Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-03-31

tbe chestnut curls called forth all the
ouickness the man possessed. Polv
struggled madly, and the child
shrieked and chung to his sister with
all the puny strength he had.
'Keep away, Percival," snapped
Mackenzie, pushing Robert backward.
.Tf YOU lay one finger on my men, III
take the girl along to jail"
To a V the girl he loved, Robert
compelled himself to stand by while
the boy was torn bodily from her. He
saw one of the men drag a blanket
from the bed and throw it around Wee
Jerry.
Then he snatched at the girl, but she
quickly eluded his grasp. How awfully
her eyes glowed, and how her face
twitched!
"Get out with him before she cuts
No any more" growled Marcus, as
polly bounded forward only to be met
by the speakers outstretched rms.
"If YOU make another scene, nv
lady," he raped out, "T1l have you ar.
rested for obstructing the law. And
remember this, huzzy, Pm going to get
you next"
His threat against herself meant
nothing to Polly Hopkins. But the
word "law"! 1t struck at her brain
like a hammer. She suddenly felt as il
a tidal wave, strong and relentless, had
broken over her. 1t was the same law
taking Jerry that had imprisoned Dad.
DIV Hopkins, that had carried away
Larry Bishop from his woman. The
thought brought her up with a sharp
gasp. She did not care what they did
with her, but little Jerry, We Baby
Jerry!
"What you goin' to do with him, mis-
ter?" she begged, wringing her hands.
'Tell me that 1 can't let i'm go till
you dOW
She caught at his ARM, and the
strong brown fingers dug deep into his
flesh.
Look into the paper there and you'll
see where I'm going to take him" an
swered Mackenzie. Let go of my
arm! There!' He wrenched himself
free. Then, enraged and with eyes
flashing, he shouted, Get out with the
kid, you men, and start off"
Glad to be gone, the officials stepped
into the open, one of them carrying
the writhing Jerry. Then Polly Hop
kins stood upright in the middle of the
shanty, grief, CONSERVATION, and then
an expression of insanity passing over
her face.
Robert Percival was near her, not
daring to utter a word; her deep-set
agony was too terrible for sympathy.
All at once she started forward; and
he made a desperate effort to stop
her.
"Pollyop," he pleaded. AS she raced
through the doorway, he called: wait
wait"
In an instant he was out beside her,
speaking her name softly, imploringly'
She paid no heed to him, but flung up
her arms. And then she Laughed!
Marcus Mackenzie was standing beside
his horse, and on beyond in the Eaaea
carriage was rolling away, from which
came piteous screams from Jerry.
"Pollyop," entreated Robert.
But Polly had bounded from him TO-
ward the man and the horse.
II hope" she shrieked at Mackenzie
81 hope your hands'll wither of; I'm
wishin' all you lowell die before your
eyes, an every day I'll be askin' Gran
nv Hopes lovin' God to d-n you till
you drop rottin' in your grave"
Marcus had halted with his foot IN
the stirrup. He had heard every WORD
she had uttered; and drops of colo
sweat gathered on his brow. Then,
with an oath, he vaulted into the sad
die, put the spurs to his horse and GAL
Hoped up the hill after the retreatng
carriage.
Robert was leaning Imply against
the side of the shanty when Pony
Hopkins turned swiftly back. He SPOKE
to her and she looked daZedly at Mn
1iiCh III lduShCO dSoih, bAASNSS ~ e
his face; and the young man,
as distraught as she, tried to take hON
Of her.
You scoot, too" she said to him
"get out, an stay out; an'-an' tn
your lily-livered cousin, l say, hOF
if she ever has a baby it won't nave
nc eyes to see 'er with, nor no noun
to kiss 'er With hope
"Oh, Godw groaned Robert.
Before he could get back his WIS
she had rushed past him into .'
shack, slammed the door and barred i
against him.
For more than two hours Polly hOF
kins lay face down on her cot. Dulin'
that time her loving heart had brOAsa
and died within her. She had no lonsa
an incentive to live, no more a oesn'
to look forward to Daddy's home-cO~
ing.
+ Whom or Ionutb che nraW1pd TO lN AZ