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

"0"1 q
"You want to be free from me, ehE
That's it, is it," he sneered. some
other guy looming up to love- spose'
Well. | don't mind who gets my leaV-
ings if you make it worth my whiie'
But if not"
EveIyn's pale, beseeching face hfted
TO his. She could not quit him with
out his promise that she should have
her freedom. Neither must he thlhK
that She could get him a large sum
of money.
81 can't get another dollar" she re-
peated hoarsely. 81 simply can't. And
and l must be free"
A frown drew the mans heavy
brows together until they touched, ana
he lifted his fist to strike; but Polly
Hopkins. by one swift movement
thrust Evelyn from under the mans
appraised arm and crowded in between
them. Because Evelyn was his wife
he had the right to beat her If he
pleased, Polly thought, but he would
not dare to strike Polly.
"If you've got to swat some one, Os-
car" she gritted between her teeth
swat me %
The beautiful white face came close
to Benefits, and the challenge in the
squatter girls flashing eyes stirred a
feeling within him that he never had
had for Evelyn Robertson. Oscar had
always believed that a woman must
fear a man to respect him, and that to
respect him meant to love him. He
did not want Evelyn Robertson in the
farmhouse. but he did want money and
Polly Hopkins. If he could master
her as he had Eve, she would come to
him willingly when he vas ready for
her.
Working on that principle, he struck
out. AS the huge fist came in contact
with Pollyop's shoulder, she staggered
backward. Her low cry was followed
by Evelyn's scream. The sQuatter girl
sank to the floor Imply. No one had
ever struck her before.
you've killed her." cried Evelyn;
and Oscar Bennett, fearful that the
girls clamor would summon som in
uuisitive squatter, turned swiftly to
go.
"Both of you keep mum about this,
my lady," he ordered. "Tm off! See9'
With that he tore open the shanty
door; and Evelyn stood painting with
her hand on her heart until the sound
of his running footsteps was lost in
the windstorm.
Then Evelyn lie. Polly Hopkins
home. One arm hung at the squatter
girls side; and the pain in her Shout
der, where Oscars fist had landed, was
On nearing the shack, Polly
whispered:
"Mebbe he'll be quiet a while now.
You'd best scoot home, huh?"
A small box passed from EvelyD's
handbag to the squatter girls pocket.
ST brought them for jerry" said
softly, land oh, Polly, what
ever can do for you to even UP
things? Perhaps
"Scoot home" interrupted Polly.
"Tm goin' in"
Pollyop stole into the shanty in the
greatest torment she had eve known.
Granny Hope and Daddy Hopkins had
gone to bed, and she could hear her
fathers loud breathing from the back
room. She was glad Of that, for If he
were to learn how she had been hurt,
his rage would know no bounds. She
1900 ---1IA I'D lNnIyOI about
dazediy. The billy goat was Struggled
against the wood-box: aud Mamie
Lamb poked her head up and blinked
at the light. Polly put down the
candle and slipped the dress from her
shoulder. How dreadfully it hurt her
Oh, how she wanted something TO
make her misery less! But squatters
did not have money to spend on drug
store remedies.
From an old can she poured a little
coal oil on a rag and bathed the in
Jured flesh. Then she took up the
lamb and dropped into a chair by the
table. In sheer exhaustion her head
sank down upon it. After a while she
S|lIdlShteleu up, Threw JACK HeT curiS,
and raised the lambs face to hers, a
wry smile fitting across her lips.
tits goin' to be a hard job lovin
Oscar and Old Marc like Jesus loved
wicked folk, Nannyop," she said under
her breath, 'but mebbe now l been
face to face with a angel, 1 can do it."
Again her head fell forward; but
almost instantly she arose, and with
the lamb in her right arm like a baby,
moved to the side Of the bed. Then
she Struggled the lamb under the
blankets and put Granny Hopes Bible
beneath her pillow. Carefully she
slipped off her clothes and put on a
coarse n~ightrobe. Then, having snuffed
the candle, she crawled in beside the
lamb.
CHAPTER VI.
Twice had the golden sun sunk in
a welter of splendid colors behind