Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-09-07

As ~ In tdpport Of he terrible
words. the shanfy shook. rafting the
loosened bits Of tin on the roof At the
CHASTITY sound Evelyn began to cry.
II know Just how your man'n feel"
continued POlIyop, a bitter smile dis
torting her lips into q grimace Of pein.
"an' so does Larry Bishop. Larry's
woman an baby died when Old Marc
sent him up to Auburn. an the best Of
me cracked when he grabbed Jerry
right out Of my arms"
Both girls sobbed loudly. Then Pol
Iyop cleared her throat and wiped her
face.
"An' your man railroaded my daddy
to Auburn she gasped. after plantin'
something on him he didn't do; an
you. every q of you, knew it"
Her voice rose to a high-pitched
scream as she remembered the last
scene in the county jail.
"God, wasn't 1t awful7" she cried.
IAN you" She leaned over and
grasped Evelyn's arm. "You could "a
let me go to Auburn If you'd "a tried.
but you didn't. An then--then you
said you didn't give me that dress.
You're all ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, you
money folks be-"
Her hand reached out and touched
the az, but she withdrew 1t as If an
adder had been under her fingers. She
was not yet able to do the deed which
she had longed to do and thought
would be a Joy. Her head sagged for
ward, and again came Jeremiah's
weeping face before her.
"If you'd "a seen my daddy in the
ithaca jail, mebbe you'd be able to
think what I'm goin' to do Is all right.
Yep, all rightl' she rasped.
Then she went on hoarsely, faltering
as she described the horrors that all
her loved ones had gone through. Her
voice choked and became silent as she
thought of Robert. She could not force
her tongue to say a word about him,
although her heart throbbed bitterly as
his name came to her lips.
Money" she whispered brokenly,
lifting her head. did you hear your
man say money to US sQuatters as II
cash'd pay for Larry's woman an Jer-
ry an my daddyf You heard, didn't
your
Evelyn's head sagged forward, and
a spasm passed over her face al her
ava, nloaad CHE lnoIyad a 10 che MAJ
died. Polly Hopkins had seen death
enter the Silent City many a time and
her heart-strings frightened.
fare you gomez" she questioned in a
kissing whisper.
The other girls lids lifted slowly,
and never had Pollyop seen such an
expression in human eyes in all her,
life.
mot yet" dropped from the blue
lips, "and-and-oh, Pollyop, I'm so
afraid to die. | don't know how Oh,
God, help me; | feel so sick"
Daddy were sick, too" shot back
Polly, IAN Jerry's turned up his toes
by this time! l amt heard a word
from him since he was took away.
Mebbe / could a. seen him IL you
hadn't made your cousin believe / were
a bad womanl What d'you know
about babies, an how cunnin' an sweet
they are? You're as wicked as hi!
Ithacan be better Off when you're
food for the fishes. I'm glad your
man1l live, though. Lordy, how I
laughed when he busted into the
And there was you right be-
side me! Huh? Wasn't 1t a good
joke on Old MarcT"
The speaker held Eyelyn's stare, the
chestnut eyes ~glitteEing as the qnes-
ton was fairly spat out.
II can't die, Pollyopl" groaned Eve
Ign, her head dropping against the
cot. "oh, Polly dear, listen-7please-"
Polly reached out for the ak.
Don't YOU dare Polly dear me-"
she gritted conyulsiveiy, "or III hit
you with this!"
"Godl-Jesus |" came from between
Eyelyn's chattering teeth. mo, don't
pick it,upf Don't! oh, l want to tell
you something, Polly Hopkins"
'Then fire ahead" Polly grumbled
sullenly.
She Withdrew her fingers from the
ax-handle and leaned her chin In the
palm Of her hand.
Evelyn Strengthened up and bent
forward, her eyes swimming with
tears.
Polly" she gasped, "Pollyop, in the
summer Gods going to send me a lit
tie baby. oh, Polly"
The sQuatter girl scrambled up as
the speaker dropped back, terrified at
the exultant fire in the brown eyes and
the awful smile that crept across Pol
ly's face.
"Glory be TO God In the skyir she
cried. Two Of you belongin' to Old
Marc gOin' with M swipe OF the AK"
She wheeled around and paced the
length Of the shanty. Old Mares baby
Old Mares woman Both to 70 out
Of his life f~oreverl And BY her hands
-hers, Polly Hopkins handsl
She lifted them up, those slender.
brown fingers, and looked at them
against the candlelight. But a few
months ago they had been the most
willing fingers In all the county But
tonight-Marc's babyi Eveiyn's baby
Like a hive Of bees, the Joy OF dis
sipating the home Of Marcus Mac
Kenzie buzzed through her brain. No
sound came from the girl on the door.
for Evelyn Mackenzie had given IN
ali hope. The squatter girl was crazy.
no human being could entertain such
= CHASTITY purpose and be in his right