol-

diet —until recently—the gallant captain probably believes in the saying that all is fair in war and love.” Marie lowered her eyes. The president looked thoughtful. “Of course, Mr. Vandervyn, there can be >o question, when it is a matter of your word against his. Yet were there any other witnesses than yourselves and the Indians?” “Your excellency evidently has not seen the contract,” said Vandervyn. “It is duly witnessed by Charlie Redbear, the official interpreter, and by his sister.” “Ah, the interpreter, you say? This ISatier may be rumored in the house and even in the senate. It willbe «Well for you to send for theman.” Vandervyn shrugged. “Can’t do ii, even to oblige you, Mr. President. The fellow has gone to the place where cold storage is unknown. My uncle told you about the affair. The fellow was drunk; he aimed his ‘gun’ at me. I supposed it loaded, and shot him in self-defense. Hardy was present. He can’t deny what I say, without forswearing himself.” Hardy met the president’s look of inquiry, and bowed in confirmation of the statement. The president again looked thoughtful. “That leaves the man’s sister as the only witness to the contract. It would be well if she could be produced.” The aide left the room. Vandervyn again shrugged. “Search, has been made for her, Mr. President. All that could be learned from her Indian relatives was that she had been very sick and had gone away. Of that meant to the happy hunting grounds. There was no other place that she could have gone.” The aide returned to the room leading a tall youhg woman who was dressed in a Parisian tailored suit that Vandervyn had last seen on Marie. She was gloved and heavily veiled, and she entered the room with perceptible timidity. Marie went to take her arm in a reassuring clasp and

raise the veil. At no time slhce their coming to Washington had Vandervyn been given so much as a glimpse of Miss Dupont’s, reputed Hindu maid. This undoubtedly was the woman, and he looked at her with sharp curiosity as Marie raised the veil. Marie stepped aside and gave him a fuU view of the girl’s face. “Oinna!” he exclaimed. “Yes. Is it not a happy surprise?” said Sftrie. - ~ She smiled -at the shrinking girl, and drew her about to the president. “My dear, this Is the great White Father of all Indians and : of our tribe- — he is our father —your excellency, this is Mrs. Reginald Vandervyn.” The blow was given with merciless force. As Vandervyn gaped aj Marie, her eyes* flamed with a sudden upleaping of fierce exulymce. He gasped and choked out: “You—you!—All these months —this —you?— Indian!”

“Yes, Indian—to you, even as she was Indian to you!” cried the girl, “Yoh have been so eage/to marry a 'breed girl—here is one, already your wife!” “It’s a He —a black He!” denied Vandervyn. “I never married her!” “You took her by tribal custom, and you told her that you were taking her legally according to the common law.” “She cannot prove I lived with her openly as her husband,” rejoined Vandervyn. The president looked at the shrinking oinna with kindly gravity. “Do

you wish him to acknowledge you as his wife?” “No, no, sir!” she disclaimed. *T don’t want him any mofe.” “I am pleased to hear you say that,” replied the president. He turned to Vandervyn. “I understand this witness Is prepared to testify yiat the signatures to your contract were obtained on the false representation that it was a second copy of the minutes of the tribal council.” “It’s a lie!” hoarsely replied the young man. “Hardy knows nothing about it. There’s only her word against mine.” - “We can send for the Indian witnesses, if necessary. Another matter —at the Inquest you testified under oath that a certain Indian killed Agent Nogen, and that you and Redbear then killed the murderer. When you shot Redbear, you rode off, certain that he was dead. He lived enough to confess himself the murderer of Agent Nogen. Why did you perjure yourself at the inquest?” “You can’t prove it,” defiantly challenged Vandervyn. “I stand by my testimony. This squaw and Hardy have hatched up the lie between them. Even if Redbear made such a confession, it is only hearsay and not legal evidence.” “Your friend Redbear seems to have enjoyed shooting at agents,” remarked the president. “He also confessed to having made the two attempts on the life of Captain Hardy. In view of your perjured testimony at the Nogen inquest, one is led to infer a not improbable connection between those•attempts and your enmity to Captain Hardy. But the point at present is whether you still insist upon the validity of your contract. Do you wish an official Investigation that will take the evidence of the Indian witnesses?”

d a cold sweat was gathering on Yandervyn’s forehead. He looked at Marte. She turned from him, afraid that he might misconstrue the womanly softness 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, handsome, w’ell educated, good social standing—yet all wasted! Courage —misdirected; no sense of shame ; unmoral, rather than immoral. He will ride hard to still harder falls than this one, or else to what the world calls success. But lam too busy a man to moralize. If you will pardon me, ladies, there is to be a cabinet meeting.” ’ He bowed to them, and then confronted Hardy. ’“Sir, I warned you that if you did not speak in your own defense, you would have no other opportunity. I shall not reverse my approval of the findings of the courtmartial.” 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. If her scornful casting off of Vandervyn had roused any hopes for himself, they must have been dashed when she led Oinna away without favoring him with'so much as a glance of recognition. There was a slight stoop in his shoulders as he saluted the president. “If the sentence approved by, your excellency does not make association with me scandalous,” he said, “I beg leave to express my thanks for the intimation 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 if on dress parade.

“CHAPTER XXVI. - The Sentence. In the anteroom the doorkeeper waved Hardy to a door on the right. It led him into a stenographers’ room. He saw the flounce of a woman’s skirt behind a revolving bookcase near the far ynd of the room, and paused. Someone stepped into the room after him, and touched him authoritatively on the shoulder. r . / “One moment, Captain Hardys—your sentence.” He turned and faced the president’s aide with the clear, unflinching gaze of a brave man about to be shot. The aide saluted with punctilious formality. Hardy responded with equal formali|y. The aide presented, an official document, saluted, and withdrew from the room. For a long moment Hardy stood with the decree of his fate slowly crumpling in bls hand. His eyes were fixed on vacancy. Doubtless he was seeing the years of soldierly comradeship and duty that now lay iu the past and the vision of the career ip which he was to have given the utmost of his powers. He hqd always loved his profession—and now* — The woman whose skirt he bad seen vas in front of h'tn before he became aware of her presence. He found himself looking into the cool, half-mocking face of Marie. t x, “Are you afraid to read your sentence?” she taunted. “Had it not been, for you, he would have had the mine and a million from his contract and me. The president conferred with Senator Clemmer an hour ago. The treaty appropriation bill will be passed with a clause that no' commission is to be paid for the services of any tribal agent or representative. He has lost everything. And now—l am waiting to .see you read War Hardy drew himself up, opened the envelope, took out the document and read. ' . As Marie saw the look of blank incrediflity that came into his face, her eyes flashed under the lowering veil ST' their long lashes. He stared up at her,

but was too dazed to perceive the change in her expression. X? "Acquitted honorably on all charges!” he * murmtjred. “On all charges—! Honorable mention recommended —Approved—the President.” Marie smiled with cool condescea- | sion. , . • ' jjwl "Meeely a question of doing justice to you. Captain Hardy. When a man has done his duty, hoover harshly, Lt is the duty of others to see that ho receives just compensation. I take credit for having helped to bring thin about." “You?” he exclaimed. “Of though, if you really did not lov© him—" "That does not follow. You must know I did love him. But to find that I had for rival another ’breed girlone not half so beautiful as I—l could not endure the thought. You have seen the proof that there is a good deal of my mother’s red grandfather in my blood. No. I had to give him up. and I have decided to marry another man.” “Another!” echoed Hardy. “Will you not congratulate me?” she asked. He rallied. “I congratulate him. After what has happened, I feel confident that you must have chosen someone more worthy of you.” “He is!” declared the girl, her glo“He is far more worthy of me than I am of him!” * With an effort she recovered her cool composure. “But now, before going, I wish to take this opportunity to discharge In a way the obligation that, as a member of the tribe, I owe to you for your services. I shall therefore return the mine .to you.”

She held out a document He stepped back. “No; Jdiss Dupont,” he said. “I cannot accept it.” . “You must. I took it from you. Though I have used the Income from it not altogether for personal gratification, you must realize that my pride will not permit me to keep it any’ longer. Let me add that It has not pinched out as you may have inferred from what I said at the ball. It is a bonanza.” “I regret that I cannot accept it," he replied. “A captain’s pfiy is quite sufficient for a —bachelor.” Marie gave him a mocking glance. “Really now, Captain Hardy, you do not expect me to believe you will long remain unmarried?” —■■ - He tried his best to conceal how her frivolity tortured him. “You may not believe it, Miss Dupont Yet it is true.” “It is not ” she contradicted. “When we were abroad, Pere and I went to Monte Carlo. I fancy the gambling spirit infected me. Let us settle th© ownership of the mine with a wager. If you do nrt marry this year, I agree to keep it. But if you marry within that time, you will accept it back from me on your wedding day.” "It is not fair for me to bet on a certainty ; but if you insist* I agree to the wager,” said Hardy. “Then be prepared to take the mine a week from today,” she bantered. He tore his gaze away from the lovely face whose gay smile appeared so heartlessly mocking. “Yop—cannot realize —how this —” She handed him another sealed envelope. “Here is the order detailing you to special service with the general s'aff for the winter. You will then be required to return to the reservation sand carry out all the plans recommended by you for the civilizing of the tribe.

thoroughbred that I have bought to use as her riding mate.” < The changed tonfe in the girt’s voice compelled Hardy to look up. Ip her radiant eyes he saw a look that could not be mistaken. The smile that had seemed so mocking was now tenderly teasing. * “Marie —you —” he stammered. “Are you certain it is—lover—not a passing feeling of pity?” ‘‘l’fty! For you?” she cried. “Do you think I could dare pity you?— a man like you! I could not have been so presumptuous ’ even had those treacherous conspirators succeeded in, crushing you. Do you think it was pity that made me live a He all this time—that forced me to flout you and accept his detestable attentions?” ' Her,voice sank to a note of deep humility; “I know how very unworthy of you I am. Yet I hope I am not so unworthy a? that first day at the coulee, when I scorned you, and you, with •yourskfll and courage and moderation,saved us without harming those whose attack he had wantonly brought upon us. I was a coquette —a coquette infatuated with the kind of man with whom a coquette deserves tq be infatuilted., But I was not altogether frivolous. I soon perceived your immeasurable superiority over him. Only my head could ndt overcome the fascination that had bound my heart. My soul sought to free itself from the spell—l struggled and prayed— Yet not unfit there at the mine, when you showed yourself the bravest, the most generous—” She flung out her arms to him <n piteous appeal. ‘‘Captain! My captain ! Say that you du not think me—altogether what he —thought me!” Hardy drew her hands together, and bent to kiss them with reverent passion. .. ” . ‘ “Dearest,” he replied, “you forget that other day in the coulee —that day when you thought me dying. I gazed up into your eyes, and I saw the look of my mother” (THE END.) ’

“I Could Not Impose on Your Generosity.”

“My Word’s as Good or Better Than a Cashiered Officer’s.”