Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-07-20

implored. please do II quick, an,
an" A light leapt into her eyes and
she burst out: "Mebbe some day you'll
be askin' me q big favor, am here's my
word before God. / do IT."
Fer q short space Of time the two
girls stared into each others eyes, but
Eyelyn's fell first. She sank back
Imply.
Take her away. Robertr she
groaned. tits too dreadful"
After Pollyop and Robert had gone.
she turned swiftly on Marcus.
II wish they were all dead, those
wretched sQuatters," she said fret
fully, and frowning, Mackenzie con-
tinued his breakfast In silence.
Miserable days passed for the en-
tire sQuatter settlement. That the
right arm of the Silent City had been
Topped OF when hopkins was impris-
oned showed plainly in the AFFECTION
Of Its Inhabitants. Every countenance
was wrinkled with anxiety; and still
the strange men lowered about the
lakeside.
Ugly rumors circulated through the
Silent City. 1t was saidvthat to fix q
felony on Hopkins, the officers claimed
that In searching him, before shutting
him up, they had found a revolver in
his pocket. Every one that knew him
secuted the idea. but Jeremiah Hop
kins was promptly indicted for carry
Ing concealed weapons.
The only concession Robert had been
able to obtain was permission for
Polly to visit her father, and day after
day she carried Jerry to see him.
The day Of Hopkins trial Polly had
to stay at home to care for Granny
Hope and the baby.
Late in the afternoon, while she
was rocking Wee Jerry, for there was
no other way to keep him quiet, there
came, a rap on the door. Placing him
on the cot, she called a soft: Come
in"
The entrance Of Robert perclvaI
filed her with apprehension, he looked
SO serious, so drawn and pale.
ITS about daddy" she exclaimed,
forgetting for the moment how embar.
raised she was.
Robert nodded. tl
"Sit down, Polly" he said gravely.
land I'll tell you"
Mutely she stood staring at him,
"Sit down, dear" he insisted.
II don't want to sit down." she
moaned. Tell me about daddy.
What's bappeneda-He's goin' to Al
burn, huh?" !,
Had he been able, Robert would
have ~contradlcted her. Gladly would
he have chased away the yelling tears,
that came slowly into, the dear eyes,
rs 1t Auburn brisonf" she whieg
pered. ibid the jury say he vas
guiltyr
Eyes, Polly, but I've still hopes + can
get him another trial. answered Rob
erts 'soh, little Polly. please don't cry,
please don'ts"f
UnmindfIl that he was holding out
his hands to her. she sobbed hysterical-
" htt4Ffy deprived Of yseifscontroi.
The more Robert pleaded with her to
cease, the more she kept mp the, lnces.
SAINT wall.
At the sound Of her anguish, Jerry
awcke and set up a loud screaming,
and, ever true to her mother instinct
for him and all others In her wild
world, Pollyop took him up and seat
ed herself, hushing and ~caressing him.
'sThe ~littlest, mother in the world,
breathed Robert tenderly, bending
v her, "And a brave girl you are,
too, Polly Hopkins.
II can't; be brave ever any more, L
can't. need my daddy SO, ! do. I'm
thinkin' my heart Just busted when
they took him away.
he understood, and Roberts very,
soul melted In sympathy. Indeed, never
had he worked 80 hard on any one
thing ID he had done to defend the
sQuatter. II had been only after Mac.
KenSie had outwitted him that he had
come to the Silent City to break the
bad news to Polly Hopkins.
"PollSop.n he began, much moved,
You 90 Reed your father: every girl
does. But while he's gone. II he really,
has to go, / can make living without
him much easier for You. You must
take some Of the money you have for
yourself he FASTENED on. mo one
needs 1t more than you do. No. now
don't shake your head, dear. Some
q must help y~ou--don't you sect"
Twas awful good OF you to give.
me the money, an let me help the
squatter women" came distinctly from
the sobbing lips, ''but Derry an me
couldn't take q cent Of yeursr
Somehow Robert had expected this,
but Aier refusal did not make him any
the less determined to help her. For
4 time he was silent, as Polly slowly
rocked Jerry back and forth.
After d few moments the boy fell
asleep, and his sister !aiG him quietly
on the bed again.
"NoW what be r goin' to dof" she
qnerisd foslornly, locking straight At
him. Granny Hope says loves all
powerful, M eEery night I cry out 10
the coed God to bring my daddy home.
~ tzne, ain't n. Jesns can help d
sznAsEkf sigt5"
aO1 couFp4 Robert assured her.
lot cauxst, and. Oh, Folly. ! want yca
to hx d~lRsFsnt
*Vxnat % zen mean BY helm differ.
snfT hle stepped him quickly. agsd
then she caught the look he cast
arOuad the room.