The Lamar register., 1922-06-21

But Percival did not wait to find
out. He sprang to the door, jerked it
open and closed it behind with bang.
slip quietly into a faint, or Marcus
snatch her into his arms as If he never
intended to let her go.
1t was only Polly who heard the
passionate love words that came from
lips that had SO often flung Oaths at
her and her people. She watched Mar
Gus DULY, her heart aching and her
muscles rigid with pain. Robert had
not believed what Evelyn had said
He had gone away without word to
her OF course, then, he did not love
her any morel
Unnoticed by the MacKenzies Polly
Hopkins sat very quiet, while Evelyn,
who had regained consciousness, was
clinging to her husbands neck and
listening to his assurances that she
was forgiven. Then suddenly, through
the low rumble of Marcus voice and
the signs and sobs of Evelyn, Pollyop
heard shrill squatter call. She rose
slowly to her feet and stood rooted
10 the spot. The voice that had
sounded was high. childish, like Wee
Jerry's.
with the superstition of her kind,
Polly was overcome by great fear.
Jerry was dying alone In place of
strangers His little spirit had called
to her in the grief of its goingi She
cast glance at the man and the
woman. They were wholly enveloped
In themselves and paid no attention
to the plaintive wall that broke from
her lips. She struggled TO the door
and opened it. and there-right before
her startled eyes-was Daddy Hop
kins, with Jerry astraddle his neck.
Daddy" came in one bewlldered
cry from her shaking lips.
Then they faded from her vision,
and the brown eyes yielded to semi
consciousness, and semi-consciousness
was lost in complete oblivion.
When Polly Hopkins again lifted
her lids. she was surrounded by
group OF people whom at first she did
not recognize. Then Daddy Hopkins
detached himself from the rest. He
was seated very near her. That was
must have dreamed that Old Marc
had sent him to prison. Wee Jerry
was cuddled at her side. Then he,
too, had never gone awayl
What brought full remembrance to
her was the sight of Larry Bishop
leaning against the wall at the foot of
the bed. He was looking ut her with
tear-filled eyes, his cracked lips work
ing painfully.
Larry" she cried, struggling up.
1t was Marcus Mackenzie that
showed himself In beside jeremiah and
bent over her.
Larry didn't do It. Daddy; did,
she moaned. please. Mr.. Mackenzie,
please, believe mel"
She crawled wearily into Jeremiah's
arms and hugged his bushy head.
'Oh, Daddy Hopkins, l got to go
to-to jail. I been-a wicked-bad-"
She was straining so to finish that
Robert Percival was no longer able to
keep quiet. He stepped forward SO
that Polly saw him over Daddy's
shoulder. She glared at him wildly.
Tell 'em-oh-tell 'em" she shud-
dered.
The tears In his eyes softened her
expression.
Its like you to feel sorry for me.
sir J" She WINGED. AN gettin' Daddy
an Wee Jerry back is like you, too.
Every day I'm In Jail I'll be prayin'
you'll be happy" She strangled at the
memory of Old Mares words, "Tll get
you next huZZy 70
Then Robert, stung with remorse at
his disbelief in her. picked her out of
her fathers arms. When he had placed
her In a chair, he said:
Polly, darling. we've heard the
whole story from-from-"
He looked toward Larry Bishop,
stumbling as II he did not remember
his name.
And we've forgotten 1t, too" Mac
Kenzie doomed in. Yesterday II
wouldn't have been any great loss If
my whole family had been sunk In the
lake. We were all more wicked than
any one In the Silent City. But to.
night it's different ~
Polly Strengthened up, her eyes bril-
Continued on Page Five)