White County record., 1922-07-20

was loSllS Ills mlnu. Polly thought ny the blank expression of his face that his wits had gone completely. Ignoring the woman whom she de- tested she went rapidly to MacKen- zies side.
 Il had her roped up in the bed when you was there tonight, mister" she told him, the words tumbling over each other in the haste of confession l were goin' to chop her head off to get even with you. But-but-my dead Granny Hope, an the Biggest Nam my in All the World wouldn't let me-"
 It seemed an eternity to the quak- Ing young speaker before Marcus threw up his head and took a long | breath.
 "She-she's alive?' he demanded hoarsely. You're very sure she isn't dead? Girl" he bounded up and grasped Pollyop's arm, Eff you lie to me"
 "I ain't lyin' to you, mister" inter- rupted Polly duly. You don't need to be scared for Miss Eve, but now you'd best come along to my hut an get her. She's mournin' for you in Granny Hopes coop-hole, covered up l with blankets
 Something like huge fist struck l Mackenzie. The conviction that the squatter girls words were true lifted him immediately from the bottom depths of hopelessness. The sudden thrush of joyous relief brought with l it a mental illumination, and he saw himself as others had seen him. The 1 terrible, blighting uncertainty he had borne for a few maddening hours the girl before him had known for months If she were to blame for his suffering, what was the measure oe his own responsibility?
 He turned swiftly to his mother-ih- law and said huskily:
 Gall some one to get this child some dry clothes. Take anything of Eyes you can find that will keep her warm, and for Gods sake, take those ragged boots off her feetl" He sprang to the bell. "I'll order the team"
 When he had given his orderg to the servant who appeared at the door, he sank back into chair, and Mrs. Rob- ertson went swiftly out
 Utterly .obliyious of the squatter girls presence, Marcus Mackenzie buried his face in his hands. The new Polyop, the Polly of the Sun, crept forward and touched him.
 Your woman's all right" she said mlskily. Don't cry! She told me about-about the little kid a-comin' in the summer, an she howled like mad to come along with me. But I says to her she couldn't walk all this way to you without dyn'."
 The soft tones vibrated sympathe- Mackenzie thriIsS up his hand and clutched the slim brown fingers.
 Tell me something about it while we're aione," he whispered.
 Pollyop shuddered.
 Well sir,'' she began, so low that Mackenzie had to raise his head to hear, "all the squatters hate you, but none of em was wicked like me. I said, did, that you couldn't be hurt no way only through your woman, an -an'-I was goin' to cut her head off with the ax an then sling Ter in the lake. I s'pose I'm goin' to get sent up for years, but I just had to come and tell you"
 Before Mackenzie, aghast at the danger his dear one had faced, could answer, Mrs. Robertson entered, fol- lowed by Evelyn's maid.
 "I'n get my coat" exclaimed Mar GUS. jumping up. '"Dress the girl warm and send along EveIyn's fur motor coat"
 A furtive smile curled the maids lips as she helped pull off Jeremiah's heavy coat, and then grew broader as Pollyop slipped out of Daddy's great boots. Yet the woman admitted to herself as she dried the wet feet and attired the squatter girl in her mistress beautiful clothes that she was pretty, even prettier than Mrs. Mackenzie.
 When the robing process was fin ished, Mrs. Robertson glanced over the little figure and grudgingly acknOwl- edged to herself that there was some thing of elegance in the girls bearing, even if she were a squatter.
 "Come herep' she said. A naughty gesture indicated the spot. "Right here before me-"
 Polly's shaking legs carried her within a few inches of the august presence.
 "You're very sure, girl," asked Mrs. | Robertson, that my daughters safe in your shack? How did she come there?'
 Polly remembered Larry Bishop and | I've Braeger. She had been instru- mental in bringing them within the prison shadows, and if any one suffered | from the deed done that night, it must | not be her friends. She alone must |