Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-05-25

q she found one OF them, she'd turn
me out OF the house"
Polly's mouth few open. She could
not conceive Of q girl doing anything
30 the world bad enough TO make her
mother turn her ont Of her home.
-TordyI Would she, nowT' she
EAsped.
my mothers proud" said Evelyn,
IN excuse. you know that, Polly"
Certainly Polly knew It'll Hadn't
she dueked out Of sight Of the unsym-
pathetic lady many a time when Turk
ING near the Robertson home with q
message from Oscar to Evelyn
4 don't know what ] will do, Polly"
the other girl went on, IF you don't
help me--and-some time I7l really
DO something for you"
A temptation to blurt out the words
Marcus Mackenzie had spoken as
sailed the sQuatter girl; but Evelyn
looked worried! Polly's heart was as
soft al the velvet in her eyes when
she came upon trouble of any kind.
you've been good to Wee jerry"
she interposed gently. awful good.
He most giggles his little life away
when / bring him the goodies you send
him"
TIN going to do a lot for both of
yOu," returned Evelyn impulsively,
HGnd to-day / brought this bag Of candy
Tor the baby. Herel Take It'll And
you'll go to Oscar for me as soon as
Jon can, won't your"
Smiling, Polly slipped the package
Of sweets into her pocket. She could
forgive anything against herself for
the sake Of seeing Wee Jerry smile
ana hearing him crow over the con-
tents Of the small bag.
"Yep." she agreed, IAN say all you
tell me TO. But what If he kicks up a
row? He's gettin' awful pernleklty,
Oscar isl"
A sharp cry from Evelyn was fol.
lowed by:
Tell him he mustn't Make him
promise he won't: And-and, Pollyop,
IN tell you something else, If you'l
promise never to tell"
II never told anything yet, have IT.
ROIiyOp protested in low, indignant
tones.
"No n must ever know about Oscar
and me-" Evelyn began, still harping
upon the great fear that obsessed her,
Because"
Because Of your ma" interrupted
Polly. Sure I know that ~
A slim hand was raised in partial
protest.
Mothers an awful worry to me
sometimes, but it's not she altogether.
But--bnt---"
'Then-then-it's your f~ine-lookin'
cousin" came brokenly from Polly,
tlnring the pause IN Miss Robertson's
statement.
~Of course. ] wosldntt have him
know for anything Evelyn nodded as.
ssnt. @Oh. goodness, I might as well
Tell Il and get 1t over. I love some one
else. and he loves me, Poilyop. II
want TO be hts wife more than I've
eTeF wanted anything before. Hes
wealthy. dear. and I've got to marry
him"
Polly's face gathered a shocked ex.
precision. How could she marry any
when she was already welded to
Oscar Bennett BY any law Polly
knew of, a girl could not have two
husbands at the same time. Even the
squatters, In their careless way of
living, did nothing like that.
"You can't tie up to no other mar
while you belong to Oscar, Miss Eve"
she ventured gravely.
swell, I know 1t; Of course / know
a." retorted Evelyn, ~resenting the
eensure In the others tones: but I've
got to be free. I'm so frantic, l don't
much care how. That's the way .0s.
ears got to help mel Anyway make
him understand he's got to wait; he
must be quiet and not bother me. Then
come tonight and let me know what
he says. win you, Polly?"
The squatter girl nodded. She would
rather have been switched than see Os-
car Bennett again.
Yep" she assented. "IH hunt him
~ late this afternoon and then hus.
de right owe 20 you. ] got to go nowi"
For some moments after Evelyn
left her. Polly watched the slim fig
IRE on the path 10 the woods. Then
Hhe suddenly remembered Marcus Mac
Kenzie and without q backward
glance hurried swiftly toward the
south.
Meantime three sQuatters from the
Silent City were In the Bad Mans
rayine, dressing the fish they had net
ted the night before. One enormous
man was seated on a fat rock, his bare
feet almost touching the water as II
hurried by to the lake. on his shoul.
ders, with his legs wound tightly
around the mans neck, sat a small
boy, little more than a baby. He was
shivering with cold, and, as the spring
rain shot its drops upon his face, he
lifted a small hand and brushed them
away. Seemingly obliyious Of the
weight against his swarthy head, the
man picked up a fish and contemplated
It with a scowl. Then he proceeded to
clean II deftly.
The silence was unbroken for a long
time except by the rushing Of the wa.
ter, the gruesome running of the
knives over the fish scales and a little
whtmper, now and then, from the child
astride the mans neck.
II heard in town" broke forth I've
Braeger, shat Old Marc MacKenxie,s
ronuin' home. Here's where us squat
tiers get hi flung at lis good and
plenty