The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-06-23
y(1race Miller White
IlIustrafe SEbyR. HLNingstone
Pyriaht ~ I1tlesBrowm and Company

aeTepe QuAs ht1tih Jou al WhhtAA
to kill your woman"
She struggled up and moving to the
wall, leaned against The Greatest
Mother In the World as II she, too,
would add herself to the vast family
OF hurt ones.
Every one Of her words was directed
to Mackenzie.
"Then I'm to understand" he asked
slowly. .that you deliberately took nay
wife away to kill herr"
.'But she didn't, Marc" interjected
Evelyn.
Marcus made wide gesture with
one arm.
Hush, Eve" he muttered. II want
to hear what Miss Hopkins has to
say"
yep, took her. trailed on Polly,
IAN l meant to croak her, too, an
throw 'er In the lake. Just to get even
with you, sir"
'Then why didn't you do itT de-
manded Marcus.
Pollyop threw short glance at the
other man, standing white and silent
She cleared her throat, and leaned
only the harder against the wall.
"On sudden" she continued, as IL
| eager to finish her tale, II somehow
remembered everything Granny Hope
learned me when she, was In the shack
/ here. She always said, mister, when
you was devilish enough to snake a
| squatter from the Silent City"-Polly
| paused and coughed, then proceeded
| In the dead silence: Granny said
| you was the image and likeness of the
| good God up in the sky an a brother
| to Jesus, the same as US squatters
But said didn't ever want to fly
away to God II He looked like you'll"
Leaving the wall she came forward
and hurried on: San meant 1t them
times, an much more after you rail-
roaded my daddy and swiped Jerry
away from me-
Marcus placed his wife In the chair
and stood up. He started to speak to
Pollyop; but Evelyn's cry caused him
to turn swiftly. The drabness of her
face startled him.
Marc! Robert!" she said. II can't
go back home until I've told you some
thing. No, Marc, don't stop me.
will talk. Now. listeni oh, honey |"
This appeal was to ner husband who
had laid his fingers on her shoulder
won't you hold my hand while 1 tell
| itT
Much moved, Marcus did as she re-
quested. His firm clasp seemed to
encourage Evelyn, and she went on:
Darling, I've always been-dread-
full toto Polly Hopkins, and-and
she's been an angel to me-"
| She was going to tell II all, ragged
through PoIly's mind. Was she going
to bring to light her relations with
the dead Oscar2 Old Marc would
never forgive 1t Thinking more now
of the baby coming next summer to
| the almost incOherent woman than of
her own happiness, Pollyop made a
movement as If to contradict the state
ment; but Evelyn's inpetuous rush of
words halted her.
"No, Polly, I'm going to put things
right now, even If Marc leaves me to-
night" she declared, clearing her
throat. Robert, dear hoy, lied to
you. / lied TO Polly and to you, Mar
Gus. Oscar Bennett wasn't PolIy's
sweetheart at all. He--he was my
husbandi"
Mackenzie Suffered, but did not
drop the cold fingers he held; and
Evelyn wept bitterly. unable to so on.
A horse whisnied outside; but In
| the ,shanty no sound could be heard
save the hysterical sobbing OF Evelyn.
4 II seemed TO Robert as II he must
shake from his cousin the rest of the
dark story, so impatient was he to
hear IL.
"Then--then when you came, my
my beloved" Evelyn raised her tired
eyes to her husband. Il tried to get
/ rid Of him. did my best to get Polly
Hopkins to promise she'd marry Oscar
after he had freed me. wanted TO
get him out of the countryr
| Unwilling to spare herself the least
humiliation. she ended in piteous con
fusion: Il was glad when knew he
was dead
.Then how did he diey' came swift
lIy from Mackenzie.
"0h. just as the doctor told you,
Marc. DEAR replied Evelyn. ~He was
struck by lightning and died from the
shock. was free then. and--and !
made Polly swear over and over again
she'd never tell any onel And-and
1 gave her the silk dress she wore that
day in the Auburn car. Titled
about that. TOO. But. Marc. dear love,
| knew you hated her and"
Robert bounded to his feet as the
girls words trailed away INFO silence
Over MaeKehzie's face were speeding
50 many different expressions that the
searching brown eyes OF Folly Hop
kins eould not tell Watcher he In