Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-08-16

uoN4 over MS SllOutueIS, she tlpt0eU
TO him and with uplifted hand wills
pered:
"Hushl Go awayl Go away
quick I" Making a backward gesture,
she added: ''There's some one In the
coop-hofs l don't want you TO see. "
His errand having completely left
his mind, Robert, after a moment of
startled inspection, stopped stiffiy by
the door. The resentment and jealousy
he had nursed so long fiared into ac-
tive life and licked him like flames.
Clothes such as she wore had never
been paid for with squatter money
She was beautiful So much his eyes
told him, but he knew she was not
honestl
She had said there was some one
In the
He fixed her with stern eyes and
then showed her aside.
I'm going TO see who he is" he
snapped.
Polly's fingers caught him as he
tried to pass her.
mo, you can't go in there" she
cried. please don't do it,"
The sound of their voices brought
Marcus Mackenzie out into the kitchen
In one stride. He halted at the sight
of the squatter girl hanging desperate
ly to Roberts arm. An exclamation
broke from him; and with one wrench
Percival was free and was at him.
$50 it's youl" he said in a tone that
told Polly Hopkins what was. in his
mind. Damn you. you. hypocrite--'
His voice broke off, and he brushed
his eyes across with shaking fingers.
There behind Marcus in the cooP-hole
doorway was his pale cousin.
Evelyn" he gasped thickly. "God,
what's this all aboutl Every one of
you look as if-as if"
Bewlldered and overcome. he could
not finish his sentence.
Marcus had caught Evelyn to him
and Pollyop, tearlessly ashamed, had
sunk into the big chair to hide the
fineIy which she knew had brought
the hurt. into Roberts eyes. She
wished she was clothed in daddy's
boots and her own calico dress!
"Shut the door, Bob" Marcus or
dered as calmly as he could.
Mechanically Robert did as he was
hidden. When he turned again, Mar
Gus was seated, with Evelyn clinging
to him, and Pollyop's face was COW
cred by one arm.
Evelyn began to cry weakly.
Bob, dear" she broke out, looking
up at her cousin with streaming eyes.
"Pollyop's been so good to me"
That sounded to Polly as if some
one else we're to be punished for the
nights work.
mo, l amt" she protested. lifting
her head. II was awful bad! / were
the only one to blame. | hated every
one of you. Let me tell all of you
about it,"
She began at the beginning and re-
peated how she had concocted the plan
to steal Mrs. Mackenzie. She spoke
of Larry and Lye as her two friends,
but did not mention their names.
81 thought / could kill 'er, sir" she
added, raising streaming eyes, but
when daddy's coat fell down, an the
big nanny an Granny Hope smiled
at me, quit hatin' you an wantin
TO kill your woman"
She struggled up and moving to the
wall, leaned against 1.-THE Greatest
Mother in the World" as if 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 my
wife away to kill herr"
but she didn't, Marc" interjected
Evelyn.
Marcus made a wide gesture with
one arm.
"Hush, Eve," he muttered. 81 want
to hear. what Miss Hopkins has to
say"
"Yep, / took her." trailed on Polly,
"an' / meant to croak her, too, an
throw 'er in the lake Just TO get even
with yen. SIR
'Then why didn't you do til" de-
manded Marcus.
Pollyop threw a short glance at the
other man, standing white and silent.
She cleared her throat, and leaned
only the harder against the wall.
"On q sudden" she continued, as If
eager TO finish her tale, 81 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 brother
to Jesus, the same as US squatters.
But I said l didn't ever want TO fly
away to God If He looked like you !"
Leaving the wall she came forward
and hurried on: "An' ] meant il 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 70
Pollyop but EveIyn's cry. caused him
to turn swiftly. The drabness Of her
face startled him.
'Marcl Robert r. she said. Il can't
go back home until Pye told you some
thing. No. Marc. don't stop me. ]