Middletown transcript., 1922-06-10

| Something like huge fist struck
Mackenzie. The conviction that the
squatter girls words were true lifted
him Immediately from the bottom
depths Of hopelessness. The sudden
inrush Of joyous relief brought with
1t mental illumination, and he saw
himself as others had seen him. The
terrible, blightlng uncertainty he had
borne for few maddening hours the
girl before him had known for
months. If she were to blame for his
suffering, what was the measure of
his own responsibility?
He turned swiftly to his mother-in-
law and said huskily:
"Call some one to get this child
some dry clothes. Take anything of
Ewes you can find that will keep her
warm, and for Gods sake, take those
ragged boots off her feet! !" He spranr
to the bell. 'Ill order the team"
When he had given his orders to the
servant who appeared at the door, he
sank back into II chair, and Mrs. Rob-
ertson went swiftly out.
Utterly Oblivious of the suuatter
girls presence, Marcus Mackenzie
buried his face in his hands The new
Pollyop, the Polly of the Sun, crept
forward and touched him.
Your woman's all right" she said
huskily. 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 says to
her she couldn't walk all this way to
you without dyin'."
The soft tones vibrntcd sympathe-
tical!y as she voiced the assurances.
Mackenzie thrust up mis- hand and
clutched the slim brown fingers.
"Tell me something about it while
we're Alone" he whispered
Pollyop shuddered
"Well, sir" she began, so low that
Mackenzie had to raise his head to
hear, "all the squatters hate you, bur
none of 'em was wicked like me. |
said, l 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 AK an then sling 'er In the
lake. | spose I'm goin' to get sent M
for years, but just had to come and
'el you"
Before Mackenzie. nghast at the
danger his dear one had faced. could
answer Mrs. Robertson entered. fol-
"Tll get my coat" exclaimed Mar
Gus, jumping up. DRESS the girl warm
and send along Evelyn's fur motor
coat"
4 furtive smile cGrled the maids
lips us she helped pull off Jeremiah's
heavy coat, and then grew broader
ns Pollyop slipped out of Duddys
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 roblng process was fin
ished, Mrs. Robertson glanced over the
little figure and grudgingly ncknowl-
thing of elegance in the girls bearing.
even If she were Il squatter.
Come here" she sad. A naughty
gesture indicated the spot. Fright
here before me-"
Poly'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
Lye Braeger. She had been instrll-
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
take the blame.
Il wheedled 'er there, ma'am," she
replied humbly. I'm goin' to tell her
man all about it,"
Marcus entered and started back ms
he caught sight of Polly. How beauti-
full she WAS, bedecked in his wife's
clothes Then it came to him that
even in her rags she had had II dis
tinctlve loveliness. Both Bob and Eve
lyn- AS that precious name went
through his m:nd, his thoughts flew to
the squatter's hut where his frail young
wife awaited him.
"Come along quickly" he said, go
ing directly to Polly.
How changed he seemed, how gen.
tie he was as ne took hold of her arm
and led her away; and so preoccupied
was she with this thought that the
beauty of the clothes which she wore
made no impression upon her. She
wondered duly when Mackenzie lifted
her bodily into the sleigh and the
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